From INIOBONG SUNDAY, Uyo
Immediate past Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, has raised concern over the media trial of former governor Udom Emmanuel, noting that while demands for accountability are necessary, the current approach has the potential of undermining the principles of fair hearing and justice.
Addressing Journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Ememobong, who served as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the eight years of Udom Emmanuel, as governor, described the petitioners as witch – hunters”.
“The sustained media trial of Udom Emmanuel is nothing short of a witch-hunt, designed to tarnish his image and undermine his legacy”, he stressed.
Ememobong emphasised that “accountability is a non-negotiable aspect of democratic governance, noting that “The petitioners’ sustained media trial of Udom Emmanuel is questionable”.
He pointed out that “The media trial purveys allegations that sound like final court judgments, without adhering to the rules of procedure governing the admission and evaluation of evidence”.
He noted that the allegation that “Udom Emmanuel purchased a house in America with funds from the Akwa Ibom State government, while serving as Secretary to the State Government ,SSG”, a mere blackmail as his former boss didn’t receive any salary during the period.
“Udom Emmanuel did not receive a salary or allowance from the state government during that period and was not in charge of contract awards or other money-yielding government enterprises”, he recalled.
“This allegation is not only baseless but also ridiculous. Udom Emmanuel’s financial records are public knowledge, and his wealth was amassed long before he became governor,” he recalled.
“Unknown to them, that from 2013 when Mr. Udom Emmanuel was appointed till 2014 when he resigned to contest for the governorship, he didn’t receive salaries or any allowances from the state government. So, how could he have corruptly enriched himself then?, he queried.
Ememobong also highlighted the double standards applied by the petitioners, noting that Udom’s voluntary submission to public accountability through live media engagements was conveniently ignored.
He averred that “It’s clear that the petitioners are not interested in genuine accountability but rather in perpetuating a false narrative to satisfy their vendetta”, arguing that a sincere demand for accountability must be done with an open mind, rather than a judgmental mindset, to avoid persecution.
“A sincere demand for accountability must be done with an open mind rather than a judgemental mindset, or else the petitioners will be blinded by their passion, against the truth”, he warned
However, Ememobong urged the petitioners to allow investigative bodies to conduct their work without undue external pressures or prejudgments. He emphasized that history and posterity are the ultimate judges of human conduct and that the media trial should abate.
“Let the media trial abate,” he stressed, adding that “history and posterity are the ultimate judges of human conduct… Having completed our work under that administration, we had submitted ourselves to the judgement of history, people ,seen and unseen, and God Almighty, the truly fair judge.
“Let the truth prevail, rather than this orchestrated campaign of calumny. History will ultimately vindicate Udom Emmanuel, and his legacy will endure despite these malicious attempts to destroy it”, Ememobong said.
