… A Call To All Stakeholders
The people of Ikono and Ini local Government Areas have warned against politics of deadly traditional oath taking, saying “It is terrible and highly unacceptable the recent diabolical practice of Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia Udofia in a desperation to win the House of Representative seat for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in the forthcoming primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
According to the people, “We cannot serve God and Mbiam because no man can serve two masters at a time. It is only God that Gives Power, ‘mbiam’ cannot give power to anyone. Governor Udom Emmanuel can never give anybody ‘mbiam’ and apart from God, he is the one who can decide for the party in the State. Why then should Rt. Hon Victor Udofia condescend this low as to contract a Royal Father to administer ‘mbiam’ to Ikono/Ini delegates in the private residence of the royal Father in Uyo off Abak road after the State Secretariat complex?”
“Recall that during the burial ceremony of the father of Bishop Emmah Isong, The Governor personally warned all youths and elders of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency to wait for necessary instructions from him before endorsing any candidate. Is Victor Udofia trying to play God or is he plotting to fight the Governor and Government of the State should he not be favored when the time comes using delegates he forcefully administered to an oath (mbiam) of loyalty. This and many more are the worries of the citizens of Ikono/Ini extraction,” the people alleged.
“The Government and Leadership of His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel is Godly and all of us who are under him must also live a Godly life. The lives and that of the generations yet unborn of the delegates who have been forced by Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia to swear on oath administered by his Uncle who is a Royal Father will surely be destroyed if the Governor and the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) decide to have another direction as to who should be made the representative of the party in the House of Representative elections for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency.”
“The first batch of delegates, mainly consisting of Ikono/Ini Ward Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Secretaries and Youth Leaders were invited to the private residence belonging to a Royal Father whom they thought wanted to advice on peace and decency towards the forth-coming primaries only to be offered a paltry sum of forty thousand naira (N40, 000.00) and made to swear under duress and life threatening conditions on the instructions of Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia. The few delegates who managed to escape from the premises leaked this information and are ready to testify anywhere if invited to do so.”
“Recall also that in 2014, the Akwa Ibom State Government said that any certified traditional ruler, found guilty of invoking the “prohibited juju” (mbiam) will automatically lose his recognition and risk three years imprisonment. The then Commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, who gave this order said ‘juju (mbiam) is a crime punishable under section 211 of the criminal code’.” (source:http:allafrica.com/stories/201410030069.html).
“To add to this, quoting directly from the scriptures Matthew 5:34-37 King James Version (KJV) says:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
“This is an SOS call on all relevant authorities to treat this issue with outmost concern. Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia has not only disobeyed the instructions of the PDP and the State Government of Akwa Ibom State, he has also dishonored the sacredness of the only state named after God (Akwa-Abasi Ibom State). The attention of the leadership of the PDP, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the stakeholders of Ikono/Ini Federal constituency are hereby drawn to this very embarrassing situation. We must not allow this to form a precedent for other corrupt office holders in the future.”
“Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia’s 7years performance as a House of Assembly member for Ikono State Constituency should speak for him if he actually performed well and not to tie the destiny of Ikono/Ini constituents to his evil political intentions and aspirations,” the people said.
