Akpanudoedehe: No Politician Is Worth Dying For
UYO, April 19, (THEWILL) - The governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe has condemned the manner in which police officers in the state get over zealous during elections.
Udoedehe expressed the view Tuesday while on a courtesy visit to the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Felix Onyanna, pointing out that “no politician is worth the dying for as whoever wins the governorship election will still have to work with the police.
“I came to tell the Commissioner of Police to call his DPOs and police officials and tell them not to be over zealous with government officials because no politician is worth dying for, whoever will be at the Government House will need the police. It is the politician that needs the police the police doesn’t need government officials because without them the police will still exist.
“When they act as if they no longer understand their constitutional responsibility it weakens my beliefs and all the people who behave as if they are untouchable because they are government officials. We are asking the police to tell them to keep to their constitutional roles.”
He further called on the police boss to ensure that every vote counts during the election to bring about peace and stability in the state reasoning that when legitimate votes are being submerged by rigged votes; people will revolt. He however exonerated himself from any revolt saying, “I won’t be a part of it.”
The candidate insisted that if the election is devoid of irregularities he would emerge victorious.
He said his visit to the Police Commissioner was to close the existing gap between himself and the police.
“We are trying to bring police to that friendliness, police is everybody’s friend we are not enemies, we are supposed to have good relationship, where there are doubts we clear it. I am here so that there will be no tension, I want everybody to be free,” Akpanudoedehe stated.
He apologized to the Police Commissioner over a statement credited to him where he berated the force for their partisan posture under the former Police Commissioner.
“We took some of our actions against the police because of our past experience with your predecessor and former Commissioner of Police here, but we have come to realize that you are different,” the candidate said.
In his response, Mr. Felix Unyanna said he accepted the apology in good faith adding that he was not posted to Akwa Ibom to witch-hunt and cause disaffection amongst the people. He promised to maintain law and protect lives and properties.
He said he had previously met with leaders of political parties in the state ahead of the elections where he urged them to conduct themselves and their supporters in a peaceful manner.
He reiterated police commitment to President Goodluck Jonathan’s promise of one man one vote.