National Dialogue: Victor Attah proposes new constitution

Victor Attah

Contrary to the public position he took while making a speech at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial campaign rally in Onitsha on Wednesday, by condemning the Lagos State Government for “deportation” of destitute people to Anambra State, an official document seen by PREMIUM TIMES shows that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, approved the deportation of indigenes of Lagos State from Uyo.

“If it is not Panadol it can never be like Panadol. This (APC) is a party that is deporting your sons and daughters and demolishing their shops,” Mr. Akpabio told supporters of the PDP who came to witness the party’s rally in Onitsha on Wednesday.

However, a letter signed by an aide of the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development of Akwa Ibom, Akaninyere Ubara, dated July 23 shows that two indigenes of Lagos State who were described as “vagrant psychotics” were deported from the State.

The letter titled: Repatriation of Lunatics, Beggars and Destitute to their Home States reads:

“This is to inform the Honourable Commissioner that in our bid to rid the state Capital of Lunatics in line with the transformational policy of the present Administration, the underlisted persons who are known vagrants psychotics were evacuated during the clean up exercise to remove Lunatics off the streets of Akwa Ibom State.”

“Since then, the patients were hospitalised and duly treated with good responses. Following their processes of recovering of sanity the doctor has placed them on trial leave. However, in view of the fact that they are indigenes of Lagos State, and have no relations in Uyo we have decided to refer them to you for further Medical Management/treatment necessary action, please.”

The men referred to in the letter were Babatunde Obamaiviaya and Tunde Jimmy.

The deportation of Anambra indigenes from Lagos State has become a topical issue in the run-up to Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Anambra as the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) governs Lagos State. Both the incumbent party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the PDP have called on Anambra residents to shun the APC candidate, Chris Ngige, on the grounds of the deportation.

The Lagos State government came under public attack for the deportation with Governor Peter Obi of Anambra threatening to retaliate.

The Lagos State Governor eventually apologised for the act.