Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State on Thursday rose in stout defence of his controversial wedding gifts to hip pop musician, Tuface Idibia, saying the gesture was to reward the musician’s wife for standing by her husband in the face of difficulties.

The governor had come under heavy criticism after he, on Friday, announced a gift of two brand new Toyota Prado SUVs to Tuface and his wife. He also reportedly promised to bankroll an all-expense paid trip for 29 delegates from the state to attend the white wedding of the couple fixed for Dubai, the United Arab Emirate on March 23.

Besides, he also hosted a lavish state dinner in honour of the couples and promised to rehabilitate the Eket-Ibeno Road ahead of the child dedication of Tuface and Annie.

But in a statement by his commissioner for information, Aniekan Umana, on Wednesday, Mr. Akpabio said he only approved a car, and not two, for the couple. He also said he only promised to sponsor 20, and not 29, wedding guests to Dubai for the couple’s white wedding.

The statement reads, “Following spurious and false speculations in the social media concerning the wedding gift by Governor Godswill Akpabio to Mrs. Annie Innocent Idibia, née Macaulay, I wish to state as follows:

“That the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Chief Godswill Akpabio, donated ONE Prado jeep to Mrs. Annie Innocent Idibia, nee Macaulay a daughter of Akwa Ibom State and renowned artist during her traditional marriage at Eket.

“That the State Governor as a token of support for the couple promised to fund the travelin expenses (economy return tickets) for ONLY TWENTY relatives of Mrs. Annie Idibia Macaulay to Dubai, where the couple have chosen to wed.

“That looking carefully at the surrounding events in perspective, Mrs. Annie Idibia, nee Macaulay is a daughter of Akwa Ibom State and the gift of a Prado SUV from her governor is only a gesture of love and goodwill. Her resolve to stand by her husband on his journey right from his days of youthful beginnings to stardom even in the face of challenges was commendable and a true attribute of the Akwa Ibom women.

“That It is however unbecoming that mischief makers and enemies of progress have decided to inflame the social media with incongruous reports that the State Government is sponsoring an

entourage of party supporters to the wedding in Dubai, when in fact the Government is only sponsoring the travel expenses of twenty of her family members at an estimated cost of roughly Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00) only.

“I wish to therefore urge members of the public to discountenance the misrepresentations made out of a well intentioned act of the governor.”

A self-serving ego trip

The governor had come under a hailstone of condemnation after the donations, and it is unclear whether anyone is impressed by his explanation.

In our earlier story on this matter, many Nigerians believe the gifts were ridiculous.

“This is absolute rubbish”, an apparently angry Mary Udom said. “These (Tuface and wife) are no poor people. I don’t see why Akpabio is doing such a thing. If it were an ordinary man’s wedding, he (Akpabio) won’t even send a gift, talkless of giving cars.”

For Obo Effanga, Governance Manager, Action Aid Nigeria, the governor’s action is embarrassing, as it defeats the purpose for good governance, particularly in the allocation of resources.

“This is very embarrassing indeed! If governance is about being in a position to take decisions in the interest of the people of the state, when a governor allocates public resources to individuals because of their closeness to him, how does this enhance that purpose and the interest of the ordinary citizens in the state, on whose behalf the governor claimed he was making the donation?,” Mr Effanga said.

“This amount could have been enough to do something more useful to the society. It could buy several volumes of books for University of Uyo that has been crying of funding challenges. That amount could sponsor a lot drugs that could be dispensed to citizens free,” he added.

Spokesman for the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Rotimi Fashakin, said it is such profligate and reckless spending of available resources at their disposal by governors from the Niger Delta region that has made the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to suffer a long delay at the National Assembly till today.

According to Mr. Fashakin, if it were his personal resources, Mr. Akpabio would not do what he did, but having realised that Akwa Ibom earns a lot, based on 13 percent derivation, he could afford to spend on anything that catches his fancies.

He said, “This type of financial recklessness from governors of oil rich states is another reason militating against the passage of the PIB. The 10 per cent being proposed for the host communities is seen as superfluous if this type of unimaginable imprudence becomes second nature for some of these governors. This type of anti-people expenditure is only symptomatic of a leader that emerged through the subversion of the people’s will and desire.”

For Tope Fasua, an Abuja-based public affairs commentator, such behaviours are clearly as a result of lack of vision by our leaders.

“The Bible says the people perish for lack of vision and knowledge. Akpabio lacks vision, because he is on an ego trip. He thinks he has arrived. But, the truth is that despite the huge oil money that goes to the state every month, the rate of poverty still affects 80 per cent of the population.

“Nobody is thinking about the fact that the price of oil could crash. That is what economists call the tragic choice in Akpabio’s behaviour. All that would unravel soon.”

