TheCable

Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom state, says he is glad to have survived the accident involving his car and a vehicle belonging to the United States embassy, in Abuja.

Speaking in Uyo during the 28th anniversary of Akwa Ibom, the senate minority leader, expressed appreciation to all those who stood by him.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom and some government officials were in touch with him while he was receiving medical attention abroad.

“God gave me life, God sustained my life, and my life will never be extinguished until it is time. When the governor told me that we must celebrate Akwa Ibom at 28, he did not tell me he was planning to give me a surprise after coming back from the land of death,” he said.

“When that accident happened, I was rushing in the morning to join my daughter who was ill in her school abroad and when it happened I lost consciousness and all I shouted was God take care of my children and my people.

“I came to tell you your prayers are working. The wishes of the enemy have been defeated. All the newspapers in Akwa Ibom, tomorrow your headlines should be ‘Akpabio rises again’, why will I not rise again when the governor has launched a very significant project in the state today?”

Akpabio said it is God who has made Udom governor and those working against his interest would not succeed.

He dismissed the raid of the government house by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), describing it as the work of the enemies.

“Let today’s celebration be a lesson to all states of the federation. Nobody should attempt to impose himself on others,” he said.

“If God does not give you leadership, no matter how wealthy you are, no matter how connected you are, no matter how mischievous you are, you will never get there.

“Don’t listen to stories. Akwa Ibom is full of deceit. They said Udom is my account officer. They said you are the one keeping millions of dollars for me. Up till now, I’m yet to meet your father. I don’t know your mother. Your father is late? Oh, accept my sympathies. Your mother is late? Oh, I didn’t know.

“They raided even your government house to collect some of the money, but they did not find anything. The picture they are circulating was a picture taken in Iraq in 2011. That picture is on google. Anybody who has his computer now should google, look at your phone and google you will see that picture.

“That picture of the stack of dollars was in Iraq in 2011/2012, never in Akwa Ibom State. If we have such money would I not build something greater than this (stadium)? Will I not build air-conditioners in all the streets so that when you are walking as an Akwa Ibom child you don’t need to fan yourself.”