Date Published: 07/02/09
Dear Sir,
The litmus case called “The kidnap of Pa Edet”
The focus of most stakeholders is to find out the part being played by Akwa Ibom government as regards the spate of kidnappings in the State. Arranged and political kidnappings are being alleged against the government by some out-spoken highly placedindividuals in the State. Suspicions making the rounds is that the father of the Speaker of Akwa Ibom House Assembly was never kidnapped but believed to be a victim of arranged-kidnapping and that he is somewhere cooling off. The insinuation is that those allegedly involved in the arrangement are now cut in the web as to how to discharge the toga.
While a source is alleging that the arrangement may end up witnessing an assumed payment of ransom, another alleges that it is just a ploy to pretend that government functionaries are also being visited with the kidnapping melee.
With all this, it is important that the public is adequately informed when and how the release or otherwise of the old man is obtained. Government must try to parade his kidnappers physically and not by arrangement, the masses insist. The public seem not ready to hear that the kidnappers were "killed in attempt by JTF to free the old man".
It will not augur well to hear something like when General Domkat Bali of those days went on air to announce that “few hours ago, the coup plotters were summarily executed”. In the case of this kidnap saga, the public would not accept hearing that “few hours ago, the JTF operating from one flank in Akwa Ibom gunned down the kidnappers of Pa Edet”. The kidnappers in this particular case must be apprehended, paraded, tried and meted with the recently passed anti-kidnapping law by the AKHA, which Rt Hon Ignatius Edet incidentally presided over.
This case remains litmus in nature and everyone is eagerly watching to see how it will play out. The Speaker himself is not showing any sign of pains as some sections of the public noted recently.
Patrick Umoette
185 Awolowo Way
IKEJA, Lagos
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