By Imo Akpan

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has said those who erroneously refer to him as an ethnic champion were deminishing him in the eyes of Akwa Ibom people.

Senator Akpabio recalled that the entire 31 Local Government areas of the State conferred him with the title of “Uko Akwa Ibom” and sees no reason why he would prefer the title of a local champion, “Uko Ukana”.

The Minister made the remark while interacting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Group who paid him a courtesy visit in his country home at Ukana recently.

Senator Akpabio said he was also Iberedem Ibibio and Obong Iman enthusing that the whole of Akwa Ibom state was his constituency as a sitting Governor. That position, he contended did not change even as a Senator and now a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Speaking further, he said he was at liberty to initiate life- touching infrastructure projects in any part of Akwa Ibom State as Constituency project. He said the projects he executed across the three Senatorial Districts of the State were all in Akwa Ibom and asked rhetorically, “are the 3 senatorial districts not in Akwa Ibom?”

He implored writers to verify facts before going to the Press and give credit to past and present leaders in the State for their achievements.