Tobias Sylvester
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has denied barring former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, from meeting with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in the state.
Udom Emmanuel Didn’t Bar Atiku In Akwa Ibom
The governor, who is contesting with Atiku, for the 2023 presidential election, was said to have blocked the vice-president from consulting PDP delegates in Akwa Ibom.
However, in a statement issued by his Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong, the governor described the news as false, saying it is an act of pure mischief for anyone to insinuate such as it was incompatible with his disposition as a person.
Udom, who also urged the public to disregard the report, wondered why Atiku would be barred when other aspirants have visited the delegates without any hindrance.
He said: “The news item with the above heading surfaced on the media space, alleging that Gov. Udom Emmanuel barred Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from meeting with delegates from Akwa Ibom State.
“It also went on to make a lot of spurious allegations, laced with foul and profane language. Nothing can be farther from the truth than this. The said news is totally incompatible with the known accommodating disposition of Gov. Emmanuel
“The truth is that the governor, who has been in communication and contact with all other presidential aspirants (Atiku Abubakar inclusive), was informed that the former Vice President would be visiting on Monday, May 16 (today) to meet with delegates and thereafter see him (Gov. Emmanuel) by 4 pm, a proposal that was unhesitatingly accepted.”
“It is therefore pure mischief for anyone to insinuate that the Governor is preventing Alhaji Abubakar from seeing delegates. Other Presidential Aspirants have visited the party in Akwa Ibom without a hitch, so why would Atiku’s be different?
“In the light of current circumstances surrounding Atiku’s media posture, especially online, we will like to discard the news item as not coming from them and not having the authorization of the presidential aspirant himself, especially since the allegation is not personally signed off and is not posted on any of his verified social media accounts.
“We urge the entire public to discountenance the fake news and treat it as an act of mischief of the highest order. Our delegates and team are waiting to receive the aspirant on the agreed date and time.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Atiku Abubakar had recently expressed confidence that he will win the 2023 presidency on the platform of the PDP.
