Date Published: 03/16/10

Sir,

Re: Jos massacre and Akwa Ibom of Attah's seed

In what appears as the height of meanness and desperation on the part of some politicians in Akwa Ibom, there existed an unworthy advertorial entitled as above and addressed to the acting President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria. Used are few but evilly, financially empowered youths of the States’ origin and it was directed at causing rancour among the indigenes.

In the advertorial (which appeared on page 63 of The Nation newspaper of March 15, 2010) by one purported Comrade Imaobong Udobia (as President) and another Akparawa Ime Ekpo-Ekpo (as General Secretary) signed on behalf of a so-called “Akwa Ibom Youth Network, Abuja” with no fix address or telephone number, tried to paint a wrong (opposite) picture of what is happening in Akwa Ibom State. Those behind this falsehood which tried to link Akwa Ibom with Jos mayhem could pass as devils that must be avoided.

The advertorial content though lacked any substance but full of insecurity innuendos, could be taken line, hook and sinker by some gullible readers. This is the more reason the so-called Akwa Ibom Youth Network Abuja needs to be investigated by the security agents so as to find out what their aims were. This becomes necessary because for them to bring in the recent deadly Jos crisis, is something that should be of concern to the National Security Adviser’s office. Since they did not publish any contact address, The Nation newspaper that accepted the advertorial should be able to unmask the identity of the group or/and their sponsors, where necessary.

We of Akwa Ibom orgin know that Attah related very well to the entire ethnic group in the State when he was governor. As a matter of fact, his only (two) kids are married to (Annang persons) different from their Ibibio stock. The acting President would find it necessary to order the investigation of this type of group that finds it convenient to use a dangerous situation to fan their embers. Such groups should not be ignored. They and their sponsors could be security risks to the entire nation.

Engineer Etim George

   Plot 239 Ozumba Mbadiwe

      Victoria Island, Lagos

etimgeorge@yahoo.com