A Niger Delta group, Anioma Voice, Worldwide, has come down hard on Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State – also in the Niger Delta – over what it termed his rape of democracy in the name of promoting equity, fairness and justice.

Anioma Voice Worldwide was reacting to the video clip in which Governor Akpabio disclosed that he personally determined the Senator representing one of the senatorial zones of the state.

“THIS IS NOT OUR OWN EQUITY, FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE,”Anioma Voice Worldwide said in a statement made available to News Express this morning.

The statement was signed by Comrade Enudi Marcus, State Chief Messenger; Comrade El Geof Chiz, National General Messenger; Comrade EssEm Victorio, National Public Messenger; Comrade Frank Ofili, Asst National Chief Messenger; Comrade Ebele Anazia (Ms),

National Women Leader; Comrade Smart Ajaja, International Relations Messenger; and Comrade Akamesike Manuel O’coney, Chief Messenger. The statement said as follows:

“The people of Anioma, like other Nigerians and indeed Deltans, were dumbfounded to watch the video tape containing the bizarre and open day confession made by the democratically elected Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Godwin Akpabio, in which he highlighted his role in the 2007 Akwa Ibom State Senatorial primary election of his party, the PDP, in which he single handedly committed an electoral fraud by striking off the name of the winner of the primary election and replacing it with another name in order to promote FAIRNESS, EQUITY AND JUSTICE, as according to him, the constituency in the Senatorial zone that had never produced a Senator since the inception of democratic governance in the state be given the opportunity to produce a Senator.

“While, Gov. Akpabio might have his strong reasons for his actions, we do not subscribe to the manner in which it was effected. We consider his actions a negative reflection of what TRUE DEMOCRACY should be, where the rules of negotiation, dialogue and compromise should have been applied.

“We condemn in strong term the undemocratic action of Gov Akpabio as we regard same as a stark rape on our fragile democracy.

“While some may look at the reasons given by the Governor and relate same to the quest and stand of the good and democratic people of Anioma, otherwise referred to as Delta North Senatorial zone, in their call for the zone to be supported by other zones in Delta State to produce the next Governor come 2015, we want to state categorically here that though for EQUITY, FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE to prevail, the people of Anioma have been proposing the need for the zone to be supported by other zones in producing a Governor for the state, we do not in any way condone the action and the manner the Akwa Ibom State Governor went about actualising the call.

“This is in no way the type of democracy or quest for fairness, equity and sense of belonging, the good people of Anioma seek for in Delta State. We condemn this daylight rape of our democracy as demonstrated by Dr Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state and we call on all concerned government agencies to investigate this obvious electoral crime and prosecute where necessary.

"Aniomas as a peace loving and accommodating people in Delta State in pursuant of the Anioma Mandate Agenda would never support the route embarked by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State to achieving our goal. Our position remains that in a true democratic polity, all honest approach be followed as in liaising with other Senatorial zones, negotiating and compromising with them to achieve a desired result that will be acceptable to all Deltans. We shall reach out to other Deltans and as always, project the need for equity, fairness and true sense of belonging for all Deltans and request for their support just as The Aniomas have always supported them to produce the Governors of the state in the past. We shall seek for their understanding and support for Delta North to produce a credible governor that will serve the entire state in transparency, accountability and all honesty.

“This is our understanding of how equity, fairness and justice can be attained in a complex state like ours.

“Once again, we condemn in totality the method applied by Governor Akpabio in promoting EQUITY, FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE in Akwa Ibom State and we demand that he be investigated.”

•Photo: Governor Akpabio.