There is growing political tension in Akwa Ibom State following the shocking withdrawal of security details attached to the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Udom Emmanuel over the weekend.
Findings gathered revealed that policemen attached to the two houses of the former governor in Akwa Ibom have all been withdrawn.
This shocking development has stirred mixed reactions and raised brows in the state as some have pointed fingers to the All Progressives Congress, APC-led State government of being behind it to force the former governor to join the party, while others also believe that the move was a validation of claims that all was not well between governor Umo Eno and his predecessor, Mr Emmanuel.
Recall that the former governor is the political godfather of the incumbent governor Eno, having played an active role in his election as governor under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections.
That relationship however seems to have hit the rocks following Governor Umo Eno’s defection to the APC. His godfather, Emmanuel, has remained quiet through out this time but only pledged genuine loyalty to the PDP.
The ex governor’s decision to remain in the PDP and work towards rebuilding the party ahead of the 2027 elections was described as a threat to the APC state government hence the move to cripple him.
Akwa Ibom state government denies involvement
Completely Distancing itself from the incident, the Akwa Ibom government through its Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umana in a press release, stated that the media report alleging that it directed the withdrawal of security personnel attached to the ex-governor is false and misleading
He added the report was purposefully made up to misinform the public, adding that deployment of police officers is the sole right and responsibility of the commissioner of police and not the governor.
His words, ‘The deployment, reassignment, or withdrawal of police officers is the exclusive responsibility of the Inspector-General of Police and the commissioner of Police in each State, and not the duty of any Governor.
“I can tell you on good authority that the Governor did not issue any directive to withdraw security operatives from the immediate past Governor.”
Additionally, further stated that all former governors of Akwa Ibom State are entitled to, and continue to enjoy, their security details as approved by law.
“To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint or report from any former Governor or their media aides about the withdrawal of security personnel. The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it,” Umanah added.
The commissioner encouraged members of the public and residents of the state to ignore the baseless propaganda, reiterating that Governor of Akwa Ibom State remained committed to fostering peace, unity, and good governance across the State.
Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to former governor Emmanuel, Barrister Steve Abia, confirmed the withdrawal of the security details attached to the former governor, however did not provide detail about the source of the withdrawal order.
He said, “The reality on ground is that if you go to the Ex-governor’s houses right now, there are no police security men, that is the truth.”
“Who withdrew the security personnel is what I cannot make any statement on. So, if you have time we can go there, so you find out,” he told our correspondent.
Pro PDP group insist on political motivation
In response tp the state government, a pro PDP group identified as “PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice” has described the incident as politically motivated and a plan to subdue the former governor.
The Chairman of the group, Dr Tom FredFish in a telephone conversation told news correspondent that, “So, if the state is saying that it does not know the whereabouts of the security details in Udom’s place, how does it sound?
“Also, this means a confirmation to the fact that Umo Eno is having issues with his leader, because never in a time that the federal government can just come and remove details from a former governor.
“It’s a pity that they have played politics to that extent. All this is just for them to kill the PDP, not to exist in the state and to see how they can pocket PDP.
“Udom has come out perhaps to say, no, PDP has to stand as a party. They are working towards everything to see that the party collapses in the state.
“But it will not work. PDP is not anybody’s federal property in Akwa Ibom State.
“My advice is that they should stop panicking and focus on governance.”
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