I’ve Forgiven My Successor – Akpabio

The political tension that bedevilled Akwa Ibom and tore the 37-year-old state along ethno-political fragments may give way to a new lease of life for real and sustainable development.

This followed the sheathing of swords between the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and his estranged political godson, Mr Udom Emmanuel, who LEADERSHIP Sunday yesterday gathered, shook hands after nine years and agreed to bury the nagging issues that led to the dispute at much cost to the state and its people.

The resolution of the feud and subsequent accord, it was learnt, followed about two years of political maneuvering and diplomatic overtures to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate President in Abuja, by the chief mediator and ambassador of the state, Governor Umo Eno, who had always identified himself as the political grandson to ex-governor Akpabio, whom he recalled as having been the political father to Emmanuel, who produced him as his successor in 2023.

The peace, which Senator Akpabio hopes would be a lasting one, took place at the weekend during a luncheon he hosted for Pastor Eno, and a delegation of stakeholders in Abuja, after the stakeholders had earlier visited President Tinubu in the Aso Rock Villa.

Confirming this to our correspondent in Uyo, the state capital, the special assistant (SA) to the Senate President on Media/Communications, Anietie Ekong, recalled Senator Akpabio as preaching peace, unity and reconciliation among the political stakeholders of the state at the dining, wining and glass clinking ceremony.

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At the ceremony with former Governor Emmanuel, among the key delegates, Senator Akpabio assured that he has reconciled with his successor in office as governor.

Both leaders, it was learnt, had earlier shook hands at the initial meeting at the Presidential Villa, the first time in nine years, with the Senate President urging other stakeholders to follow suit and make peace with their fellow compatriots.

“Henceforth, that handshake shall continue in Jesus name. This is the Akwa Ibom I want to see,” the Senate President stressed.

Akpabio, therefore, reeled out some key federal projects he had attracted to the state, disclosing that “the Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu, has approved a new Police Academy to be cited in Ikot Ekpene.

“This is in addition to the Federal University of Agriculture to be cited in Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam local government area, which the bill has been passed into law and awaiting the assent of President Tinubu,” he added.

Responding, Governor Eno, thanked Senator Akpabio, for hosting the stakeholders and commended the unity of purpose among politicians in the state, stressing the need for all to work in unison towards the development of the state.

Former minister of Petroleum, Atuekong Don Etiebet, commended Governor Eno on his developmental strides and said as someone who had been in politics since 1978, he had never been as fulfilled as he was seeing the synergy that is existing among politicians from the state under the administration of Governor Eno.

“I have not been so happy and fulfilled as a politician in Akwa Ibom State since 1978, as I am today. The synergy that I have seen among politicians from Akwa Ibom State, I have never seen such unity and harmony among politicians since 1978,” he stated.