“POOR MANAGEMENT OF SECURITY KILLING PEOPLE IN AKWA IBOM’’, SAYS GROUP

By Eduok Benson

An alleged gross incompetence and poor management of public funds, has resulted in the dire failure to address the security challenges currently plaguing Akwa Ibom State, according to a civil society group, The Akwa Ibom Watchdogs.

In a statement, at weekend, the group berated the ruling PDP in the state, while pleading with the opposition APC to come to the rescue of the masses.

“As the main opposition party, APC should help to make sure that there is end to lamentations and negative impact of purposelessness of the present ruling leadership on citizens”, it said in a statement signed by Comrade Effiong David and Hon Etimbuk Akpan.

While noting that the commendable resolve of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio CON, to rescue the citizens of the State from the PDP- induced hardship recently made him a target for media assaults, the body urged the former governor not to relent for the benefit of the people.

“But his readiness to lead the battle beyond Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (North West) to mobilize statewide to rescue the masses is troubling to the ruling PDP, so much that the party is unsettled. Media hirelings of the present state leadership recently insulted the people-focused leader, perhaps trying to divert attention from the deplorable security situation in the state”, it said.

The group wondered why the recent heightened insecurity shortly after the inauguration of Ibom Community Watch, asking if the body is fanning more criminal activities rather than suppressing robberies, murders, kidnappings, cult clashes, etc.

Since the community watch appears to bring negative outcomes instead of positive ones, The Akwa Ibom Watchdogs then called for its immediate disbandment, instead of keeping it for political intimidation, as was allegedly witnessed in the just concluded Ini/Ikono rerun elections.

“The call for the disbandment of the outfit is more jusified because of public suspicion that it is used to channel funds to grease members of the different cult associations”, it said, adding that the official recognition given to them seems to be causing supremacy war to control the funds.

“Of course, the citizens are not blinded to the fact that a few people in the system are known instigators of violence, aimed at cajoling government to part with billions to swell their pockets, not minding if lives are lost. The leadership of ruling system cannot deny not knowing the notorious background of some engaged to navigate the body. For a leadership which emerged through the sermon of peace sustenance, this act proves hypocrisy”, the group said.

It however charged Akwa Ibom people not to panic or be disillusioned because help was on the way as God will soon surely repositioned the state for the good of the people.

“The incompetence displayed in the management of security and welfare of citizens is very embarrassing. It is made worse because the present leadership still takes orders from a former governor, who deceived Akwa Ibom people that CCTVs worth billions would be installed to check insecurity and crimes, but nothing was seen throughout the eight years he held sway, whereas the billions of naira meant for the gadgets vanished. Ibom Community Watch is driven by the same deceptive principle, so nothing good should be expected”.

“The citizens are disappointed that even with the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Security, with a retired military general to supervise the neighborhood watch, crimes have taken over the state. The public is dissatisfied with the management of security because killings, robberies, kidnappings, rapes and beheading of several people, including a policeman, have created wanton fear in the society”.

It decried a situation where the political office holders in the state are guarded by hundreds of security details, yet the Community Watch expected to fill the gap for the masses “is grossly inefficient, ineffective and misapplied”.

Besides asking the government to address the security lapses, “Akwa Ibom people demand to be liberated from poverty, hunger, starvation and underdevelopment which is associated with the present leadership. It is only when mismanagement and insecurity are tackled as priority that the citizens will experience real peace, not the one preached by political pastors who romance with merchants of violence and pretend not to know their notoriety”, it added.