Eno’s aide warns Akpabio’s ally to stop ‘insulting’ former Akwa Ibom governor

Essien Ndueso, an aide to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, has warned Ata Ikiddeh, a former aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to desist from “insulting” Mr Eno’s predecessor, Udom Emmanuel.

Mr Ndueso’s warning followed a satirical article by Mr Ikiddeh, a close ally of Mr Akpabio who served as his special assistant on diaspora matters during Mr Akpabio’s tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom.

In the article, Mr Ikiddeh referenced claims by unnamed individuals alleging that Mr Emmanuel acquired a private jet worth about N15 billion. While he described the claim as a “baseless rumour,” he also drew attention to the former governor’s frequent use of private aircraft for travel.

Mr Emmanuel, who left office in 2023, has been observed arriving in Akwa Ibom on several occasions aboard private jets.

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Eno’s aide alleges incitement

Reacting through a Facebook post, Mr Ndueso, senior special assistant to Governor Eno on Research and Documentation, accused Mr Ikiddeh of disguising insults as commentary.

“You cannot claim that you are supporting my boss, Governor Umo Eno, yet every day you churn out various insults against former Governor Udom Emmanuel just to stir baseless political tension,” said Mr Ndueso, who had also served as an aide to Mr Emmanuel during his tenure as governor.

He further alleged that Mr Ikiddeh’s criticisms were driven by personal grievances, including his failure to secure a media consultancy role from Mr Emmanuel’s administration.

‘Jet is hired’ — spokesperson

When contacted, Stephen Abia, a spokesperson for Mr Emmanuel, denied that the former governor owns a private jet, stating that any aircraft used for travel is hired.

“What is wrong if someone hires a private jet for his travels? He wants to live his private life,” Mr Abia said, adding that the attempts to link Mr Emmanuel to aircraft ownership were misleading.

Ikiddeh responds

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Ikiddeh, he denied ever claiming that the former governor owned a private jet, insisting that his article had been misinterpreted.

“Nowhere did I say any former governor of our state owned a private jet. I listed the governors of Akwa Ibom and some of their achievements and said none bought a private jet at the end of their tenure.”

Addressing allegations that his position stemmed from a rejected consultancy by Mr Emmanuel’s administration, Mr Ikiddeh said he had no personal dispute with the administration.

He explained that he had submitted a proposal during the administration but received no response, a situation he described as common due to structural issues, such as budget constraints and challenges with foreign currency payments for diaspora consultants.

“I had no animosity toward the (Akwa Ibom) State Government. The state government supported my work with Helen Keller International, and my position was taken purely out of conviction and principle.”

Political undercurrents

The exchange reflects a long-standing political rift between Mr Emmanuel and his predecessor, Mr Akpabio, which became pronounced ahead of the 2019 elections and contributed to Mr Akpabio’s initial loss of a Senate seat.

Governor Eno’s political alignment with Mr Akpabio has strained his relationship with Mr Emmanuel, further deepening divisions within the state’s political structure.

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Mr Ikiddeh, who opposed Mr Eno during the 2023 election, has since expressed support for his administration, despite continued clashes with some of the governor’s aides.

This is not the first such confrontation. Months earlier, Mr Ikiddeh criticised aides who received Mr Emmanuel at the airport, questioning their loyalty to Mr Eno. He had called on Mr Eno to sanction them.

He was also in the news in late 2024 after leaking a message from an ailing politician who reportedly received $35,000 from Mr Akpabio for a medical treatment.