Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal government to prosecute all corrupt politicians running to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in to escape justice.
Emmanuel who said this while rounding off his gubernatorial campaign in his native Onna Local Government Area, said he threw the challenge to President Buhari and his administration who claim to be fighting corrupt. He said told him to prosecute all looters and those who committed tax evasion and later ran to the APC fold rank to keep their loot.
“Nigerians may not know this. When you see those evil people coming out to say anything they like, you should know that whatever they claim is being paid for by the present government.
“Is it tax evasion? We are paying heavily for it. That is why they are running there to go and hide. But I challenge the Federal government since they are fighting corruption, let them expose those running to them. Don’t hide them. Bring them out; let them answer for tax evasion. Let them answer for everything,” the governor said.
He disclosed that the PDP had concluded plans to station 1,000 men at each polling unit on Saturday, February 16 and March 2, to protect the polling units in order to frustrate plans by the opposition to truncate a free, credible and peaceful poll in the state.
Emmanuel said the opposition APC in the state had adopted all sort of sinister plots to weaken members of the PDP but to no avail. He commended the PDP youths who had embraced the peaceful disposition of his administration by working so hard to maintain peace throughout the electioneering, even in the face of intended provocation.
Emmanuel said such conduct had further frustrated the opposition’s initial plan to arrest and detain some key members of the party until the elections are over.
The governor thanked all the other 30 LGAs in Akwa Ibom State he earlier visited for remaining steadfast on the side of his party throughout the campaigns. He also commended the National Working Committee of the party represented by the National Legal Adviser, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, and expressed optimism that the PDP would produce the next president of Nigeria.
“PDP is unstoppable. There is no way we would not win; we have gone round the whole Akwa Ibom. PDP is like a religion in Akwa Ibom.
“They planned evil, God did not allow it to happen; God has disappointed, and will continue to disappoint them. We started in peace and ended in peace and success. Akwa Ibom is 100 percent PDP and 100 percent we shall win.
“They wanted to arrest and intimidate some key members of our party but God has disappointed them. People came up and talk like Pharoah and Nebuchadnezzar, but God has disappointed them. Akwa Ibom youths have rejected thuggery; they have embraced peace,” he said
Reacting to a statement credited to some key members of the APC that elections would be done in 30minutes, Emmanuel argued that election takes a process, maintaining that Akwa Ibom people would resist any attempt by anyone to truncate a free, fair and credible process.
He commended the people of Akwa Ibom State for extending an opportunity for someone from the core oil producing part of the state to serve the people, and reported that such opportunity had not only promoted peaceful co-existence in the state but had to a very great extent, extended infrastructural development to the core oil producing areas of the state.
Addressing the rally, the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Barr Onofiok Luke, from the standpoint of the legislature, declared that Governor Emmanuel had performed creditably well as he had conscientiously and prudently managed the resources of the state.
He recalled that the recently induced defections of some members of the house and the crisis thereafter were sponsored by enemies of the state against Governor Emmanuel.
“As a legislature, having looked at the budget and performance, we have come to the conclusion that Udom has performed creditably well. When there were some induced defections, 21 state constituencies advised their members to stand with Udom Emmanuel. The battle was against the governor and realising that he had done well, we had to stand up to defend both the governor and the future of the state.
“We are committed to violence-free elections, to a peaceful poll, but that peaceful disposition must not be taken for granted. I want to advise the electorate to move to the voting units earlier and stand to protect and defend their votes thereafter.
The National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, applauded the peace that Governor Emmanuel had restored to the state. He noted: “No accident throughout the campaigns, it can only be God’s doing.”
Enoidem who expressed satisfaction that PDP is making waves in the country advised Nigerians to avoid any form of mistake that would further drag the country backward.
“Make no mistake in this country. The man on the throne has neither the physical nor mental capacity to govern Nigeria,” he said
The Director-General of the Divine Mandate, Otuekong, Idongesit Nkanga, while presenting his candidate to the people, earlier described Governor Emmanuel as a pride to Africa.
He thanked the people of Onna for giving to the state a man who has ended kidnapping in churches and politically-motivated killing in the state. The former governor, therefore, advised Akwa Ibom people that with 15 industries in just three years, the governor needed another chance to build on the foundation he had already laid.