By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
A Niger Delta youth group known as Niger Delta Youth Stakeholders Forum (NDYSF) has spoken against hiding under the controversies surrounding the amended Traditional Rulers Council Law in Akwa Ibom State to smear the character and person of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The NDYSF National President, Mr. Cyril Essien, in a statement while reacting to a publication against Akpabio on one of the national dailies in Uyo on Monday, wondered how individuals would rely on half-baked information to concoct stories in order to insult a man with no mean repute.
Essien described the publication with the headline “Focus on NASS, not Akwa Ibom, Group tells Akpabio” credited to a group, Alliance for Peace in Niger Delta (APND) as ill-conceived, awkward, spurious and preposterous.
NDYSF President, while referring to APND group as merchants of misinformation, paid blackmailers and attention-seekers, noted that “It is public knowledge that the amended Traditional Rulers law recently passed by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has generated serious uproar in the State.
“It was in the light of the above that Sen. Godswill Akpabio during his remarks at the Akwa Ibom State 36th Anniversary Special Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service appealed to the State Governor to consider taking another look at the law with the possibility of addressing the contending issue in the interest of peace, unity and progress of the state.
“It is pertinent to point out that the rotation of Chairmanship of Council of Traditional Rulers in Akwa Ibom, with a yearly tenure that was later reviewed upward to two years, which the group erroneously claims Senator Akpabio was referring to in his remarks, has been and it is still in practice for over a decade in Akwa Ibom State.
“There is no gainsaying that Sen. Godswill Akpabio laid bare his mind, and rightly too, on the concern raised by Traditional Rulers and others from some sections of Akwa Ibom State in the new amended law.
“So referring to Sen. Akpabio’s well received remarks at the Thanksgiving Service “revolt and outburst” is very uncomplimentary and unbecoming of a group touted as peace advocate.
“From the statement accredited to them, It is obvious that the group, rather than sought to understand the facts of the issue in question, may have relied on an ill-conceived and twisted version dished out to them to do the bidding of their paymasters for obvious reasons.
“For the avoidance of doubts,
The public should understand that Sen. Akpabio was referring to the Headship or Office of the President General of the Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers as captured in the amended law – of which the tenure is life – only elapsing at the demise of the occupant.
“It was on the strength of the above and upon being informed of disturbing clause that the said new office, President General, in the law will be the exclusive reserve of one ethnic group in the State that Sen. Akpabio suggested a rotation of the office amongst the ethnic groups upon the demise of the occupant as what he believes would be a fair, equitable, inclusive and non-discriminatory option for consideration in the interest of the state.
“Since the Senate President suggestion does and cannot translate to meddling with Pastor Umo Eno in administering the affairs of the State as shamelessly alleged by this disgruntled group, we therefore view this onslaught on Sen. Akpabio as despicable antics of twisted minds, infamously seeking attention by throwing unwarranted darts at a man of no mean repute – one whose uncommon leadership style resonates with the people.
“We wish to remind these faceless detractors that Godswill Akpabio is first of all a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West/Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, before his office of the Senate Presidency.
“Being a respectable leader in the State, as former Governor, and a representative of the people of his Senatorial District confers on him not just the right to contribute to critical issues affecting the State and the people, but one whose opinion should be sort.
“So it is insulting, not just to Sen. Akpabio but also to the people he represents for a rag-tag group to suggest that he should have no say in the affairs of Akwa Ibom State. What impudence!,” Essien added.
