GODSWILL AKPABIO DENIES RIFT WITH AKWA IBOM GOVERNOR

The immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio has dismissed as a ruse, a news story purporting that he is angry with his successor over U.S trip.
In a chat with newsmen, Akpabio who now represents Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and Minority Leader in the Senate, said his attention was drawn to a story in Punch newspaper that, he is angry with Governor Udom Emmanuel, for attending a summer
Convention in the United States organised by Akwa Ibom Indigenes abroad.
Senator Akpabio who said neither he nor his aide spoke to any Punch correspondent said the credibility of the report was lacking, as a so-called former aide, who does not want to be named, purportedly told the Punch correspondent in Uyo, his storyline, which the former governor described as disingenuous and mischievous.
Governor Akpabio defended the trip arguing that, as governor for eight years, he used to attend all AKISAN conventions in the diaspora and used the platform to interact with Akwa Ibom citizens in diaspora, exchange ideas with them and attract the much needed investments home.
Senator Akpabio maintained that, he is certain, his successor was in order and has the depth, experience, capacity and competence to steer the ship of state higher and achieve more for the state and warned rumour mongers and mischief makers to desist from using his name to cause a rift in the state.
In a related development, Governor Udom Emmanuel has denied reports that, the state Government spent so much on the contingent that made the trip to U.S. For the AKISAN convention. Governor Udom who disclosed that, those that made the trip did so at their expense and the state government was not the sponsor of the event, said he was obliged to attend the event as he was formally invited by his people in diaspora and had to meet with them to intimate them on the vision and programmes of his administration.
The Akwa Ibom State governor cautioned detractors and cynics to desist from making wrong conjectures about mere rumours and charged them to shun sentiments and join hands with his administration to move the state forward