GOVERNOR AKPABIO REPLIES TUFACE!

GOVERNOR AKPABIO REPLIES TUFACE!

 

GOVERNOR AKPABIO REPLIES TUFACE!

There have been much fuss over Governor Akpabio's gift at the traditional marriage ceremony of Tuface Idibia and Annie Macaulay which was held on Friday 8th March 2013 in Eket Akwa Ibom State. There was media speculations about Friday’s presentation of two SUVs to Nigerian hip pop star, TuFace Idibia, and wife, Annie Macaulay, by Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, at their traditional wedding and this got a lot of Nigerians railing at the profligacy of public officials. According to the speculations, it was also reported that the lucky couple will also travel in the luxury of the company of 29 delegates from Akwa Ibom to the United Arab Emirate, UAE, courtesy of the governor, who also promised to throw the state’s treasury open to bankroll an all-expense paid trip for the white wedding scheduled for March 23 in Dubai. Lots have been said online and on print media about this issue and now, here's the real deal!

Below is a release by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information. It is good to hear from the real source!

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:

1. 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 .

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

3. 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. More so, her resolve to stand by her husband in his journey from his days of youthful beginnings to stardom even in the face of challenges was commendable and a true attribute of Akwa Ibom women.

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

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

Signed
Aniekan Umanah
Commissioner for Information,
Akwa Ibom State