We are concerned elders of Akwa Ibom State who are genuinely interested in the harmonious co existence of the linguistic groups in Akwa Ibom State. We have followed His Excellency’s developmental strides and commend his government for the improvement of several infrastructures in our state.
His Excellency started well in 2007 and we wish him God’s speed as he nears the end of his administration.
The Gestapo style arrest and continued detention of a patriotic Ibibio son, Mr. Thomas Thomas has taken an ethnic coloration and tension has long set in following that mindless arrest and indefinite incarceration of this celebrated journalist by the SSS on 1st of July 2012, a period of over one month on the orders and pleasure of his Excellency and Akwa Ibom State Government.
The continued detention of the journalist is an extension of the pogrom on Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State that has characterized this administration since 2007 but this time, in another dimension.We quite agree that the allegation that was raised by the report published by Global Concord Newspaper which led to the arrest of Mr. Thomas Thomas was weighty. However, we wish to rely on His Excellency’s explanation that it was not true and his demonstrated commitment thereafter to secure our traditional rulers as seen in the provision of noticeable security presence in and around the palaces of traditional rulers in Akwa Ibom State.
But as we hold His Excellency innocent in the alleged plot to eliminate some vocal paramount rulers of Ibibio extraction, we quickly recall the trauma that Ibibio people in particular and Akwa Ibom State in general were thrown into in 2011 when His Eminence, Edidem Robert James Obot, Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area was brutally assassinated in broad day light. There was no premonition that a revered traditional ruler and totem of Ibibio people globally was a target and can be so targeted. If there was any such clue, the press then may have been so docile and refused to make it public maybe for fear of being hounded by your government and security agencies.
As Elders, we believe Thomas Thomas, in relying on his source after due analysis of the information at his disposal, acted in the best interest of the state as the state would have been thrown into anarchy and further ethnic distrust if any such gory assassination was repeated. The journalist’s aim may then have been that of alerting the state government and her security apparatus of a likely repeat of the 2010 unwarranted attack on Ibibio people and their traditional rulers. Constitutionally, journalists are whistle blowers and watchdogs of the society and government must strive not to hunt them down when they raise any alarm, real or speculative, rather, it should step up action to nip any untoward occurrence in the bud. We also wonder how the professional indiscretion of Mr. Thomas Thomas amounted to terrorism to have warranted his abduction by your agents.
Consequently, we frown at any attempt to use security forces to cow media practitioners in Akwa Ibom State. We therefore join civil society groups and well meaning Akwa Ibomites to urge His Excellency to drop charges of terrorism preferred against Mr. Thomas Thomas. We call for his immediate and unconditional release. Release Thomas Thomas today. As a lawyer, His Excellency, the Governor needs not be reminded that any infraction by the media does not call for such high handed reaction as have characterized his administration so far.
Akwa Ibom people have accepted assurances of security agencies in the state that no Paramount Ruler of Ibibio origin was marked for assassination. It remains for the State Government to drop charges of terrorism preferred against the Editor and release him to dowse ethnic tension that is building up in the state.
This call is on the heels of stories by concerned Annang persons detailing how Obong Victor Attah, our immediate past governor tolerated seemingly false and speculative stories published by Annang indigenes to discredit his government but at no point did Obong Attah prosecute any journalist on account of what was published against him. It is on this note that we urge His Excellency, Governor Godswill Akpabio to show more maturity and continue to tolerate the media as he winds up his government.
Once again and finally, we commend His Excellency for raising the level of development in the state and urge him to do more to justify the huge resources that have accrued to the state in his era.
Signed:
General Edet Akpan (Rtd) Former Director General, NYSC, Atta Ibibio.
Obongawan Rita Akpan, Former SSG, Former Minister for Women Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Senator Effiong Dickson Bob, Chairman, Governing Council, University of Benin
Obong Sunny Jackson Udoh, Political Leader, Uyo Senatorial District
Obong (Engr.) Effiok Akpan, Former Governorship Aspirant, NRC, Political Leader
Obong (Engr.) Bassey Inuaeyen, Former Governorship Aspirant, PDP, Political Leader
Obong Nsima Umoh, Banker, Former Governorship Aspirant, PDP
Akparawa Okon Imeh, Past President, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio
Obongawan (Pharmacist), Dora Ebong, Foremost Women Leader
Akparawa Udo Sam Umoatang, Past President, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio
Obong (Engr) Offiong Akpabio, Political Leader
Chief Udoisim Emah Uboh, Former Commissioner and Community Leader
Chief Friday Okono, Community Leader, Nsit Atai
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