Senate 2023: A disgraceful defeat awaits Akpabio if… – Don Etiebet
Elder Statesman and former Minister of Petroleum, Atuekong Don Etiebet, has called on former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to tow the path of honour by stepping down from the senatorial race for DIG Udom Ekpoudom (Retd) to fly the APC Senatorial flag for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in next year’s election, failure of which a second shattering, symbolic and disgraceful defeat awaits the former governor.
The APC Chieftain and Annang icon who was reacting to a question on The Post Newspaper WhatsApp Group by Mr Nsikan Ekere, who queried why the emphasis of the 2023 Senate race should be on Abak Federal Constituency when Senator Ukpanah, Bob Ekarika and Donald Etiebet had earlier gone to the Senate noted that “since 1960, Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constuituecy has gone to Senate three times- Akaninyene Ukpanah, Donald Etiebet and Bob Ekarika whereas Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency has gone five times – with Akpabio’s family twice in Nsima Akpabio and Godswill Akpabio whereas Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency has not gone even once.”
According to Atuekong Etiebet, “the four Federal Constituencies of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam, Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara, Ini/Ikono, Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika, make up Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District and it is the considered opinion of all peace loving people of Annang land that “Brother dey chop, brother no chop” is not good.”
“And that this time around the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency which has not gone to the senate since 1960 should be given the ticket.”
The former Petroleum Minister insisted that since the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has agreed to this as Senator Christopher Ekpenyong from Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency has stepped down for Barr Emmanuel Enoidem from Etim Ekpo and Abak Federal Constituency to be the PDP Senatorial candidate, it is therefore natural justice that Godswill Akpabio who has even gone to the Senate once should step down for DIG Ekpoudom (Retd).
He regretted that rather for Akpabio to tow the path of honour, “he has run back from his failed presidential attempt to embark on all the shenanigans to be declared the senatorial candidate for the District again by a Court Order.”
“That’s why the whole of Abak-5 made up of the five Local Government Areas of the former Abak Division in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District has resolved to back a candidate from Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency from any party to win if APC must field a non Abak-5 Candidate. “ABAK-5 Lokan” because brother chop, brother no chop does not bring peaceful co-existence”, he vowed.
Atuekong Etiebet said it was pertinent for him to remind Senator Akpabio that when his late brother, Senator Donald Dick Etiebet, OFR from Oruk Anam/ Ukanafun Federal Constituency left the Senate in 1983 to contest for the governorship of the then Cross River State under NPN, he went to the Akpabio’s family to pick and support Nsima Akpabio to win and became the Senator for peaceful coexistence and brotherliness amongst the people of Annang land.
“He had all the power and wherewithal to pick another person from Oruk Anam/Ukanafun Federal Constituency who were in abundance but didn’t. So we should eschew selfishness and play some liberal politics rather than “na me alone” vertical politics for peace and togetherness”
“The Abak-5 still calls on him (Akpabio) to step down from his Court ordered candidature for DIG Ekpoudom rtd to avoid a disgraceful defeat. I state this for the understanding of all”, he warned.
