Senate 2023: I ceased to be Akpabio’s “boy” since 2018 – Barr Enoidem
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District election, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem has responded to a comment “credited to Senator Godswill Akpabio describing him as his “boy”.
A sensational banner in the Post Newspaper of Wednesday, October 19, 2022, entitled “Ikot Ekpene Senate: Enoidem is still my boy- Sen Akpabio, quoted the former governor as saying that he knows what to give Barr Enoidem when he’s hungry.
But a swift traction, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem noted that h does not believe that Senator Akpabio would say those words because both of them have high regard for each other.
And if he did by chance or anyway, Akpabio indeed said something close to that, Barr Enoidem believes, that the paper may have quoted him out of context because Senator Akpabio cannot call everyone boy because they served under him.
For the benefit of those who may want to take the sensational banner story of the Post Newspaper hook, line and sinker, there has never been a time in history that Akpabio met Barr Enoidem as a hungry person. Never.
Akpabio met him in PDP in 2002. This was four years after PDP was already formed. He met Barr Enoidem as a former Chairman of Etim Ekpo LGA as far back as 1997, a former University Law teacher, a Practising lawyer and the State Treasurer of PDP.
Akpabio was appointed as a Commissioner by HE, Obong Victor Attah in 2002. That was Barr Enoidem’s first real contact with him.
When Akpabio wanted to consult Barr Enoidem for his governorship aspiration in 2006, it was in Enoidem’s personal house in Ewet Housing which was built between 1999-2001.
Barr Enoidem owned a house in Ewet Housing before Akpabio who got his first house in Ewet Housing when he became a Commissioner under Governor Victor Attah.
Just like Akpabio was appointed a Commissioner by Attah, he was under the duty of the law to appoint Commissioner as he could not have been a Governor and a Commissioner at the same time. So he became one of the Commissioners he appointed. So at no time did Akpabio find Barr Enoidem as a hungry fellow or needy.
As a Commissioner under Akpabio, Barr Enoidem served with unparalleled passion, commitment and dedication. Enoidem was very loyal to Akpabio as his boss and a PDP governor up to May 29, 2016, and supported Akpabio largely to go to the Senate in 2015 and as his Senator till August 8, 2018.
Enoidem ceased completely to be Akpabio’s boy on August 8, 2018, when Akpabio defected to APC obviously for his personal gains against all entreaties and voices of reason.
It is totally incorrect, inappropriate and baseless for Akpabio to say Enoidem is his boy in 2022.
If Akpabio is the APC candidate for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, it is only a truism that he is going to contest the seat with Barr Enoidem, who was long nominated by the PDP for the election before Akpabio obtained his mandate from the court to contest for the position.
Barr Enoidem has been waiting for his opponent in the 2023 senate election since May 23, 2022, when he was nominated for the election. Whereas Akpabio became a candidate on September 15, 2022 courtesy of a Federal High Court, Abuja judgment. So there is nothing wrong in fact and logic for Barr Enoidem to say he is waiting for his opponent, who happened to be Akpabio. Does it mean Akpabio is not contesting the election again?
