Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has hit back at his critics, insisting that his record in public office speaks for itself.
Akpabio, who is now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the assertion in an interview in which he addressed his political movement from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, his relationship with Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel, allegations surrounding his administration and his political influence in the state.
He also dismissed allegations concerning properties allegedly owned by him outside Nigeria, saying he was one of the most investigated former governors in the country.
“I am the most investigated former governor in Nigeria. Go anywhere in the world, I don’t have a single house that I could sell, whether in the United Kingdom or Dubai,” Akpabio said.
Why I Moved From PDP to APC
Asked why Governor Emmanuel and other political associates who had previously regarded him as their leader did not follow him into the APC, Akpabio said political choices could not be imposed on individuals.
According to him, his decision to join the APC was motivated by what he described as a broader national interest and the need to strengthen the political participation of the South-South region.
He argued that political leaders must sometimes make decisions based on what they consider to be the long-term interests of their people.
Akpabio said his political movement was also influenced by the need to deepen the relationship between the South-South and the North, particularly with the emergence of the APC-led Federal Government.
He said he did not initially attempt to persuade his political associates to follow him, but claimed that a large number of people who believed in his leadership later joined the APC.
“I only walked away. I am like a woman politically that has a generation behind her,” he said.
Akpabio said his decision eventually attracted several political figures and supporters across the state.
‘Elections Were Not Simply Written in Akwa Ibom’
Reacting to suggestions that his movement to the APC could make elections in Akwa Ibom more competitive, Akpabio rejected claims that previous election results in the state were simply predetermined.
He said such an assertion was unfair to voters, political parties and election officials who participated in the electoral processes.
According to him, previous elections in the state produced closely contested results and involved political parties challenging one another through established electoral and legal channels.
Akpabio cited his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate in 2007 as an example of what he described as a competitive political process.
He said several aspirants contested the party’s primary election, which he described as a prolonged and highly competitive exercise.
He also pointed to the 2011 governorship election, saying his administration secured victory across 30 of the state’s 31 local government areas.
Akpabio further recalled the 2015 presidential election, when the APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, won nationally despite the PDP’s strong presence in several parts of the country.
He said the PDP’s victory in Akwa Ibom at the time demonstrated that voters in the state were capable of making independent electoral choices.
“It is not true that election results in Nigeria are always written,” he said.
‘I Did Not Leave N500bn Debt’
The former governor also rejected claims that his administration left Akwa Ibom with debts running into hundreds of billions of naira.
Akpabio said his administration obtained about N80 billion in bank loans, comprising an initial N50 billion facility and another N30 billion.
He explained that the loans were obtained at a period when the state’s revenue was declining, adding that his administration expected funds from the Paris Club process and other sources to help meet its obligations.
According to him, claims that he left behind N500 billion in debt were exaggerated.
“I don’t think the debt profile that we left behind was anything up to N60bn,” he said.
Akpabio also referred to figures submitted to the Debt Management Office (DMO) by the state government in 2016, saying the total debt and contractual obligations reported at the time were significantly different from the figures being attributed to his administration.
He maintained that the state remained among the less-indebted states relative to its revenue-generating capacity.
The former governor also argued that government borrowing should be assessed alongside the infrastructure and economic assets created with the funds.
He cited projects including the Ibom International Airport, power and gas projects, roads, drainage infrastructure, hospitals and other public facilities as examples of what he described as economic enablers.
‘I Left Economic Assets Behind’
Akpabio said his administration completed thousands of projects during his eight years in office.
He mentioned the Ibom Power Plant, gas infrastructure, road projects, drainage systems and healthcare facilities among the projects he said were initiated or completed under his administration.
He also said his government invested heavily in federal roads within the state and expected reimbursement from the Federal Government.
According to him, such reimbursements, together with other expected revenues, should be considered when assessing the state’s financial position after his administration.
He said his government also introduced free and compulsory education and established programmes targeted at children and vulnerable residents.
“I left the state far richer than I met it,” Akpabio said.
‘EFCC Investigated Me’
On allegations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sought to investigate his administration, Akpabio said the matter arose from petitions submitted to the anti-graft agency.
