Barely a day after the Governorship primary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) that returned Governor Udom Emmanuel as the candidate of the party, a socio-political group, Uyo Senatorial District Interest Movement (USDIM), has alleged that it had uncovered plans by the Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Bassey Albert, to use hired thugs and cultists to visit mayhem on the delegates and state executive members of the party, should they decide not to return him for a second term.
The group has also alleged that imbroglio created by Senator Bassey Albert at Ibom Hall grounds on Sunday where he manhandled a young man to the point of death and also caused a senior chieftain of the party, Chief Marcus Okuku, to be hospitalized, were a sort alibi to exonerate him from alleged planned political illegalities, forceful invasion and mayhem which has been carefully orchestrated.
USDIM said it was aware of the ploy which it alleged had been perfected in meetings held at undisclosed venues with Ewet Housing Estate on Monday evening and all through the night, between the Senator and heads of some cult groups, to compel delegates to do OBA’s biddings.
The allegation which was contained in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Etim Inyang, said “We have been fully informed that some elements within the State Government corridor of power are aware of Bassey Albert’s desperation to illegally take control of the Senate primary of the PDP. We heard on good authority that Senator Bassey Albert together with his accomplice were involved in the sinister move to threaten Governor Udom Emmanuel’s chances of winning the general elections in 2019 and molest delegates, if they go contrary.”
The statement further said: “According to information at our disposal, 3019 political thugs and cultists have been selected and paid. The mission is should Governor Udom Emmanuel through the party insists on adhering to ‘justice, equity and fairness,’ the political thugs and cultists will smoothly carry out the ploy. We wish to place the security agencies on notice of this untoward intention of Senator Bassey Albert with his collaborators to the people of Uyo Senatorial District and also cause a breach of security in the state.”
Mr. Inyang said this was part of the design by Senator Bassey Albert to undermine the established zoning arrangement of the Senatorial District and completely foist a dictatorial regime on the people.
The statement further advised “The ploy is also a bid to cover the atrocious and humongous financial fraud the Federal Government is set to expose. The fact that we are known to be peace-loving should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness or ignorance, it is just to make Senator Bassey Albert believe that our chosen democracy is a game of contestation of ideas and personal choice, not one of contestation with thuggery, guns and bullets. We wish to put our people, particularly those from Uyo Federal Constituency, on notice to keep an eagle eye on their environment and resist any infiltration or attempt to undermine their rights, peace and security of the Senatorial District.”
USDIM reminded Senator Bassey Albert that the people of Uyo Senatorial District will take their rightful place and vote their conscience, equity and justice because “we are ready and will protect the established zoning arrangement.”
