The Manifestation Of APC’s Promised Warsaw In Akwa Ibom State

In their avowed determination to execute their pledge to turn Akwa Ibom into a theatre of war and violence aimed at fulfilling their promise of WARSAW SAW WAR, APC released murderous goons who unleashed gargantuan violence and incredible mayhem yesterday around the vicinity of the Akpanadem Market, a popular market in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State over a billboard they alleged belonged to the APC candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere.

Curiously, instead of the police arresting the murderous goons, they allowed them to walk free, while they invited the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Iniobong Essien (whose Ministry regulates erection of billboards) to the Police Headquarters, at Ikot Akpan Abia in Uyo, and as the time of writing this release, he was still held in detention.

According to the facts of the matter, a local vendor had sought and got an approval to erect a billboard. The Ministry approved the erection of the billboard at a particular location free from encumbrances and in accordance with the extant regulations. The vendor many months ago commenced the erection of the board, but at a different location, which for all intent and purposes is not fit for the undertaking he sought. This fact was brought to the attention of the vendor many months back and he halted the erection of some components of the board. Surprisingly, yesterday the ministry learnt that APC agents went to hoist a banner on the billboard and were prevented by security agents. The approved location of the billboard was several meters away from the main thoroughfare of the market. Instead of restricting themselves to the point approved for them, they erected the billboard at a place most unfit for such and in flagrant contravention of environmental regulations .

The Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Iniobong Essien in full execution of the regulatory powers vested in his ministry advised the company to relocate the pole to the approved location. Instead of adhering to the advice, the thugs employed by the APC engaged in unrestrained violence injuring bystanders and chasing away staff of the ministry. They claimed that the billboard that bearing the image of President Muhammadu Buhari was torn( a fabrication sweet only for their ears). There’s no billboard bearing the poster of the President in the entire stretch of the state, so how could people destroy what was never hoisted?

On Tuesday 16th October, a Special Squad purported to have been sent by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris arrived Uyo, following a petition said to have been written by the state chairman of the APC, Mr. Ini Okopido. The Special Squad invited the commissioner and without any legal reason detained him.

We wish to let Nigerians know that the Nigerian Police is a tax payers’ funded security agency and the notion that a Special Squad could be purportedly sent by the Inspector General of Police to harass a government official undertaking his legal duty, over a minor issue of like the location for the erection of a billboard is deeply offensive.
The Nigerian Police must know that Nigerians and indeed the international community are watching these troubling developments.

Finally, we must remind the Nigerian Police that when pushed to the wall there is only one direction to go and that the slow movement of the tiger should not be interpreted as cowardice. That we are a law abiding party and our people peace loving, should not be misinterpreted or mistaken for cowardice. If this is the beginning of the Federal might that the APC has been promising to use in capturing Akwa Ibom, we can assure the world that the people of Akwa Ibom State who are solidly behind Governor Udom Emmanuel will resist this type of Federal might with every fibre of our being. We will preserve through this oppression conscious that while others trust in their horses and chariots, we will continue to trust in the Lord, knowing that the This battle is the Lord’s.

Akwa Ibom State under the Administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel is a very peaceful, safe and secure place, which has earned the commendation of all including the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Major General Jamil Sarham who earlier this afternoon during a courtesy call on the Governor stated that of all the areas under his operations, Akwa Ibom State has the lowest crime rate and is the most peaceful.

We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to cause the Inspector General of Police to explain why a Special Squad claiming to act at his behest would be sent to the State over a minor issue as the erection of a billboard.

Our people are watching this inglorious action and at due time, equal and opposite reaction will follow.

Signed:

Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary
People’s Democratic Party
Akwa Ibom state
16102018