The All Progressives Congress youths in Akwa Ibom State under the aegis of APC Media Network, have tackled the Uyo Senatorial District Media Practitioners Forum, USDMPF, over derogatory remarks claimed to have been made against the Senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo who are APC Chieftains.
Recall that USDMPF in a statement signed by its Director, Public and Strategic Communication, Victor Etim warned the Minister (Obongemem) against advising Governor Umo Eno on convoking a peace meeting between Senator Akpabio and former governor Udom Emmanuel saying that he has no locus standi to make such appeal.
They queried, “Where was Ekperikpe Ekpo when Akpabio proclaimed a war cry, declaring that he would invade Akwa Ibom with federal might and capture the State in three hours? Where was ObongEmem when Akpabio declared in an ultimatum that everyone working in Government House Uyo should vacate before 31st December 2018, so that the then Governor Udom Emmanuel would be left with only his wife and driver?”
The group also accused the duo of Akpabio and Obongemem of masterminding the agitations against the Traditional Ruler’s law which has been amended and passed.
Irked by the allegations, the APC youths described USDMPF as a group of “media hustlers who do all manners of dirty jobs for PDP chieftains to earn a living.”
The Director General of APC Network Otuekong Iniobong John, in a statement made available to our correspondent on Friday, urged the patrons of the USDMPF to call them to order as their ill intent of bringing back past political events in the state could lead to avoidable and unnecessary political crises.
According to him, “The Hon Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, in calling on the State Governor, Pst Umo Eno, to convene a peace meeting between Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr Udom Emmanuel, was only keying into the message of peace and reconciliation preached by the State Governor on the occasion of the Akwa Ibom State anniversary church service,
“Senator Godswill Akpabio and Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo have demonstrated their commitment to use their respective positions to partner with the Akwa Ibom State Government to attract development to the state and should be appreciated and not traduced.
“If the PDP black media boys want to be noticed and patronized by the immediate past Governor of the state or the present governor, as is apparent, they should engage themselves in decent things that can add value to the government and not fanning the embers of discord and crisis in the state.”