The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday blasted the All Progressives Congress for allegedly insulting the traditional rulers in the state.
The royal fathers through the Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, had cautioned petitioners at the election tribunals to desist from media attacks which according to them would heat up the polity and lead to breakdown of law and order if not checked.
But the APC in its press release entitled: No! Our Royal Fathers, please no! signed by its publicity secretary in the state, Mr Nkereuwem Enyongekere, considered the royal fathers’s comments as being partisan and meant to favour the PDP.
Enyongekere said the royal fathers’ statement was a cheap and immediate platform taken by them to drive home their selfish demand and at the detriment of the masses
“it is very regrettable that royal fathers in the state have taken sides instead of them being neutral, accommodating and also giving royal blessing to all political Parties.” APC said.
However, the PDP Publicity Secretary,Brr.Ini Ememobong in a press conference described as unfortunate and baseless the allegations made by the APC as the traditional rulers have a right to intervene when situations arise that can bring disrepute to the corporate identity and threaten the peaceful existence of the state.
He said the admonition by the traditional fathers was made in good faith, to caution the APC and their leaders from allegedly further sponsoring media campaigns against the governor and not to dissuade them from continuing in their legal battle.
The statement PDP issued to Newsmen reads in parts: “broom carrying movement shamelessly deprecated our revered traditional rulers for demanding a cessation of virulent media attacks on the Governor.
“The APC through their leadership has accused almost anybody and anything within sight as being instrumental to their electoral loss. These allegations, when heard, tend to reduce the intellectual standing of the average Akwa Ibom citizen in the estimation of rational people. In fact the leadership of the APC in the state and their candidates had since become examples of disgraceful political misadventure.
“We apologize to our revered royal fathers for the unmerited insults hurled at them by people who strenuously tried to gain their support through financial inducements, devilish political horse trading and threats. Having played God and lost favour with men, they are irredeemably pained and have found comfort in spewing shameless lies and exhibiting irreverent behaviour. The Akwa Ibom public is well aware of their atrocious disposition and can therefore not take them seriously.”
