By Olushola Victor
It seems Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, have found a common ground to co-exist.
In recent times, the senator has shunned Akwa Ibom State events despite being its former governor. The reason is not unconnected with the discord between him and his successor.
Surprisingly, Akpabio was spotted at the thanksgiving service for the creation of the state held in September.
But there are insinuations that the only reason he honoured the event was he couldn’t say no to Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, who was the special guest of honour. It was learnt that but for Osinbajo, he might not have stepped inside the Ibom Hall Grounds in Uyo.
Since Akpabio moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in August last year, things have not been smooth between him and Emmanuel.
Last year, the governor blamed Akpabio for masterminding the crisis rocking the state’s House of Assembly. Five lawmakers, who were sacked by the Akwa-Ibom House of Assembly for defecting to APC from PDP, tried to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor. Emmanuel then stormed the Assembly complex and stopped the lawmakers from sitting.
Also, when it was announced that Emmanuel would govern the state for another tenure, the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district described the victory as a “purchased victory which must be reclaimed.” He insisted that it was too early for Governor Emmanuel to celebrate his victory, adding that the APC would exploit appropriate legal means to retrieve it.
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