A Lagos based human right lawyer, Mr Inibehe Effiong has called on Akwa Ibom people to learn to stand-up for their rights and demand good governance from their leaders.
Effiong who decried the high level of human right abuses in the state tasked the people to learn to speak out and demand justice and equal rights no matter who is exploiting.
While lamenting the alarming rate of poverty, unemployment and quality education in the state, Effiong stated that the people should start asking those in position of authorities questions.
He described the situation where the people cannot speak up for their rights and demand good governance as pathetic and worrisome and called on the people not to be intimidated by the politicians.
The human rights activist noted that it is the primary responsibility of government to provide secuirty of life and property and basic social amenities but Akwa Ibom government have failed the people in this direction and yet the people are not talking.
He accused politicians of intimidating and suppressing the people through unwarranted arrest and unnecessary charges just to silent them thereby injecting fear in them.
The right lawyer charged the people not to be afraid to demand for basic amenities, security and their welfare from those the voted into power.
“You must learn to be bold and always speak out and demand your right from government. There is no need to be afraid of those in position of authorities.”
“You should learn to conquer fear and intimidation so that you can ask for your rights.”
Effiong also expressed concern over the attitude of some clergy men and traditional rulers who supposed to speak the truth to the authorities on behalf of the people but are highly compromised by the same government because of greed and their selfishness.
“Some of them always attend government events at government house regular. They have abandoned their palaces and now living in government houses in Uyo. They dine and wine with the government and forget the people they were meant to protect.”
The lawyer said with abundance of resources and huge montly allocation from the federation account, Akwa Ibom has no business being poor and accused politicians of mismanaging the state resources and also exploiting the people.
He asserted that at 33 Akwa Ibom state should be a model state in Nigeria but not for bad leadership and charged the people to start asking questions.
Effiong posited that good governance is their right and the people must ask for it from their leaders.
