Akwa Ibom Politicians Are Getting More Desperate

What happened on Tuesday March 22, 2011 in Uyo shows great desperation from the governor and PDP in Akwa Ibom. In the process more than five people were killed and properties worth billions of Naira were destroyed in the process. According to The Nation, Governor Godswill Akpabio speaking through his Commissioner of Information, Aniekan Umana, was quoted thus: 'We do not know those involved. We had our own rallies in two local government areas of Abak and Mpat Enin. There was no clash with anybody; they were peaceful. We were surprised when we returned to Uyo to see houses and vehicles being burnt.   Clearly, some people have taken laws into their hands. It is unfortunate if people decide to shed blood for politic buildings.' This was the only cover-reply that PDP could give. A PDP source, as reported in The Nation, Daily Sun and Daily Independent of March 23, 2011 blamed the incident on the ACN because they were told not to campaign on any Annang land.   One then ask to know why Governor Akpabio, an Anang, have been having peaceful rallies in Ibibio land and would not allow any other to have peaceful ones on Anang land.   Dr. Imeh Umannah, the ACN deputy governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, an Annang man as Akpabio, in his reaction had this to say about the ugly incident: 'What happened today has been a disgrace to me. Akpabio is trying to bring ethnic war to Akwa Ibom. He does not want anyone to campaign in Annang. They prevented us from getting to the venue of the rally. It is a pity that God gave him power and he is using it badly.' Senator Udoedehe, the ACN governorship candidate who has an Annang woman as a wife on his part said 'This is unfortunate. This is ther first rally we would be holding in Anang land. We had a long convoy. They thought they had killed me and went to Uyo to break the news of my death. Even the Army and SSS could not protect us. Police said they had no men.'   It has been desperate attempts by politicians to outwit one another in attempt to get to power but some are more desperate than the others; but must it be this bloody? In Akwa Ibom, the crowd that attend ACN rallies in coupled with decamping to it from other parties has continued to overwhelm the sitting government and the government is trying to fight back but fighting dirty as what happened in the State on Tuesday 22nd March, could be counter-productive.  

  Obong Nse Archibong,
  288 Ikwerre Road,
Diobu, Port Harcourt