APC, Akwa Ibom Govt on War Path over Billboards

Segun James

The Akwa Ibom State Government has been accused by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of stopping the hoisting and installation of the party’s billboards across the state.

The APC warned the government not to create political crisis in the state by attempting to muzzle the campaigns of its members, adding that the party shall resist by all legal means available any attempt by the government to frustrate its legitimate political activities.

In a Save-Our-Soul statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Nkereuwen Eyongekere, the APC noted that the state Ministry of Environment had in a statement broadcast in the owned media outfits ordered “all outdoor advertising companies to immediately stop the hoisting and installation of new billboards across the state.”

According to the APC, the government statement reads: “All outdoor advertising companies operating within the state are hereby requested to submit an inventory of their billboard structures with relevant registration, drawings and approvals within one week from the date of this announcement. Failure to comply with this directive will attract appropriate sanctions.”
The APC insisted that the party was the target of the order which it said was an indirect ploy by the government to frustrate the party.

“We have been reliably informed that this statement is just an indirect ploy by the state government to frustrate the ongoing deployment of billboards by our members, notably Obong Nsima Ekere, who is running for governor of the state. We have been informed that the governor has been noticeably startled by the rollout of the Nsima Ekere billboards, and is bent on not only thwarting further deployment of the billboards, but taking down existing ones.

“This is yet another proof of intolerance and extreme prejudice against our party by the government of Mr. Udom Emmanuel. A few months ago, the government had threatened to tear down the campaign office of President Muhammadu Buhari located on Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo. It took the intervention of senior federal government officials to dissuade the state government from unnecessary collision with the federal government.

“The APC in Akwa Ibom State wishes to advise the government not to create political crisis in the state by attempting to muzzle the campaigns of its members.
“We shall resist by all legal means available any attempt by the government to frustrate our legitimate political activities. We ask our teeming members and supporters across the state to be vigilant and ready to defend their inalienable rights.”