By Ime Akpan
What started as rumour actually played out on Friday, December 14 when Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, wife of the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill attempted to breach security at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo during the maiden visit of the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, to Akwa Ibom State.
On the eve of the visit, there were reports that a certain political party had planned to hijack it and turn it into a party affair.
The move, it was also gathered, was aimed at embarrassing the governor and make it seem as if he is not in control.
It was gathered that when the aircraft landed at the airport, Mrs. Akpabio made a quick move to welcome the wife of the President.
It was learnt that while the door of the aircraft opened and Mrs. Buhari was preparing to come out, Mrs. Akpabio got up from her seat, shoved the incumbent governor’s wife, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, who was billed to welcome the president’s wife.
That move made the protocol officers from the Presidency to quickly intervene.
Consequently, to the door of the aircraft was shut as the President’s wife retreated and waited for another 25 minutes before the senator’s wife was persuaded to stop further attempts to welcome the president’s wife.
Once normalcy was restored, the aircraft door was opened and the President’s wife disembarked from the aircraft and was received by Mrs. Emmanuel, who introduced the guest to other Akwa Ibom women at the airport waiting to receive her.
Later in an interview, Mrs. Emmanuel said: “I thank God for the mother of the nation. She knows better; we have received her despite all odds. For Akwa Ibom State, we will continue to do the right thing; we are not struggling anything with anybody. When we have official assignment to perform, we will do that.”
