Godswill Akpabio Denied US Visa, Accused Of Corruption, Right Abuses

LAGOS FEBRUAY 29^TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio was denied entry into the United State (US) as the embassy in Nigeria refused to grant him visa.

Akpabio’s visa application was turned down because the President Donald Trump administration is in possession of petitions filed against the minister for series of murders, corruption and right abuses while he served as governor of Akwa Ibom State.

The current minister of Niger Delta served as governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the build up to the 2019 general election.

A petition accusing the former Akwa Ibom Governor for corruption, murder and human right abuses is currently before the U.S Government.

A source, privy to the drama that played out at the US embassy, told Pointblanknews that after the former governor applied for visa, the officer in charge told him to drop his passport and return to collect it later.

However when he returned to get the visa he was told his application was declined. It was gathered that Akpabio was angry at the visa officer for not telling him from the outset that his visa application was denied instead of exposing him to the humiliation of having to return to collect his passport.

The source said, “Godswill Akpabio was few days ago denied Visa by the U.S embassy in Nigeria. It is not clear why he wants to visit the U.S.

“The Trump administration is in possession of complaint filed against Akpabio for series of murder, corruption and right abuses when he was Governor.

“He went to the embassy and was asked to drop his passport and come back. When he returned, he was told they could not grant him a visa to the U.S.

“He got angry and told the visa officer and told him he should have told him he can’t get the visa instead of asking him to come back and be disgraced,” the source said.

The 2011 elections in Akwa Ibom State recorded a lot of violence. Akpabio, who was seeking a second term at the time, won the gubernatorial election followed by John James Akpanudoedehe of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Lawrence Esin of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).

In December 2014, a civil society organisation, named, Nigeria Peace And Security Working Group, in a report on its findings on the 2011 election, stated that “There was significant pre-election violence between the ACN and PDP, with purported assassination attempts against political aspirants and the killing of Akaninyene Ukpanah, a major PDP politician.

”There were several incidents of targeted as well as general violence surrounding the election. For example, early in March a student rally following a government speech regarding empowering students for the elections resulted in a stampede which reportedly left several dead. It was also reported that a popular journalist had been killed for voicing anti-government sentiments while an ACN chieftain was reportedly murdered by assassins although no specific motive was reported.

“Following the elections, the ACN challenged the election of Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio, claiming vote rigging and fraud. Following those allegations, it was reported that an INEC member went into hiding following death threats amidst claims that he had played a role in ballot rigging.

“Specifically in Uyo and Ikot-Ekpene there was a significant amount of violent incidents, mainly between PDP and ACN supporters, including political thuggery and targeted killings.

“Ethnic Tension in 2011: tension between the three main ethnic groups; the Ibibio, Annang and Oron, was heightened during the 2011 elections, mostly along party lines.

“Response: Police responded adequately to most violent incidents.

“Intra-party tension: PDP Governor Obong Godswill Akpabio fired his Secretary to the State Government (Obong Umanah Okon Umanah) due to political differences. Now Umanah wants to run for governor and Akapbio is running for the state senate because he’s reached the end of his term limit as governor.

“Controversy on which senatorial district the governorship will be zoned to, whether Eket or Uyo,” the report stated.

Similarly, a bulletin by Funds For Peace on Akwa Ibom State on pattern and trends from 2012-2014, stated that “Violence in the state was elevated during the gubernatorial elections of 2011.“

It continued, “Following the re-election of Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio (People’s Democratic Party), however, the per capita level of violence dropped significantly. In the second half of 2013, violence trended upward, with incidents reported around the capital city of Uyo, the town of Ikot Ekpene, and the coastal Local Government Areas (LGAs) to the south, including issues of land conflict, political tensions, protests, and abductions.

“Overall, between 2012-2014, Akwa Ibom was the least violent state in the Niger Delta region as measured by reported incidents per capita. In early 2014, major incidents included the abduction of the Vice- Chancellor of University of Uyo by militants in May, and an inter-communal clash leading to the beheadings of three people in January.

“Incidents and fatalities decreased in the second half of 2014, representing a significant shift from the high levels of pre- election violence seen in 2011.”

Pointblanknews

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