Akwa Ibom violence: How we escaped, by Udoedehe

All is quite in Uyo and Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom – scenes of Tuesday’s violence in which many died.

It was time yesterday to relive the mayhem.

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate Senator John James Udoedehe and his running mate, Dr. Ime Umanah, told of how they cheated death when their campaign team came under attack in Ikot Ekpene on Tuesday.

“As we drove through the town on our way to the venue, we suddenly heard a burst of gunfire. Before we knew it, our entourage was broken into two as some of the vehicles in the middle of the convoy were directly affected, with some people killed and vehicles burnt,” Udoedehe said.

The AC N governorship candidate was last night detained in Abuja by the Police.

He went to honour the invitation of Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim in company of his lawyer Andem Ndem.

After his interraction with the Ringim, he was detained at the police headquarters.

Governor Godswill Akpabio accused the ACN of causing mayhem and vowed to arrest its chieftains over the arson in Uyo.

“No responsible government can condone such lawlessness and wanton destruction of lives and properties. We have directed that the arrested persons be charged to court today (yesterday). The law as we know it is no respecter of persons and so, all those who collaborated, sponsored or were complicate in these attacks would be sent for trial, no matter how highly-placed they may be in the society,” Akpabio said.

Police Commissioner Felix Uyanna paraded some of the 37 persons arrested in connection with the incident. He said they would be charged to court.

But the AC N denied that its members were responsible for the violence.

Udoedehe Campaign Organisation spokesman Thomas Akpan said Akpabio planned to intimidate the opposition ahead of the elections.

“Akpabio’s style is to intimidate political opponents and pursue them into the bush to have a free rein during the elections, Akpan said, adding: “If he wants to use intimidation to win the election, I wish him goodluck but we won’t be cowed. He knows the truth about the violence, he is only shying away from saying it.”

Describing the attack on the AC N convoy as “shocking and barbaric,” Udoedehe said his campaign entourage was ambushed and sprayed with bullets and stones even before they could make their way to the rally venue in Ikot Obong Edong.

“A few of us who were in front of the convoy managed to make our way to the venue but those behind were scattered. They sped back to Uyo, it was so shocking and alarming my wife broke down and wept. She said it was embarrassing that such could take place in her home town.”

Udoedehe, who spoke to reporters in his home in Uyo, said the fact that the mayhem took place in the home base of Akpabio spoke volumes about the state of insecurity in Akwa Ibom.

“It is very instructive and indeed very disgraceful that this ugly incident happened in Akpabio’s hometown and a few minutes drive from his country home. It is unimaginable that such a degree of violence could be unleashed on fellow citizens of Akwa Ibom State in the backyard of their own governor, who was elected to protect their lives and property…They said we dare not campaign for votes in Ikot Ekpene and Annang area because the area is only for Akpabio and the PDP,” the former Minister said.

Udoedehe said he and Dr. Ime Umana, his running-mate, escaped the bloodbath “by the grace of God”.

“Before now, we had gone round and campaigned very peacefully and successfully in 13 Ibibio and Oron Local Government Areas without this kind of experience. It’s so unfortunate and really regrettable that Governor Akpabio would permit this to happen right under his nose…The verdict of history will be harsh on him”.

He also accused an official of the Akpabio administration and a PDP chieftain of co-sponsoring the bloody assault.

Umanah described the incident as “disheartening and shameful”. He condemned Akpabio for introducing “warfare” into a well known peaceful place, such as Akwa Ibom State.

“Annang people are not happy about this behaviour by Akpabio and his supporters. It is very shameful. Senator Udoedehe is our in-law and in Annang land we respect our in-laws, our grandchildren and our strangers.

“I was thinking that Akpabio would use his offices to make friends and unite our people but he is trying to make the ethnic groups here to fight each other. I think everybody must condemn this type of behaviour,” Umana said.

He recalled the attack on the AC N team: “I was just beginning to speak as soon as we managed to arrive on the campaign grounds when they (armed thugs) arrived in large number, jumped to the podium and pursued us everywhere…”

Mr. Joe Ukpong, the ACN senatorial candidate for Ikot Ekpene district, described his experience as “terrible”. The one-time commissioner for Special Duties in Obong Victor Attah’s administration said: “I have never seen a thing like that in my life. As we were going into Ikot Ekpene, they ambushed us and opened fire. Those of us who were in front managed to get to the campaign grounds. As we started to address the crowd, the thugs arrived in a large number and descended on us and we had to escape under heavy security cover.”

Witnesses said some security agent confiscated the video films of the mayhem, but Udoedehe said his campaign team, ‘Positive Change 2011’, escaped with sufficient video recordings of the violence.

He urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation, “in the interest of democracy, peace and security of Akwa Ibom State”.

Addressing his supporters in Uyo, he said: “I am reporting everything to the security agencies and other appropriate authorities who should call Governor Akpabio to order. This is what I do anytime the PDP harasses us…But we have remained focused and refused to react unnecessarily, no matter the provocation, because they are losing grounds everyday and our victory is imminent, just around the corner.” He hoped that security agencies would be fair and thorough in their investigations to avoid lawlessness and gain the confidence of the people.

Last week, the campaign billboards of Udoedehe and Umana were vandalised in Ikot Ekpene.