Group Angry At Gov Udom For Renaming Stadium After Akpabio

The Convener, Coalition of Human Rights
Defenders, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Mr.
Inibehe Effiong, has slammed the
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom
Emmanuel, for renaming the Ibom
International Stadium after the
immediate past governor of the state,
Mr. Godswill Akpabio.
Effiong, in a statement on Sunday, said
Akwa Ibom indigenes would experience
the reign of impunity and dictatorship
in the new government.
Emmanuel, while delivering his
inaugural speech, rechristened the Ibom
International Stadium as Godswill
Akpabio International Stadium.
He stated that the decision to rename the
stadium, otherwise known as the Nest of
Champions, was in compliance with the
resolution of the outgoing state House of
Assembly in recognition of Akpabio’s
legacies in the state.
He said, “On May 28, the Akwa Ibom
State House of Assembly reminded me of
the need to give assent to the bill they
had passed for the renaming of the Ibom
International Stadium as Godswill
Akpabio International Stadium. I stand
here to give that assent.”
Effiong stated that it was unfortunate
that the first decision Emmanuel made
after he was inaugurated as the
governor was the renaming of the state’s
stadium after Akpabio.
He alleged that the decision to rechristen
the state’s stadium after Akpabio
underscored the allegiance of Emmanuel
to protect Akpabio’s interest and not that
of the state.
He added that for the few months that
Emmanuel would be directing the affairs
of the state before the pronouncement of
the courts on the legality of his election,
the people would notice that Emmanuel
was foisted on the people of Akwa Ibom
to play out Akpabio’s scripts.
The statement read, “The renaming of
Ibom International Stadium by
Emmanuel after Akpabio is distasteful. If
the first decision taken by Emmanuel is
intended to massage Akpabio’s ego, then
we do not need a prophet to tell us what
lies ahead for the few months that
Emmanuel will be directing the affairs of
the state before the pronouncement of
the courts on the legality of his
emergence.
“When we insisted that the political
marriage between the duo was purely
driven by egregious and greedy
considerations, some folks called us
unprintable names. Now, the chips are
down and the mask has fallen off the
face of Udom Emmanuel.
“We really feel sorry for Akwa Ibom
State because we are getting into a worse
reign of impunity and dictatorship. The
Akwa Ibom of our dreams is certainly
not the one being contrived by former
Governor Godswill Akpabio and his
protégé. We urge our people to remain
vigilant as more destructive steps will be
taken in the days.”