The former Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory(FCT,and governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, John Akpanudoedehe, has cried out over alleged threat to his life by his political adversaries. The former minister, who is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), stated this at a press conference in Lagos yesterday.
He called on President Goodluck Jonathan to protect him from political opponents, who were threatening his life because of his political ambition. The governorship hopeful said since he declared his intention to contest next year’s election, he had become a target of harassment and intimidation.
Akpanudoehehe said first he was arrested and detained for 11 days for allegedly having a hand in the murder of one Paul Inyang, a former zonal secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-south. He said on account of that, his international passport and phones were seized, while a thorough search was conducted on his country home.
However, the former minister said he was let off the hook and his seized property released when nothing incriminating was found against him. In his words: “Today, I am being hounded and treated like a common criminal despite my pedigree as a former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and minister. I am being framed for a murder I know nothing about, all because I declared my intention to contest the governorship of my state. I believe no one is too big to face justice but I also know that no one should be punished for an offence he did not commit.”
Furthermore, he stated that he was not alone in the harassment by political opponents. According to him, all those who had declared their interest to contest next year’s governorship election started having problem immediately they made their ambition public. The former FCT minister alleged that the use of the police to harass and intimidate politicians outside the fold of the PDP ran contrary to the resolve of the president to ensue a credible election next year.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has consistently assured that his administration will organise a free, fair and credible election. But it is common knowledge that this can only be done if the Police and other security agents will play a neutral role, rather than, a partisan one,” he added.
Akpanudoehehe decried the level of insecurity in the state, saying in the recent past, 300 cases of kidnapping or assassination had been recorded in the state without the State Government doing anything to stem the tide. “ The people are the reason for the existence of any government. The biggest responsibility of any government is the security of lives and property.”
Posted: at 28-10-2010 10:32 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
goingwithyou at 28-10-2010 11:54 AM (13 years ago) (m)
Uhmm .. not my pro
Posted: at 28-10-2010 11:54 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac