Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has faulted statements credited to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, in which he attacked him for allegedly describing Senator Dino Melaye as a ‘General’ in the Senate.

Mr. Ekerete Udoh, Senior Special Assistant (Media)/Chief Press Secretary to the Akwa Ibom governor in a statement said: “We have read with amusement the statement credited to Governor Bello where the governor took issues with the description of Dino Melaye, as a “General” in the Senate by Governor Emmanuel, during the recent empowerment event by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in Ikot Ekpene.”

“While it is highly disturbing and disappointing to have a sitting governor say disparaging things about a brother governor based on a wrong analysis fed him by his media team, we will take the high road and not get personal with the governor, our belief being that the office and the person of a governor of a state deserve the highest level of respect and deference possible.”

“We do not intend to immerse ourselves in the politics of zero-sum game that is currently playing out in Kogi State.  Here in Akwa Ibom, we play politics of inclusion, where accent is placed on delivering the best democratic dividends to our people in line with the Governor’s campaign promises.”

“In Akwa Ibom State, the Senators serving under the platform of the PDP are united and working together with the state governor to bring home the bacon and are not engaged in politics of personal destruction that seems to be playing out in Kogi State, little wonder Governor Emmanuel was front and centre at the event hosted by the Senate Minority Leader and his worthy predecessor, Senator Akpabio.”

“Governor Bello’s media team should align themselves with globally acceptable best practices in democratic governance where leaders are usually circumspect in their choice of words while engaging their counterparts. If the governor’s media team truly meant well, they should have advised the governor that he will look snippy, truculent and un-gubernatorial in the court of public opinion if he were seen to be joining issues with his brother governor. The statement by the Governor’s chief media handler was unfortunately pugnacious in context, pettifogger in tone and tenor and supercilious at best.”