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Former Minister of Lands and Housing, Chief Nduese Essien, has enjoined Nigerians to reject ethnic undertones creeping into plan by anti-graft agencies to try former Akwa Ibom governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
Addressing journalists at his country home, Ikot Ibiok in Eket Local Government Area, the former House of Representatives member denied any ethnic dimension to the investigation of Emmanuel.
The Network Against Corruption and Trafficking led by Fejiro Oliver from Delta State had petitioned the EFCC and ICPC over an alleged mismanagement of funds by the administration of Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom State, from 2015 to 2023, an action that has generated controversy in the state by a body called Ibibio Leadership Summit led by Solomon Johnny.
Some journalists from private newspapers and some media aides of Governor Umo Eno are involved in accusing Senator Godswill Akpabio of being behind the scene in dragging Emmanuel before the anti-graft agencies.
Some politicians have alleged that the Senate President was behind the scene of the crisis, prompting tribal colouration to the accusation.
“If we are truly committed to accountability, it should be applied uniformly, without bias or selectivity. Additionally, we must reject the ethnic undertones creeping into this issue.
“Corruption, accountability and the rule of law transcend ethnic affiliations. Whether one hails from Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket or any other part of the state, the law remains the law. “Those purporting to fight corruption must do so with fairness and objectivity, rather than sowing discord along ethnic lines to manipulate public sentiment
“We must differentiate genuine demands for accountability from opportunistic grandstanding. Public officials are, by default, subject to scrutiny by the EFCC, ICPC, and other anti-graft agencies.
‘‘If there are legitimate grounds for prosecution, due process will take its course. Until then, let us refrain from fuelling baseless media trials. And above all, I will not allow my name to be co-opted into this circus for the sake of sensationalism,” Essien said.
The two-term lawmaker, however, described as laughable insinuations in some quarters that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is stoking the fire to nail former Governor Emmanuel in the ongoing petition by the EFCC against him, saying Akpabio was too preoccupied with matters of national importance.
According to him, Akpabio has had his own share of the EFCC’s scrutiny, stressing that corruption, accountability and the rule of law transcend politics and that the law remains the law, irrespective of where ever one comes from in the state.
“Even more absurd is the attempt to rope in Senate President Godswill Akpabio. As the third-ranking political figure in the country, Akpabio is preoccupied with matters of national importance.
“It is laughable to suggest that he has the time or inclination to entertain a media-driven witch hunt. Furthermore, let us not forget that Akpabio has had a share of scrutiny from the anti-graft agencies,” the former Minister stated.
Regretting that his name has been dragged into the fray, where they alleged he was ‘hired’ to defend Emmanuel on Arise News, the lawmaker lamented that Senator Ita Enang, a former senator, has joined in the media frenzy.
He lamented that Enang, instead of championing legislative reform to curb corruption, was lending credibility to what he called manufactured controversy.
“This media trial has also drawn Senator Ita Enang, an experienced legislator and seasoned government figure, who has inexplicably aligned himself with Mr Oliver’s tactics. One would have expected a man of his standing to champion substantive legislative reforms against corruption rather than lending credibility to what increasingly appears to be a manufactured controversy.”
Essien who is the political leader of Eket Senatorial district said that the days of fierce disagreement and bickering between governors and their successors were over, adding that the state has since been experiencing peace and development from May 29, when the present administration came on board.
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