Tuesday 24 March 2015

Okon Uwah’s murder: Ukanafun Elders reacts

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The Ukanafun Elders  Council has condemned in strong terms the gruesome murder of one of  them, Obong  Okon J. Uwah, immediate past deputy speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, by miscreants on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit to his brother-in-law in Nkek Village of our local government area.

The council made its position known in a statement in Uyo, signed by thirty eight persons including the commissioner for lands and town planning, Obong Eno Akpan, the special adviser, bureau of investment and industrialization, Chief Senas Ukpanah, the member for Ukanafun State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Elder Aniekan Akpan, the chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area, Apostle Sylvester Udokang, the ex-officio member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Mr Udo Ekpenyong, former commissioner for information, Mr Census Ekpu, former members of the House of Assembly, Obong Saturday Akpan and Barrister Idongesit Umoh, former chairmen of the local government area, Obong Ime Atakpa, Obong Aniebiet Odung and Prince Nsikanabasi Umoekpo, Mrs Iniobong Okongko, AkwaObonganwan Ikwo Udom and Bishop Moswill Umoh.
It described the development, as alien to their  culture, beliefs and orientations and has not only taken them  aback but has dealt a big blow on their collective psyche as a people, leaving in its wake a major scar in the political history of Ukanafun Local Government Area.

The elders said they are aware of the dangerous implications of this dastardly act on the brotherly relationship between Afaha and Ukanafun Clans, that make up the local government area and sued for calm from all quarters in this trying time of our lives.

It affirmed the peoples’  support to the security agencies to leave no stone unturned in unraveling the circumstances that led to this situation and  bring the culprits to justice.

The Council expressed gratitude to the State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio,  for ordering a full-scale investigation into the matter, saying they  have no doubt  that the perpetrators of this dastardly act will not go unpunished, while commending  the security agencies on their prompt response, which has resulted in the arrest of some suspects.

It described Obong Okon J. Uwah as a friendly personality, a good mixer, lover of peace and development, whose untimely death would, as it were, elicit serious reactions from all quarters and friends who knew him but frowned at the inciting and provocative utterances of some persons and groups.

As major stakeholders of Ukanafun polity and politics, the people said that Ukanafun is predominantly  Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) and that Obong Okon J. Uwah, had been one of the key players in the party and had at various times carried its flag as Head of Council and member of the House of Assembly respectively.   

It noted that they were not aware that the PDP or any other party met and instructed their members to attack, maim or kill anybody and  advised that nobody, no matter how highly placed, should either by his actions or inactions fan the embers of war among the peace loving people of Ukanafun Local Government Area.  

It regretted the unfortunate incident in their local government area and  appealed to their people, particularly, the youths, to allow the security agencies to do their work as well as resist the temptation of being coerced to take the laws into their hands, while praying the soul of their brother, friend and compatriot, Obong Okon J. Uwah to rest in peace.

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