By momodu favour

 Patty Etete, a former member of the House of Representatives, has resigned as senior legislative aide to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, citing sustained hostility, alleged physical assaults, and administrative irregularities within the Senate President’s office.

In a resignation letter dated 27 February, addressed to Mr Akpabio, Etete said his decision was “long overdue” and followed years of “humiliation, discrimination, and denial of access” to the Senate President.

Etete, who represented the Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, said he initially accepted what he described as a “downgraded designation” in good faith.

“You invited me to be part of your ‘first eleven’ of appointees, given my roles and contributions both at the senatorial election and the contest for the Senate presidency,” he wrote.

However, he noted that although his appointment was announced as a special assistant, he was later made to serve as a senior legislative aide a position he considered “demeaning.”

Etete alleged that he operated in a hostile environment and was “severally assaulted physically by fellow aides,” claiming that some incidents occurred with the knowledge of Mr Akpabio.

The former lawmaker also raised concerns over a symposium on the creative economy that he coordinated to support the Senate President’s legislative agenda.

According to Etete, the event attracted participants from Nigeria and abroad, some of whom reportedly funded their own travel, accommodation, and presentation materials with the expectation of reimbursement.

“More than six months after the event, the interim report has yet to receive the Senate President’s attention for legislative follow-up, and outstanding bills submitted by service providers remain unpaid,” Etete wrote.

He asked Mr Akpabio to approve payment of an attached bill covering expenses incurred during the symposium, arguing that settling the debts would preserve the reputation of the Senate President’s office and honour the contributions of those he described as “patriotic Nigerians.”

Etete also lamented unfulfilled promises regarding the mobilisation of over 240 support groups in Akwa Ibom State for Mr Akpabio’s political ambition and President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He alleged that his efforts to engage these groups were blocked by Mr Akpabio’s former Deputy Chief of Staff unless he pledged allegiance to the deputy.

In a striking revelation, Etete referenced a vow allegedly made before a statue of Mary at Mr Akpabio’s home in Asokoro, Abuja, alongside other political associates, concerning the Senate President’s ambition.

“Your Excellency, sir, each time I remember how yourself, myself, Rt. Hon Ubong Etiebet and the current Minister for State, Gas, knelt down before the statue of Mary, making a vow concerning your ambition, my heart bleeds,” he wrote.

Etete described the vow as a pledge of mutual loyalty. “To me, it was a chapel and not a shrine,” he told PREMIUM TIMES, insisting that the vow was meant to ensure that those who took it would not betray the Senate President and he, in turn, would not betray them.

Efforts to reach Mr Akpabio for comment on the allegations were unsuccessful as of press time.