Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), Chief Godswill Akpabio, has been praised by the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, for his exemplary style of politics without bitterness.

Shettima, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, commended Akpabio for putting aside political differences to felicitate with Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, on his 58th birthday, describing the Akwa Ibom State Governor “as an apostle of politics without bitterness.”

Shettima, who said he was surprised by the display of friendship by Akpabio when he placed an advertorial in three national newspapers to congratulate Aliyu, despite the fact that they belonged to different caucuses of the PDP, said it was the height of statemanship and politics without bitterness.

“I recommend this kind of politics to Nigerian politicians,” Shettima said. “Akpabio had by this act, demonstrated a truly nationalist spirit by felicitating with a supposed political foe. It is natural that even in our family, we have differences but there is the need to remain as a family and that is the example that Akpabio has shown. Politics should not make us enemies.”

As the chairman of the PDPGF, Yerima said, “the AkwaIbom State Governor has shown that the crisis in the party was not enough to destroy it but would only make it wax stronger at the end of it, hence this show of comradeship with his colleague which is a bold step towards bringing the warring faction back to its fold. This is what this country needs now, and I am happy that no matter what, this country will remain one.”