Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Oboong Godswill Akpabio is uninvolved in allegations of an assassination scheming against Senator Aloysius Etok representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said.
At a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party held on Tuesday, the party reviewed the development in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and in particular the circumstances that led to the initiation of recall proceedings billed to commence against Senator Aloysius Etok.
The SWC noted the confessions of one Mr. Adedola Tamunotoye Olaore (alias General Africa), who affirmed that in order to extort money from Senator Aloysius Etok, he falsely claimed he had been hired by agents of Governor Godswill Akpabio to assassinate Senator Etok.
After considering several entreaties and appeals from stakeholders, elders of the party, well-meaning Akwa Ibom citizens and other Nigerians on the need to call for a truce, the SWC resolved
“That the security agencies be commended for promptly establishing that His Excellency Governor Akpabio was in no way involved in the phantom plot to assassinate Seantor Aloysius Etok.
“That immediate step be taken by the appropriate law enforcement agencies to ensure that Mr. Olaore is immediately prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other criminals.
“That all processes directed at recalling Senator Aloysius Etok be suspended to allow for mediation by party leaders and elders.
“That the SWC however affirms the vote of no confidence already passed on Senator Aloysius Etok in view of the fact that he has not deemed it fit to apologise to His Excellency, Governor Akpabio even after the security agencies had cleared Governor Akpabio of any wrongdoing in the phantom assassination plot.”
PDP advised all its members and representatives to behave honourably and responsibly, and desist from making false and malicious allegations and insinuations against one another or against constituted authority.
It warned its members to desist from whipping up ethnic sentiments to promote hatred and disunity in the state, saying the matter in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District from all indications has no ethnic connotations.
