Udom Emmanuel Clears The Air About YPP Candidate Trial

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has cleared the air about speculations of his involvement in the trial of the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the state, Bassey Albert by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to him, he has nothing to do with the legal challenges faced by any governorship candidate of any opposition political parties in the state as being speculated.

Naija News reports that the governor gave this clearance at the commissioning of the two Airbus-A320-200 at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, the state capital.

He said EFCC was only performing its constitutional responsibility, therefore blackmailers should not rope him into the travails of Albert.

Naija News recalls that the YPP governorship candidate in the state is currently being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency for alleged graft, and judgement is expected in a few days.

Udom’s reaction follows speculations that he was behind the trial of Albert.

He however said he was surprised when he received several calls from friends and associates bothering him on how he was trying to jail a governorship candidate.

The governor furthered that he wondered why such wild speculations would be made because he was neither a judge nor the governor when Albert’s trial by the EFCC started.

Naija News gathered that Udom insisted he knew nothing about any corruption case against the YPP candidate, adding that those concerned should face their cases and sort themselves out.

The governor submitted that “I’m reading on the internet, some candidates of some parties are saying that the governor wants to imprison them. It is a total lie because I’m not that type of governor. I don’t even know the facts of the cases they have with EFCC.

“These are cases that started even before I became the Governor. Let people stop blackmail and face their lives. People are just out to blackmail people.

“I entered Abuja everybody was calling me saying this candidate said you want to imprison him.

“This matter came even before I became the Governor, I don’t know the fact of the case, I’m not a Judge, I don’t know anything. These people have cases with EFCC, let them go and sort out their cases and just leave blackmail and propaganda.

“We came here to govern, we have an account, we’re servants of God Let that propaganda stop. Enough of that.”

Giving his comment about the newly acquired Airbuses, inaugurated by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Udom explained that the development would give a facelift to the Aviation sector of the state.

He also disclosed that the state should expect ten Airbus of which three would be delivered before the end of his administration, noting that the state government is building a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul, MRO, in the airport which he said will serve as a cash cow for Akwa Ibom State overtime.

He said it will start spinning hard currency earnings from January 2023, and that Airbus is currently negotiating for the lease of the facility to take care of its regional flights.