UDOM EMMANUEL’S MEDIA TRIAL, A WANTON DISPLAY OF ANIMOSITY BY ADVERSARIES

UDOM EMMANUEL’S MEDIA TRIAL, A WANTON DISPLAY OF ANIMOSITY BY ADVERSARIES

– Says Dr David Udonsek

The ongoing media prosecution of the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has been described as a wanton display of animosity by his antagonists.

In an interactive session with newsmen in his office in ONNA yesterday, a political chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Ven (Dr) David E. Udonsek, MNSE, himself a shepherd and the Bishop Elect of Christ Army Church (GBC), Akwa Ibom State Diocese, said it was very appalling and disgusting the way and manner Udom Emmanuel was being dragged in the media for mere unfounded allegations, by those who should know better.

The erudite politician said the purveyors of the corruption allegations, adopted the use of social media theatrics as a method of tarnishing the image and integrity of Udom Emmanuel who has been widely celebrated for his astuteness, financial probity and achievements, otherwise, they would have followed due process of the law, instead to make attempt to malign the image of the former Governor.

“The whole thing is just to tarnish the hard earned image of Udom Emmanuel and embarrass him, otherwise, they would have followed due process and allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to finish their investigation and probably arraign him in court, but rather, they choose to put the cart before the horse, by giving him a media trial, which is to show the dubiousness of their intention”, Dr Udonsek said.

He condemned in totality the ethnic dimension that detractors of the former Governor channeled the allegation, just to tear the State apart for their political gains, stressing that it was wrong to have linked the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio into the fray, accusing him of masterminding the probe, just to confuse the masses.

Ven (Dr) Udonsek called on politicians who should know better, to stop stocking the ambers of disunity in the State, especially now that Governor Umo Eno has introduced the principle of inclusivity devoid of political colouration, into governance, adding that former Governor Udom Emmanuel is not the first Governor in Nigeria to be accused of financial misappropriation and that in other cases, there were not subjected to the social media court room.

He however said that “accountability is the corner stone of good governance and good leadership in every democracy, every leader must give account of his stewardship as demanded by law but when the process is skewed towards witch hunting, it becomes questionable”,

“I am not against the call for former Governor Udom Emmanuel to give account of his eight years stewardship to the State, but i am against and appalled by the way the request for accountability is being dramatized, the former Governor is innocent until proved guilty by a competent court of jurisdiction, for now, he should not be mortified in the media”, the cleric advised.

Recalled that sometime last year, a group known as Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) having Mr Fejiro Oliver Tega as Executive Director, Stanley Ugabe as Operations Manager, as well as Michael Ekpo and Victor Thompson, for Akwa Ibom, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) accusing Udom Emmanuel of allegedly diverting over #700 Billion of Akwa Ibom funds.

But the former Governor has dismissed the weighty allegations against him as “frivolous”.

Speaking on his behalf, Mr Stephen Abia, a lawyer, said the accusers of his Principal are “jobbers” who initially thought that they could intimidate his boss and “obtain something from him but they failed because Udom has nothing to hide and his impeccable record speak for itself”, adding that for now, the “jobbers” are aiming at tarnishing Udom’s image.

“I want to tell those jobbers that the allegations do not in any way affect my Principal as he remains unperturbed, he has nothing to hide”, Barrister Abia enthused.