Governor Udom Emmanuel has expressed dismay at the attitude of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State, for attempting to make a political capital from a simple act of governance.
Speaking with Government House Correspondents at the Ibom International Airport, shortly on arrival from an official assignment in Abuja, Mr. Emmanuel said he was disappointed that the interaction he had with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday could be misrepresented all over the media by some politically motivated writers.
“I read somewhere that the normal interaction, which is very normal, I do that very often with the President, was used to attack the office of the President for such petty things they are writing in the media.”
Governor Emmanuel said, “if APC members in Akwa Ibom have so much respect for their President who is the leader of their party, they can’t be using the President’s name on a petty thing.”
He admonished peddlers of such rumours to learn to show respect and exercise caution, since those publications were seen globally.
“So we just ignore them, it shows their mentality, they need to mature.”
On the recent landmark judgement by the Supreme Court, in favour of Akwa Ibom and two other oil producing states of the Niger Delta against multinational oil firms operating in the country, the Governor appreciated Nigerians and the rule of law.
He said the Supreme Court has really justified the confidence in them by the people.
“Let me first of all start by thanking Nigerians and also appreciating the rule of law. Without the rule of law, no democracy most especially the supreme court.”
“I appreciate the supreme court and also Nigerians. At the end of the day, light must always triumph over darkness but that is the major milestone for the oil producing area.”
“The Law has always been there but it wasn’t interpreted to favour us but I think the interpretation and the judgment by the supreme court has put a final seal on what we are expecting.”
Mr Emmanuel said it was “just unfortunate that things like that, instead of Akwa Ibom people celebrating, they are looking at it the other way round.”
Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom states had approached the Supreme Court for interpretation of Section 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act.
