Kidnapping: Bumpy road to free and fair elections in Akwa Ibom Thursday, 21 October 2010 00:00 Aniefiok Udonquak

Kidnapping: Bumpy road to free and fair elections in Akwa Ibom Thursday, 21 October 2010 00:00 Aniefiok Udonquak


Few years ago, Akwa Ibom State used to pride itself as one of the most peaceful states in the Niger Delta region of the country.

At that time, the agitation for resource control and equitable distribution of the nation’s oil wealth was at its peak and had taken a toll on economic activities in the region.



During the period, when the country newly returned to democratic rule, militant activities and youth restiveness had become the order of the day and many states in the Niger Delta were grappling with one form of insecurity or the other.

Now that the amnesty programme of the Federal Government is in place and the ex-militants are undergoing rehabilitation, many of the states within the oil rich region are witnessing relative peace and things are beginning to look up.

However, with the 2011 polls around the corner, Akwa Ibom State, once seen as an investors’ destination, is witnessing its share of insecurity as kidnappings are being recorded almost on a weekly basis. Apart from being a cause of major concern, it is has become a threat to free and fair elections ahead of next year’s general elections.

Initially, it was thought that kidnappings were carried out by criminal elements bent on turning it into an enterprise, but recent high profile cases involving political aspirants have proved otherwise.

For instance, while the kidnapping of Lakshmi Tombush, an Indian who was in charge of Mobil Pegasus School in Eket last week in which two policemen lost their lives during the operation might not be seen as having any political undercurrent, that of the chairman of Onna Local Government, Owoidoho Ekpoatai was clearly politically motivated, according to observers.

Ekpoatai had indicated her interest to seek election into the State House of Assembly to represent Onna State constituency but she was kidnapped and held for one week soon after making her intention known. She was released after paying undisclosed amount of money to her abductors.

In a similar vein, Jack Udotai wife was kidnapped on way back from office at the Eastern Obolo Local Government secretariat, where she served as an accountant. Her husband, representing Eket State constituency in the State House of Assembly and chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, had indicated interest to seek re-election when his wife was abducted.

The woman was only released after money had changed hands between the family and the kidnappers. In her case, the vehicle that took the money to the kidnappers was burnt but the money was not affected.

But if attacks directed at politicians seeking elective positions at the lesser level could be swept under the carpet, the kidnapping of those close to governorship aspirants has left many tongues wagging on its implications for next year’s election.

Before the wife of Sam Ewang, former military administrator of Ogun and All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State was kidnapped, another aspirant, Iniekong Udonwa, a businessman based in Singapore had a bitter experience in the hands of kidnappers and abductors in the state.

First, he escaped being killed and his mother, Philomena Udonwa was abducted and killed even after the demanded ransom had been paid. Her body was dumped along a bush track. Udonwa has since returned to his base in Singapore and might have abandoned his governorship ambition.

For Ewang, his problem started after he declared his intention to challenge Governor Godswill Akpabio in next year’s election. First, he was denied access to the rally ground at Ibom Hall in Uyo, the state capital and had to move it to a private school in the outskirts of the town. About a week after his declaration, his wife, Comfort was abducted while at work and at the time of filing this report, she has not been released.

According to Ewang, a retired air commodore, he had met with Akpabio on Wednesday, October 13 over his wife’s ordeal but that instead of addressing the real issue, the governor allegedly raised political issues.

He said the kidnappers had earlier demanded that his wife would not be released unless he paid N300 million as ransom and withdraw from the governorship race.

“It is instructive that my wife was kidnapped barely three days after I declared my intention to contest, in 2011, for the position of Governor of Akwa Ibom State under ANPP; not even the PDP,” Ewang said in a statement made available to the media.

According to Ewang, after the kidnappers received the ransom sent to them, they took his personal assistant and driver into custody, insisting that they won’t release his wife unless N100 million was paid in addition to the N25 million the kidnappers collected. They had reduced their demand to N25 million in the course of negotiation. His driver was however released to take the message to Ewang although the kidnappers burnt the car.

Ewang is now appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan; Inspector-General of Police , Hafiz Ringim and the governor , Akpabio to ensure the release of his wife.

The threat to freedom of association in the state reached its peak when former FCT minister of state, John James Akpan Udoedehe was prevented from holding his thanksgiving service at a public space in Uyo.

Udoedehe had earlier been accused of alleged involvement in the murder of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Paul Inyang who was killed in a church in his hometown. Udoedehe was invited for questioning in Abuja but was later released.

He came home for the thanksgiving but could not have his way because he was presented by the police from doing so allegedly on the directive of the state government.

Udoedehe has since emerged as the foremost opposition leader in the state seeking to replace Akpabio after next year’s election.

He is promising to develop ‘agro-based industries to generate rightful domestic income, and a major foreign exchange earner.

Indeed, the political temperature in the state has been rising, many who have attempted to express their views and opinions on contemporary issues affecting the state have had one brush either with the state government or with kidnappers.

While political opponents have pointed accusing fingers at the state government as being the brain behind the spate of kidnappings and the high level of intolerance in the state, particularly in the run up to next year’s polls, the state government has repeatedly denied any involvement.

One analyst told BusinessDay that the governor as a leader of the people “cannot be blind to his role as that of not just a peacemaker, but a strong defender and advocate of the rights of every citizen under the law regardless of differing political persuasions/ affiliations.”

However, Akpabio, in his response, said, it makes no sense to accuse the government of kidnapping its citizens.

Kidnapping has become a major security challenge in the country and if the assurance given by Jonathan is anything to go by, it is likely that time is running out against kidnappers in the country.

Interestingly, Jonathan has repeatedly assured of fair, transparent and credible election in which every vote would count; it seems politicians in many states of the federation are bent on truncating that goal. The thinking in many quarters is that it is deliberately being carried out to intimidate aspirants out of the race.

Courtesy:Businessday Newspaper Online