The Special Assistant on Media to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Rev. Richard Peters has tackled the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North east, Bassey Akpan over claims of being suppressed by the governor and his handlers.
He warned that most of the statements being credited to the Senator who is also the governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) could set the state on fire as they were inciting and provocative.
It was gathered that Akpan in an online interview anchored by one John Ekong on social media platforms alleged that he and his supporters are being haunted by the Akwa Ibom State governor over his aspiration to succeed him in 2023.
The Senator had said he stepped down for Gov Emmanuel in 2014, stood by him in 2018 to re-emerge for the second term in office and had expected the governor to reciprocate now but the reverse is the case.
He said, “I stepped down for the current Governor in 2014 and I stood with him in 2018 to win a second term. I was the only senator standing with the governor but today, I am being hunted in Akwa Ibom. I must fight to liberate my people and it comes with a lot of sacrifices. You must never have a state again that is so polarized by the government. Today nobody comes to my house or waves at me in the state and goes unpunished. People are being threatened to publicly denounce me or be punished but we must go through these together to secure freedom. Akwa Ibom must be free, you can’t use the instrument of hunger to fight the people”.
But the Governor’s Aide, in a swift reaction, described Akpan’s statement as careless, inciting and very unfortunate even as he advised the Senator to channel his energy to promoting his campaign manifesto rather than engaging in blame games.
He added that the Senator is bent on de-marketing the governor to attract public sympathy.
“It appears as if the Senator has run out of campaign ideas and strategies. He is now bent on de-marketing the Governor and the state, using inciteful statements to attract public sympathy. He has over time now running his campaign with foul language, we all heard when he visited Eket for a rally where he birthed the now popular “who born dog” and also cultist for Christ slogans”.
Revd. Peters claimed that ironically it was Senator Akpan’s supporters that intimidate people including himself, saying that he had already reported the matter officially to the police.
His words, “His supposed supporters have written and called me severally warning me sternly to stay away from campaigning for my preferred candidate or get killed. I have reported the matter to the police commissioner officially. And the question now is who is desperate for power?
“The people of Akwa Ibom State are reading through the lines and know the truth about the real intentions of every politician. The senator should have been very grateful to the governor for making the state peaceful and providing the enabling environment for everybody to freely engage in all legitimate associations and gatherings. The governor is very tolerant and hardly distracted by the activities of people working against his government because he was elected to deliver democracy dividends and not to give excuses.
“The Senator has done so much to force the governor to vie off track through several unsubstantiated reports, outright blackmail, unnecessary litigations and the unfounded claim that he was promised to be made a governor in 2023 without providing any document which had the agreement” he highlighted.
Revd Peters urged the people to be watchful and open their minds to read situations as those who whip up such sentiments can spring up negative surprises that may not go down well with the people.
He added, “His campaign strategy of micro zoning of governorship and power rotating to his area Itu/ Ibiono federal constituency in 2023 is another lie from the pit of hell, Governorship since the return of democracy in 1999 in our state is done strictly on senatorial district and the PDP is strictly adhering to this agreement.”
