In the Nigerian Compass newspaper Wednesday (20/5/09, page 49), one time Military governor of Ogun State and later Rivers State, retired Group Captain Ewang directly accused Governor Godswill Akpabio of encouraging kidnappings and assassinations because he employs some of the criminals that engage in such activities. Ewang had to complain loudly that kidnappers had visited but failed to abduct him; he got a warning from them that he should restrict his movements. In one of such occasions, they came with former ANPP State Secretary who he says is a member of AKPF, an organisation set up by Governor Akpabio and suspected to be cult-infected.
In the front of Champion of June 10, the FCT ex-Minister of State and former Director of Akpabio for Governor Campaign Organization, Senator John James Akpan-Udoedehe complained that Akwa Ibom government is the major sponsor of political kidnappings and state terrorism going on in the State as they sent criminals to attempt the kidnap of his mother on June 9. Also therein the story complaining, was the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State AC who doubles also as Chairman of CNPP in the State, Chief David Ekanem who attempt was made to kinap on June 8. Along Azumini Road in Abia State, kidnappers believed to be from Akwa Ibom trailed and kidnapped the wife to Mr. Iniobong Ekpenyong while leaving the mother and car with bullet wounds. Mr. Iniobong Ekpenyong, it should be recalled, was the popular choice for PDP Chairmanship of the State which now has Uwem Ita Etuk, Akpabio’s preferred.
The story in Champion concluded that Akpabio's aides, last weekend in Calabar, met to re-strategize on how to deal with any opposition to Governor Akpabio.
But the State Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, in the Nigerian Compass newspaper of May 26, 2009 dismissed Ewang’s claim and labelled him someone who was suffering from political defeat. Ewang was the ANPP governorship candidate that contested and lost to Godswill Akpabio.
If Ewang’s case should be discountenanced, what of a daughter of Akwa Ibom State, Chief (Mrs.) Christy Essien Igbokwe, who had after receiving text messages and anonymous phone calls that her family and business would be run out of the State. She had written a petition to Governor Akpabio. The Governor did not take kindly to the petition as Christy copied such letter to some relevant persons. Be that as it may, the threat made to Christy by agent of the government has become real now to the extent that she wrote to IG of Police, complaining. Christy who was one of the vessels that brought Akwa Ibom’s present oil-producing status.. She and her family was believed to have also been close to and played personal important roles in the life of Governor Akpabio before the governor even came on board Attah’s cabinet. Akpabio reckoning that Christy’s husband was one of the media consultants to Attah during his (Attah) tenure, and thinking that the media prowess of the man has remained responsible for all the press bashing is government got in the early stage of its existence. This has since been found to be untrue. He claimed that he never did anything wrong to Akpabio and wonder why he decided to find fault where there is none existing. The matter is believed to have not abated.
Akpabio was brought to political limelight when he was appointed by ex-Governor Attah into the State executive council for the better part (six years) of Attah’s eight year tenure. When Akpabio was barely one year, Attah had planned to replace the then Deputy Governor Dr. Chris Ekpenyong with Commissioner Akpabio but for the insistence of the founding members of the PDP in Akwa Ibom whom Attah had to bow to their position. But today Akpabio has called Attah names.
Also Mr. Ime Mbat-Essien, a former PDP chieftain in the State who later crossed over to AC party is now shouting it loud that Governor Akpabio is after his life and has crippled his business. Mr. Mbat Essien had petitioned the President and other top political office holders on this matter several times, the recent being the one he did, dated 10th May 2009. In the petition, he catalogued the sins of Governor Akpabio. He also complained that Akpabio had cancelled a contract given to his company for the re-construction of Cardinal Ekanem Road (of 2-kilometer) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The contract was awarded to his company Tiken Nigeria Limited by the previous administration for the sum of N217million. Akpabio came in and cancelled it, re-awarded it to Stemco Nigeria Limited at higher cost of N580million. According to Ime’s petition, Stemco Nigeria Limited is just fronting for Akpabio’s estate and when he raised the alarm, Akpabio called him and asked him to withdraw the petition dangling a carrot at him, promising to give him a replacement contract, provided he withdrew his petition. Up till today, Governor Akpabio is alleged, reneged on the promise. Ime has gathered his war garment again and fired another revealing petition against the activities of the governor to which he was reportedly mentioned that Akpabio promised to eliminate him, this time around. This man has since relocated to somewhere else other than a town in Akwa Ibom. There are many existing cases of this nature in Akwa Ibom.
In Akwa Ibom many say that mute is the best for now until a new government comes in. Most people are now cowed. Daily Champion newspaper recently reported that opposition does not exist again in Akwa Ibom State because people have mortgaged their consciences. This situation means that the political peace in Akwa Ibom is not real because where there is no opposition; there is no democracy and therefore the leader deals on how and what way he chooses.
Before the advent of the present administration in Akwa Ibom, the State had been adjudged the most peaceful and investor-friendly. One expects that with more revenue now accruing to the State, it should even sustain the tranquillity but the reverse is the case. Many who oppose the present administration are carefully watching their movements as they are allegedly targets; some of these people hardly stay in Akwa Ibom for fear of being attacked. This is not anything near democracy, and people continue wondering why a civilian regime is looking like military regime, in Akwa Ibom?
Nse Archibong, 288 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt.
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