Akwa Ibom State Government has declaredt he threat by the APC Presidential Candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu to send reptiles to invade the Governor’s lodge in Lagos and eventually seize the property, an insult to its government and people.
The state government in a release titled “Tinubu’s insult on Akwa Ibom people unwarranted, uncharitable and anachronistic” signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday says the threat is taken very seriously, considering Tinubu’s antecedents.
The Akwa Ibom Government declared such unwarranted outburst as immature and totally unexpected of a person of Tinubu’s advanced age, reminding him that Akwa Ibom has been home to all Nigerians (including Yoruba people), who have, over many years, done businesses and even resided in the state, without any threat to them or their business.
“On the scheduled date, the Presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, landed at the Victor Attah International Airport, a state-owned and managed airport, without any hitch or hinderance and proceeded to the venue of his campaign, without any negative reaction from the citizens (as witnessed in other states where presidential candidates are stoned by youths in states not controlled by their party).
“At the venue, he, Tinubu, without any provocation, went on to hurl insults and threats at the government and people of our state. Questioning the legitimacy of our Governor and threatening to send reptiles to invade the Governor’s lodge and eventually seizing the property.
“The Government and people of the state did not at any time say or act in any way provocative to the person or campaign of Bola Tinubu. Instead, all the facilities used by his campaign were generously approved for their use, by the government, without any hitch or delay.
“The residence which Bola Ahmed Tinubu has threatened to take over, totally belongs to the Government of our state and his threat is taken very seriously, considering his antecedents. Conversely, Akwa Ibom has been home to all Nigerians (including Yoruba people), who have, over many years, done business and even resided here, without any threat to them or their business.
“”The comments by Sen. Tinubu, to say the least, is immature and totally unexpected of a person of his advanced age. That is an insult to the Government and people of the state, and we demand an apology.
“Mr. Udom Emmanuel was duly elected as Governor of Akwa Ibom State and therefore, it is clearly unpresidential and undemocratic, for Sen. Tinubu to say that he “calls himself Governor”.
“Sen. Tinubu should during his campaigns, concern himself with answering questions about his nebulous history and his amorphous manifestos. The Presidency of our country is a very serious business that must be treated with seriousness and intellectual depth.
“The Government advises all her citizens to ignore the vituperations of Sen. Tinubu and continue to co-exist peacefully with all Nigerians who are living and doing legitimate businesses in our state”. The release stated.
In a related development, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a foremost socio- cultural organization in the state says it consider Tinubu’s distasteful comment as smacking of intolerance, prejudice and ethnic jingoism.
In a release signed by its International President, Akparawa James Edet and made available to our Correspondent in Uyo, the body says such utterance is capable of inciting strife between Ibibios and the Yoruba brethren who have cohabited for decades without any crisis.
“We condemn in very strong terms the veiled threats directed at our son and Governor of our State by Tinubu and charge him to be measured, circumspect and responsible in his utterances as a leader while campaigning”. It charged
Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio however commends Governor Udom Emmanuel for his principled stand to stay on issue based campaign and not join issues with Tinubu despite the provocation.
The Socio-cultural Organization therefore calls on all political parties and politicians to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly throughout the electioneering processes and avoid actions that will heat up the polity.
