On Thursday, March 25th 2010 on page 11 of the Nation Newspaper, a Distinguished and Honorable Statesman, Comrade (Hon) Effiong Ononokpono published (15) fifteen questions for the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio to answer. Still in that publication, this veteran of decent and open politics of the good days of yore offered His Excellency the Governor of Akwa Ibom State 5(five) pieces of advice.
On that same Thursday March 25th 2010, in his reaction to the publication, His Excellency the governor, in a remarkable show of paranoia and intolerance that has characterized his administration, sent a team of armed policemen to Odobo-Okobo, the home of Comrade Ononokpono to arrest and take the old man to the State Police Headquarters, Uyo where he was detained in the police cell after an intense and punitive interrogation. Later that same day, the old man was removed from the cell and taken to his home stead in Odobo-Okobo where his private residence was turned upside down in the name of conducting a search. The police had no search warrant. On Friday the 26th of March, 2010, Comrade Ononokpono was arraigned in the Uyo Chief Magistrate's Court No.1 presided over by Chief Magistrate Edet Obot on a two count charge of criminal defamation and causing alarm to the public. These two offences are misdemeanors and are bail able offences. Despite the presumption of innocence of the accused in law and the obvious deteriorating health of Comrade Ononokpono, an old man of 75 years of age, and despite the passionate plea of learned defense counsel for the bail of the accused, the learned Chief Magistrate Edet Obot ordered the old man with a life-threatening medical condition to be remanded in prison custody in the Federal Prison, Uyo and adjourned the case to the 14th of May, 2010.
Now, Comrade Ononokpono is in prison custody for daring to ask the questions which every citizen of Akwa Ibom State is entitled to ask of his or her governor and government. Comrade Ononokpono is in prison for offering 5 pieces of advice to His Excellency the governor on the path to peace and good governance in Akwa Ibom State. The basic principles of democracy contain intrinsically the right of the citizens to open and accountable government and the right to ask questions of his or her leaders. Regrettably, in Akwa Ibom State, a Gestapo style of governance, brooking no opposition or dissenting view is fast emerging with the leadership of Governor Akpabio. When His Excellency, Arch (Obong) Victor Attah was the governor of Akwa Ibom State, some well known and respected citizens of the state persistently expressed their views and opinions in national and local newspapers and magazines against the government in power at that time. There was no arrest or detention of these individuals and they went about their private and official endeavors in and out of Akwa Ibom State freely. Now there is palpable fear and depression in our dear state created by the blinding intolerance and desperate desire of one man, Governor Godswill Akpabio to continue in office beyond 2011.
Akwa Ibom State and its people now live in constant fear of kidnappers and general insecurity.
Comrade Ononokpono is a sick old man. I pray that nothing happens to him in incarceration. Above all I pray for Akwa Ibom State and the people of Akwa Ibom state that God in His infinite mercies will deliver us from the hands of the destructive tyranny that has risen up like a monster in our dear state.
Senator John James Akpanudoedehe
Chapel Villa, Afaha Offot, Uyo.
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