A one-time Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah on Tuesday announced his retirement from partisan politics to enable him play the role of an elder statesman.

Attah was the governor of the state under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007 and handed over to the immediate past governor, Obong Godswill Obot Akpaibo, now Senator.

He said people should not misconstrue his action to mean that he has decamped from PDP to the opposition All Progressive Party (APC) or any other party, saying he was only a committed professional in politics and not a career politician.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, organized by the Akwa Ibom Liberation Coalition in his honour, the former governor said when he clocks 77 years on November 20, he automatically enter the age of an elder statesman.

“I can formally state that I have quit partisan politics to play the role of an elder statesman and to continue to serve this country with love, strength, and faith with integrity to the best of my ability.

“Let nobody take this to mean that I want to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party or therefore jump to the opposite conclusion that I am going over to APC or any other party for that matter,” he said.

SOURCE: http://www.nairanaijanews.com/2015/10/ex-akwa-ibom-governor-attah-quits.html