President Jonathan, Governor Akpabio’s Cold War Worsen

The cold war between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor of Akwa Ibom state, God’swill Akpabio has worsen.

And the immediate cause of this twist is disclosed as ‘ Akpabio’s role in the ouster of immediate past party (PDP) chairman, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur and claims he is working towards emerging as Vice Presidential candidate’.

According to a source, Akpabio is discovered to have worked against the President’s interest in removing Tukor from office based on added interest of putting an end to the support the latter was giving an Akwa Ibom guber contender Akpabio doesn’t want to succeed him.

Informants further disclosed compounding the matter is Akpabio’s treatment of his predeccessor, Victor Attah that has made the former governor on the verge of joining up with the opposition. A situation being viewed as alarming to the ruling People’s Democratic Party’s fate in the state, especially in the face of protracted in fighting attributed to the Governor’s all out attempts to determine his successor.

President Jonathan was reportedly forced to hold a truce meeting with Akpabio, Attah and other Akwa Ibom stateholders to arrest the party’s on going fragmentation in the face of growing popularity of main opposition party, All Progressives Congress.
Mr Jonathan was said to have openly expressed displeasure at Akpabio’s allowing situation to so degenerated at a time when all hands need to be on board to ‘uplift the party’.

Privately, the President is said to be angry that rather than put his house in order and add value to the overall interest of the party with a strong political base, the Governor is busy pursing personal agenda at national level- and inherently causing disaffection in and out of his state.

He is said to have shown his new disposition to Mr Akpabio by ‘maintaing an air of indifference with him’

It would be recalled that relationship between the President and Gov Akpabio turned awry a couple of months when we
Mr Akpabio was given restricted access in Aso Rock by the First Lady as a result of his penchant for dolling out monetary gifts to security personnel at the Aso Rock Villa.

Dame Patience Jonathan had, at some point, requested for the transfer of all security personnel linked to Akpabio’s largesse.

The President was also said to have given instructions that Akpabio only be entertained in the Villa for official engagements.

And was at a time refused entry to show seriousness of purpose with the new directive.