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Akpabio’s N15 million Largesse Kills 5 students
By
Dr. Edet Iniodu
Sat March 5,2011
 Browsing
a popular online publication
www.thewillnigeria.com
today (March 5, 2011), I became disappointed that a governor
could act as if he is ritualistic, whereas he may not be since I
am not close to home and would not depend on hearsay. But why
should Governor Akpabio gather, at the Government House gate,
students of higher institutions located in Akwa Ibom
and his deputy gathered
another set at Ibom Hall just for sharing of largesse to the
students with the aim of wooing their votes? The Will (online
publication) showed pictures of the events that took place
Thursday (March 4, 2011). Now, five of the students are dead and
many others seriously injured; this was confirmed by the
Students’ Union President of University of Uyo, Comrade Essien
Udom. And it was reported that the students’ gatherings were as
if it was designed for them to riot with the Police and also to
protest the alleged short-change by some of their Union
officials. What is N15million from Akpabio and N3.5million from
his running mate, Nsime Ekere, to justify lives of the young,
innocent students?
While it was reported that Akpabio invited about 5,000 old
students to his Government House in order to share N15million to
them, Ekere invited new students totalling about 2000 to the
Ibom Hall for same purpose .. for a paltry N3.5million; whereas
sharing of this nature could have been done quietly through the
Students’ Union officials. Why the show if not to achieve ritual
purposes as it were, many asked?
It would be recalled that from what was read in the media as
submission by those that appeared before the Presidential Panel
set up to investigate the causes of the stampede that claimed
many lives at the Port Harcourt stadium PDP’s south-south
presidential rally flag off February 12, 2011; the name of
Governor Akpabio and his government featured prominently. The
Rivers State Deputy Commission of Police (Operations), Joshak
Habila, said apart from the wrong manner at which security aides
that came with President Jonathan from Abuja to take over the
security matters at the Port Harcourt stadium; he was quoted in
the Leadership and Independent newspapers that “Some politicians
(from Akwa Ibom) were throwing monies at the gates of the
stadium, with people struggling to pick, which is wrong”.
This brings one to question whether these types of action by
politicians are not contrary to their expected behaviours and
also against the electoral acts concerning buying of votes?
Dr. Edet Iniodu, 40 Oak Hill Boulevard, Ontario, CANADA
edetiniodu@yahoo.com
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