AN OLD WOMAN IS ALWAYS UNEASY WHEN DRY BONES ARE MENTIONED IN A PROVERB: A CASE OF OPPOSITION’S FALSE ALARM ON INSECURITY AND FRIGHT OF ITS SHADOW
The PDP/Umo Eno Campaign Organization, is aware of a media statement titled, “Insecurity At Its Peak In Akwa Ibom State: Do we Still Have A Government?” issued by the Campaign Organization of Senator Bassey Albert – the embattled governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Congress, where facts are twisted, while they laboured to feast on its very spurious insecurity narrative with outright lies told about an unfortunate incident that happened in the state capital last night which involved members of two rival cult groups. Thankfully, Akwa Ibom people know better, and they know the truth.
This was a show of shame, defeatist propaganda and hallucination amidst desperation by the increasingly demoralized, rag tag and wobbly Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organization, which, this morning, issued another self- indicting Statement in an unsuccessful attempt to paint a grim picture of the security situation in Akwa Ibom State.
For the records, we wish to remind them that facts are sacred. That prior to the coming of the Udom Emmanuel adminstration in 2015, Akwa Ibom people won’t forget their horrifying experiences with insecurity — which ranged from militancy, regular cult clashes, armed robbery, and politically motivated kidnappings. We challenge the Campaign Organization of Senator Bassey Albert and anyone else to bring to fore statistics of insecurity under this administration in juxtaposition with the government before it, and comparatively, with those of other states.
For the skirmishes of cultism, who really is to blame? The governor who has proscribed cult activities in the state, or a candidate who openly admitted to being a cultist but tried in vain to euphemize the oddity by referring to himself as a “Cultists for Christ”? According to information gathered from several accounts by eye witnesses, during the tragic event of last night, the cultists were heard chanting “who born dog, who born dog”! And we all know the copyright owner of that phrase — he is the principal of AkwaUbok Abasi Campaign Organization.
In contrast, as a light carrier and child of God, since His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel assumed office in 2015, peace also also assumed its rightful place in our State; residents and visitors alike all attest to this. It’s no surprise that Akwa Ibom State is today the preferred destination for tourists and an irresistible attraction to investors who are setting up businesses here. Just a few days ago, Marriot, a private hotel management outfit of global acclaim officially commenced business at Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene.
Therefore, it bears repeating that Akwa Ibom State is generally regarded as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria as a whole. In the last seven-plus years under the PDP-led administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom has even more so, become a most safe society by all security indices. For this, the Government of Akwa Ibom State has deservedly earned myriads of commendations from security chiefs, corporate organizations, professional bodies, and the private sector. How then did the Campaign Organization of Bassey Albert arrive at its mischievous verdict? To score elusive political points and because of its morbid rage for power, apparently.
We sympathize with this confused and rudderless congregation of desperados. If their Principal were around, he wouldn’t allow them mention cultism, for obvious reasons. According to Chinua Achebe, “An old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb.” Like Adlai Stevenson offered a bargain to his opponents, we are offering the AkwaUbokAbasi Campaign Organization a deal. If they stop telling lies about our candidate, our party and our government, we will stop telling the truth about them.
On the other hand, for describing Pastor Umo Eno, the Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP, as a “stooge who knows nothing about governance”, be notified that what befell Goliath for deriding God’s anointed, David, shall be the portion of the disintegrating Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organization for playing God.
Meanwhile, the war mongers and purveyors of violence in the State, with the sole purpose of eroding the hard-earned legacy of Governor Udom Emmanuel for running the most peaceful State in Nigeria, are hereby reminded of the law and the dire consequences of perpetrating violence or fomenting trouble. After all, their violent thereness, is the major reason, right thinking Akwa Ibomites have roundly rejected the governorship bid of a Cultist for Christ.
*Akwa Ibom: Never again Masada, Umo Eno is coming. Arise and Shine!*
Signed:
Prince Chris Abasieyo, MNIPR,
Spokesperson, PDP/UMO ENO CAMPAIGN COUNCIL.
