Casualties of Town Hall meetings

 

Ntisong Essien Ekidem

NTISONG ESSIEN EKIDEM
He is the leader of  Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio which is the largest socio cultural group in Ibibio land. He can also be described as an ally of the state Governor Godswill Akpabio. But despite the fact that he is from OKON-Eket in Eket Local Government of Eket Senatorial district, he is not seen to be toeing the path of the majority. Sources say his allegiance with former Secretary to state Government Obong Umana Umana has really affected his solidarity to the cause of zoning which every man of good conscience in the state is pursuing. When the town hall meeting first began in Eket federal constituency were Ntisong hails, he was booed and embarrassed because of what many described as his coming in to sell and play the card of Umana Umana. Ntisong Ekidem had incurred the peoples wrath when he said at the gathering that the position of the Governorship of the state has never been zoned and that the Governor should bring back power to the Ibibios who will now chose whom they want. 

Ntisong failed to recognize the senatorial districts political arrangements. Before he could land with his statement, he was shouted down apparently the gathering had least expected Ntisong Ekidem to deviate from the zoning debate. He was embarrassed and completely ill-treated, a treatment undeserving of a monarch of his standing. Sources say Ekidem was uncomfortable with some insult and is said to have expressed dissatisfaction with how he was called names as greedy and all of that.

And meanwhile, very funny people have failed to realize the fact that Ntisong Ekidem received a treatment synonymous with his statements. They are however blaming the Governor and saying the state Chief Executive brought in his Annang brothers to boo Ntisong Ekidem

ITORO UMOH
Itoro is the Publisher of  the National Times Newspaper circulating from Akwa Ibom State. His case is complicated and brain teasing. But however he alleged he got a bullet shot to his leg on his way back from the Eket federal Constituency town hall meeting. The summary of his story is that he was shot because of the editorial contents of his newspaper. A section also got it that he was shot because he is a core supporter of Udom while another also has it that he was shot because he failed to share political money. His case is quite complicated, but however, he was a victim and a casualty of the Town Hall meeting because if there was no Town Hall meeting, he would not have gotten the injury he sustained.

toro Umoh at hospital

EMMANUEL EKPENYONG, aka IRAQ
This man needs no introduction because he is widely known or at least, his name is familiar in the political cycles and beyond. But at Ikono which the Town Hall meeting for Ikono/ Ini was hosted, the fact that Emmanuel Ekpenyong hails from that federal Constituency and the neighbouring Local Government Area was not enough to stop or assuage the attack on him. those who were at the scene of the incidence said, the state PDP youth leader actually initiated the attack on him and even his Crowd Control Unit Boys failed to give him the protection until his attackers were actually done with him. Trouble started when Iraq is said to have gone to tear off a banner that was anti zoning.

Emmanuel Ekpenyong

Ekpenyong is said to have argued that since Ikono/Ini was his federal constituency, the people should have respected him at least and not go ahead to display the banner urging on an open contest and disregarding the zoning policy that has since been accepted by the people. Iraq moved in and went to tear the banner. This action provoked the Ikono boys who went after the PDP youth leader and attacked him by beating him up. Some and majority of the Crowd Control Unit boys took to their heels and left the Akwa Ibom Youth Caucus Chairman to the mercies of his attackers. Only a few of the CCU boys came back to defend Iraq and they did not stage a fight, they rather came to beg after they had cowardly in a haste changed their clothes as the Ikono boys were hell bent on going very rude with anybody that will dare oppose them. Emmanuel Ekpenyong was manhandled.

WISDOM GODWIN
A thorough breed photo professional who is an aide to the state PDP Chairman Obong Paul Ekpo. If Wisdom thought his identification with Paul Ekpo was going to save him from the being molested and attacked by soldiers attached to the Security aide to Rtd. Captain Iniobong Ekong, then he was wrong. 

Wisdom according to his story had positioned himself to take a media shot for the press when the Deputy Governor Lady Valerie Ebe was in company of the Speaker Hon Sam Ikon and the state PDP Chair Obong Paul Ekpo approached them for a handshake. He was dragged from behind by a soldier attached to Iniobong Ekong and thrown into the crowd. On getting back to his feet, an obviously embarrassed Wisdom again was kicked and pushed by a certain person who is said to have been wearing a Crowd Control Unit Uniform. The orange coloured T.Shirt in an operation that appeared as if it was planned.

Wisdom Godwin and his damaged head

 

Not being deterred and with the treatment to the photographer not being enough, still the soldier who guards captain Iniobong. (he is light skinned) went again to Wisdom David’s direction and pointed a gun straight to his left eye with an intent to use the gun in hitting the photographer’s eye. On sensing danger, Mr. Wisdom Godwin dodged the scene only for the army man in showing apparent cruelty, uncivilized power and absolute stupidity after the gun failed to hit Wisdom David’s eye and touched the down lid of the eye inflicting serious wound in the process, used the head of the gun to smash on the photographer’s head and breaking it in the process. His phones, cash and personal effects were carted away. And his Nixon camera was destroyed beyond repairs.

At this point, Paul Ekpo’s aide relapsed into coma and fainted. It took the intervention of some good Samaritans at Itu to rush the injured photographer to rescue before Emmanuel Ekpenyong the PDP youth leader in the state himself who had been a victim the other day volunteered the sum of #2500 to Wisdom for first Aid when the blood that was rushing out from the victim’s body especially the head was no longer bearable. The deceased has since been hospitalized and receiving treatment.