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The Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance, a pressure group, has threatened legal action against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu, over alleged threat-to-life comment on Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The group is therefore asking the former Lagos state governor to withdraw the comments in seven days seven days or face legal action.
This was contained in a press release signed by the President of the Alliance, Mr Stephen Abia, and made available to Blueprint, Thursday, in Uyo.
He described the threat to the governor as worrisome, adding that the use of threats, blackmail, and scandalous and libelous statements on persons with intimidated records and profiles should never be a political tool for campaigns.
His words, “We consider as worrisome, the threat to the life of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State in the shabby outburst by Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We also take serious exception to such unwarranted, unfortunate, and uncontrollable height of vituperation by Mr. Tinubu on our state and people as the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, without mincing words, is the face of Akwa Ibom State.
“The fact that Mr. Tinubu was applauded by the misinformed, misguided, and, hired crowed at the supposed party rally, and no finger raised against him and his cohorts as would have been the case in other climes, does not in any way suggest cowardice, but a high sense of political tolerance and patriotism.
“Having been accorded the peaceful, serene, and secure atmosphere to campaign in Akwa Ibom State, which of course, would not have been the case about eight years ago, and having been graciously accorded the use of our state facilities by the same Governor Udom Emmanuel whom Mr. Tinubu seeks to exterminate, it is crystal clear that the affront was premeditated and out of heavy ill-will and grudging contempt.
“Subsequently, we are giving Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all his co-conspirators Seven (7)days to retract the threats and apologize to the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State, or risk immediate legal actions,” Abia said.
Similarly in a statement, the International President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa James Edet while calling for an apology from Tinubu said such statements could threaten the existing peaceful relations between the people of the state and Yoruba living in the state.
“We consider this distasteful comment as smacking of intolerance, prejudice, and ethnic jingoism which is capable of inciting strife between Ibibio and their Yoruba brethren with whom they have cohabited for decades without any rancour.
“We condemn in very strong terms the veiled threats directed at our son and Governor of our State by Tinubu and charge him to be measured, circumspect, and responsible in his utterances as a leader while campaigning,” the statement said.