For Mr. Effanga, a donation of the funds to the University of Uyo would have gone a long way in relieving the university l of its funding constraint, which Vice Chancellor Comfort Ekpo, told the visiting Senate Committee on Education last week is affecting the development of the institution.

“If the amount to be spent on the ego trip to Dubai were to be invested in the provision of books to school libraries, medical facilities in hospitals or boreholes to communities in the state, including the musician’s new wife’s village, many citizens would derive more utilitarian value from the expenditure,” the activist noted.

A profligate governor

Mr. Akpabio is one of Nigeria’s most profligate governors, spending his state funds as if they were his personal wealth.

He is known to move around with huge cash taken from the state coffers, recklessly distributing them to whoever captures his fancy.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/124667-extravagant-gov-akpabio-defends-controversial-wedding-gifts-to-tuface-wife.html

Why are these people always on the defensive?

This man is a complete fool.. All i can read from his defense statement is bulls.hit. Like seriously??
Whats the big difference or what does it matter if its 29 guest or 20guest?? One prado or two?? A prado will still cost over a million..so wtf?!
This is just a case of misplaced priority and st.u.pidity.
Not that i'm against his giving them gift..but why to so much extent if there isn't more to the story?? Three million coulda changed the lives of some homeless kids..i'm certain.
Well i'm wondering why he quickly came out to defend himself....oh my bad!..he just remembered dat his oga at the top may not like it..daz all abi?? Mtchewww

Story story, story

Why hasn't Gov given ALL the women in Akwa Ibom gifts? Shey they're aren't worthy enough abi they aren't daughters of Akwa Ibom?

If Akpabio made those donations using his person money, then there is nothing wrong. But if he used AKS funds for that gesture, he should face an inquiry from the EFCC. Government funds shouldn't used carelessly.

Ok,

In all of these, he still has not explained if the expenses come from his personal budget or from the state's budget?

Should that not be the question that needed to be answered?

---

The irony regarding his justification is just ridiculous. lol

-Bought ONE car and not TWO.
- Sponsoring 20 family members not 29

Does it F/u/cking matter!!!

How does this affect the average akwa ibom citizen.

oga Akpabio has done nothin wrong. If i were in his shoes, I wil do more dan dat

The only reason why some people are alive is that MURDER is not permissible.People like Akpabio should have been shot.

Ogun kill akpabio

Gej again!

What a prudent Gov'nor! 1 jeep instead of 2. 20 relative sponsored instead of 29. He really is cutting spending, saving Akwa Ibomites some money!

That looking carefully at the surrounding events in perspective, Mrs. Annie Idibia, nee Macaulay is a daughter of Akwa Ibom State and the gift of a Prado SUV from her governor is only a gesture of love and goodwill. Her resolve to stand by her husband on his journey right from his days of youthful beginnings to stardom even in the face of challenges was commendable and a true attribute of the Akwa Ibom women.

See justification! A gesture of love and goodwill?

Do these fooools think at all?

wolex200980: Ogun kill akpabio

lmao

This episode may put a huge dent on Akpabio's "uncommon transformation" of Akwa Ibom.

CFCfan: This episode may put a huge dent on Akpabio's "uncommon transformation" of Akwa Ibom.

Like GEJ, like Akpabio, pax crimania! They are all criminals and they would grant themselves pardon before leaving power.

Why not Private jet?.

But let me ask a question...don't they govenor earn salary and allowance..u never can tell sha ..it might be his personal..judging by amount in quote..3million..I just feel that is nothing for d govenor to spare out..he is just a fan to the celebs and moreover 4 those complaining...is he not working and developing akwa-ibom?

manny4life: Story story, story

Why hasn't Gov given ALL the women in Akwa Ibom gifts? Shey they're aren't worthy enough abi they aren't daughters of Akwa Ibom?

Dont worry 'oga at the top' will make that decision.

[quote author=iamswizz][/quote]bro this is not an insult.Its just what i noticed..You are very stu(pid)
seriously!

It is well....one day wind go blow and we go see fowl yansh!

Him dey craze...dats how he will be going abt making mouth..how d state has been transformed through his administration...stupid, yeye visionless He-goat,unreanable fool..AKPABIOSM my foot!!!

Puhleeeaaase!!! Dis Akpabio guy shld let us hear word jor! What exactly is his point? And d annoying part is,they talk like Nigerians are babies. Like we can't rationally think out things. One jeep and not two...20 ppl and not 29! What's d difference? That's like the dumbest thing I've heard in a while. If its his personal money,he wouldn't have had 2 come out 2 defend his spending it so,the question of whether its his money or not is answered. If its so important Annie's family members be at the wedding, tuface should foot d bills. Atleast her family is now his responsibility. How does Akpabio sound like Macaulay abeg? Is he related 2 ha in any way? D guy shld gaan sleep jor!