Ime Akpan
The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has accused the Nigeria police of biting the finger that feeds them.
Emmanuel who made the declaration in Uyo yesterday was reacting to the protection the police allegedly gave to five All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers whose seats were earlier declared vacant to converge at the state House of Assembly, suspend 11 of their colleagues and commence his (governor’s) impeachment proceedings.
The governor who spoke extempore (read full transcript of the speech below) at a world press conference after the new ‘speaker’ Mr. Nse Ntuen and a band of thugs had been chased away declared: “I want everyone to know and hear me that we have seen a total breakdown of law and order today led by the Nigeria Police.
“The same police I’m using the resources of the state to make sure that we maintain peace and order in this state. Akwa Ibom has been the most peaceful state in this country. We maintain all installations so that money could be gotten here and sent to Abuja for the police to also be maintained. It is the same police today, supervised by the commissioner who came in against the thought of law.”
He said he got wind of the invasion of the assembly on Monday and informed the commissioner of police accordingly but he (commissioner) denied knowledge of it.
“But since last night (Monday), we heard about this and we informed the commissioner of police that we heard he was planning to escort those sacked members to the assembly against the rule of law. He denied it.
And this morning (Tuesday), they were drumming the so-called “Warsaw saw War”, we have seen a trace of it today,” he said.
Emmanuel also alleged that some AK47-wielding persons who wore fake army uniforms were apprehended but the police had set them free.
“Some people were arrested with fake army uniforms. They came in with 18 AK47 and they were arrested. As I’m talking to you, those people who were arrested have been released through the order of the police.
“The police has allowed them to take all the 18 AK47 back (sic). This is the same Warsaw that was pronounced. We have reported this to the highest authority, the Presidency and the security agencies and no one has taken steps to address it. So, they are leaving Akwa Ibom people to defend themselves,” he added.
Here is the unedited transcript of the ad-lib speech
Let the whole world know that Nigerians had fought and gave their lives for the democracy we’re currently enjoying. But in Akwa Ibom State, due to the ambitions of selfish people, whom the state had given opportunity to become what they never dreamt of becoming, democracy is being threatened. Some of them were commissioner for six years and governor for eight years. They never had a second address. I want everyone to know and hear me that we have seen a total breakdown of law and order today led by the Nigeria Police.
The same police I’m using the resources of the state to make sure that we maintain peace and order in this state. Akwa Ibom has been the most peaceful state in this country. We maintain all installations so that money could be gotten here and sent to Abuja for the police to also be maintained. It is the same police today, supervised by the Commissioner who came in against the thought of law. And what did the Speaker do? The Speaker was maintaining law and order.
The Court ordered the Speaker to vacate the seats of those who had defected. This is not the first time and it’s in line with the rule of law. But since last night, we heard about this and we informed the commissioner of police that we heard he was planning to escort those sacked members to the assembly against the rule of law. He denied it.
And this morning, they were drumming the so-called “Warsaw saw War”, we have seen a trace of it today. Some people were arrested with fake army uniforms. They came in with 18 AK47 and they were arrested. As I’m talking to you, those people who were arrested have been released through the order of the police.
Before this time, some of our guys were able to capture these things with their phones, so we will use the pictures to blow for the whole world to see. The police has allowed them to take all the 18 AK47 back. This is the same Warsaw that was pronounced. We have reported this to the highest authority, the Presidency and the security agencies and no one has taken steps to address it. So, they are leaving Akwa Ibom people to defend themselves.
Meanwhile, they are using our excess oil money to maintain security. Just recently, the excess crude account that was kept for our own people have been used to acquire military weapons. We did not know those weapons will be used to intimidate Akwa Ibom people.
So, we have called on all powers that be; we have called on international community that the so called “Warsaw saw war” that had been declared is threatening the peace of the people. I have never heard the Nigeria police being partisan, where the entire police structure is tilting to a particular political party. We don’t have the police. But we have God who is our own police. We want to let the whole world know that whatever happened in Akwa Ibom is caused by the police, not any other arm of the agency. I want to say here, those people they have arrested, they should not let them go.
In a short while, we have had three different police commissioners. The present police Commissioners came and since he came, he has been holding meetings with the people the court had actually declared as illegal occupants of the seats. Today, he led them into that place with thugs. We are saying here, that Akwa Ibom State peace is being threatened and our unity is being threatened as a people.
We are saying that the police should be called to order. They should go and defend Nigeria’s territories where need be. They were meant to maintain internal peace and order, not to cause chaos. This is in line with their plans. We have their script. They want to cause mayhem in the state. If they are playing politics this way, there is no hope for democracy.
They want to cause mayhem in the state so that elections will not be held the same day the general election will be conducted. We are telling them, if we cannot conduct election the same day, they should forget about election here. They have injured a lot of people and injured peoples houses. Police are supervising them to do that. Which country has this ever happened? We have reported this but they tend to ignore. We have called the DIG Operations, he said he will call the culprits to order. But nothing has been done! Why should this happen in a country where there is constitution, law and everyone a citizen? Nobody is an alien!
We are warning the entire country and the world that Akwa Ibom State is under siege by the police, not by any other person. We are peaceful people and our peace has been threatened. Let the Police Commissioner who was just posted last week and who has come to perpetrate this leave. Let’s assume he has achieved his mission. We want to tell the police force, this evening, the police commissioner must be withdrawn. The head of the QRS must be withdrawn so we can maintain peace.
Let me also sound this note of warning that those who have governed and left should stay in Abuja. In this state, we have 6.2 million people. We will not take this as people. We gave you an opportunity. You governed and you are calling on war! Meanwhile, you keep your children abroad. Whose children do you want to kill? We stand for peace and we shall forever remain peaceful as law abiding citizens of this country. We will allow the law to take its course because we have constitution in this country.
We are also calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that please, we are all citizens of this country so the President should take necessary action to forestall this, because we saw this sign and we’ve actually been sounding this warning, though it seems to be ignored. I want to believe my people will be protected by the constitution and by the law of this country.
I want to believe the President will do everything humanly possible to save lives and properties here. All those who have been sounding “Warsaw saw War” should be sent to Abuja or where they could possibly fight war, where Boko Haram are fighting. Let them go and fight war. Akwa Ibom State is not “Warsaw”.
There is Boko Haram threatening the peace of this country. They should go there and fight. We say no to this intimidation by the police. We believe we will be supported by foreign missions. We will be supported by all Nigerians and all and sundry who love peace and are law abiding in the country.
God bless Akwa Ibom State!
God bless Nigerians!!