TENSION is brewing in Cross River State following the destruction of billboards belonging to the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Owan-Enoh, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), incumbent governor, Prof Ben Ayade. Owan-Enoh in a press briefing last week had alleged that agents PDP led state government, were pulling down his billboards even after making required payments, warning that there will be reprisals if the destruction of his billboards is not stopped. However, after the complaint, a billboard put up in along the popular Ndidem Iso Road in Calabar on Friday was pulled down by unknown persons. Since then, destruction of billboards of both parties by unknown persons became the order of the day. Reacting to the development, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Ita, denied the allegation that th PDP was responsible for destroying Owan-Enoh’s billboards.
Ita inferred that the destruction of APC billboards was due to the APC’s internal issues as there is a faction insisting that Owan-Enoh is not the candidate of the party. He said the state government will not condone any form of violence and they will ensure that those perpetuating it would be dealt with according to the law. The governor’s media aide said it was unfortunate that the destruction of PDP billboards started after the APC candidate threatened reprisals.
“Governor Ayade, as it is known to the good people of Cross River, abhors all forms of violence. He has insisted that the ongoing campaigns must be issues based. So, it is not in our place to vandalize billboards or engage in violent reprisal attacks of any sort. We urge those who threatened violence to help us end this chain of vandalization in the interest of peace,” he said.
But the Public Relations Officer of the APC in the state, Bassey Ita, said the denial was spurious and a cheap attempt by the PDP to exonerate itself from the evil and criminal agenda it is already known to perpetrate. “We will not accept such spurious claims and insinuations that a faction of our party is responsible for this criminal and evil exploit as currently made by the PDP.
“We wish to emphasize here that much as this inglorious practice is inconsistent with the existing laws guiding the freedom of parties to campaign using paid advert spaces, we will as a law abiding party resist such attempt to further pull down our billboards and posters by hired agents of the PDP.
“Such insinuations, we note, is inexcusable and further speaks of the antecedents of a conquered army trying to shy away from an evil attack on a winning team just to play safe. For the umpteenth time, we warn that we will resist any further attempt by anyone or group of persons in whatever guise who perpetrate such an obnoxious practice of pulling down our campaign materials,” he said.
Worried by the disturbing developments, the Police in the state has called on politicians and political parties to shun all acts of vandalism as the campaigns contintue. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, said anybody caught puling down billboards, irrespective of any political party, would be arrested and would be charged according to the law, and warned those perpetrating such to desist.
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