Akwa Ibom 32nd Anniversary : Ibokessien begs Akpabio onbehalf of Udom
By Sylvester Cletus, Abuja
Contrary to media reports that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, talked down on his kinsman, Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien, when he visited him in his Asokoro residence on Thursday, Peesreporters.com can authoritatively report that, rather than talk down on Ibokessien, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, accorded him the respect due him.
According to information gathered from a source at the meeting, ” Senator Ibokessien came to invite the Hon Minister to the first Convocation of the Ritman University as the Chancellor and to formally congratulate him on his appointment as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs”
It was also gathered that Senator Ibokessien was warmly received by his kinsman, after exchange of banter, despite their political differences and the role of a betrayal that Ibokessien played during the last election. It was not clear if Akpabio accepted the invitation to the convocation because of what an insider described as ” having been appointed a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), he could not continue to hold the office of a Chancellor of a private university ”
It was reliably gathered that Ibokessien used the visit to apologise to the Minister on behalf of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, for the misdemeanor of the governor during the 23rd anniversary celebration of the creation of the state.
” Hon Minister, permit me to tender an unreserved apology, on behalf of Governor Udom Emmanuel, for the immature manner he handled your maiden visit to the state as a Minister of the Federal Republic from the state. His attitude towards you, no doubt robbed the state of the long sought opportunity to bring about peace in the state among all political divides”, he stressed.
In his response, Senator Akpabio, was said to have thanked Ibokessien for the visit, particularly his invitation to be part of the first Convocation of the Ritman University as its Chancellor. Whether Akpabio accepted the invitation could not be confirmed as at the time of filling this report.
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