He explained that he personally appeared before the EFCC to respond to the allegations.
According to him, the existence of an investigation did not amount to a finding of wrongdoing.
Akpabio maintained that he was willing to answer questions concerning his tenure and insisted that he had nothing to hide.
He then challenged anyone with evidence that he owned properties in the United Kingdom, Dubai or elsewhere abroad to produce such evidence.
‘History Will Judge Udom Emmanuel’
Asked whether Governor Udom Emmanuel was performing well in office, Akpabio declined to give a direct assessment.
“History will judge him, not me,” he said.
He, however, explained that he had played a role in Emmanuel’s emergence as the PDP governorship candidate in 2015.
According to Akpabio, he encountered Emmanuel at a church in Lagos and subsequently became convinced that he could provide a relatively neutral option among the numerous aspirants seeking the PDP ticket.
He said several individuals had sought the governorship ticket at the time, but he eventually supported Emmanuel’s emergence.
Akpabio said Emmanuel later reconciled with several of those who opposed his candidacy.
‘There Is No Disagreement With Emmanuel’
Despite their political differences, Akpabio said he had no personal disagreement with Governor Emmanuel.
He explained that their major difference was political, following his decision to move from the PDP to the APC.
He also referred to comments attributed to Emmanuel concerning the circumstances surrounding his own emergence in politics, saying some of the claims were inaccurate.
Akpabio said the disagreement was therefore more about political history and party affiliation than personal animosity.
‘APC Has Taken Over Akwa Ibom’
Akpabio expressed confidence that the APC had gained considerable support in Akwa Ibom State.
He said the reception he received after joining the APC demonstrated what he described as widespread support for the party.
According to him, large crowds gathered at different locations during his movement into the APC, including his senatorial district.
He claimed that thousands of people had also obtained APC membership cards following his movement.
Akpabio predicted that the APC would perform strongly in the state in the 2019 general elections.
He attributed the growing support, among other factors, to what he described as dissatisfaction among some residents with developments in the state.
‘I Did Not Say More Money Will Do What Money Cannot Do’
Akpabio also denied making the statement that “what money cannot do, more money will do.”
He attributed the statement to comments and writings by individuals whom he said were opposed to his political movement.
According to him, the statement was being taken out of context and did not represent his position.
He said there were things money could not buy, including human life, and urged Nigerians not to attribute the controversial statement to him.
Senate Leadership and His Emergence as Principal Officer
On allegations that he spent money to secure a principal position in the Senate, Akpabio rejected the claim.
He said his emergence was based on the support of senators from the South-South geopolitical zone.
Akpabio recalled that he initially declined the position because he wanted to take a break after serving as governor for eight years.
He said his colleagues nevertheless persuaded him to accept the responsibility.
The former governor also recalled his role as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and said he had worked to promote the interests of the South-South region.
On Pension and Senate Allowances
Akpabio also addressed criticism surrounding former governors who later serve in the Senate while receiving pensions provided for by state laws.
He explained that a pension as a former governor was different from the allowances attached to his position as a serving senator.
According to him, former governors who become senators are not receiving two salaries for the same position.
He said the pension was connected to previous service as governor, while Senate remuneration related to his current legislative responsibilities.
‘Security Vote Has a Purpose’
On the debate over security votes for governors, Akpabio defended the practice, arguing that state executives needed resources to respond to security challenges.
He said governors had a responsibility to protect lives and property within their states and that security-related expenditure was therefore necessary.
Akpabio, however, added that any governor who misused such funds should be held accountable.
He also expressed support for the establishment of state police, arguing that officers recruited from and familiar with a particular community could have a better understanding of local security challenges.
According to him, a properly structured state police system could complement the efforts of the Federal Government.
He proposed a system in which state police officers could be recruited by states but trained under national standards.
Akpabio said such officers could subsequently advance into the federal police structure where necessary.
Throughout the interview, the former governor maintained that his record in Akwa Ibom should be judged by the projects and policies implemented during his tenure rather than by what he described as political criticism.
“My works speak for me,” he said.
0 Comments