A-Ibom APC Slams Anti-Akpabio Group, Warns Detractors
BY UBON EKANEM, UYO – As expectations heighten over likely candidates to make President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list for his second term adventure, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has warned anonymous groups to desist from cheap blackmail against its leaders in the State.
The Party also maintained that it will not be distracted by frustrated individuals and groups, even as it pointedly disowned the so-called Ibom Integrity and Servant Leadership Culture Initiative and its current smear campaigns against former Senate minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio in the media.
Calling out all self-seeking individuals and groups currently orchestrating falsehood and unsubstantiated allegations in the polity, the Party urged restraint, insisting that politics of bitterness and disdain will neither profit the state nor its good people.
Forefront gathered that the APC state chapter is upset and disappointed by baseless allegations and tantrums being hurled at Senator Akpabio and other party officials, describing such as the handiwork of faceless characters with no honour and electoral value in the State.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Nkereuwem Enyongekere, the APC said the group of self-styled elders is strange to the party at all levels within and outside the State.
The statement said; ”The State working Committee of the APC, Akwa Ibom State has observed with utter dismay one faceless Elders’ group, Ibom Integrity & Servant Leadership Culture Initiative (IISLCI), parading and arrogating to itself the power of condemnation and recommendation as quite worrisome, embarrassing and unacceptable.
”We hereby confirm that the self-acclaimed leader of the group, Dr Asuquo Edidem Etim is a disclaimer and not APC member and we have no such group in our APC groups’ Registration Register in Akwa Ibom State.
”And the Party condemns in totality, the disparaging campaign against our very endearing son, Sen. Godswill Akpabio as evil fireworks meant to generate bad blood and disaffection in our party in this trying time.”
The statement said; “Accordingly, the party warns such non-existent group, claiming to be an affiliate of APC in the State, to desist forthwith from such nefarious engagement as there is no provision in the APC constitution that grants such power(s) to anyone or group to dabble into the function which is solely the prerogative of the State Working Committee (SWC) of APC in Akwa Ibom State.”
Enyongekere maintained that the APC in the state clearly distanced itself and denounced such letters of condemnation and recommendation as they are not only null and void but also of no effect whatsoever.
The statement further said; “On the weight of this release, President, Muhammadu Buhari, APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari and the general public are hereby advised to discountenance any such correspondence(s) as it not from Akwa Ibom State Secretariat”, the statement said.
Claiming to be an integral part of APC in the South-South state, the group that tagged itself, Ibom Integrity & Servant Leadership Culture Initiative, wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari demanding that Senator Akpabio should not be considered for any Ministerial appointment due to alleged corruption cases hanging on his neck.
