Governor Akpabio Presents Prado SUV to Annie Idibia

by Imohi Moses

• Annie Macaulay with her SUV

At the traditional wedding of Nigerian music star 2Face Idibia and his wife Annie Idibia we reported that the Akwa-Ibom state governor GodswillAkpabio promised to present the bride with a Toyota Prado SUV. He also promised to sponsor a contingent of 20 people to Dubai for the couple’s white wedding.

The state government has today released a photo showing Annie and 2face being presented with the SUV by the state’s Commissioner for Information, AniekanUmanah. 

Although this announcement caused an outrage as people criticized the governor for the expensive gift, he has kept true to his word. Less than one week after the traditional wedding, the state government has presented Annie with the car in Lagos. The State Government also released the following statement:

“Following spurious and false speculations in the social media concerning the wedding gift by Governor Godswill Akpabio to Mrs. Annie Innocent Idibia, née Macaulay, I wish to state as follows:

That the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Chief Godswill Akpabio, donated ONE Prado jeep to Mrs. Annie Innocent Idibia, nee Macaulay a daughter of Akwa Ibom State and renowned artist during her traditional marriage at Eket.

That the State Governor as a token of support for the couple promised to fund the traveling expenses (economy return tickets) for only 20 relatives of Mrs. Annie Idibia Macaulay to Dubai, where the couple have chosen to wed.

“That looking carefully at the surrounding events in perspective, Mrs. Annie Idibia, nee Macaulay is a daughter of Akwa Ibom State and the gift of a Prado SUV from her governor is only a gesture of love and goodwill. Her resolve to stand by her husband on his journey right from his days of youthful beginnings to stardom even in the face of challenges was commendable and a true attribute of the Akwa Ibom women.

“That It is however unbecoming that mischief makers and enemies of progress have decided to inflame the social media with incongruous reports that the State Government is sponsoring an entourage of party supporters to the wedding in Dubai, when in fact the Government is only sponsoring the travel expenses of twenty of her family members at an estimated cost of roughly Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00) only.

“I wish to therefore urge members of the public to discountenance the misrepresentations made out of a well intentioned act of the governor.”