The Inspector General of Police
Force Headquarters
Louis Edet House
Abuja.
15th August, 2014
ACCUSATIONS BY CHIEF ASSAM ASSAM (SAN), NIGERIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND BELARUS
I wish to report to your good offices the inciting, criminal and unbecoming conduct of Nigeria's Ambassador to the Russian Federation and Belarus, Chief Assam Assam, (SAN). His paranoid deployment of malicious falsehood, lies and sedition in his pathological campaign of calumny against my person and the Government of Akwa Ibom State has become a threat to our values as a nation and our diplomacy.
Not only is his conduct a breach of diplomatic etiquettes, it is equally injurious to Nigeria's foreign image and may give our nascent democracy a pariah status in the comity of nations. Note that I make these serious statements with complete understanding and acceptance of their ordinary meanings. For instance, to claim that a serving governor is an experienced killer, as he has done in newspaper interviews and letters, at a time we are battling the Boko Haram insurgency may do the worst possible damage to our nation's image abroad and show our public officers as irresponsible, lawless and rascally.
Chief Assam's penchant for mischief, lies and seditious propaganda is documented here-under:
1. On July 25, 2014, Chief Assam Assam, who has formally declared and has already begun his campaign for the Governorship of Akwa Ibom State (in spite of being a serving Ambassador), wrote an atrocious letter to the Secretary to theatre Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and caused it to be published widely on the Internet. In the letter he accused me of being a killer and planning to assassinate political opponents in order to impose the said Udom Emmanuel as my successor. In the letter he made a veiled threat thus, "One thing I can guarantee is that whoever is killed in your name will certainly leave a trail of revenge killings which the dead may be unable to end…" I certainly have no plan to injure anyone but all the same you may wish to find out what he meant by this incendiary statement, and if this statement does not mean that he has already assembled a team for his proposed intent. (Chief Assam's Letter and Mr Udom's reply attached).
2. In the letter referred to above, he stated that "Governor Akpabio has the ability, determination, willingness, persuasion and experience to carry out his decision" to assassinate the elite political class in Akwa Ibom. The good People of Akwa Ibom State, who voted me into office, and I, certainly, would want him to explain what he meant by this inciting statement. We have particular concern over the words, "ability, willingness and experience."
3. The Community Pulse Newspaper of Thursday, August 14, 2014, carried a screaming banner headline with the title, "The Assam Assam Interview: Governor Akpabio is an Experienced Killer." In the interview published verbatim in pages 10 and 11 of the same newspaper, Chief Assam Assam, alleged "Governor Akpabio has the ability, the time and the fortune to kill… Godswill has the experience to kill".
4. Do please note that the said interview has been published in several other newspapers including, "The Waves," "The Weekly Insight," and also on the Internet. (Find copies of the said newspapers attached).
5. It will interest you to know that I have never been involved in any act of criminality or cultism in all my life. I contested the Governorship election in 2007 with over 57 aspirants and no one was injured throughout the rigorous exercise. I again contested in 2011 and no aspirant was injured. Furthermore, Chief Assam Assam served in my Administration as an Honorary Special Adviser and later as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice until I recommended him for appointment as Ambassador. Mr President graciously granted my request. It is, therefore, worrisome that someone who accepted to serve in my administration at such high levels would turn around and contrive such false, wild and malicious accusations as outlined above. His angst appears to be fuelled by a strong sense of entitlement to my endorsement. He fails to note that I reserve the right to support or not to support anyone and that is a constitutionally guaranteed right.
6. I consider the foregoing to be very serious allegations of crimes against my person given his High Office. Such irrational outbursts are outrageous and least expected of a high-ranking Nigerian diplomat. It undermines the Federal and the Akwa Ibom State governments and I call on you to use your good offices to investigate the allegations made against me by Chief Assam Assam. In the event that you confirm his wild and politically motivated allegations to be false, Chief Assam Assam should be immediately sanctioned in line with the laws. This action will certainly serve as a deterrent to future diplomats and federal appointees who may nurse political ambition and hope to achieve same through blackmail, lies, falsehood and sedition, as in the instant case.
Please accept the assurances of my highest esteem.
Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON
Executive Governor, Akwa Ibom State
