By Ayoyinka Jegede, Uyo.
Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance has issued seven days ultimatum to All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to retract his statements and threats to Governor Udom Emmanuel or face legal action.
This is as the President of the Apex Ekid socio-cultural organisation, Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Chief Etiene Bob, called on the former Lagos governor to apologise to the people of Akwa Ibom for his remarks on Emmanuel.
President of the Alliance, Stephen Abia, told a press conference in Uyo, on Wednesday, that the threat to the governor was worrisome, adding that the use of threats, blackmail, scandalous and libelous statements on persons should never be a political tool for campaigns.
He said: “We consider as worrisome the threat to the life of the governor of Akwa Ibom State in the shabby outburst by Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We also take serious exception to such unwarranted, unfortunate, and uncontrolled height of vituperation by Tinubu on our state and people as the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, without mincing words, is the face of Akwa Ibom.
“The fact that Tinubu was applauded by misinformed, misguided and, obviously, hired crowd at the rally, does not in any way suggest cowardice, but a high sense of political tolerance and patriotism.”
“Having been accorded the peaceful, serene and secure atmosphere to campaign in Akwa Ibom State, which, of course, would not have been the case about eight years ago, and having been graciously accorded the use of our state facilities by the same Governor Udom Emmanuel whom Mr. Tinubu seeks to exterminate, it is crystal clear that the affront was premeditated and out of heavy ill-will and grudging contempt.”
Bob condemed personal attacks on individuals by the APC flag bearer, wondering why he should not focus on marketing himself to the electorate instead of abusing personalities.
“Governor Emmanuel is our child and the patron of Afigh Iwaad Ekid and the Governor of Akwa Ibom and any disrespect to him is a direct insult on Akwa Ibom people and we will not allow that, not after we gave our facility and a peaceful environment to Tinubu to campaign. Can anyone go to Lagos to do that,” he said.
Also in a statement, International President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa James Edet, while calling for an apology from Tinubu, said that such statements could threaten existing peaceful relations between the people of the state and Yoruba living in the state.
“We consider this distasteful comment as smacking of intolerance, prejudice and ethnic jingoism, which is capable of inciting strife between Ibibios and their Yoruba brethren with whom they have cohabited for decades without any rancour.
“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,” the statement read.
Source: The Guardian
