Barely two months after a journalist, Solomon Bassey of Community Shield Newspapers was beaten to stupor with his shirt torn to shreds by security operatives of Governor Godswill Akpabio at a reception for Information Commissioner, Aniekan Umanah in Abak, another, Paul Uffot of the same outfit has suffered a similar fate.
This time around the stage has shifted to the country home of His Excellency, Chief Godswill O. Akpabio, Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government during the funeral of his uncle, late Dr. Edward Udoh Akpabio, interred weekend.
The journalist had joined the myriad of individuals to condole the governor when a team of plain cloth security operatives numbering over five swooped on the poor man as he was kneeling down before the governor and bungled him out of his presence.
The unfortunate journalist would have been bungled completely out of the venue but for timely intervention of some individuals who pleaded that at least he be allowed to stay in the venue.
Perhaps, moved by this height of professional hazard, the governor now beckoned on the overzealous dark glassed security agents to allow him to see him.
Even though he survived the onslaught, but not without having his entire clothing ruffled which made him almost like a mad man in appearance, quite different from other guests.
Other journalist who watched the melodrama were not only speeches but wondered why Akpabio’s aides have formed the habit of molesting journalists at their whims and caprices without the governor putting a stop to it.
A man who shared the same sentiments with the journalists who preferred anonymity could not help but wondered why politicians would use journalists when they are canvassing for position and dump them a moment they achieve their ambition.
The man who swore that he would never allow his son to be a journalist in his life, blamed it all on poverty.
According to the journalist in question who was ruffled to the hair, the governor later apologised, saying he was not the one who sent them.
But this, to the audience was medicine after death.
Speaking earlier, the governor announced that the Ukana Clinic built by the deceased has been taken over by the state government.
He thanked the guests who had put aside one event or the other to sympatise with him and advised that no matter the travails one might be passing through he should thank God.
Akpabio described his uncle dying at 82 as a ripe age, especially when considering the fact that he underwent no fewer than three open heart surgeries in his life time.
The burial took the form of a political rally as who is who in Akwa Ibom politics were present.