Security operatives took over the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly this morning. It was gathered that a combined force of Police, Army and Civil Defense took over the entire Assembly complex barring even the House of Assembly staff from gaining entrance.
A source was quoted saying: “The plot is to enable the five sacked Assembly members to overthrow the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Barr) Onofiok Luke in order to install Hon. Nse Ntuen as the new Speaker.”
The development came hours after a new Police boss was sent to Akwa Ibom.
In its reaction, the State Government condemned the removal of the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Abang.
Charles Udoh, the state’s Commissioner for Information & Strategy in a statement lamented that the Commissioner of Police was hurriedly withdrawn from Akwa Ibom for doing his professional duty responsibly.
According to him, “Apart from the fact that the outgoing CP barely spent a month in the State, the circumstances surrounding his removal is a mockery to the nation and a contrast to the insecurity battle of the federal government.
“Why should an officer who successfully resisted the invasion of hoodlums and professionally protected an institution of government be rewarded with unceremonial removal from office? Ordinarily, such feat in other climes would have attracted promotion and commendation.
“This is a sharp pointer today the sad narrative that the force is tilting its political pendulum to favour a particular political divide.
“The danger this portends to our democracy is better imagined than seen. We are shocked to see this action from the Police that should unbiasedly serve the interest of all.
“Sadly, the precedent the force has set now encourages anyone to take laws into his hand ostensibly because the power from “above” is strong enough to shield the culprit.”