Former Akwa Ibom State governor and current senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Godswill Akpabio, who formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, today, has declared that his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is in the interest of the South-South region, which he maintains, has remained underdeveloped because voices from the region are hardly heard at the centre.
Akpabio who spoke at a mammoth rally in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, attended by APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole, former Lagos State governor and party chieftain, Bola Tinubu, party leaders, National Assembly members and several dignitaries, came clear that he and the South – South region must align with the party at the centre to attract democratic dividends to the region as well as enjoy government patronage. He also was quick to say too that, his defection to the APC, was a national sacrifice, done to keep Nigeria one.
While responding to several high profile condemnations of his defection, Akpabio appeared particularly irked by comments made by Bayelsa State’s Ben Murray Bruce. He responded by asking Bruce to come to Uyo and complete the Ibom Tropicana contract, long awarded to Bruce. He promised Bruce and his co-travellers that the PDP in 2019, will be a thing of the past after the next elections.
Adams Oshiomole, National Chairman, APC, who spoke earlier at the occasion, expressed happiness that Akpabio has defected to the APC. “With someone like Akpabio joining the APC, I can comfortably say that I am no longer alone in the party, from the Niger Delta region”, Oshiomole said.
Two former commissioners in Akwa Ibom State, Victor Antai of Culture and Tourism, and Ibanga Akpabio of Labour, Productivity and Manpower Planning. , fired from office at about 10 pm, yesterday, by Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom State governor, for going to receive Akpabio at the airport yesterday, were presented to the crowd at the rally as they also defected to the APC.
