Contrary to speculations, rumors, and believes propagated by opposition leaders in the state concerning the relationship existing between Gov. Godswill Akpabio and Ag President Goodluck Jonathan, the air surrounding such rumors has once again been cleared by the Ag Presidents’ recent actions. Ag President Jonathan, over the weekend honored the peoples’ governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio with an award of excellence at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The award ceremony which marked part of the anniversary of Aso Villa Chapel also featured the conferment of awards on the immediate past president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Others also honored by the Acting President were the governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedia Ohakim, the former minister of information, Prof Jerry Gana, as well as the former minister of environment, Mrs. Helen Esuene. The former president, Chief Obasanjo also used the occasion to formally present a book entitled, The National Alter.

Remarking, the Acting President, Dr. Jonathan said that the conferment of the prestigious excellence award on Governor Akpabio was in recognition of his passion to bring godliness into governance in the country. He therefore appealed to Nigerians to accept one another and come together in unity for the purpose of tackling urgent national issues.

The Acting President further listed some of the issues threatening good governance in the country to include corruption and absence of an acceptable electoral system and urged the people to assist the present government in finding lasting solutions to the problems. Dr. Jonathan pointed out that human efforts alone without acceptance of divine intervention cannot translate the good intentions of government into workable goals for the people of the country.

Meanwhile, the award on Chief Akpabio coming from the highest political office in the country has elicited reactions from political pundits and technocrats from within and outside the state. One of such reactions came from Mr. Paul Umoudo, a commissioner in the Law Reform Commission. He said that the decision of the Acting President to honor Akpabio has eroded negative impressions in some minds about the relationship between the two personalities.

Mr. Umoudo went further to assert that the award has made clear the position of Governor Akpabio as an undisputed Christian with a mind of welfare for the people, tribal affinity notwithstanding. He appealed to the Akwa Ibom people to stand tall and not to be deceived by rumor mongers suggesting superfluously and spuriously that there exists a rift between Dr Jonathan and Chief Akpabio, adding that the duo are leading politicians in the country.