CROSS RIVER STATE NOW A HOTBED OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE, KIDNAPPING

Cross River State, South South region of Nigeria has been turned into a theatre of war as political killings and kidnappings have dominated the political terrain of the state, writes UBONG INYANG from Calabar, the State capital

 

Since the advent of the current democratic dispensation, the political climate of Cross River State had hitherto been devoid of rancour and heightened political violence. It has always been smooth transition. The only noticeable crisis had been the usual post- election litigations by opposition political parties over results of elections.

 

Although the 2007 and 2011 governorship elections in the state witnessed minor skirmishes in some parts of the state, it never degenerated to the extent where key members of political parties defected to other parties. For the first time, in the political history of the state, a major political hurricane swept through the political space of the state prior to the build to the 2015 general elections. Politicians seemed to have thrown the spirit of sportsmanship to the dogs in preference for violence and assassination. Like never before, a dangerous dimension has been introduced into the politics of a state adjudged by even the international community as the most peaceful State in the most populated black region of Africa, Nigeria.

 

This is exemplified in the recent assassination attempt on the life of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Southern Senatorial district, Chief Gershom Bassey. But for God’s divine intervention, the PDP senatorial candidate would have been eliminated from the surface of the earth when unknown gunmen stormed his residence and engaged his private security guards in a gun duel which led to them been inflicted with various degrees of injuries’ situation which is quite strange in the politics of the state.

This assassination attempt has however elicited suspicion in some quarters that his closest rival and incumbent Senator representing the zone, Senator Bassey Otu who recently dumped the PDP for labour Party is allegedly the mastermind of the failed attack. Although the accusation cannot be substantiated in any form but some people, including Gershom himself believes that the attack was the handiwork of political desperados who seek to grab power at all cost.

He described as ‘political’ the recent assassination attempt on his life.

Bassey who stated this when members of the State executive committee of the PDP paid him a solidarity visit in his residence on wondered why politicians should resort to violence in a bid to achieve their political ambition.

He said, “When I was told about the shootings in my house I thought it was a joke. The first thing I asked is where my wife is and fortunately for me my wife was in another meeting somewhere.

“I wonder why people would go to that length to come and shoot in my house because we were told that when they came and asked for Senator, where is Senator. If there were armed robbers why would they be asking for Senator and that is why everybody concluded that this thing was political”

He however described the PDP family in the State as a family which gives equal opportunity to all members and appealed to aggrieved members who defected to other parties to return to the PDP fold, stressing that the umbrella of the party is big enough to accommodate them.
“We are not a selfish family. We give opportunity to people. You join the party yesterday or today you will be given equal opportunity. We are all embracing in our party. We have no political superstar in the PDP. Nobody including the governor will tell you that he is a political superstar; the governor will always tell you that he is a follower; the idea of political superstar is an idea that others have tried and failed.”

Bassey who is the former Chairman of the State Water board however urged youths to resist from being used by ‘desperate’ politicians to perpetrate violence.
He also charged security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities in order to bring the culprits to book.

 
Also reacting to the strange development, the State PDP Chairman, Ntufam John Okon had urged Bassey to remain firm and undeterred despite the assassination attempt on his life.
He assured him that the State PDP leadership is solidly behind his ambition and would stop at nothing to make sure he emerges as Senator in the forthcoming general elections.
Okon said, “No amount of threat should slow you down. PDP is a party of peace and those trying to bring violence will not succeed. No amount of violence will make you lose the election because we are solidly behind you”
He vowed to defend with his life the results of the State PDP primaries which according to him were free, fair and transparent

The PDP Chairman however urged its Senatorial Candidate to be more vigilant and security conscious even as he continues with his campaigns.

 While the accusation and counter-accusation rages on, a group, Democratic Alliance, championing the re-election bid of Senator Bassey Otu absolved its principal of complicity in the failed attack.

In a statement jointly signed by its Coordinator; Elder Eyo Nsa, Director of women affairs, Abigail Ekpo among others and made available to TNN in Calabar, the group flayed every attempt by the State leadership of the PDP to associate Senator Otu with the dastardly act.
“Our attention has been drawn to the nebulous propaganda and insinuations by the State chairman of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), John Okon, corroborated by the senatorial candidate, Gershom Bassey over the recent assassination attempt on the life of the later in Calabar. Ordinarily, we would have ignored the outburst and false alarm as a non-issue, but instead forced to summon this forum to educate the unsuspecting electorate and security agencies more.
The picture has been framed in semblance that Prince Otu is the main opposition to the coveted senate contest, hence, responsible for this dastardly and coward-like back stab”, the statement read in part.  
 
While dismissing the allegation levelled against its principal as untrue and unfounded, the group charged the ruling party to desist from smear campaign and approach the elections on verifiable issues instead of adopting ‘decoys’ to spite the intelligence of voters.

It alleged that the attack was masterminded by some political hirelings, whom Bassey is indebted to, adding that the debt collectors were at his residence that fateful day to recover their debt before the face-off with his guards.

“We stand to be contradicted that the recent assassination attempt on the life of the candidate in focus is as a result of his restive political jobbers and hirelings which he is indebted to.
 We have it on good authority and sources that the debt collectors were at his residence that fateful Saturday evening to recover their debt, hence, the face-off with his residential guards who allegedly obstructed them from having access to their boss”, it added.

 

While the tension which attended the assassination attempt was yet to abate, Ekori, Yakurr local government area in the central part of the state came under fire when supporters of two prominent politicians contesting for the same seat in the area clashed. Over five persons were reported dead with several others sustaining serious injuries; As if that was not enough, unknown gunmen on Tuesday abducted a former Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and labour Party Candidate for Calabar South/ Akpabuyo/ Bakassi federal constituency, Mr. Dominic Aqua Edem in his residence. His abductors are currently demanding a ransom of N30 million for his release.

 

Also, two weeks ago, State branch Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and his deputy were adopted and they paid a ransom of N90 million and N70 million respectively, before they were freed.

This trend of worrisome events has however made one to wonder if this is not our own Boko Haram experience.
 
At the moment, it is however not certain if these daredevil miscreants and assassins have shelved their sword or still hell bent on heating up the political atmosphere of the state. With candidates of various political parties putting finishing touches on their campaign strategies with a view to getting the upper hand in March 28 and April 11 general election, political watchers say there is dire need for security agencies to be more proactive in ensuring adequate security before and after the elections.7


Credits To TNN