You Can't Nail Attah- Group Tells Idongesit Nkanga, Ors

Why PDP Supporters were returned enroute to Emenyi's burial.

Persons allegedly sponsored by Governor Godswill Akpabio to bring Ex Governor Victor Attah to disrepute through the media came under swipe of Friends of Victor Attah in Nigerian (FOVAN), Eket Senatorial District last week Friday at Oron when the group said Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga and others cannot nail the PDP board members in their resurged antics.
The Senatorial Co-ordinator of FOVAN who gave his name as Hon. Udazi Okpono alleged that current effort of the present administration was targeted at humiliating the former governor through those he describe as “used horses” who have used mediocrity and sycophancy to gain relevance in the state.
Obong Victor Attah, Senator John James Akpanudoedeghe, Group Captain Sam Enwang (rtd) and Otuekong Idongesit Udokpo had in a meeting at Abuja issued a communiqué condemning the spate of insecurity which has taken over the state, stressing the need to beef up security to check the menace. They said: “After consultation with experienced concerned citizens in security matters and considering government handling of kidnapping cases, the forum rose convinced that these activities are alien to Akwa Ibom State. By resolution, the forum condemned in strong terms the level of insecurity that has left indigenes of the state in fear and in siege and called for a stop to all manner of intimidation and harassment of innocent citizens perpetrated by evil-minded men”.
The signatories under the aegis of Concern Leaders of Ibibio People had in the February 4th, 2010 communique alleged that kidnapping in the state was targeted at prominent Ibibio sons as a means of weakening them politically and regretted the abduction of Gen. Edet Akpan (retd) where N70million was allegedly paid to regain his freedom. They in the letter equally called on the state government to rise to the occasion to save the citizens. They said: “The forum firmly believed that the government of Akwa Ibom State working with Security Agencies Operating in the state has the capacity to stem this criminal activity if it is desirous to do so with the requisite political will. The Forum Calls on the governor of Akwa Ibom State in his capacity as its Chief Security officer to wake up to his cardinal responsibility of providing adequate security to people and property in the state”.

In a three page advertorial, tagged: “What does Obong Victor Attah want?”, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, Akparawa Godwin Ntukudeh, Mrs. Helen Esuene, Captain Iniobong Ekong, Obong Bassey Inuaeyen, Otuekong Sunny Jackson Udoh, Obong Peter Ekpe Atakpo and Dr. Maurice Ebong accused Obong Attah and other signatories as giving kidnapping “an ethnic Coloration” describing him as ethnic warlord. The group in the advertorial published in both local and national dailies hinted that kidnapping and general insecurity was bequeathed to Governor Godswill Akpabio by the last administration headed by Obong Attah. They maintained that the signatories could not speak for Ibibio as there are recognized groups who can do so if there is need.
But FOVAN in the interaction with Global Concord described the allegation as wild and baseless attempting to insult the emotion of members of Akwa Ibom public who could attest to “the general calm” which they said characterized the Attah led government.
They said: “I am not an Ibibio man but I have brotherhood with them because of one state. Those who are making those allegations are insulting our emotions. They are public disgrace to us because those things are not true …, there were few, very view reported cases of kidnapping during the Attah's regime which were immediately put on halt,… But if you compare the number of incidence in 8 years and compare to what is recorded in less than four years you will be able to establish the integrity and authenticity of their claims that Akwa Ibom is generally peaceful and calm now than when Obong Attah was the Governor. That is laughable. It is however pitiful that most peoples have soiled their reputation over a plate of beans. It is unfortunate, Idongesit Nkanga, and his cohort can be used to attempt to nail Attah. They have failed in that”.

Reacting to the absence of Ex-Gov. Attah at the burial of Chief Tony Emeyin,

Hon. Okpono said the former governor has registered his condolence through personal visit to the family Thursday preceding the burial to sign the condolence register and published such condolence with the media. He said the absence of the former governor was sequel to a presidential summon on him at Abuja noting however that enough mobilization was done by the Ex Gov. to assist party members to attend the burial. Global Concord gathered that six Chisco buses where paid for to convey party members to Oron. Reason for Attah's gesture it was learnt was sequel to the political dexterity of the late Emenyi which provided for all interest groups in the party thereby enhancing its unity. Global Concord further learnt that the buses, full of party members were returned en route to the venue Oron youths allegedly sponsored by commissioners and political office holders in Gov. Akpabio's cabinet.

A party source speaking on condition of anonymity told reporters that the action of the youths was to avoid what he termed as ''diplomatic row or embarrassment to governor Godswill Akpabio'' as the party members may not have stopped to chant songs in solidarity to Ex-Gov Attah to incur the wrath of Governor Akpabio on the officers as was in Ibesikpo Asutan at the burial of Okuibom 11 when an opposition was allegedly given an edge over him (Gov. Akpabio) in 2011 guber contest.

The source, an ex councilor at Oron local government said: “I want to think that the Executive Chairman of Oron, PDD Executive at Oron and the State Government may be behind the action of the youths because they did not want a repeat of what happened at Ibesikpo Asutan at the burial of Okuibom II. It was politically motivated I'm sure you know that because Commissioners and Appointees from here would have gotten a place in the governor's bad book”, the source said.

The source however, maintained that the action of the youths does represent the general feelings of Oron people towards Obong Attah and host of others in the opposition camp.