By Udo Ibuot
AKWA Ibom State Deputy Governor, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu, has denied allegations in the media, that he planned to resign because the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, was not disposed to fielding him as running mate in the 2011 elections.

Ekpotu said in a statement, that he had not mandated any group by whatsoever name, to speak on his behalf, adding that neither the group, Ikot Abasi Youth Movement for Democracy, IYMD, nor its so-called national president, Aniedi Reuben, was known to him.

The statement said investigations so far carried out revealed that there was no such group, adding that the position canvassed in the obviously sponsored story was a malicious attempt by enemies of progress to destroy the good working relationship between the Ggovernor and himself.

Ekpotu said his position on the rumoured decision by the Governor to drop him as Deputy in the 2011 governorship election remained as enunciated in his interview on Bush House Radio broadcast on the Akwa Ibom State Radio, recently.

He urged peace-loving people of the state to resist attempts by political jobbers to fan the embers of instability.

Ekpotu, who advised media professionals to uphold ethics of the profession in their approach to sensitive matters, said they should also avoid lending themselves as tools in the hands of mischief makers, who do not seek the good and progress of the state.

Vanguard recalled that a local newspaper had reported in its latest edition a story entitled: “Drop Ekpotu, risk our support” which alleged that the deputy governor planned to resign as it was rumoured that the governor was not likely to carry him along in the 2011 governorship race.