“I'll Have To Decide Whether to Accept Gov. Akpabio’s Gift” – Tuface

Award-winning musician, Tuface Idibia, on Sunday said he was yet to decide whether or not to accept the controversial wedding gifts presented to him and his wife on Friday by Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom.

Mr. Akpabio had stunned guests at the wedding of the celebrity couple with the announcement of a donation of two brand new Toyota Prado SUVs to them.

The lucky couple are also to have 29 delegates from Akwa Ibom State attend their star-studded white wedding in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE)

courtesy of the governor. The Eket-Ibeno Road, which has remained in a bad state for a long time, is to be fully rehabilitated before the next child-dedication ceremony of the couple, the governor said.

The gifts have triggered condemnations by some Nigerians who consider them as outrageous and Governor Akpabio as profligate in the management of public funds.

"The governor made a promise, when the cars come, we will decide whether to accept them or not," the musician said through his spokesperson, Bola Omisore. "We cannot take a decision on the basis of a promise that is yet to be fulfilled."

Asked to comment on the widespread criticism that has trailed the presentation of the gift to Tuface and his wife, Mr. Omisore said he and his clients were not aware of any criticisms over the cars.

On whether it is appropriate for the musician to accept the gift when the funds used in buying them could be used in solving some of the numerous developmental challenges in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Omisore said, "No comment".