Akpabio Denies Presidential Ambition

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has again reiterated that he has no intention of contesting either as President or running mate to any presidential aspirant in next year’s general elections, but rather has accepted the mandate of the people of his State to re-contest as governor come 2011.
Accordingly the State Government has condemned in strong terms the actions of those it described as unscrupulous politicians who have resorted to printing posters and billboards of a presidential aspirant in next year’s general elections, General Ibrahim Babangida and fixing the photograph of Governor Godswill Akpabio on the said posters as his running mate.
In a statement in Uyo issued by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, the State Government described it as an out dated tactics born out of desperation and utter frustration of a few metropolitan politicians seeking relevance through blackmail.
The statement reads in part “This is an attempt by the perpetrators of this crude method of politicking to smear the character of His Excellency the Governor and confuse his teaming supporters in the State”.
According to Mr. Umanah, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio has left no one in doubt about his interest not only to contest the 2011 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, but also to continue with his massive developmental projects spread across the state.
The Information Boss further averred that only last Saturday, the Governor accented to the bid of youths in former Abak Division, comprising five local government areas, to purchase his nomination form, and endorse him for a second term in office. This, he said was in addition to the endorsements by virtually all ethnic blocs, geo-political districts and interested groups in the State, urging the Governor to go for a second term in line with his developmental activities in the state.
While re-assuring that Governor Akpabio has never indicated interest in the Presidency nor canvassed for the position of running mate to any of the presidential aspirants, the information boss urged all Nigerians to discountenance the misleading actions of the alleged detractors.
Continuing further, Commissioner Umanah explained that the recent visit of the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu Muazu, to Uyo had nothing to do with the 2011 Presidential election.
He said that Governor Aliyu came to the State to attend the 16th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Uyo, and was also awarded a Doctoral Degree by the institution, adding that his visit to the state was never to pave way for General Ibrahim Babangida’s presidential consultation as alleged in some quarters.
“The visit of former President Babangida to Akwa Ibom State was at the instance of The Initiatives – a group within the House of Representatives, headed by Hon. Eseme Eyiboh and not the State Government or the State Governor”.
The press statement also reiterated the support and loyalty of the government and people of Akwa Ibom State to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We hereby warn these poster and billboards politicians to desist from dragging the name or photograph of His Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio into their clandestine activities”, the statement concluded.