Questions for the duo

When you got information that  the order came from the government House did you make efforts to contact the governor or any of his representatives?

INUAEYEN’S RESPONSE
I heard it was the police, and we went to the venue and we saw the policemen led by Ikot Ekpene area commander they said they were there to maintain peace. There was no crime this was to be a peaceful Assembly. So as a people, we are not antagonising anybody, we invited the police our self, we informed the DPO and AIG in calabar that this is what we are about to do that you are invited, so we did that which is normal.

Distinguish Senator when you got the information that the order to barricade the venue of the event was from the government house, did you make attempt to contact the Governor or any of his representative?
ALOYSIOUS ETOK: I tried the governor’s number it didn’t go through, I tried the  SSG’s number but suddenly I realised that when I spoke with him yesterday morning he said he was ill, so I didn’t want to disturb him and I called the commissioner of police number who said he was on leave and he is in kano state and then I called the AO to let me speak with the Assistant Commissioner Operations or the  deputy commissioner and he was trying to get them because I couldn’t get them on the line but the AO confirmed that the police state authority has not sent such order  to them that the only thing is that the Assistant commissioner of the area should provide security for the function and that is why when I went there the area commander  why are you now turning the function to disrupt? He said he is there to protect lives and properties, we said okay, if you are given an order to provide security, why are you now against the function? He now directed me to the DPO Ikono that he was the one who gave him the information that the order came through the DPO Ikono and we asked him if the function is not taking place why are you still keeping vigil over the place. 

If you were to provide security over the function, you would have left when the function is not taking place and they said they are there to protect lives and properties which incidentally means they are there to carry out the instructions of somebody and what we want to know is what have we done to deserve that, what have we done differently, we are not antagonising anybody, surely we are not, what will we use to antagonise the person? We don’t have the development? Do we have the roads that if anything should happen we will run? 

We are surprise and we want the world to ask the questions on behalf of Ikono/ Ini federal constituency. What have they done wrong, what is the new thing? I know that putting ourselves together has been there for long ago but however, without socio- political organisation how will we be able to be in the league with other people to put a government? Last time we had a socio political organisation called the Ibom mandate network and other organisations which we joined others to put the present government why is this one different? So we want the world to ask the question for us and on our behalf.

What is your advice to the people of the federal constituency following this botched event?
We have already advice them to remain calm and be resolute because you can stop inauguration but you can’t stop the will of the people, you can’t stop their focus and feelings. Because they are bound to chart a course of action for themselves.

Are we looking forward to seeing future inauguration of the council?
Surely, we must inaugurate the council as soon as we put together all logistical agreements.

Should in case what happened today takes place again what will happen?
We will be ready to die. If you have not remembered us in development why should you remember us in the way we live our life?

Was this group created to help Ikono/Ini local government areas break out from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district?
That is the imagination of whomever that is spreading the rumours. That person has forgotten that I am the senator representing Ikot Ekpene senatorial district and when we break away suddenly we will seize to belong and if we spilt, we won’t go anywhere. Will we join Uyo when Uyo have a Senator already on sit? That is the handiwork of little mindedness, people of little knowledge and that’s the truth. Can any local government break away from its senatorial District?
INUAEYEN: Is it now that we will leave Ikot Ekpene senatorial district? Since 1960 we never had a senator and in 2007 we had one. Whoever said that really need to go and see a doctor.

WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE TRYING TO PURSUE IN NTIPPE IBIBIO SOCIO POLITICAL ASSOCIATION?
I have told you what our Association stands for and as I said this is not something of today, we started this along ago. This is not about the Governor or the Senator it is about the federal constituency, our future, our development, our unity that is what we are trying to pursue.