From Joe Effiong, Uyo
Former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, yesterday, said he has no plan to challenge Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019.
Dan-Abia, who served in the state executive council during Obong Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio’s administrations before his appointment as NDDC helmsman, was alleged to have joined the 2019 governorship race.
However, a member representing Esit Eket-Ibeno State Constituency and Dan-Abia’s confidant, Mr Usoro Akpanusoh, who denied the allegation, told Daily Sun that nothing could be farther from the truth.
Akpanusoh described the allegation as cheap blackmail orchestrated by agents of doom whose motive was to cause disaffection between Dan-Abia and Governor Emmanuel.
“The enemies of progress can sell a dummy, even to opposition supporters and the general public.
“Their failed strategy was to divide, weaken and disenchant the people with the Emmanuel-led administration and, thereby, destabilise the state.
“There is no doubt that much as we would like to overlook this act as a product of political hatred, however, given the harsh realities of our time and the resentment and anger from such frustration, it becomes difficult, if not impossible to do so.”
He challenged his people to rise and get to the root of “this bitterness that has never been part of us.”
Akpanusoh, however, cautioned those using blackmail as a tool for political appointment to refrain from it, saying: “Whosoever is seeking political appointment from the present government should not use blackmail as a tool to achieve his or her ambition.”