…Says claims are false, misleading, and unfair to the family
Prince Ukpong Akpabio II, the lawmaker representing Essien Udim State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has strongly refuted recent allegations made by Pat Ibanga Akpabio against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON.
In a statement titled “Pat Ibanga Akpabio’s smear campaign against the Senate President: A handshake above the elbow,” Prince Akpabio described Pat Akpabio’s comments as “unfounded, regrettable, and misleading.” He expressed disappointment over what he called a “public spectacle” of accusations and social media attacks targeted at the Senate President and the Akpabio family.
“There comes a time in life that silence can no longer be golden. This sadly is one of such moments,” he said.
Prince Akpabio, who noted his long working relationship with Senator Akpabio, dismissed allegations of murder and neglect as “baseless and made in bad faith.”
“Never has Godswill Akpabio masterminded the killing of anyone since his birth, much less in politics. Even when he faced fierce political opposition, violence was never an option,” he asserted, adding that Akpabio’s leadership record was built on “performance, empowerment, and good governance.”
He emphasized that the entire Akpabio family had benefitted from the Senate President’s generosity and described any attempt to malign him as “unfair and historically dishonest.”
The lawmaker also condemned verbal attacks on Dr. (Mrs.) Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, calling such behavior “an abomination inconsistent with cultural values and family respect.”
“It is therefore an abomination to insult her the way and manner she has done. People must learn to know where to draw the line,” he added.
Prince Akpabio appealed for restraint and maturity in handling family and political matters, urging the public to disregard the allegations.
“Enough of the blackmail. Enough of the character assassination. Enough of the unjust attack on the reputation of a person in the name of politics,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, commended Prince Akpabio for clarifying the issues, assuring balanced media coverage.
“It’s important that you’ve invited us to speak on this, and as journalists, we will do justice to it through our reports while calling for peace to return to the Akpabio family,” Nsibiet John said.
He appealed to all parties to embrace peace and unity in the interest of the Akpabio family and the image of Akwa Ibom State.
