December 27, (THEWILL) – Fresh facts have emerged on the recent report that accused the convoy of a sitting senator in Akwa Ibom of killing a couple while on an official engagement along Itam, Itu Local Government Area of the state, even as the Senator involved, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, has been marked safe.
THEWILL reports that angry youths of Akon-Itam community in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state had protested, accusing the convoy of the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South District, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, of killing a couple along the Calabar-Itu Highway, while on their way back to Uyo, the state capital.
Senator Iyakenyi is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate and running mate to Pastor Umo Eno, the party’s flag-bearer in the 2023 elections.
Speaking to our Correspondent, one of the distraught youths, Comrade Utibe Inyang, had explained that the convoy rammed into the couple on a motorcycle, while trying to navigate the ever-busy highway, which connects the neighbouring Calabar, Cross River State.
He maintained that the anger of the people stemmed from the poor handling of the compensation package of a paltry N2 million the Senator gave to the family to quell the case.
“The husband and wife killed by her convoy died and left behind three young children, so the pains we are still feeling now is because of the disdainful attitude demonstrated by the deputy governorship candidate without considering how these young orphans would be trained and developed without their parents,” he explained.
It was gathered some officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), called to manage traffic at the scene were injured and their patrol vehicle damaged by the residents, but the Corps Commander in the state, Mathew Olonisaye, who spoke with our Correspondent said, “only our vehicle was vandalized,” adding that the situation had been brought under control and normalcy returned.
In a swift reaction to the wildly spread accusation, the media aid to the Senator, Mr. Samuel Duncan, who first declared that the Senator was safe, hale and hearty cleared the air on the unfortunate accident, explaining that Eyakenyi was on her way to represent the PDP governorship candidate, Pst. Umo Eno, at an event in Uruan LGA, when a hit-and-run driver in a Toyota Sienna ran into a motorbike conveying a lady at an intersection, throwing both the rider and passenger into the right of way of the vehicle that conveyed the Senator.
According to him, the unprovoked attack on the Senator’s vehicle as shown in some sections of the media, (not Tribune) was only perpetuated by people, who sought to make political capital of the unfortunate situation.
“Eyewitnesses battled in vain to absolve the convoy of any wrongdoing in the incident, even as Senator Eyakenyi stood by to rein in her security aides from getting confrontational with the needlessly irate mob.
“Our office has reported the incident to the Police, hoping the hit-and-run driver is identified while restating commitment to helping the Police establish closure on the matter,” he informed.
Duncan, however, commiserates with families of victims of the unfortunate occurrence and frowns at every attempt at politicizing the avoidable spill.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Olatoye Durosinmi, said calm has returned following fruitful negotiation for them to embrace peace, adding that for timely intervention, the youths were on the verge of torching some vehicles in the convoy.
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