By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

FORMER governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has said that the defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio to the All Progressives Congress, APC, would jeopardise the party’s chances in Akwa Ibom State in the forthcoming elections.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos yesterday, Attah also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to use the same energy he has used in pursing alleged looters to freeing Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram and killings by herdsmen.

The former governor also warned that continued moves to frustrate the restructuring of the country would inevitably lead to the collapse of the country.

Attah, 79 who said he would like to be known as an elder-statesman noting that he had no political affiliation as the leader of the Ibibio, nevertheless took on the National Assembly for what he said was repeated self-serving efforts in holding the country hostage for the purpose of getting even with the executive arm of government.

Noting that the defection of Akpabio would hamper the chances of the APC in Akwa Ibom given that a number of APC chieftains were supposedly driven away from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to that party by the former governor.

“If you leave it to Akpabio, I really don’t believe APC can go far in Akwa Ibom State. This is what I know to be the situation,” he said.