NGF Will Come Out Stronger, Says Akpabio

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio has assured that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum would come out of the present disagreements stronger and a more formidable organisation to foster development and progress in the country.

Akpabio said this when he received executive members of Association of Movie Producers in his office in Uyo, adding that the Forum was planning to merge soon.

According to him, ''People think that Nigerian Governors’ Forum is divided. We are not, because we know ourselves. We are his excellencies. So, we will come back in a very excellent manner than we were before because we are all committed to Nigeria.

''It is unfortunate that what is happening is attracting much attention and people are writing and writing. But maybe we will be able to put fact straight so that Nigerians can actually see the perspective. As leaders, our job is to ensure peace.”

Governor Akpabio, while advising Nollywood to guard against internal rancour, applauded the industry for restoring Nigeria's image at the global scene, noting that before the advent of Nollywood, the story about Nigeria was all about fraud.

“You people have done so much that today the entire world is watching Nigeria. You have changed the story of Nigeria. Before Nollywood, the story of Nigeria was all about 419. I am sorry about the piracy. That was why I applauded what the President did when he organised a dinner for you to celebrate Nollywood at 20 and made a donation of about N3 billion to develop the industry. I find out that we should institute a prize to encourage producers, actors and actresses.

“I pledged a token to support the President’s action. I want you people to use this small token to encourage the growth of the industry. My meeting with you today was just to redeem that pledge because I think it was taking too much time”, he said.

Akpabio, later presented a cheque of N50 million to the President of the association, Mr. Zik Zulu Okafor, who described the infrastructural renaissance in Akwa Ibom as a symbol of how a states should be in Nigeria.

“I am saying that Akwa Ibom is a symbol of how a state should be in Nigeria. If you go round, you do not only see constructions, what you see is incisive thinking, meticulous partnership and decisive execution of projects. What I see is neat finishing of projects and I think this is a legacy that posterity will come and doff their hats for their leader at this particular time,” he said.