Don Etiebet, former Petroleum Minister
Former Minister of Petroleum Don Etiebet has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will cease to control Akwa Ibom State.
He made this known in a statement on Thursday while reacting to the recent defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former minister described Akpabio as an asset that would help the party consolidate its work towards taking over the state government.
Etiebet said: “I had been out of the country since Saturday 29th July, 2018 for some medicals which I had been postponing since April because of all the APC activities during the period and I had to leave in order to come back on time for the start of the primaries.
“When I left, it was only rumours that Senator Godswill Akpabio might be decamping to APC. While away Vanguard newspaper texted me on my feelings towards the rumoured decampment of Senator Godswill Akpabio and I replied that if the rumours become consummated I would be very excited.
“Of course, as the leader of the Party and Chairman the State Caucus of the Party I have been bombarded by so many calls by our members, even from the reception grounds at Ikot Ekpene Stadium when it was stated that some of our National Leaders had pronounced Senator Akpabio Leader of the Party in the State. I told them to calm down until I return.
“I want to state categorically that nothing can sway me to leave APC for any other political Party. I will live and retire from politics with APC and whosoever is fishing is wasting his or her time. I also want to state that I welcome whole heartedly Senator Godswill Akpabio into the APC family in Akwa Ibom State and his coming will undoubtedly consolidate our work to build a very verile APC in Akwa Ibom State to drive away PDP from Akwa Ibom State.”