The immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has asked people of the state to arm themselves with broom on Saturday and sweep out what he called “evil government” that has destroyed the state in the last eight years.
Attah, who said this in his address to the people of the state on Thursday, noted that the outgoing governor, Godswill Akpabio, had warned Akwa Ibom people on the danger of being in the opposition.
He stated that even if this is going to be the first time he would agree totally with Akpabio that Akwa Ibom State had always been in the ruling party, the state should not now go into opposition, since the All Progressives Congress (APC) would become the governing party at the centre from May 29.
Attah maintained that the President-Elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had a message for the state, which he quoted as saying, ‘Give me a governor that I can work with so that together, we can develop your state’. Can we possibly deny our incoming President this simple request?” he asked.
The ex-governor said the irregularities that characterized the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections should not be blamed on the Resident Electoral Commissioner alone.
“We only have to look at Delta and other states like Rivers, Edo and Imo, which in fact have All Progressives Congress governors to understand what was going on”, he said.
Recalling his days as governor of the state, Attah noted that the state enjoyed great prosperity despite the comparatively small amount of money from the Federal Government.
He said, “Now the difference is clear. So, remember that your governor is the one that can make the most immediate and the greatest impact on your life. This election therefore, for us, is most critical.
“The choice of the people must be freely made without imposition by whatever means; you must have your choice of members of the House of Assembly and, of course, the governor of your choice in Umana Okon Umana.
“Your collective will must prevail and this must happen without let or hindrance. Arm them with the broom to sweep out the evil that has all but destroyed us in the last eight years”.
