Akpabio Defends NDA Award

AKWA Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has described the statement credited to the Action Congress by the Nigeria (ACN) criticising the award of Honourary Doctor of Management Science by the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna as strange.ACN, in a statement on Thursday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, criticise the awards of honourary doctorate degree to Akpabio and Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, last September, describing the awardees as unfit to be so honoured by the foremost military institution.But in a statement, his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Anietie Ukpe, said it was unfortunate that while Akpabio is busy making history, ACN was busy making 'histrionics.''If Akpabio had invested in the development of the NDA and contributed to its growth, Mohammed would have accused him of 'bribing' the institution in order to be given the honor.'It is to the credit of the NDA that without any burden of obligation or inducement of any kind, and after an objective investigation of the accomplishments of Akpabio, the revered institution decided that he had done enough for his state and contributed to national development to merit the award of a Doctoral Degree in Management Science (honoris causa) and accordingly honored him. This, instead of detracting from the award, bestows dignity on it.'He argued that the institution, in accordance with the tradition of awarding doctoral degrees, defined the area of his honour as management science in recognition of the management skill he has deployed in administering Akwa Ibom.'According to Ukpe: 'It is more so worthy of note that Akpabio's honours have come from so many quarters that singling out one to fault with faulty premises does not affect the grand pattern of awards and honours, which points to his being an asset to his state and nation.'The governor's aide, however, said ACN's comments show clear disrespect for both the NDA and the fundamentals of the country's democracy and fails to draw a line between politics and national development.
Click here to read full news..