Okon Uwah was killed shortly after concluding a campaign tour of Ward Three in NkeK, Ukanafun local government area on March 18, 2015.
Rt. Hon. Uwah had de-camped to the All Progressive Congress (APC), and was gunning for another stint in the House to represent Ukanafun Constituency.
It was learned the late Uwah was harassed at a rally earlier on that day by some youths over the sharing formula of some money donated by the leadership of the party in the state.
A source present while the incident unfolded disclosed that the deceased tried to escape the venue during a hassle for the consultation money he dropped.
The considerable fight led to a budding stampede and in his bid to escape, the aspirant reportedly slumped while the surging crowd trampled on him.
In the meantime, the details of his shocking death is still shoddy and there is yet to be an official statement in that regard.
Though the official statement by the state police command has it that the money was actually donated by the deceased and in the ensuing melee over the sharing formular, the crowd surged to the venue and when Uwah tried to move away from the stampede, he fell down and was trampled by the surging crowd.
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE VIOLENCE RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF RT. (HON.) OKON UWAH, FORMER DEPUTY SPEAKER OF AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN UKANAFUN LGA OF AKWA IBOM STATE ON WEDNESDAY, 18TH MARCH, 2015
Gentlemen of the Press
The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Chief Dr. Godswill Akpabio CON, has learnt about the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Rt. (Hon.) Okon Uwah, a former Peoples Democratic Party stalwart, and a one-time Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, who until his demise, was an APC Candidate for the Ukanafun State Constituency in the forth-coming General Elections.
His Excellency, the Governor and indeed the State Government condemn in its entirety the dastardly, strange and cowardly occurrence. Government regrets that, inspite of the accord on peaceful and violence-free elections signed by political parties in the State; some miscreants have decided to trample upon the law. It bears stressing that, no person’s political ambition is worth the blood of any citizen.
It is however to be noted that following the express directive of the Executive Governor, the security agencies had since swung into action and some arrests have so far been made. Besides, His Excellency has further directed that a full-scale probe into the event of Rt. (Hon.) Okon Uwah’s death be carried out to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, no matter their political leanings.
The Governor hereby warns that, violence and political thuggery of any kind will not be tolerated and accordingly reassures citizens of the preparedness of the State Government and indeed security agencies to maintain law and order and protect the lives of citizens as well as ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the 2015 General Elections in Akwa Ibom State.
His Excellency, Governor Akpabio commiserates with the bereaved family and assures them that the security agencies will unravel the cause of the tragedy and bring the culprits before the law.
Signed:
Aniekan Umanah
Hon. Commissioner
Ministry of Information and Communication
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