Ex-Akwa Ibom Gov Emmanuel stripped of security details, govt denies having a hand in it
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibo Governor between 2015 and 2023, has been stripped of all his security details ostensibly due to political differences between him and sitting Governor Umo Eno, it was discovered at the weekend.
Both men were birds of the same feather in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until Eno’s recent defection to the All Progressives Party (APC) to curry favour with federal power in Abuja.
By law, a Governor cannot withdraw the security details of anyone, even though he is called the Chief Security Officer of his state. But he can use his position to influence such a change.
Withdrawal of security personnel can only be done by the state Police Commissioner acting on orders from the Inspector General of Police in Abuja, who in turn takes his orders from the President who appointed him.
Some observers speculate that the security personnel fiasco was engineered by the APC to compel Emmanuel to join its ranks, others say it is confirmation that all was not well all along between him and Eno whom he helped install as Governor.
Emmanuel, the political godfather of Eno, reportedly played an active role in his election in 2023 under the platform of the PDP.
That relationship has waned following Eno’s defection to the APC but Emmanuel has maintained silence, only pledging full loyalty to the PDP.
Emmanuel’s stance to remain in the PDP and work towards rebuilding the party for the 2027 election is said to be a threat to the APC state government hence the move to allegedly cripple him.
However, Akwa Ibom Information Commissioner Aniekan Umana in a press briefing, described as false and misleading media reports alleging that the government directed the withdrawal of security personnel attached to Emmanuel.
He said the report was intentionally fabricated to mislead the public, stressing that the deployment of police officers is the sole prerogative of the Police Commissioner, not the Governor.
“The deployment, reassignment, or withdrawal of police officers is the exclusive responsibility of the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in each state, and not the duty of any Governor,” Umana clarified.
“I can tell you on good authority that the Governor did not issue any directive to withdraw security operatives from the immediate past Governor.”
He stressed that all former Akwa Ibom Governors are entitled to, and continue to enjoy, their security details as approved by law.
“To the best of our knowledge, there has been no complaint or report from any former Governor or their media aides about the withdrawal of security personnel. The rumour exists only in the imagination of those peddling it.”
Umana urged members of the public to disregard the “baseless propaganda,” reaffirming that “the peace loving Governor of Akwa Ibom [Eno]” remains focused on promoting peace, unity, and good governance across state.
However, Emmanuel’s Special Assistant Steve Abia confirmed the withdrawal of his principal’s security details.
Said he: “The reality on [the] ground is that if you go to the ex-Governor’s houses right now, there are no police security men, that is the truth.
“Who withdrew the security personnel is what I cannot make any statement on. So, if you have time we can go there, so you find out.” Abia told Daily Post.
A group loyal to the PDP, called PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, described the incident as politically motivated and a ploy to subdue Emmanuel.
Tom FredFish, the group’s Chairman, said: “So, if the state is saying that it does not know the whereabouts of the security details in Udom’s place, how does it sound?
“Also, this means a confirmation to the fact that Umo Eno is having issues with his leader, because has never been a time that the federal government can just come and remove details from a former governor.
“It’s a pity that they have played politics to that extent. All this is just for them to kill the PDP, not to exist in the state and to see how they can pocket PDP.
“Udom has come out perhaps to say, no, PDP has to stand as a party. They are working towards everything to see that the party collapses in the state.
“But it will not work. PDP is not anybody’s federal property in Akwa Ibom State. My advice is that they should stop panicking and focus on governance.”
Read also:
