AKPABIO: NOW THAT ELDER STATESMAN ONONOKPONO IS DIED

Dear Editor,

AKPABIO: NOW THAT ELDER STATESMAN ONONOKPONO IS DIED

One remembers March 25, 2010 when the 75-old elder statesman (Comrade Honourable Effiong Ononokpono) a member of the Federal House under Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) between 1979 and 1983 was dragged on the floor in his Oron, Akwa Ibom, residence and hauled straight into prison custody. His offence was that he published an advertisement in The Nation newspaper of March 25, 2010, offering advice to Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State who felt insulted by that.

The next day, Ononkpono was taken from prison custody and arraigned before Uyo Magistrate, charged with sedition and treason. Ironically this happened at a time when the governor allegedly sponsored a three-page advertisement running in all the national and local dailies, signed by his cronies, castigating and abusing his former boss, Arc Victor Bassey Attah, his (Akpabio’s) former Campaign Manager/former FCT Minister of State (Senator John Udoedeghe) and former Military Governor of Ogun and Rivers State (Retired Group Captain Sam Ewang). Yet no charge was brought against those signatories but the respected Hon Comrade Effiong Ononokpono had to be beaten up and dumped into prison on the order of the ‘emperor’.

Ever since thereafter he hopped from one hospital to another seeking treatment to his health that deteriorated from manhandling and imprisonment. Now that the man died on Tuesday December 7, 2010 as a result, it is believed that Governor Godswill Akpabio should now be a happy man. But is that how it should be?

Akpabio’s quest to stay in power is taking a negative dimension on people he is supposed to be governing. Recently, he ensured that Dr. Sampson Ime Umanah was charged for treasonable felony for advising him. The mother of Engineer Ini Udonwa (governorship aspirant) was murdered and dumped naked on the street?  Also the Lady of Songs, Christy Essien Igbokwe, who is apolitical and loved by almost every Akwa Ibomite for her role that led to the present economic boom for the State, complained that Governor Akpabio had arranged for her kidnap and that resulted in her being unable to attend the funeral of her eldest brother who passed on about four months ago. Mrs. Comfort Ewang has remained hospitalized till date after 25 days in kidnappers den; etc.

Obong Ekanem Umoh, Nwaniba Road, Uyo, A’Ibom.