Date Published: 05/17/11

I'll win elections in Akwa Ibom 10 times over, says Akpabio

Gov. Akpabio (2nd right) Dep. Elect Mr Nsima Ekere (2nd left) Flanked by Ntisong Ibibio, Ntisong Ekidem (R) & Itai Afe Annang Okuku Pius EsideIII

The over-fertile rumour mill in Akwa Ibom State was dealt a devastating blow yesterday when Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio returned from an official engagement to declare that his popularity among the electorate was so massive that even if the governorship elections were re-run 10 times, he would still win.

Chief Akpabio spoke against the backdrop of rumours making the rounds that he had fled the state in anticipation of the consequences what the desperate  opposition claimed were video evidence of  manipulations of the outcome of the elections by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Speaking at the Akwa Ibom State Zonal Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after he and 26 elected members of the State House of Assembly were presented their certificates of return, Governor Akpabio said that despite the barrage of deliberately wicked and misleading propaganda spun by the political opposition, it was obvious that the people of Akwa Ibom were solidly behind him as attested to by the results of the elections.

“If you conduct the elections 10 times, I will win 10 times. Governance is about deliverying the dividends of democracy. The results of the elections reflected the wish of the people because they are happy that my administration has made an unprecedentedly positive impact on the lives of the people,” he said, on behalf of all the recipients of  the certificate of return by INEC.

 Describing himself as an innocent victim of vicious propaganda, Chief Akpabio said his adversaries deliberately ignored the fact that his administration has been popular among the people because of its uncommon transformation scorecard, including free and compulsory education policy, free healthcare for pregnant women, children and the aged as well as revolution in in infrastructural provision, among others.

Governor Akpabio urged members of the state house of assembly to reconsider the bill that forecloses the possibility of a newly-elected member holding principal office, stressing that any law that bars other people from holding a particular position can not be a good law. “Lawmakers should make laws that favour the people,” he said.

While the governor and his deputy-elect, Obong Nsima Ekere were presented their certificates of return by the National Electoral Ccommissioner in-charge of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, Barr.(Mrs) Thelma Iremiren, the 26 elected members of the state house of assembly were presented their certificates by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom, Mrs Maria Owi.

Later at a rally to mark the presentation of the certificates of return to the governor , his deputy and elected members of the state legislature held at Ibom Hall, Governor Akpabio thanked the people of the state for the honour done him by his re-election, pledging that he would not betray the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state who turned out in their thousands to give the re-elected governor a befitting reception.

Prominent indigenes of the state who graced the ocassion spoke of Governor Godswill Akpabio and his administration in glowing terms, describing him as the greatest gift God had ever given to Akwa Ibom State.  Some of those who spoke at the reception included the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Umana Okon Umana; former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Arc. Otu Ita Toyo; a former first lady in the state, Obonganwan Imoh Isemin; Chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, Edidem Uwa Adiaka and the state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Hon. Nse Ntuen, among others.