By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
What has been noted as unwarranted remarks by Senator Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), against the people and government of Akwa Ibom State, has elicited condemnation with government demanding an unreserved apology.
Government in a statement on Tuesday, signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, queried the morality of Senator Tinubu to pay evil for good done him during his presidential campaign in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital on Monday.
In the statement titled, “TINUBU’S INSULT ON AKWA IBOM PEOPLE: UNWARRANTED, UNCHARITABLE AND ANACHRONISTIC”, and made available to journalists, Comrade Ememobong stated that government has also taken very seriously the threat by the Senator to mysteriously take over the Governor’s Lodge in Uyo.
Recall the Akwa Ibom State Government had approved the use of the Nest of Champions International Stadium, a state-owned property, by the All Progressives Congress for their Presidential Campaign on January 30, 2023, an event that held peacefully without any negative reaction from the citizens.
But at the venue, Senator Tinubu, without any provocation, was quoted to have hurled insults and threats at the government and people of the state. Questioning the legitimacy of Governor Udom Emmanuel and threatening to send reptiles to invade the Governor’s lodge and eventually seizing the property.
Miffed by the development, Comrade Ememobong stated, has necessitated the need to put some things in their due perspective for history and posterity.
His words,”The Government and people of the state did not at any time say or act in any way provocative to the person or campaign of Bola Tinubu. Instead, all the facilities used by his campaign were generously approved for their use, by the government, without any hitch or delay.
“The residence which Bola Ahmed Tinubu has threatened to take over, totally belongs to the government of our state and his threat is taken very seriously, considering his antecedents. Conversely, Akwa Ibom has been home to all Nigerians (including Yoruba people), who have, over many years, done business and even resided here, without any threat to them or their business.
“The comments by Sen. Tinubu, to say the least, is immature and totally unexpected of a person of his advanced age. That is an insult to the government and people of the state, and we demand an apology.
“Mr. Udom Emmanuel was duly elected as Governor of Akwa Ibom State and therefore, it is clearly unpresidential and undemocratic, for Sen. Tinubu to say that he “calls himself Governor”.
“Sen. Tinubu should during his campaigns, concern himself with answering questions about his nebulous history and his amorphous manifestos. The Presidency of our country is a very serious business that must be treated with seriousness and intellectual depth.” The Information Boss stated.
He however, called on the citizens to ignore the remarks of Sen. Tinubu and continue to co-exist peacefully with all Nigerians who are living and doing legitimate businesses in the state.
