As Akwa Ibom gets set to celebrate its former Governor, Arc Obong Victor Attah who clocks 80 on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, APC Governorship candidate and Managing Director of NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere has pleaded with his Chief Campaigner and former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio to stay off the celebration to avoid a possible backlash that may rub off negatively on his campaign in view of Akpabio’s sour relationship with the Attah’s family.
According to sources close to the former Senate Minority Leader, Ekere had to appeal to Akpabio to distance himself from Attah’s birthday celebration to avoid giving his opponents the leverage to whip up sentiments of how deameaning Akpabio treated his predecessor which may not go down well with the Ekere’s campaign.
“Nsima Ekere did not command Akpabio, he was only “advising” Akpabio to stay off Obong Attah’s birthday in order to protect the image and public perception of his campaign and the APC in the state. It was not like it was an order so to say. He did so with all amount of responsibility because whether you like it or not, Akpabio never treated Obong Attah with the respect deserving of a former Governor and a revered Ibibio son and wanting to be too visible in the celebration could be used against Nsima Ekere. It is just a precautionary measure.”
“You recollect how he treated the Attahs’ when the former First Lady was sick, the non payment of Attah’s entitlements as a former Governor, his mischievious choosing of a physically challenged man and imposing same as Councillor in Attah’s Ward in Ibesikpo during the Local Government election when he was Governor just to spite Obong Attah and many humiliations the Ibibio’s considered abominable that Akpabio did to Obong Attah. If he (Akpabio) is seen anywhere near Attah’s 80th birthday celebration in this season of politics, it will evoke anger and Nsima is finished if that is allowed to happen as Akwa Ibom people will make political capital out of it to the detriment of Ekere’s election. So as they say, prevention is better than cure”, said the source who pleaded annonimity because she was not authorised to speak on the subject matter.
Investigation reveals the APC had planned to hold a separate birthday party in honour of the former Governor but the request was turned down by Obong Attah who insisted his birthday celebration cannot be politicised and he will only attend one celebration organised by his friends in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The former Governor clocks eighty (80) on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. A release signed by the Commissioner, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh indicates that a book launch in Attah’s honour, titled: “It Is Well With My Soul” will hold at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja by 11am.
“Similarly, on Friday, November 23, 2018, an 80th birthday symposium on the topic: “Leadership for Sustainable Development Culture in Africa” will hold at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort by 10am. The Symposium, which will be chaired by erudite legal luminary – Femi Falana (SAN), will have the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah as the Lead Speaker”, the release stated.
Similarly, on Saturday, November 24, 2018, a State Banquet will then hold in honour of the former Governor, at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort by 7pm. According to Mr Udoh, the birthday ceremonies will round off on Monday, November 26, 2018 with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Aka Offot, Uyo by 10 am. The Thanksgiving Mass is open to the public.
