The rumoured rift between the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel and his successor, Governor Umo Eno is getting more pronounced.
This is as the security details attached to the former governor have been withdrawn.
Fingers are being pointed at Eno who weeks back defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
That singular political act widened the gap between the two politicians, with Eno now closer to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
It was gathered over the weekend that all policemen attached to the two houses of the former governor in Akwa Ibom have all been recalled.
Sources claim it is part of the pressure to coerce Emmanuel into joining the APC, after he declared he would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Special Assistant to the former governor, Barrister Steve Abia, confirmed that his security details have been withdrawn.
"The reality on ground is that if you go to the ex-governor's houses right now, there are no police security men, that is the truth.”
“Who withdrew the security personnel is what I cannot make any statement on. So, if you have time we can go there, so you find out," he told Daily Post.
However, Akwa Ibom government has denied any involvement in the development.
Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umana in a press briefing, described as false and misleading the media report alleging that the government directed the withdrawal of security personnel attached to the ex-governor.
“The deployment, reassignment, or withdrawal of police officers is the exclusive responsibility of the Inspector-General of Police and the commissioner of Police in each State, and not the duty of any Governor.
“I can tell you on good authority that the Governor did not issue any directive to withdraw security operatives from the immediate past Governor,” he stated.
As of the time of filing this report, the police are yet to make any comment on the allegation.
