Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has vowed to strike back if the five sacked members of the state house of assembly do not renege on what he described as inciting war in the state.
“I charge you to remain peaceful in all of this, but if they want war, we will give them war,” the governor said while addressing supporters shortly after a closed door meeting with Onofiok Luke, the speaker of the assembly and 20 other lawmakers at the state house of assembly Tuesday.
The meeting was to resolve the unfolding drama at the legislature.
In attendance were Governor Udom Emmanuel, Ephraim Inyang-eyen, Commissioner for Works, Paul Ekpo, PDP State chairman, Bassey Albert and other state officials.
Earlier, Nse Ntuen, the “factional speaker’’ leading other four members whose seats were declared vacant for defecting from Peoples Democratic Paty to All Progressives Congress were said to be holding a plenary in the house of assembly chamber.
The ousted lawmakers had earlier arrived at the complex with heavily armed policemen and more than 50 youths suspected to be hired thugs.
An anonymous person who did not want his name in the print said they succeeded in waylaying the security operatives of the state house of assembly.
“They were said to have made their way into the chamber while one Godwin Ukpong, a retired sergeant-at-arms allegedly led the “speaker” and other members into the hallowed chamber,” the source stated.
As they entered the house, Ntuen sat down with a “mace” and “gavel” presided over the “session” and announced the “removal” of Onofiok Luke, the house speaker and “suspension” of 21 members.
He banged the “gavel” and made the announcement to firm up his proclamation.
There was serious gunfire in the House of Assembly following the arrival of Governor Udom Emmanuel and other members of the state executive council.
Our source said some youths rushed into the assembly complex as soon as Governor Emmanuel drove in amid tight security.
According to another source, the ousted lawmakers were seen escaping through the back gate of the assembly when they were notified of the governor’s presence.
Efforts to reach Nse Ntuen, the arrow head of the sacked lawmakers and the man in the eye of the lingering crisis were unsuccessful as he did not respond to our calls.
An unknown man arrived at the premises in a car, walked out and set it ablaze, though policemen have nabbed the suspect for interrogation.
