A group has debunked viral social media reports that Akan Udofia, a 2023 governorship hopeful in Akwa Ibom State, is not a Christian, and had separated from his wife.

Akan Udofia Support Group said Mr Udofia is a “great leader and devoted Christian,” noting that the reports were sponsored to paint the billionaire in a bad light before right-thinking members of the public.

Yesterday, it was claimed that the CEO/Managing Director of Desicon Engineering Ltd reportedly, had during an interaction with political leaders and stakeholders from Eket local government area, revealed that he is not a Christian, and if elected would introduce measures to spur the economy of Akwa Ibom to faster growth by levying churches and religious groups.

“At no time has he made any consultation to the imaginary political leaders in Eket where he allegedly made the statements credited to him of that lying bazaar of a publication,” the group said.

Named billionaire by Forbes magazine in 2014, Mr Udofia is rumoured to have the backing of Governor Udom Emmanuel – but the State Chief executive has yet to publicly endorse any aspirant, as his tenure sets to come to an end in 2023.

Correcting the rumours of about his marital life, Akan Udofia Support Group said the aspirant – an international businessman and a Harvard Business School product – is married and has remained so in the past 27 years. “The union has produced three children to the glory of God.”

Read the full statement below.

The attention of MR. AKANIMO UDOFIA, a 2023 Governorship hopeful in Akwa Ibom State has been drawn to a spurious, malicious, denigrating propaganda written and published by a faceless and unidentified online newsblog with the nomenclature; AKWA IBOM NEWS LINE with the primitive aim of denigrating or causing disaffection between the Akwa ibom people/international communities and MR. AKANIMO UDOFIA who has indicated interest to seek and serve Akwa Ibom State as Governor come 2023

The said publication is mischievous and imbecilic publication by the so called Akwa Ibom News Line against the person of Akan Udofia; an intimidating and giant governorship hopeful in our great state, Akwa Ibom. In the said concocted tissue of lie, the authors laboured, albeit in futility to cast aspersions on the personality of a great leader and devoted Christian like Akanimo Udofia.

We wouldn’t have bothered to respond to such piece of spurious and malicious propaganda hurriedly coupled to malign and denigrate Akanimo Udofia because of his rising and enviable business and philanthropic profile. We would have treated it like what it is; figment of the polluted imagination of the authors and sponsors. But it is necessary we keep the record straight to educate the innocent public.

Without mincing words, this sponsored blackmail is targeted at causing disaffection between our principal and right thinking members of the public from obviously apprehensive and already crushed feather-weight political corners. At no time has he made any consultation to the imaginary political leaders in Eket where he allegedly made the statements credited to him of that lying bazaar of a publication.

In the said poorly and grammatically fractured public disgrace, Akanimo Udofia was portrayed as a non-Christian. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We dare ask, why didn’t the authors of this mendacious falsehood not do a little Google search on the person of Akanimo Udofia to save themselves from the epic embarrassment they have brought to themselves?

To keep the record straight, our principal Akan Udofia is a devoted Christian and a member of the Lutheran Faith, not only in name but by conduct, practice and deeds. He has laboured in God’s vineyard with his spirit, soul, body and resources to uplift the church, the body of Christ.

To the shame of these labourers in Satanic vineyard, Akan Udofia has built and donated a church auditorium to Lutheran Church, Afaha Offiong, Nsit Ibom LGA where he is coming from. Till date, that structure is there and can be verified by any doubting Thomas. Again, a little question would have saved them this very embarrassment.

At the risk of sounding boastful, he has built another Lutheran Church in Delta State, South South Nigeria. He has built many other churches of different Christian denominations within and outside Akwa Ibom state.

We must remind these trembling and fear-stricken sons of mischief makers that our principal Akan Udofia has built and donated a Monastery seating on a 10 hectares of land at Ekpei, Lagos State in addition to the legion of financial supports, donations to many churches within and outside the country.

We dare ask these misguided elements of darkness who say Akan Udofia is not a Christian, have they seen him in the altar of witchcraft where they dine? Have they at any point in his life identified him as a subscriber to sorcery and evil mysticism like them?

Our principal couldn’t have gone far in life if not for God’s mercy and love that has been his supporting pillar. He wouldn’t have been a source of nightmare and apprehension to them if not that his faith and all is deeply rooted in Jehovah God from who all blessings flow.

A picture in which Pope Francis was pronouncing blessings upon him along with his darling wife at the 27th anniversary of their marriage some months ago at The Vatican City in Rome has since caught the attention of the world. What else can a man ask of God?

The allegation that he plans to impose tax on churches if elected governor of Akwa Ibom is not only an evil machination but a purely wicked attempt to incite the church against Akan Udofia. It speaks to how much they have been deeply gripped in fear. He is a lover of the church, the body of Christ and God, the Almighty Maker of the universe.

God has graciously shown him grace from where he has remained a source of blessing to many. Akan Udo is not a seeker like those who seek to malign and bring him down to their level in futility. Suffice to state that through his philanthropic organization and disposition, he has empowered thousands of people within and outside Akwa Ibom. Through his business conglomerate he has offered employment opportunities to thousands of people within and outside Akwa Ibom. For record purpose, his philanthropic organizations regularly conducts medical missions within and outside Akwa Ibom.

What other evidence do they want to prove that Akanimo Udofia is married to his darling wife and has remained so in the past 27 years? The union has produced three children to the glory of God. Again, this punctures the concoction that he is divorced. Very laughable.

The good people of Akwa Ibom are urged to ignore that publication. It is nothing short of lie from the pit of hell. Akan Udofia strongly believes that only God ordains kings. He is fully prepared and ready to place our dear state in the map of honour with your active support come 2023.