Invasion Of Assembly With Thugs: DIG Ekpoudom Slams Gov Udom ...Says Gov Cannot Direct IGP To Transfer CP
A retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Prince Udom Udo Ekpoudom has lambasted the Akwa Ibom state Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel for compromising the peace and security of the State by encouraging the activities of thugs who invaded the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Monday.
He stated this in a chat with our reporter.
“I have been raising alarm about how a particular chieftain of PDP in my local government has been involved in thuggery and now it is clear that it is a policy of the PDP in the State.
How could the Governor go and take-over the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly with thugs and ensure APC lawmakers were harassed. It is simply unbelievable that our State once known for peace and development can suddenly enter the world book of records as a state where those in power now employ thugs to shamefully attack the opposition. It is condemnable that Governor Emmanuel can go down to the extent of taking thugs to the House of Assembly in order to attack APC lawmakers. This action of the Governor, I believe has disappointed every lover of democracy across the world. In fact the governor's action is a threat to democracy” Ekpoudom stated.
Explaining that in democracy, there are three arms of government, the retired DIG noted that if the House of Assembly has issues, it is the members who should find ways of resolving their problem adding that it is not for the Governor of a State to use State apparatus to go and persecute the opposition in the Assembly.
Reacting to Governor Emmanuel's allegation that the Police in Akwa Ibom State took side with APC on the day of the crisis at the assembly Ekpoudom said “I want to say that Governor Udom Emmanuel can never succeed in panting the Police in negative light.
The Police both in Nigeria and internationally have acquitted itself as a disciplined, professional force. The Police stationed at the premises of the House of Assembly on that fateful day as far as I am concerned did their job creditably and the Governor cannot lay any blame at their doorsteps. I want to encourage the Police to continue to do their job. We know they are working well.
The Police should not be discouraged by the comments of the Governor or those who don't love the state”, Ekpoudom stated.
The retired DIG also revealed that he has been informed that Governor Emmanuel recruited retired security personnel from other States to help him win elections adding that this is very unpatriotic.
“I want to say that the Governor does not love this State or how else could anyone explain his action of recruiting retired security personnel from other states to do election for him and pay them millions of Naira. How could he go ahead and bring people from other states to come here and destabilize Akwa Ibom. This is unacceptable. Governor Emmanuel must realize that this State belongs to us and him and he should not bring foreigners to destroy our state” he stated.
On the allegations by the Governor that the Police took sides with the APC on the day he (Udom) invaded the State House of Assembly, Ekpoudom noted that “This allegation is untrue and baseless. What the Police did is to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the State. if the Police were not in the House of Assembly, I can assure you that people would have been killed. So, the Police are doing their correct job.
How can the Police be APC, the Police is neutral. They are doing their job. If the Police were biased, would Governor Emmanuel have the number of Policemen protecting him”, Ekpoudom stated.
On claims by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko that there is a court order barring the Police from further occupation of the Assembly, he said the Police has the constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property in any part of the country where it senses there is likely to be breakdown of law and order saying that no court of competent jurisdiction can therefore give an order to go against such important role. The Police he revealed will not be doing its work if it folds its hands and allow lives to be lost in any circumstance.
The Governor's insistence that the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State be redeployed, Ekpoudom said is misplaced. “No Governor can get any result from demanding the transfer of a Commissioner of Police. The posting of Policemen is the prerogative of the Inspector General of Police along with the Police Service Commission. Therefore, no Governor can dictate to the IGP or Commission who should be posted to a state”, he said.
©The Sensor Newspaper
Any News for Us? ubongabasiise@gmail.com |
+2348023151931
Comments
Post a Comment