Our correspondent
Journalists who were denied access from covering the inauguration of the 8th Akwa Ibom House of Assembly in Uyo on Friday, June 9 became stranded.
Straightnews online reporter who arrived at the main gate of the house discovered that few names of journalists were said to be included in the list screened by security operatives before the so-called invited were allowed into the expansive house complex measuring more than 2000/2 metres.
Apart from our reporter, one of the editors of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (Radio service), Apostle Samuel Jonah and Ifiok Abia of The Nation League, video cameramen, photographers, most prominent members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressives Congress, APC, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Akwa Ibom Femaele Youths, among others were stranded as pleas to allow them access into the complex fell on deaf ears.
Security men mostly members of Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Directorate of State Security (DSS) who manned the gate did not allow people from entering except those in the purported list.
Our reporter who checked but did not see his name in the list of invited persons held by a policeman was turned back.
It was reliably learnt that the Head of Security in the house of Assembly plotted the ”coup” that denied many access into the complex.
Traffic jam greeted the road – Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Road also known as Edem Udo Street- filled with vehicles of different make.
Yet, the main gate increasingly became chaotic and boisterous as even the invited guests found it difficult to gain access into the house complex.
Horn-blaring vehicles and a cacophony of human voices added woes to the noise pollution of the area.
When our reporter called the state Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom Council, Comrade Amos Etuk to complain barring of journalists from covering the event, he said he was attending a funeral service outside Uyo but was unaware of the sad development, promising to reach out to the authority concerned.
Our reporter reached out to the clerk of the House, Mrs NsikakAbasi Orok, she feigned knowledge of the strange development, but promised to ensure the reporter was allowed in, a pledge that did not yield fruit until the reporter left the venue.
In an interview with Samuel Mel Ikpa, a journalist, he described the development as sad and embarrassing to the psyche of the people. ‘‘The people came to witness the inauguration of their constituents. Assuming they are not allowed to go into the house, can’t they be allowed to enter and stay outside the sprawling complex?’’
A PDP stalwart, Friday Obono who stood outside the gate, was unhappy, saying it was shame that people coming from long distance to witness the event were not allowed to enter the complex.
Mbuotidem Affia, a PDP member, said ”I have not heard of this on the day of inauguration of the house. What is the real intention of this?.”
As at 11 a.m, members-elect did not elect the Speaker and other house principal officers as horse trading and intensive lobbying were said to be ongoing in the Government House, Uyo.
Though the position of Speakership is zoned to Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Udeme Otong, PDP, Abak State Constituency and Mfon Idung, PDP, Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency- are the two ranking members.
However, it is speculated that ranking membership may be jettisoned to pave way for Prince Ukpong Akpabio, PDP, Essien Udim State Constituency, a first-time member.
It is rumoured that Akpabio, a cousin to Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, who is gunning for Senate Presidency, appears to be favoured to be elected based on his pedigree- a lawyer, one-time Senior Assistant to ex-Governor Akpabio, and a one-time Commissioner for Trade and Investment before he resigned to contest into the house.
