A major breakdown of order was averted on Sunday when the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Nsima Ekere verbally assaulted the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East in the Nigerian Senate, Bassey Albert Akpan, OBA, Igbere TV reports.
Similarly, Godswill Akpabio blew an opportunity to exchange greetings with the senator who served as his Finance Commissioner between 2007 and 2013.
At the Thanksgiving mass of Uyo Catholic Dioceses held at the Cardinal Ekanem Seminary Ground, Dominic Utuk Avenue, Uyo, Mr. Nsima Ekere who had exchange pleasantries with Governor Udom Emmanuel, his Deputy Moses Ekpo, as well as the Director General of the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, walked up to Bassey Albert and issued stern warnings to him to stop further attacks on his personality.
Eyewitnesses, mostly photojournalists who were trying to take photographs of the exchange of pleasantries of the APC Governorship Candidate with PDP chieftains, were stunned when Mr Ekere threw caution to the wind and rained verbal attacks on Senator Bassey Albert.
“When you go for your campaign, face your Campaign and stop insulting me, have you heard, I say if you want to campaign about your Office and Stop insulting me, I’m not your mate”
What would have been an ugly scenario was averted when Senator Akpan remained firmly rooted to his seat, ignoring the tantrums from the APC governorship candidate.
The Ibiono Ibom born legislator surprised everyone watching the scenario as he turned his face away from the rambling former deputy governor and paid rapt attention to the ministration of the cleric.
It would be recalled that the chairman on the senate committee on Gas, Bassey Albert has in recent times during his campaigns across villages in his district, been expressing worry over the insincerity of Mr Nsima Ekere judging from his inability to execute any tangible project in Akwa Ibom State throughout his tenure as the Managing Director of NDDC.
These we gathered may have infuriated the APC gubernatorial candidate who is believed to be having difficulty gaining in roots easy in route into Uyo Senatorial district of Senator Bassey Albert.
Meanwhile another ugly scenario played out same day when the former Senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, after making his donation in church, went to exchange pleasantries with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, during which he hugged the governor and exchanged pleasantries and did same with the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo as well as the Director General of Divine Mandate Campaign Organization, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga.
He however snubbed Senator Akpan who had also risen up to exchange pleasantries with him on sighting the Uyo Senator who sat next to Idongesit Nkanga.
Senator Akpabio quickly stopped further pleasantries, turned back abruptly went back and bowed before the Governor and went back to his seat.
It is believed that there is a no love lost relationship between the former Governor and his former Commissioner of Finance, following the refusal of Bassey Albert Akpan to defect with some other former loyalist to APC with Senator Akpabio.
Senator Akpan in his various campaigns and at different platform has insisted that he will resist all overtures to betray the course of PDP and Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Akpan said he could not afford to be instrumental to the betrayal of his people who stand to lose in 2023 if a different candidate emerges governor in 2019.
It will be recalled that Mr Ekere in September 2015, assaulted a journalist, Pastor Osundu Ahirika at the Ibom International Airport.
“Look here, whenever you write that your rubbish, do not mention my name again. If I see my name on your useless witeups, I will deal with you,” Ekere had ranted.
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