Thugs attack Senator Helen Esuene for campaigning in Akpabio’s community – Punch

This story, culled from the Punch newspaper, is a pointer to what Gov. Godswill Akpabio may be planning for Akwa Ibom State ahead of the 2015 election. This is exactly how the 2011 deadly political violence started in Akwa Ibom State when armed thugs hired by Gov. Godswill Akpabio’s hitmen, Chief Sunny Ibanga  and the chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Nse Ntuen attacked Senator J.J. Udoedehe in Ikot Ekpene. Now, who will call Akpabio and his evil clan to order before they throw the state into complete darkness?

Read the story after the cut.....

By Etim Ekpimah

Hundreds of suspected hired thugs in Essien Udim, attacked a Senator, representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Helen Esuene, when she continued her consultation to the People’s Democratic Party chapter in the area.

Essien Udim is the local government where the Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio hails from.

The thugs were said to have brandished guns and machetes and shot into the air many times as they queried the Chapter Chairman why they should allow another candidate into Essien Udim to campaign for the governorship of the state in 2015.

They said no other aspirant, apart from the government-anointed one, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, would be allowed into Essien Udom for consultation and campaigning.

The incident occurred at about 3.45pm when Esuene was addressing a crowd of party enthusiasts, including the Chapter Chairman, Mr. Friday Udoh, at the party secretariat in Afa Ikot Ebak.

It was learnt that as Esuene was addressing the PDP members, a large number of thugs, brandishing different types of weapons, suddenly swooped on the hall, attacked the occupants and upturning tables and chairs including that of the Senator.

But for the quick intervention of her supporters, who surrounded and whisked her away from the scene of the incident, the Senator might have been hurt.

In the confusion that ensued, it was gathered that the thugs made away with Esuene’s telephone set and that of others, her hand bag and other valuables.

Udoh was also attacked mercilessly for allowing Esuene into Essien Udim for consultation.

One of the PDP members, Mr. Willie Etim, who managed to escape unhurt, said, “As I am talking to you, I am not sure if all members of the entourage came out safely. We had to rush her out immediately in the melee that left many people injured. Everything was scattered and many people were injured.”

Deputy Director General of Senator Esuene Campaign Team and former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Bassey Essien, condemned the incident, stating that such ugly incident in the governor’s community was uncalled for.

“I am surprised. This is democracy. I don’t see any moral justification for hired thugs to stop a sitting senator and a PDP member from canvassing support in any part of this country. I am surprised.

 “I am appealing to the party and the Federal Government to look into the incident because as I am talking to you, I don’t know what happened to the law party members. The tugs invaded the place and they were all armed with guns shooting indiscriminately into the air,” he said.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Gabriel Achong, said the Senator had finished consultation, but when she was leaving, the youth asked her for money for consultation.

He added that when Esuene told the youth that she had paid the money into Udoh’s account, a misunderstanding arose between her consultation team and the youth.