Political advocacy groups under the auspices of the Mandate Eyes and Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance have criticised the attacks on the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Aniekan Bassey, by some political agitators in the Ibiono Local Government Area of the state.
The agitators suspected to be supporters of a prominent politician in the state had ordered the speaker to remove his face cap bearing the insignia of Pastor Umo Eno, the Akwa Ibom governor’s preferred successor, before addressing them.
The speaker had visited the area along with the member representing Ibiono Ibom in the state House of Assembly, Godwin Ekpo, to consult with them on his senatorial ambition.
Speaking during a joint press conference on Sunday, the leaders of the groups, Stephen Abia and Uwemedimoh Umana, condemned the assault describing it as sacrilegious and an affront to the speaker who is the number three citizen in the state.
Abia, who is the chairman of the Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance, expressed disappointment that some people could constitute themselves into a nuisance and go about harassing politicians who did not align with their views.
He said, “We are indeed saddened that in the 21st century, a bunch of sane beings could constitute themselves into a nuisance and go around harassing and assaulting innocent persons who do not align with their political views.
“It is worse that they could go as far as demanding that Hon. Aniekan Bassey, the state’s number three citizen, should take off his cap because it carried the imprimatur of his preferred governorship aspirant, Pastor Umo Eno; not that of their alleged principal, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.
“Are these agitators telling us that if Aniekan Bassey had put on a pair of trousers or shirt with the inscription of Umo Eno, they would have stripped him naked before allowing him to consult Ibiono Ibom delegates?”
While commending the speaker for his peaceful disposition during the encounter, Abia called on security agencies in the state to take a further step by ensuring that all those fingered in the act were brought to book immediately.
Speaking in the same vein, the Coordinator of the Mandate Eyes, Dr Uwemedimoh Umanah condemned the action of the youths, saying it is the height of disrespect to the office of the speaker as well as an infringement on his human rights.
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