Elders and leaders under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Leaders Vanguard, Civil Society Organisations and youths in Akwa Ibom State have risen against what they termed ”threat to peace” by the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal government against the state, saying that the motive behind such threat was to create illusive insecurity situation in the state in order to pave way for a declaration of state-of-emergency in Akwa Ibom.
The call came at the wake of the recent sealing of the state house of assembly, the purported impeachment of the speaker by three out of five sacked APC lawmakers and the deployment of about four commissioners of police to the state within a period of one month.
The leader of the elders, Senator Anietie Okon, flanked by Senators Emmanuel Ibokessien, Aloysius Etuk, Helen Esuene, Prof. Onwukiodit and former minister, Nduese Essien among others, while addressing a press conference, warned the APC-led federal government not to mistake their peaceful disposition and respect for the rule of law as cowardice, stressing that they would do all it takes within the ambit of law to protect their hard-earned peace in the state.
The elders insisted that the desperate move by the APC-led FG to win Akwa Ibom in the 2019 general elections had made it launch unnecessary attack on the state questioning the rationale for the posting of four Police commissioners to the state in one month and the sealing of the assembly complex last week.
Okon described the antics as “testing the waters” to see the reaction of people of the state towards next year’s general elections, and stressed that the people of Akwa Ibom would resist every attempt to use federal might to fake chaotic atmosphere in the state.
“The posting and reposting of police commissioners to the state is because they have not seen the one that will play their cards accordingly. Enough is enough! They should not dare us; they should allow the state to continue to enjoy the peace it is known for within and outside the country.
“We the elders strongly reiterate our position that no level of intimidation will be allowed to plunge our state into the anarchical dictates of Federal elements whether EFCC, Nigerian Police or military.
“It is apparent that the current leadership of our nation hasn’t fully come to terms with how democracy works and is bent on wielding power through the butt of the gun.
“Our state had since progressed from the dark era of 2007-2015 and far from the dictatorial regime of 1984. We remain distinctive people committed to the peace that has been sustained by the current administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“This is the time to call to order the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomohle and the federal executive arm directed security services of the ruling party/agents, that every evil agenda against God’s people shall fail in its entirety, as the people know better than remain with the pangs of poverty that has retrogressed this nation in the last 42 months of APC rule,” Okon asserted.
In the same vein, a coalition of youth groups in the state led by the caucus chairman, Aniefiok Iwa-Udofia vowed to resist with the last drop of their blood, any attempt by the federal government under any guise to truncate the peace in the state and by extension peaceful conduct of 2019 election in the state.
“We are aware of the clandestine moves by the leadership of APC to cause mayhem & anarchy in Akwa Ibom state where a Sole Administrator will be appointed so as to help manipulate the 2019 elections in the state.
“Their plans are to instigate political crises and civil unrest to a point INEC will be forced to postpone elections in Akwa Ibom state on security reasons to a later date with a view to deploying all security agencies in Nigeria (may be 100,000 policemen) to the state to rig the elections like they did in Ekiti state since they have federal might.
“This is so because; they have boasted that INEC is in their pocket and that they will change all the INEC staff in Akwa Ibom state and bring in those that will help them rig the 2019 elections. We are not taking those boasts for granted and we assure them that we are ready and will wait for them with the people’s might which is stronger than the so-called federal might,” the youth coalition said.
However, the civil society organisations forum have condemned the recent chain of events in the state especially the siege to the state house of Assembly and urged the parties involved to maintain decorum in the discharge of their duties.
The Chairman of the CSOs in the state, Mr. Harry Udo, at a press conference, warned against unnecessary heating up of the polity especially as the general election is around the corner.
“We call on the leadership of the House of Assembly to continue to do the right thing always by applying the principles of equity, fairness and justice in conducting the business of the house irrespective of political lining.
“All relevant stakeholders should avoid actions capable of undermining the smooth conducts of the polls,” Udo said.
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