The pre-election violence that rocked Ikot Ekpene and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State last March has been blamed on the desperation of opposition politicians who were bent on getting into power at all costs.

This was the submission of Governor Godswill Akpabio when he received members of the Federal Government Investigation Panel on the 2011 Election Violence and Civil Disturbances on a courtesy call at Government House, Uyo.

Chief Akpabio who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Nsima Ekere, said the election violence in Akwa Ibom was peculiar because, but for the desperation of the politicians, the people of the state were generally peace-loving and law-abiding.

The opposition, Chief Akpabio said, became desperate when it realised that it stood no chance of winning a free and fair election against the incumbent party, which had warmed itself into the heart of the electorate through sterling performance in every area.

According to the Governor, his unprecedented implementation of free and compulsory education from primary to senior secondary level; construction of standard roads across the state; building of five new General Hospitals in addition to free medical services to children under five, pregnant women and the aged, among others, stood him in good stead with the electorate.

He, however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for setting up the investigation panel to look into the pre and post 2011 general elections violence in Nigeria .

The constitution of the panel, Governor Akpabio observed, is another demonstration of President Jonathan’s resolve to further deepen democracy in Nigeria .

Given the calibre of persons on the panel, the Governor said he had no doubt that the matter would be thoroughly investigated and major recommendations made to help the country move forward.

The Vice Chairman of the Investigation Panel and Chairman of the Sub-Committee to Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa and Niger States , Justice Samson Uwaifo (rtd.), intimated the Governor that the panel was to determine the immediate and remote cause(s) of the tide of unrest in some States of the Federation following the Presidential election, as well as the pre-election violence in Akwa Ibom State and make appropriate recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence.

In addition, Justice Uwaifo said the panel, among others, equally had the task of investigating the sources of weapons used in the unrest and recommend how to stem the tide of illegal flow of such weapons into the country.