REVEALED !!! 31 INDUSTRIES: AKPABIO ATTRIBUTES FAILURE TO FORMER DEPUTY … As Ikot Abasi Stakeholders Take Side - Essien Inyang, Thompson Essien, Ubong Sampson ,Edidion Opposition Udobia ,David Augustine, ors vindicated - Ata ikideh BY ANIETIE EKONG As the State Government puts finishing touches to all its on-going projects, Governor Godswill Akpabio has said his only regret so far is the inability to fulfill the cardinal agenda of his 2011 campaign promise, the 31 industries for 31 LGAs, but attributed the fault to his former deputy, Obong Nsima Ekere, whom he described as a flop to the state. Akpabio, who stated this recently at Akwa Ibom Lodge, Abuja, when some stakeholders from Ikot Abasi Local Government Area under the aegis of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency PDP Stakeholders’ Forum, called on him, stressed that the establishment of the promised industries was not his brainchild but that of Ekere, saying, “Nsima boasted that he will use his wealth of knowledge in the private sector into making the promise a reality.” He regretted that his former deputy tendered his resignation letter to go and face his private business even when the state government was ready to embark on the projects. According to him: “I couldn’t have promised the state one industry per local government if I didn’t have such backup from my running mate; he told me in the presence of my then Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Umana Umana, that with his grips in private sector, he will draw at least 31 industries within four years, and I said that during our tour at Mkpat Enin and Abak Local Government Areas.” Stressing further, Governor Akpabio said “As soon as we were embarking on modalities to ensuring that the industries are established, my then deputy tendered his resignation on the premise that he wanted to go and face his private business.” Akpabio, who nearly wept while narrating the embarrassment his former deputy has put the government into, maintained “Nsima Ekere is a wolf in sheep clothing. When Engr. Patrick Ekpotu was my deputy, he kept calling me to drop him. He blackmailed that young man for nothing sake. So, I decided to choose him as my running mate for second term for peace to reign, but after he tendered a resignation, I vowed within myself never to choose anybody from Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, because I was afraid that Nsima may poison such a person, thus, I choose his successor from Mkpat Enin.” The Governor debunked the news that the House of Assembly wanted to impeach Nsima Ekere, saying “such was a cheap of blackmail perpetrated by his supporters. No legislature has ever wanted to impeach any of my deputy governors. The electorates should ask him, if he is through with his private businesses in foreign countries, as it will be a disappointment if he later resign when he is needed most.” Reacting, the leader of the delegation, a former Commissioner for Economic Development, Barr. Jerry Akpan, applauded Governor Akpabio for the infrastructural renaissance, political appointment and youths empowerment in the federal constituency, stressing that the Forum was proud to have him as Governor and pledged its readiness to support his succession plan for 2015. Also speaking, a youth leader from the area, Hon. Ubong Ekefre, thanked the Governor for appointing him as a Council boss and pledged to reciprocate the gesture. He frowned at Nsima Ekere’s high level of character assassination, narrating how one of his media aides impersonated him by signing a release against Mr. Mike Sebastine, in his words: “Your Excellency, about a month ago someone drew my attention to a released signed on my behalf against my brother, Mike Sabastine. I never knew the author until someone confided in me that it was done by Nsima’s Media aide.” In his remark, Hon. Chielly Okoko, described Governor Akpabio’s immediate past deputy as a blackmailer, noting that he had blackmailed his brother a fortnight ago through his newspapers agents. All effort to reach the former deputy governor on this issue proved abortive, but his Press Secretary, Mr. Inemesit Ina, stated that he was not aware of any meeting between the Governor and Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency PDP stakeholder.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 22:21:55 +0000
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