To say that the public is no longer comfortable with Governor Godswill Akpabio’s somewhat obscene display of tax payers’ money is alluding to the obvious, writes Shola Oyeyipo
Amongst the governors that enjoy widespread acceptance in terms of performance in the country, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, is certainly in the first five. This is on account of his array of developmental projects that have seen the administration as the toast of many.
Interestingly, his acceptance of goodwill is believed to have close ties with his generosity which, given the Nigerian political environment, has further endeared him to many than the substance of what he truly represents. However, with an unguarded giving spirit which is sometimes believed to constitute public nuisance, the people are now inclined to seeking answers to Akpabio’s motive of lavish spending of public funds in the midst of squalid living.
The governor, who just acquired a $45 million dollar jet, was a few days ago reported as having splashed thousands of dollars on a Nigerian hip hop act, Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as 2face and his wife, Annie, at their wedding in Eket Local Government Area of the state.
Apart from handing out two Toyota Prado Sports Utility Vehicles to the couple, the Governor has also elected to sponsor about 29 people as delegates from the state to their Dubai wedding this weekend. And all the Governor had to say in defence of his gesture was that the gift was a compensation for Annie who stood by 2face through their trying periods.
Not long after that, Akpabio was again in the news for acquiring several bulletproof sprinter luxury vans from the United States-based Texas Armoring Corporation (TAC).
But more recently, Akapbio was shown on some local television stations, giving out N1m each to six state chairmen of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The news was not even that he gave out the cash donation, the manner in which he gave it out, describing the people as hungry, sculpted the image of a man arrogant with power on account of excessive and redundant funds.
Akpabio also caught negative media exposure when he donated the sum of N230m on behalf of other governors at the launch of St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, home state of President Goodluck Jonathan. It was obvious that he did not consult with many of the other governors as he otherwise feigned before making the donation on their behalf. Indeed, some of them allegedly grumbled over the cash donation on the grounds that they were not in the know
JD:My verdict?the man needs help!
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