Godswill Akpabio, former Senate minority leader and ex-governor of Akwa-Ibom has expressed regret for “imposing” Udom Emmanuel on the people of Akwa-Ibom state as governor.
Apologising before a crowd at Ikot Ekpene Plaza on Sunday, Akpabio said Emmanuel was the greatest mistake he made in a hurry and asked to be forgiven.
He said “Udom (Emmanuel) is a mistake that must be corrected in 2019. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the mistake is corrected for a people-oriented leadership under the ruling All Progressives Congress at the centre.
“Emmanuel’s administration has failed the people,” forcing him to take decisive actions to correct the anomaly for posterity to be fair on him.
Akpabio spoke of the prevalence of hunger and deprivation in Akwa Ibom State since the Emmanuel administration assumed power, adding that it was time for “holistic action” to liberate the state from the shackles of bad governance.
The ex-governor had, in the run up to the 2015 elections, declared Emmanuel, then Secretary to the State Government, next in line to succeed him, even when 26 aspirants jostled for the post.