The Akwa Ibom State Governor,
Udom Emmanuel, has disassociated himself from his aide who said that President
Muhammadu Buhari cared more about his cows than Nigerians who are suffering
economic hardship.
The governor’s media aide, Essien
Ndueso, Thursday, posted on Facebook, photos of Mr. Buhari’s recent visit to
his ranch in Daura, and said of the photos, “Today, we are in an administration
that cows fare better than human beings.”
Mr. Ndueso mockingly added that
“If the cost of grass were to increase, or if anyone were to tamper with the
comfort of these cows, I am sure Baba would come back and take urgent actions.
“Today fuel is N180 and those who
earn their wages monthly from worshipping Baba on Facebook are also suffering
the same fate,” he said.
The comment attracted an outrage
from some Nigerians, especially Mr. Buhari’s supporters.
Governor Emmanuel, who is outside
the country, issued a quick rebuttal through his spokesperson, Ekerete Udo.
A government source said the
governor was angry with the attack on the president, and ordered that the
Government House issue a response.
“We wish to use this opportunity to
state categorically that the comment expressed by Mr. Essien Ndueso does not
represent in any form, shape, manner or appearance the views of the Government
and the good people of Akwa Ibom State,” the governor’s spokesperson, Ekerete
Udoh, said in a statement issued on Friday. “We hereby, totally and
unreservedly disassociate ourselves from the referenced comment.”
The statement said Mr. Ndueso’s
comment was his “personal opinion” and that it was “ill-conceived” and
“obtuse”.
“The Governor and indeed the
entire Government of Akwa Ibom State hold President Buhari who indeed is the
Father of the Nation in the highest of esteem, and the two leaders enjoy a
close and cordial relationship that goes beyond political labels and
affiliations,” the statement said.
“Even though the nation is going
through tough and challenging economic times, we believe and trust the
resilience of Nigerians, our ingenuity, and innate capacity to reinvent the
wheels, and together, in spite of our political differences, we remain
inexorably tied to our common destiny which requires all hands on the deck to
move our dear nation forward,” he said.
The governor also ordered Mr.
Ndueso to apologise to President Buhari, a source disclosed.
“The post which was a
light-hearted comment was never intended to ridicule the President,” Mr. Ndueso
said on Facebook while apologising to President Buhari.
However, the All Progressives
Congress, APC, in the state said it was difficult for Governor Emmanuel to
extricate himself from the conduct of Mr. Ndueso and his other aides.
According to the party, the
president had been constantly attacked and ridiculed on the social media by
many of the governor’s aides.
“APC is dissatisfied with this
lame measure and the Government’s response to the consistent media attacks at
the office of the President and the willful attempt to ridicule and denigrate
President Muhammadu Buhari,” the party said in a statement issued on Saturday
through its spokesperson, Edet Bassey.
“Taking cognizance of Buhari’s fatherly
disposition to Udom as seen in his various private visits to the President and
many official trips he has undertaken with Mr. President, it is difficult to
comprehend whether Udom is acting in concert with his aides to denigrate the
President or they are on a frolic of their own,” Mr. Bassey said, adding that
the governor should apologise to the president.
Imaobong Akpan, a supporter of
Mr. Buhari in Akwa Ibom, reacted to the controversy thus, “It is both ironic
and incredible as this same president is seen to be favourably disposed to the
Akwa Ibom state governor.
“A situation where Governor
Emmanuel’s media aides will sing praises of their boss being a ‘favoured’ and a
regular guest to Mr. President because of his (Mr. Emmanuel’s) ‘capacity and
intelligence’, while denigrating the president, on one hand, has become a
situation of extreme recklessness and demands a drastic action,” she said.
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Mr governor, why are you demonizing your aide when the fact is that herdsmen are allowed to destroy farmers crops with their ravenous cows without a word from Mr Buhari? Herdsmen shoot farmers dead at will, rape mothers and daughters with impunity. Nobody but emir Sanusi has dared to question the source of the arms these killers bare without licenses. Mr governor are you aware of these spate of anomalies? Mr governor, you should apologise to your aide ASAP. Okay?
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