On June 19, 2009, Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA Inc. (AKISAN) published a press release on the state of public safety in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria (AKS). It was evident even then that AKS was under siege; the government of AKS seemed unaware of the ensuing carnage, and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) was ineffective, out-gunned and ultimately unable to protect AKS citizens.
Recent incidents of terrorism in Akwa Ibom State, specifically the assassination of Obong Paul Inyang (a PDP leader in AKS); the alarming rate of kidnappings (including that of a retired Army General Akpan); the attempted assassination of a gubernatorial candidate (Ini Udonwa) and kidnapping of his aged mother (still in captivity), has brought all citizens of Akwa Ibom State at home and in the Diaspora to the tipping point on the state of public safety in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.
While some argue that kidnapping and acts of terror are not limited to AKS, it is now abundantly clear, that these acts of terror mentioned above are derivatives of an ugly politics in AKS. These are not random acts criminality and the government of Akwa Ibom State can not be absolved of complicity in these dastardly acts of assassination and reign of terror. This is simply unacceptable in AKS, in Nigeria, in UK, in Ireland, in the U.S. or anywhere in the world were democracy exist and God fearing individuals cohabitate.
The responsibility for a safe and peaceful AKS is that of the State Government. In fact, the Government of AKS will unequivocally fail in all other responsibilities if it cannot protect its citizens. The safety of citizens is at the core of good governance, the primary and most basic expectation from the leaders in Akwa Ibom State Government.
We in the Akwa Ibom Diaspora hold the government of Akwa Ibom State accountable for the state of siege in AKS;
We hold the government accountable for citizens living in fear;
We hold the government accountable for the spate of assassinations, kidnappings and extortions;
We hold the government accountable for bloodshed and lives lost;
We hold the government accountable for the mindless attempt to assassinate or kidnap the gubernatorial candidate from the Diaspora (Engr. Ini Udonwa); the government is accountable for the life of Madame Udonwa still in captivity.
We hold the government accountable for the prevailing acts of terrorism in AKS, which in turn threatens to negate all the developmental accomplishments of Your Excellency's tenure. The buck stops here!
Terrorism in AKS impacts the global economy and renders AKS unsafe, unlivable, unattractive to visitors, and unattractive for tourism.
Terrorism in AKS will stifle private investments.
Terrorism in AKS will hamper all efforts at economic development.
AKS will be left with roads to no where; further exacerbation of joblessness; more chaos, fear and misery.
Make no mistake, right now, Akwa Ibom is not OK. The global leadership of Akwa Ibom citizens in the Diaspora therefore requests a meeting with you, Your Excellency, to listen to strategies and efforts in progress toward ending the grip of terror on Akwa Ibom State.
Aside from the primary objective of this communication, which is the end of this scourge of political assassinations, kidnappings and political intimidations, we seek to positively engage and assist Akwa Ibom State government through development and implementation of the following recommendations (some of which we recognize may be already in implementation, but none the less, may be adjusted in light of the lack of impact on the state of public safety thus far):
1. Establishment of a cabinet level department of public safety and emergency management (focused on preventive and proactive tactics for a safe Akwa Ibom State)
2. Community vigilance & surveillance (neighborhood Watch organizations)
3. Properties surveillance (including churches; cameras link to security watch & dispatch center; distributed and central command)
4. Public space Surveillance (cameras link to security dispatch center)
5. Active and rolling stop and search (Joint Police and Public safety officers patrols (24/7)
6. Profiling and preventive arrests with cause
7. Curfew and lock down of state during designated periods
8. Counter terror intelligence gathering
9. Transparency in the prosecution of those arrested
10. Enforcement of laws on the books against gun ownership, armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism.
11. Offensive against those that cannot show source of their wealth.
12. Phone and vehicle traceability (legislation, policies, and mandates)
13. Disincentive ransom policy (no negotiation with terrorists and kidnappers)
14. Controlled movement in & out of AKS (stop & search all).
15. Money movement (through banks) laws and mandates (financial crimes watch; money laundering by criminals)
16. Enhanced and integrated Emergency response system (911 equivalent, with communications backbone)
17. Engagement of Community leaders & traditional rulers.
18. Reduction of the unemployment rate in the state; through revitalization of shuttered industries and creation of employment opportunities for youths.
19. Strategic location of speed bumps to retard escaping criminals
His Excellency, you can understand the importance of these concerns to the citizens of Akwa Ibom State at home and especially those in the Diaspora, and our intention to engage in the process of ending this state of terror. We hope you will find it valuable to keep us engaged in the process as a matter of urgency.
Akwa Ibom State has already garnered the ignominy of being listed by the US State Department as a no-go area. We cannot credibly engage the US State department (for de-listing) without demonstrable actions and improvement in public safety status of Akwa Ibom State.
Given the impact, including the value of AKS to the world economy, we will strategically engage the Nigerian government, the US government, and the UK government, if we find Akwa Ibom leadership without the urgency and right energy behind actions to end this scourge of terror, political assassinations, kidnappings, and political intimidations.
Frankly, to the extent that the government of Akwa Ibom State can not be absolved of complicity in recent assassination, attempted assassination, and kidnappings, this may be the right time to seek an independent and special prosecutor to investigate the assassination of Obong Paul Inyang, the attempted assassination of gubernatorial candidate Ini Udonwa, and the kidnapping of General Akpan. It is in the government's best interest to be seen to practice peace and justice by seeking Federal and/or International help in rooting out the source of these political assassinations. The Nigerian Police Force has been ineffective thus far. The Government of Akwa Ibom State has not done much beyond rhetoric. The Governor of Akwa Ibom State has not stepped forward, owned, and provided any public leadership towards ending prevailing state of terror in Akwa Ibom State.
It is time for the Federal government to declare a State of Emergency in Akwa Ibom State.
With the mandate of Akwa Ibom citizens in the Diaspora, I, and/or credited delegates from the Diaspora are available to meet with you at a time and place of mutual convenience, preferably here in the US during one of your visits.
We are of course willing to meet with you in the UK or some safe location outside Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.
We look forward to your response by June 30, 2010.
Sincerely,
Obong E. Umana
National President,
Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria,
USA. INC.
C.C.
Secretary to AKS government Umana Umana
Commissioner for information Aniekan Umanah
President of Nigeria,Goodluck Jonathan
Senate President, Hon Senator David Mark
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole
Hon. Senators Effiong Bob, Aloysious Etuk, Eme Ekaette from AKS
Chairman Police Commission, Mr. Parry Osayande
Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State
Hon. Speaker, AKS House of Assembly
Paramount Rulers in AKS
US State Department (Africa Desk, US Ambassador in Nigeria, Special Representative on Electoral Reform)
The Media
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