A’Ibom govt denies claims of planned attack against opposition parties

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Government has debunked claims that it was planning to attack opposition parties in the state.

The government said that there was no record of any incident of state-sponsored violence in the past seven and a half years of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration.

Speaking on Wednesday in a press release signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong and made available to our correspondent in Uyo, the government assured citizens and residents that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration cannot stoop low to instigate security tension in the state.

Reacting to allegations of an impending attack by the State Chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) Campaign Council, Sir Emem Akpabio, against the party by the state government, Ememobong noted that the government visit any person or group in fighting any form of political unrest in the state with the full weight of the law.

He stated that the government already notified citizens of planned unrest by politicians from opposition parties, without mentioning any of them, saying it was a shock that the YPP would without any mention jump on the issue.

“We had hinted that the planned unrest was sponsored by politicians from opposition parties, without mentioning any of them. But as usual, the guilty are always afraid. This attitude of self-identification is not strange

“We recall that in 2019, when the State Government criminalized cultism, their candidate, without any direct accusation, took it personal and went on to admit to being “a cultist…”

“This attitude of theirs is consistent with the age-long African maxims that “old women are uncomfortable when dry bones are mentioned” and “a murderer is always afraid of someone walking behind him with a machete”.

“Let us assure their party that in the more than seven and a half years of this administration, there has been no incident of state-sponsored violence, and therefore, the citizens and security operatives are well aware that this administration cannot stoop as low as that, rather they recall the prime actors and masterminds of the Ikot Ekpene massacre, where Senator John James Udoedeghe escaped by the whiskers and the assassination attempt on Senator Helen Esuene at Ukana, Essien Udim.

“We assure them that this administration will not bow to the forces of karma to serve them their meal in their plate. Even from the tone of their response, fair-minded persons will perceive their culpability and the very weak attempt by the guilty to feign innocence. Like a net entanglement, the harder they tried to free themselves, the more guilty they became.

“We therefore, reassure the entire citizens and residents of Akwa Ibom state that the State Government in partnership with security agents will continue to exercise their constitutional responsibility of ensuring the security of lives and property and whosoever in found culpable of any crime will be made to face the full wrath of the law, irrespective of the political party affiliation or status.

The prevailing peace in Akwa Ibom State must be sustained,” he stated.