Enemies won’t laugh at you, Akpabio tells Jonathan

Chairman of the newly-formed Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio, on Saturday urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to be deterred by the activities of his political enemies, saying they (the enemies) would never have reason to laugh at him.Akpabio, who is the governor of Akwa Ibom State, spoke at a dinner the President held in honour of Nollywood stars to mark the 20 years of the industry at the State House, Marina, Lagos on Saturday.

He described the newly-formed group as an assembly of those he called the first set of the President’s disciples.

The governor said Jonathan would never fail as the President of the country because he never discriminated against any individual or group.

He made a veiled reference to the possibility of the President seeking re-election in 2015 when he predicted that the national football team would win two editions of the World Cup during Jonathan’s Presidency.

The next edition of the world tournament, which holds every four years, will hold in 2014 in Brazil, while another one will hold in 2018, three years after the President’s first term might have ended.

Akpabio said, “I am the chairman of the newest forum in the arena of politics, the PDP Governors’ Forum, the first set of disciples of the President.

“We (the PDP governors) felt we must come together and rally support for the President, especially for his uncommon transformation agenda.

“There is no way you can ever fail as a President of the country because you never discriminate against anybody.

“This country won the African Cup of Nations during your tenure. You may end up winning two world cups because the boys (Super Eagles players) will be improving.

“You have been investing in gas and power. The East-West road will soon be delivered. You are doing well. Your enemies will never laugh at you; whatever you do, you will succeed because you are a child of destiny