By Chioma Onuegbu
Uyo – The Senior Special Assistant to governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state, on security matters Capt. Iniobong Ekong(retd) has admitted that he was actually lured to a meeting by the GOC of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army that led to his detention.

Ekong who was detained from February 22, eve of the presidential and National Assembly election until March7, when he regained his freedom spoke to newsmen after casting his vote at his unit 7 Ndiya ward in Nsit Ubiim local government area.

Narrating his experience, he said, “You expect such all the time except you don’t aspire for leadership. The price of leadership is not cheap. It is not like the communion that you just go and collect.

“The GOC actually invited me for a meeting. I went because he is my friend of over 35years. And it was really a meeting. May be he was missing me. I need to talk to him after the election and ask him whether it was a way of telling me that he was missing me”

He however dismissed reports that he was inivited by the Army based on the petition brought against him by his former boss Senator Godswilll Akoabio.

“I cannot say anything about any because as I speak to you I have not seen any petition, and I have not been presented with one. And I have not been asked to answer to any. I was just kept down there and I had my fun. It was a Youth service period for me. Not even one charge was brought against me”
https://newlive.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/emmanuel-flags-off-campaign-flaunts-achievements-in-3-and-half-years/
On speculation that he did not inform his boss governor Udom Emmanuel before he left Ekong responded, ” That is not correct. I called the governor on my way. I could not have left the state without informing him”

Reacting to the audio all over the social media involving the candidate of the APC Obong Nsima Ekere and political thugs Ekong said, ”
I have listened to that audio and I was crying as I was listening to it.

https://newlive.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/again-card-reader-fails-to-read-governor-dickson/
“Whether it is acted or whether it is real, I think we cannot have a Nation to call Nigeria if people that are looking for public offices come with such mentality. I have my conclusion and I am so convinced about my conclusions, but let me remain silent for now”

Meanwhile in most units in Etinan local government area voting was going on peacefully and orderly as the time of filling this report