Their protestation is coming barely 48 hours to the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office on May 29, 2019.
Speaking under the aegis of Ibom Integrity & Servant Leadership Culture Initiative, the elders in a letter to President Buhari, argued that appointing Akpabio would be an invitation to crisis in the state.
They maintained that Akpabio, who defected to APC on the eve of the 2019 general elections after serving as former governor under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should not be considered a genuine APC faithful to deserve a ministerial appointment.
The letter titled: Ministerial Appointment: Why Appointing Akpabio May be Counter Productive and signed by the group’s Executive Vice President, Dr. Asuquo Edidem Etim, a copy of which was sent to APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, described Akpabio as a destabilising agent.
They argued that the state is peopled with men of integrity who fit into ministerial positions to help actualise the APC-led government’s next level agenda.
“APC’s poor outing in Akwa Ibom in the last general election was, to a large extent, due Akpabio’s destabilising and authoritarian tendencies, as he only believes that it is either his way or nobody’s.
“Akpabio’s actions left many party members bruised, trampled and disgruntled, which affected the chances of our governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere at the polls,” they stated.
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