Bakassi leaders condemn assassination attempt on Gov. Ayade's aide

The leaders, who briefed journalists on Thursday in Bakassi, said the attempt was carried out by mischief makers to assassinate Esin, who is from Bakassi.

Esin was attacked by suspected assassins in his house in Calabar on March 12 and was rescued by the State Commissioner of Police who led policemen to the scene.

Speaking, Dr Ekpo-Ekpo Bassey, member representing Bakassi in the Cross River House of Assembly, said Esin was subjected to untold brutality with the intent to kill him.

“We, as leaders of the Bakassi people strongly condemn this gruesome attack and the criminal attempt to take the life of a community leader and public servant with a rich pedigree of service and positive interventions for the cause of Bakassi and the state.

“There is no doubt in our minds that this dastardly act was designed to silence Esin for his principled stand for truth on issues concerning Bakassi and the politics of Cross River.

“After working tirelessly to deliver his party’s candidates in the just concluded elections, it would have amounted to the greatest injustice to deprive him of the fruit of his labour through an organised termination of his life.

“We believe that the attack was intended to deny him of his rights and must therefore be condemned in the strongest terms by all men of goodwill and democrats in our land,” he said.

Bassey disclosed that Esin was still receiving medical treatment in a hospital in Calabar.

Also speaking, Dr Eneyo Eyo, Senior Special Assistant on Communications to Ayade, called on the security agencies to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators of the crime to book.

“I want to call on the Department of State Service, Police and indeed, other security agencies to speedily bring the miscreant to justice to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

Also, Mr Austin Ibok, Special Adviser to Ayade on Inter-Party Affairs, commended the governor for his swift intervention during the incident, adding that security agencies should conduct thorough investigation into the attempt.