The recent attempt at the life of Senator Helen Esuene by youths in the Governor’s Essien Udim Local Government Area has been reported at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory with stakeholders of the nation’s project expressing total disappointment and anger at the actions of all other people mentioned in the attack.
THE INK understands that the first lady of the nation Dame Patience Jonathan had expressed very serious bitterness with the action and had asked that such assault can never be swept under the carpet. Dame Jonathan is said to have posited that it is rude for female aspirants to be attacked while on political outings. Our reporter gathered that the presidency was particularly not happy with the postings of Government when it learnt that more than twenty four hours after the unfortunate incidence, the state Government was yet to make a position condemning the act.
Meanwhile, despite some claims made by the Chairman of the PDP in Essien Udim over the unfortunate incidence linking some chieftains to the action, majority of the Essien Udim people who spoke to our reporter while condemning the act had apologized to Senator Helen Esuene, her supporters and the people of Eket saying that the action of that day was not meant to hurt or disgrace the distinguished Senator. They described the incidence as what the greed of the Essien Udim Party Chairman can lead to.
Some party faithful from Essien Udim said, what led to the fracas was the realization of the fact that the Essien Udim Chapter Chairman of PDP Elder Friday Udoh had attempted to embezzle the money that was given to the party by the Eket Senator.
Many of them who spoke to our reporter last night hinted that Elder Udoh’s claim on radio was fabricated and a script he played to justify his greed. They exonerated the Essien Udim Council Boss and others of pre arranging the mayhem and called on Elder Udoh to desist from making wild allegations he cannot substantiate.
An Elder of the PDP in Essien Udim hinted that although nobody is a saint, he exonerated the trio of Gov. Akpabio, Sir Emem Akpabio and Mr. Nse Ntuen arguing that the three men did not instigate either actively or passively the ugly incidence in Afaha Ikot Ebak in Essien Udim LGA last week.
Earlier last weekend, the Chairman of the Governor’s Local Government Area had while briefing newsmen at the ALGON office in Uyo said; Government never sponsored thugs to disrupt Helen Esuene’s consultation in Essien Udim.
In a text of a press release, Nse Ntuen said the face-off was between some youths in the area and the chapter chairman of the party in the area, Elder Friday M. Udoh whose actions in recent times have been unbecoming.
Hon. Nse Ntuen stated that he as the Chief Security Officer of the area was not aware of the visit of the distinguished Senator and neither the Divisional Police Officer of the area was notified or invited for the event.
He stated that the ignorance on the part of the organisers and handlers of the visit, particularly, in failing to involve the security operatives in the local government left a large security gap at the function.
Furthermore, he explained that the youths got restless when the Senator informed them that money meant for their welfare had been deposited into the account of the chapter chairman who he said confirmed the receipt of the money which was non-available to the youths which escalated into several protests and they descended heavily on the chapter chairman whom they feared had wanted to embezzle their money.
He said that neither the senator nor any member of her campaign team was touched or harassed by the protesting youths as he assured that Essien Udim Local Government Area remains peaceful including the people who have and will receptive to strangers and visitors at all times.
He also said that the local government area is always ready to receive aspirants who are free to consult the party and people at all times and henceforth, the security apparatus in the area will be synergized between the area and aspirants to avoid such ugly incidents in the future.
Hon, Nse Ntuen stated that that the unfortunate event was not masterminded by any person or group to embarrass the person or team of Senator Esuene and tendered and unreserved apology to Senator Esuene and her campaign team.
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