Date Published: 06/16/09

Dear Editor,

Akwa Ibom Governor clamps down on former associates

That Governor Akpabio can be at daggers drawn with the Director of his Campaign Organization, the immediate past FCT Minister of State, Senator John James Akpan-Udoedehe is to say the least, unthinkable.

Senator Akpan-Udoedehe in the Champion newspaper of June 6, page 15 said that in Akwa Ibom there is neither freedom nor democracy but dictatorship as the governor Akpabio would tell you to your face that if fails to support him you would go hungry. It is even more disturbing to hear from the senator that government arranged the kidnap of his mother. He accused Akpabio of sponsoring political kidnappings and terrorism in Akwa Ibom State. This is regrettable.

Another bad aspect of the government is payment of ransom to kidnappers. For instance, the governor’s (home) Essien Udim Local Government Chairman, Mr. Nse Ntuen, confirmed in the media that the governor facilitated his release from abductors.  Up till today the governor has refused to say how much he spent to secure the release of Ntuen.

A former associate of the governor, Mr. Iniobong Abasi-Ubong, who also contested against the current State PDP chairman, Mr. Uwem Ita Etuk, had on June 11 sent a text thus to governor Akpabio: “Good morning, Your Excellency. Please tell your boys to release my wife you instructed them to kidnap since Monday the 8 th of June.  God bless you. Amen. Iniobong Abasi-Ubong”.  Iniobong’s number is 08064299672.

Therefore, it is either that the government encourages political kidnappings or hides under the cover of security (vote) expenses to pay money to kidnappers; there is even the possibility of declaring one figure and paying less because security votes are exclusive preserve of the executive. 

The new Police Commissioner, Mr.. Rugbere had counseled both the government and citizens of Akwa Ibom State to desist from paying ransom to (arranged or not) kidnappers. The biggest defaulter of this is the government because it has a lot of money in its kitty.

Akpabio Ini,

        Plot 12 Bello Street,

                Garki, Abuja.