Akwa Ibom Gov, Akpabio Oversees Beating Of Opposition Lawmaker, Onofiok Luke!

Flamboyant spender and Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio is back in the news.

Sources confirmed the state Chief Executive just show the length he would go to have full control of his area.

He is said to have overseen the ‘beating’ of a member of the State’s House of Assemble for ‘ disagreeing ‘ with him.

The development reportedly transpired at a meeting Mr Akpabio called.

Here is how the whistle blower, Premium Times narrated the occurrence.

‘The Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly has descended into a serious crisis after the state governor, Godswill Akpabio, personally supervised the beating of a lawmaker he suspected to be politically opposed to him and his loyalists, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Mr. Akpabio, witnesses said, watched as his loyalists manhandled Onofiok Luke, chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriations, who was accused of being rude to the governor after he rose in defense of another lawmaker accused of challenging a loyalist of the governor at a caucus meeting held two days earlier.

The governor, our sources said, beamed with smiles as members of his kitchen cabinet, comprising Nse Ntuen, chairman of Essien Udim local government and Emmanuel Ekon, a member representing Abak/Ika/Etim Ekpo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, assaulted Mr. Luke for being allegedly rude to the governor.

‘The incident happened November 2 at a funeral service in honour of the mother-in-law of a state lawmaker, Gabriel Tobi, held in Etim Ekpo local government area of the state.

Mr. Akpabio had at the event summoned some lawmakers and tongue-lashed them for doing nothing after Victor Udofia, a lawmaker representing Ikono/Ini state Constituency, allegedly attacked his loyalist, Aniekan Akpan, a member representing Ukanafun state constituency, at a caucus meeting of the House.

Witnesses say as the governor fumed and abused Mr. Udofia, who was not at the event, an equally furious Mr. Luke rose in defence of his colleague, telling the governor to abandon his divide-and-rule tactics in the interest of the state.

The governor had directed the speaker of the Assembly, Sam Ikon, to immediately activate a process that would lead to the suspension of Mr. Udofia from the House. But Mr. Luke reportedly shot back, saying Mr. Udofia committed no offence and that any move to punish him would be resisted.

‘Angered by Mr. Luke’s audacity, Messrs Ekon and Ntuen descended on him, hitting and punching him repeatedly.

Mr. Akpabio simply looked on, our sources said.

The fight, we learnt, only ended after Paul Ekpo, the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, intervened’