The camps of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, and that of the minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, have been thrown into frenzy as they battle to counter an allegation of working hands-in-gloves to sabotage President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Ahead of the general elections, a socio-political group, Concerned Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, had in a media advertorial, alleged that it has uncovered a plot that Governor Eno (PDP), and Minister Ekpo (APC), had forged alliance to work surreptitiously against President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
But the duo, in their swift separate reactions, categorically denied such insinuations saying it was the handiwork of political jobbers aimed at destroying the bipartisan relationship forged by the governor with the centre since his election in 2023.
Speaking on behalf of their bosses, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Ekerete Udo, and the minister’s spokesman, Louis Ibah, said the allegation was borne out mischief by those who only make huge capital out of political crisis, and not happy with the prevailing peace in the state.
‘Our attention has been drawn to an advertorial by the APC in Akwa Ibom State, where the authors, in what was purely a politically-motivated hatchet job, maliciously concocted a rich cocktail of lies and blackmail against the governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
“The undisguised intent of the purveyors of the inane advertorial was to cause a strain in the widely acknowledged warm relationship the governor enjoys with President Bola Tinubu, and by extension, the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), ObongEmem Ekperikpe Ekpo.
“Some of the lies and falsehood they pushed are so outlandish and obtuse.
“We, however, wish to state categorically that the governor has not formed any such clandestine alliance as the group falsely and maliciously stated.
“It is unfortunate to note that while Mr President is rallying the nation to support his bold and audacious economic plans aimed at taking our nation out of the current economic challenges — which the governor has enthusiastically and openly endorsed and has severally canvassed support for, this faceless group could maliciously concoct such lies, falsehood and blackmail against the governor.
“It is obvious that the promoters of this faceless group hate the current peace, amity, and spirit of bipartisanship which Governor Eno has promoted in the state.
“He enjoys a warm relationship with the Honourable minister, and both are working together to bring development to the state, especially in the oil and gas sector, of which Akwa Ibom, is a leading producer,” Udo stressed.
In the same vein, Ibah explained that “the governor is leading a peaceful administration in the state and has no interference with activities that go on in the APC.
“Therefore, “we can categorically deny the allegation that the honourable minister, Ekpo, is involved in any plot to sabotage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election efforts,” he maintained.
