Senator Enang Urges Focus on Udom Emmanuel’s EFCC Case, Excludes Akpabio

Senator Ita Enang, a former special assistant to the president on Niger Delta Affairs, has cautioned against involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio in the ongoing issues faced by former Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A recent petition from the group Network Against Corruption and Trafficking accused Emmanuel of corruption, urging the EFCC to probe his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2015 to 2023. The petition claims that Emmanuel mismanaged approximately N700 billion, among other alleged financial misconducts during his administration.

The petition has sparked significant controversy, dividing the state along sociopolitical and ethnic lines, with some blaming Senator Akpabio for being behind Emmanuel’s current predicament.

Speaking in Uyo under the banner of the Progressives Conscience and Team Nigeria (PCTN), a group aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Enang described the allegations as an attempt to distract the Senate President from his duties. He strongly rejected any attempt to link Akpabio to the petition.

Enang said, “In relation to the discussions surrounding the alleged petition against former Governor Udom Emmanuel, we wish to make it clear that there is no connection between the Senate President or his office and the allegations. The focus should remain on addressing the claims made in the petition, not on deflecting attention by pointing fingers at unrelated figures.”

Enang urged Akwa Ibom residents to support Akpabio in his role as Senate President and work together to tackle the state’s development challenges, setting aside party and ethnic differences. He called for unity to ensure Akwa Ibom benefits from Akpabio’s position as the number three citizen of Nigeria.

“The state must come together to back Senator Akpabio in his national role, presenting our development needs for action,” Enang continued. “We must leave behind these political distractions, especially the false narratives surrounding Deacon Udom Emmanuel and the EFCC petition.”

Enang emphasized that while Emmanuel’s alleged mismanagement should be addressed, the focus should be on ensuring transparency and accountability, rather than engaging in political finger-pointing. He also clarified that Akpabio’s primary focus remains on national issues, including budget and economic management, and that he is committed to delivering on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Senator Akpabio’s responsibility is to serve the entire country, and he will continue to represent Akwa Ibom and the nation without bias, focusing on large-scale national issues, not getting caught up in petty distractions,” Enang concluded.