Re: My candid advice to President Goodluck (Leave Governor Akpabio Alone)

The attention of the Government of Akwa Ibom State has been drawn to a statement titled “My candid advice to President Goodluck” credited to Dr. Ahmad Gumi. It has been widely posted on the internet and widely culled by the Nigerian media. It purports to be a candid advice to His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan.

We reject in its entirety the alarming, irreverent and shocking insinuations, innuendos and sedition in the publication. The so-called “Candid Advice” brims with lies and falsehood on the state of the nation. We are in complete disagreement at the disparaging commentary on the patriotic efforts of President Jonathan in piloting the affairs of the nation. As a respectful people who treasure the efforts of the Jonathan presidency, who form a strong support base for his transformational governance and who support unremittingly his re-election bid, we noted, as most Nigerians must have noted, that this was a subterfuge with the intent to incite Nigerians against the President ahead of the 2015 Presidential election.

Even more worrisome is the wild insinuation that the President is responsible for the Boko Haram insurgency in-spite of the efforts of the President in curbing security challenges and particularly the recent negotiation and cease-fire agreement intended to bring an end to insurgency in some parts of the country. On the whole, the efforts of President Jonathan in repositioning Nigeria through the Transformation Agenda, which has received wide acclaim, within Nigeria and beyond, needs no reiteration.

What we found most unpleasant and mischievous in this gibberish of an 'advice' is Sheikh Gumi, dragging the name of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio into it and suggesting that the Peoples Democratic Party can field him to “finish” for President Jonathan. Apart from the absurdity of this suggestion, we see it as another ploy by those who have waged a relentless battle to create a wedge between Governor Akpabio and The Presidency.

Whilst we may not speak for Governor Orji of Abia State and former Governor Peter Obi whom we believe Gumi also referred to in the write up, because they too are capable of putting paid to this mischief as it affects them, the conclusion of the diatribe is clearly a way of resurrecting old blackmail bandied about by Abuja-based political turncoats from Akwa Ibom State, whose desperation is known to all.

This, of course, follows a similar pattern of structured falsehood by certain renegades among the political class, especially some governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State who believe that their sure way to getting into power in 2015 is to portray Governor Akpabio in bad light in order to incite the Presidency against him.

For the umpteenth time, we wish to state unequivocally that Governor Godswill Akpabio is not interested in running for the office of President of Nigeria in 2015. His resolve to work assiduously towards the electoral victory of President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP in the 2015 general elections is borne out of the deepest conviction and is inflexible. He believes in in the Transformation Agenda of Mr President, which had begun to yield dividends in the Nigerian economy, to the chagrin of sceptics and the opposition elements in the country.

It is historical to note that under his leadership of the Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Governors elected on the platform of the party had adopted Dr Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the party. This was closely followed by similar adoptions by the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee of the party of which Chief Akpabio is a member. It is also instructive that few days back, the youths of Ikot Ekpene Senatiorial District, had purchased the expression of interest form for Chief Akpabio to represent the District in the Senate and the Governor has accepted the demand of the people and made public his intention to run for the Senate seat of his Senatorial District.

We totally distance the Governor, Government, and indeed the good people of Akwa Ibom State from the mischievous diatribe whilst calling on Nigerians to ignore this divisive and ill-conceived advice by Ahmad Gumi.

We implore Ahmad Gumi, and his Akwa Ibom conspirators to embrace the path of truth, which remains the foundation of every just and stable polity. He should not rent his name to publications meant to create social conflict in the society.

We restate Governor Akpabio's pledge to continue to support President Jonathan in his efforts at transforming the Socio-economic and political structure of Nigeria for posterity.

The people of Akwa Ibom State are solidly behind Governor Akpabio in his support for the president and will remain steadfast in their resolve to massively re-elect Mr President for the sustenance of the tempo of his transformation agenda, which they are evident beneficiaries.

Aniekan Umanah
Hon. Commissioner for Information