Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, for the first time yesterday broke his silence over his alleged face off with his successor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, declaring that he never quarreled with the Governor. Speaking exclusively with our Reporters at the newly commissioned Ibom International Airport, he queried "When you talk about reconciliation, you should ask them, did we ever quarrel"? On the issue of his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Attah said that those who masterminded the action lacked locus standi, hence declared their purported suspension as of no consequence. "I was never suspended from PDP. I was not, because, the people that attempted to do it had no authority to so do. How can you say you suspended me when you did not have the authority?", he queried.

On the completion of the Akwa Ibom Airport project, initiated by his administration, Architect Attah expressed happiness at the completion of the project, describing it as a dream come true. "I feel greatly elated, because, the first word came from former President Obasanjo's mouth, when he came for the ground breaking ceremony. It is a thing of joy forever. Now that I can see the implementation, I am happy. It is something I believe in. It should be strengthened.

What I do and say to Akwa Ibom people is that it is good to dream big dreams, because I believe that the future belongs to those who can make impossibilities to become possible. This was the first Airport that went into private hands and not owned by the Federal government", he stressed. The former Governor was one of the dignitaries that flew with the first flight that touched the soil of Akwa Ibom State for the first time in history. Arik Air Boeing 737 christened Augustine landed at the brand new Airport at 2pm yesterday.

Over 100,000 people witnessed the commissioning of the airport, the first landing and the first take off at 5.50pm of the flight , along with the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, members of the state Executive Council, members of the State Assembly, prominent sons and daughters of the state several other dignitaries from across Nigeria.

Walter Duru, Uyo

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