There was a mild drama in Akwa Ibom State on Friday as wives of the sitting Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel and the immediate past governor of the State, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio clashed while receiving the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo.
According to reports, the brawl ensued between the duo while they tussled to gain the attention of Aisha Buhari who was in the state for the inaugural campaign of her political party, APC’s governorship candidate, Mr. Nsima Ekere.
Recall that Governor Udom Emmanuel and Senator Godswill Akpabio had been at daggers drawn ever since he [Akpabio] defected to the APC.
According to a source who witnessed the altercation and spoke under condition of anonimity, it was Mrs. Akpabio who breached the protocol – she reportedly obstructed Mrs Emmanuel but the latter with the help of her security aides, wrestled her way to receive Mrs. Buhari.
“It almost turned physical”, the source said, adding that the President’s wife, who was embarrassed by the protocol breach, had to return into the plane that brought her until normalcy returned.
Meanwhile, another source very close to Mrs Akpabio spoke said; “it was an embarrassing moment for the governor’s wife and her people, having failed in their attempt to get Mrs. Buhari into her car. Despite struggle by Udom’s wife, SSG and government house security to hijack the First Lady’s visit and push out APC members at the airport, the First Lady ignored Udom’s wife’s car and went for Mrs. Unoma Akpabio’s car.”
