Nigeria - Lawyers in Akwa Ibom State on the platform of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have condemned the March 22, 2011 mayhem in the state in which several lives and properties worth millions of naira were lost. The lawyers' position was made known in different statements issued and made available to Daily Independent by Uyo and Ikot Ekpene branches of the NBA. The Uyo branch of the NBA in an eight-paragraph communiqué issued in Uyo after its emergency general meeting described the political violence involving supporters of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), and the rival Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), as "unprecedented phenomenon in the history of the state." The communiqué, which was endorsed by Essien Essien and Victor Nkanang, both chairman and secretary of the bar respectively stated in part: "We condemn in absolute terms the massive killings and wanton destruction of public and private properties by hoodlums said to be supporters of and sympathizers of politicians of political parties in the state.

"This is an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of Akwa Ibom State and depicts the worst level of man's inhumanity to man."

However, apparently taking cognizance that the crisis is believed to have been triggered by denying Senator John Udoedehe, the Akwa Ibom ACN governorship candidate, venue to use for his campaign rally in Ikot Ekpene, Aniedi Abotti, the NBA chairman, Ikot Ekpene branch, in a statement, expressed displeasure with some politicians in the state for laying claim to ownership of some public places.

"We abhor a situation where politicians arrogate 'ownership' of wards, local government areas, and so on and the use of foul words against opponents during campaign for votes", Abotti stated. He added: "No politician should claim to own where he comes from and then seek to prevent the opponent from campaigning in their areas. We are witnesses to where candidates fail in their home wards, villages and local governments areas.

"We detest politics of intolerance which only succeeds in breeding a heated polity likely to dissuade voters from going out to vote on the dates of election for fear of their lives." Warning the youth in the state to refrain from offering themselves as thugs, the bar leaders unanimously called on the law enforcement agents to ensure that the culprits, irrespective of their status, are made to face the full wrath of the law and that everyone should be concerned in ensuring that all that are necessary are done to ensure the security of people and properties.

Nsikak Ekanem

Daily Independent/08/04/2011