Group slams Emmanuel for renaming stadium after Akpabio

Former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill 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.”

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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.”