GOVERNMENT OF AKWA IBOM STATE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNCATIONS PRESS RELEASE AKWA IBOM FAULTS ACN SPOKESMAN ON DEPORTATION OF NON INDIGENES The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information & Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, has faulted the erroneous impression created by the spokesman of Action Congress of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Joe Igbokwe in an interview he granted Sunday Punch of 4 August 2013, where he claimed that Akwa Ibom State government had written to Lagos State government demanding them to evacuate their destitute indigenes from Akwa Ibom. Mr Umanah in a release in Uyo, the State capital, explained that the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, in the course of carrying out their welfare programme, came across two “vagrant psychotics”, whom they took to hospital for medical treatment. He further stated that the patients, having considerably recovered from their ailment, gave their names as Babatunde Obamaiviya and Tunde Jimmy and claimed to be indigenes of Lagos State, and had no relations in Akwa Ibom State. The Information Commissioner added that based on doctor’s advice, the duo was placed on trial leave and had no family members in the State, it became expedient for the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, to write her Lagos State counterpart on the patients’ challenge. Mr. Umanah disclosed that the Ministry, through letter No. MWASW/AD/239/Vol.111/102, dated 23rd July 2013, said, “This is to inform the Honourable Commissioner that in our bid to rid the State Capital of lunatics, in line with the transformation policy of the present Administration, the under listed persons who are known vagrant psychotics were evacuated, during the clean up exercise to remove lunatics off the streets of Akwa Ibom State.” The letter, Umanah further disclosed, added, “Since then, the patients were hospitalized and duly treated with good responses. Following their processes of recovering of sanity, the doctor has placed them on trial leave. However, in view of the fact that they are indigenes of Lagos State and have no relations in Uyo, we have decided to refer them to you for further medical management/treatment and necessary action, please.” He remarked that Akwa Ibom State government at no time requested the evacuation of non-indigenes, nor did it deport non-indigenes, and wondered why Mr. Igbokwe could engage in such blatant misrepresentation. He assured all that the government of Akwa Ibom State will continue to accommodate and protect all law-abiding residents in the State irrespective of their creed or State of origin. Sunday Antai Deputy Director (Information)
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 21:55:31 +0000
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