REJOINDER: GODSWILL AKPABIO’S TISSUE OF LIES

The outpouring of aspersion by the Godswill Akpabio-led 49 member Senate Caucus of the PDP on President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft crusade is a deliberate attempt to stampede and blackmail Mr. President.

As ministers in the “temple of Justice”, we condemn Godswill Akpabio’s vituperations on the current administration’s war against corruption, which is the bane of our growth as a Nation. It is worthy of note, that the eight-year reign of Akpabio in Akwa Ibom State, without mincing words will go down in history as the “dark era” of massive looting of the State treasury, since its creation in 1987.

Furthermore, Akpabio has series of corruption – related petitions against him pending at the EFCC, currently being investigated, which is why he is raising false alarm against Mr. President to evade prosecution and conviction.

To this end, we make bold to say that we have concrete proof of how Godswill Akpabio uncommonly misappropriated Akwa Ibom tax-payer’s monies between 2007 to 2015 and will be ready and willing to substantiate same. It is therefore factually incorrect, malicious and mischievous for Akpabio to allege that the anti-graft war is targeted at opposition politicians even when Mr. President’s efforts have so far revealed that there are no “sacred cows”. The allegation of intimidation of erring I.N.E.C officials by the Department of State Service (DSS) is not only unfounded and spurious but an expression of frustration of his failed bid to compromise the Leadership of the State Security Service.

It is against this background, that we commend the Lawal Daura Leadership of the DSS for bringing to bear professionalism efficiency and the Rule of law in the discharge of his duties. As investigation of errant public officers are ongoing, we call on Godswill Akpabio to stop and desist from undue interference and allow the law enforcement agencies discharge their responsibilities creditably, since the suspects are still presumed innocent until proven guilty. In the light of the foregoing, it is therefore hasty and pre-emptive to allege a witch-hunt, since only the guilty are afraid.

Consequently, we urge Mr. President to ignore Godswill Akpabio and his co-travellers as it could be recalled that Akpabio was a major player of the former administration that immensely contributed to the woes Nigerians are going through today, politically and economically. We also exhort, Mr. President to be focused on the discharge of his mandate to Nigerians without fear or favour.

In the final analysis, we wish to remind you of your famous and timeless aphorism, “that this generation and indeed the future generation, have no other Country but Nigeria, we must remain here and salvage it together”.

Yours Truly,
Barr. Leo Ekpenyong