The fracas between the Akwa Ibom state government and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the alleged destruction of APC campaign billboards took a different dimension on Saturday.
The APC in the state had risen against the People’s Democratic Party-controlled state government for pulling down campaign billboards of President Muhammadu Buhari and its governorship candidate, Obong(Dr.) Nsima Ekere.
The state commissioner for environment and mineral resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien and the chairman of Uyo local government area, Mr. Okon Okon were last week arrested and detained by the police following a petition by the APC that its campaign billboards were destroyed by agents of the state government.
At a press conference on Friday, the State Chairman of the APC National Youth Caucus, Mr. Iniobong John raised the alarm that the state government was planning to organize women in the state to stage a protest against the APC government at the center.
The APC youth leader said the protest, planned to hold in major streets of the state capital on Saturday, remained one of the many plans by the PDP in the area to intimidate and misrepresent the President and the APC in the area.
He threatened to stage a counter protest against the Governor Udom Emmanuel PDP government should it go ahead with the protest.
The party, therefore, called on security agencies to stop the planned protest as this, according to them, could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the area.
“We wish to alert the security agencies and the general public of the street protest planned by the Akwa Ibom State government against Mr. President and the APC federal government. The protest is planned to take place tomorrow, Saturday, 20th October, 2018.
“As we speak, mobilization has been done. Buses to convey PDP goons and thugs across the state have been mobilized. Funds have been disbursed to the different groups and individuals for mobilization. T-shirts and other logistics have been arranged. A meeting is ongoing now at the Government House to fine tune the plans.
“The protesters are to march from the Ibom Plaza to the government house where the governor is billed to address them. The governor has shown that he is deceitful, unreliable and desperate. Just yesterday, he was summoned to the Presidential Villa to explain his government’s actions against the APC’s billboards in the state. And he apologized and begged for a lifeline from the president.
“Such mischievous and wicked plots by the state government are capable of triggering crisis, tension and in the extreme case, breakdown of law and order in the state. The failed PDP government must learn to manage its frustrations.” John said.
He described the plan as undemocratic and called for an issue based campaign adding that the party could be forced to organize a counter protest against the Governor.
“We insist the governor must campaign based on his scorecard and not on sentiments and campaigns of calumny against Mr. President and the APC federal government.
“As a people, we don’t deserve this and we never bargained for this. If the state government don’t desist from this mischievous street protest against our president and party, we’ll be left with no other option than to also plan a mass action against the failed, inept, clueless, rudderless and directionless government in the state.
“This government has failed irredeemably and the people of the state can’t wait for the 2019 election to replace it with a better brand of governance.” he said.