‘Akpabio remains major issue in Akwa Ibom politics’
By Jackson Udom, a Special Assistant on Media to the former Akwa Ibom State governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, speaks with MOSES ALAO on the defection of the former Senate Minority Leader from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and how it has changed the political calculations in the Niger Delta.
Senator Godswill Akpabio’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been criticised as a selfish move. What is your reaction to this?
First, we have to deconstruct the criticisms against Senator Godswill Akpabio since he left the PDP for the APC. We also have to x-ray the critics and ask for the rationale behind their criticisms. People who know Senator Akpabio know that he is not a man to take decisions without thoroughly thinking it through. He is not a frivolous politician who will just take the decision to leave a party for a selfish reason. Now, why would anyone criticise Akpabio who was for many years committed to building the PDP; a man who contributed everything towards making sure that the party remained democratic and focused on delivering good governance, without knowing the full details behind the decision? The answer is simple: it is either those critics do not have an understanding of the matters that led to his defection or they are playing the ostrich. In any case, Senator Akpabio did not abandon the PDP; he simply moved on to the APC in order to achieve his vision for a better and greater Akwa Ibom and, by extension, Nigeria; a vision for which no one can fault him, having consistently been on that path since his days as a commissioner and then as a governor for eight years before he was unanimously elected into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
But people claim he defected to the APC because he wants to be Senate President.
People will always say; but I am telling you that my principal did not leave PDP because of a promissory note or offer on anything. He left because it had become clear that his vision for the development and progress of Akwa Ibom could no longer be achieved in the PDP. We are talking about a man who rebuilt Akwa Ibom and put it on the map as one of the most progressive states in the country.
Could it then be that his defection was to seek sanctuary from probe, as it is being said?
Sanctuary from probe? Does that even make sense? Did he defect to the EFCC or ICPC? Can APC members not be probed? Senator Akpabio is not seeking sanctuary from anything or anyone; he has no skeleton in his cupboard, having run an accountable and transparent government for eight years as governor. You would also recall that some lawyers had recently declared that the petition against Senator Akpabio at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been withdrawn when it was found out that allegations could not be substantiated by the sponsors of the petition. So, on what basis are people still criticising Akpabio for defecting to the APC because of an imaginary corruption probe?
If he didn’t defect because he is seeking cover, could it then be true that he was chased out of the PDP by Governor Emmanuel Udom following their falling out?
Chased? Now, that is a funny word to use. No one in Akwa Ibom politics is more grounded than Senator Akpabio; no politician whether living or dead is bigger than the former governor in the state in terms of connection with the people and in terms of political structure. First, Senator Akpabio left the PDP based on his conviction that Akwa Ibom could not sustain its fortune and progress as an outcast; it cannot play opposition. Secondly, the Akwa Ibom governor got to that office through the instrumentality of Senator Akpabio’s structure and those who are conversant with the politics of the state would tell you the level of opposition my principal faced because of Udom’s candidature. Now, when God uses you to put a man in a position and you realise that it was time to be nationalistic by supporting the programme and government at the centre, you will not think twice. How could he be chased out of the house he built? Akpabio was not chased and can never be chased out of the PDP; he left of his volition, having discovered that he needed to move on inorder to contribute his quota to national development and politics.
PDP is still believed to be the party to beat in Akwa Ibom State. Do you think your principal can swing the votes in favour of the APC?
Whether it is the party to beat or not, elections will soon come and everyone will know his/her strength. What I know is that Akwa Ibom people know those who love and want the best for them. As for my principal; he is known as a promise keeper and he has always had the people behind him in all his political journeys. The taste of the pudding is in the eating. I can assure you that Senator Akpabio did not leave PDP as a lone-ranger; he had the backing of his people and they all want continued federal presence, they want development and they want progress. And these are the reasons Akwa Ibom will vote for the APC in all elections.
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