The Akwa Ibom State Government has raised the alarm over what it called some politicians’ disingenuous attempt to blackmail the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), Chief Godswill Akpabio.

Consequently, it has called on the general public to be wary of the latter’s contemptible politicking, warning that politics should be about issues not people.

It maintained that those who hope to use smear campaigns in the 2015 governorship election in the state should know that the wrong road cannot lead to the right destination.

It warned an unnamed former state official who is the alleged sponsor as the media onslaught against the governor and the state to rather tell the state the justification for his ambition rather than seeking to sacrifice ethnic and historical ties at the altar of his selfish ambition.

The State Government’s position was contained in a statement issued yesterday in the capital city of Uyo by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah. He regretted that some disgruntled politicians were irked by Governor Akpabio’s public advice to the state that in line with the principles of equity, fairness and justice, the governorship seat should go to Eket Senatorial District.

He said instead of masterminding several invidious messages through different avenues such as the mass media and the internet, to rubbish the governor, they should explain to the state the justification for their ambition.

The commissioner regretted that some metropolitan politicians based In Abuja and working in concert with some politicians in Akwa Ibom State, had resorted to outright lies and blatant misinformation against the personality of the Governor, and embarked on a sickening smear campaign using fictitious groups to churn out disparaging press statements against the Governor.

According to Mr. Umanah part of their strategy in their propaganda arsenal was to make unfounded allegations against the governor and create bad blood for him with political leaders in the country, particularly the presidency and the party hierarchy.

He said he had faith that the Presidency would see through their veil of lies and their evil plot would not succeed, maintaining that in a fight between truth and falsehood, truth will always prevail.

The commissioner’s words: “It is, therefore, our duty to alert the unsuspecting members of the public, specifically, the members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, that a plot has been uncovered wherein in the coming days more advertorials and press conferences with the sole aim of tarnishing the image of the governor and blackmailing and disparaging the Governor and Government of Akwa Ibom State, would be held as part of the on-going media onslaught against Governor Akpabio.

“This to us, is part of the grand conspiracy by disgruntled elements and failed politicians to misinform the public, cause disaffection and present Governor Godswill Akpabio in bad light. We urge members of the public and the media to be wary of these antics and stay on the path of truth and objectivity.

“We also draw the attention to the governor’s disclaimer on the purported presidential ambition as contained in his statement through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, in the media which reads in part: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state in clear and unambiguous terms that His Excellency, Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio is not interested in, and is not nursing any Presidential or Vice Presidential ambition. The campaign of falsehood and blackmail by unscrupulous politicians who have no respect for truth underpins a conspiracy to misrepresent Governor Godswill Akpabio and overheat the polity.’

“We wish to reiterate that Governor Akpabio would never be distracted by media attacks but would remain focussed on the delivery of his avowed Uncommon Transformation in the state. His support for the president and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would also remain unwavering,” the statement said.

•Photo shows Governor Akpabio.

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