A pro-Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, group in Akwa Ibom State, PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, PAPAJ, has joined in the calls for immediate and unconditional release of a detained social media critic, Princess God’sown Udoito.
Udoito was last week was arraigned by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command before the state High Court following a petition that she allegedly published content accusing Governor Umo Eno of unlawfully selling ancestral lands in Eket Local Government Area to private entities and misappropriating the proceeds thereof.
Reacting, Dr Tom FredFish, Chairman of PAPAJ and Savour Uko, Secretary, in a statement on Monday, said Udoito was within her rights to express her reservations on issues of public interest and should not be intimidated or victimized.
They noted that Princess Udoito’s advocacy concerning the Akoiyak Stub Creek Forest, a historically protected Ekid ancestral land, falls within legitimate public discourse and her position, which is also shared by many Eket people across the world, is rooted in documented historical and legal realities.
The group warned that constructive criticism should not be mistaken for hostility, nor should civic engagement be met with coercion even as it claimed that the present administration in the state does not condone criticism.
The statement said, “In recent times, a dangerous narrative appears to be gaining ground where honest expression, community advocacy, and factual criticism of the government of Pastor Umo Eno are being treated as offences.
“This development is alien to democratic practice and contradicts the spirit and letters of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right of citizens to question governance in a peaceful and lawful manner.
“At no point did Princess Udoito’s actions encourage violence, public disorder, or unlawful conduct. Rather, her engagement was aimed at drawing attention to alleged policies affecting ancestral land without adequate consultation or compensation of the rightful owners. PAPA-J, hereby demands her immediate and unconditional release.”
While regretting that those who ought to have served as mediators and advisers within government circles have failed in their duties; the group urged the Akwa Ibom State government to channel the energy which it allegedly uses in hounding and clamping down on critics to address the real, urgent challenges and threats confronting the people, such as unemployment, poverty and political sycophancy.
