Revelations have emerged on how Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, used to dole out huge amounts of money as transport fare to politicians after any meeting.
John Udoedehe, a senator from the state and a former minister, narrated how caucus members of the Peoples Democratic Party got at least N3 million each as “transport fare” every night they met to discuss the party’s affairs.
He admitted Akpabio gave him a “special” sum, way more than the already outrageous N3 million others received.
In a chat with Planet FM in Uyo last weekend, the ex-minister said: “Godswill Akpabio used to give us at least N3 million each as transport money every night we attended caucus meeting in Government House.
“My own was special, it was more than N3 million.”
Udoedehe, who is now a Board of Trustees member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, also narrated how a Divisional Police Officer was held in his community by villagers for attempting to illegally take away election materials during the April 11 governorship poll in the state.
He said the DPO was held for some time at Afaha Offot, Uyo Local Government Area, and was eventually rescued by a team of mobile policemen, led by the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State.
He said: “What I did in my village, I need to tell you this: They came to carry the ballot boxes in my village. The incident is recorded at the police headquarters in Akwa Ibom State.
“The villagers stopped the DPO ‘C’ Division and other policemen who came to cart away the (election) materials. In fact, the commissioner of police mobilised police from everywhere to my village to release the DPO.”
Asked if the election eventually held in his village, Udoedehe said: “No, we had that incident.”
Asked if he voted, the ex-senator replied: “I said we had an incident in my village.”
To confirm his claims that nobody can buy him with money, the former senator said he was bold enough to leave Akpabio and the PDP at a time the former governor was doling out money regularly to members of the PDP caucus in the state, of which he was part of.
Udoedehe said: “Godswill Akpabio used to give us at least N3 million each as transport money every night we attended caucus meeting in Government House. My own was special, it was more than N3 million. But even with this gift, I disagreed with him (Akpabio) and left him. I left because Akwa Ibom’s interest was paramount to me than any other thing.
“The main reason I quarrelled with Godswill Akpabio is that the government derailed initially by bringing people that were not supposed to be in government. Government is so sacred. There are people that are not supposed to be in government. If you allow them in, then that sacredness would be broken.
“Development goes beyond infrastructure. People in Uyo are now selling off their properties, including their fathers’ graves. It shows the level of poverty here.”
. Global Village Extra.