Regrettably, the Akwa Ibom's style of criticism and counter-criticism both from PRO government and ANTI government has uncontrollably 'gotten' to a point where serious minded fellow should be reserving their comments and allow 'WHAT HAS TO BE DONE, TO BE DONE' either by the government or the opposition.
This therefore explains why I deliberately refused to join the 'half-truth' essay competition prompted by Governor Udom Emmanuel's justice on Eket-Ibeno Road.
Your Excellency the Executive Governor Sir, please accept the sincere gratitude and commendation of your counterpart, His Excellency the Would-Have-Been Governor for single handedly changing the narrative of the Eket Ibeno Road.
Memorably, whenever the name Eket-Ibeno Road is being mentioned, what usually strikes my mind is the ugly experience I had while plying the road for the first time in 2011 followed by the aftermath of that trip.
The name Eket-Ibeno Road usually reminds me of the early days of my guest platform popularly known as the HOT SEAT on the then Community Pulse Newspaper... Kudos to my one and only Nsibiet John who as at then was my boss as the Editor-in-Chief of the paper.
I could vividly recall his effort in making sure that government's attention is drawn to the deadly state of the road as at then.
I could quite remember the fresh media fight he lunched with the then Akwa Ibom NDDC commissioner, Engineer Imaobong Inyang after listening to my ordeal on the road and the many threat to his life all for the sake of Eket-Ibeno Road.
There is no way I will forget my first meeting with the Mobil's Director of Operations at their operational base (Qua Iboe Terminal, Ibeno) which was why I even had to ply the Eket-Ibeno Road and subsequent meeting with the then NDDC commissioner, Imaobong Inyang all because of the same road.
I wish I could once again meet that particular taxi driver, an indigene of Esit Urua Eket whose taxi I boarded from Eket to the Mobil terminal.
I can still recall when he said to me: "Sir, nobody can count the number of accidents and lives lost on this road. Even as we are going now, it is only God that can guarantee our return". One could imagine how panic a first timer on the road could be upon hearing such statement from a taxi driver.
While still pondering on these past memories, my question is - 'Is it that same Eket-Ibeno road that generates all these criticism and counter-criticism from the government and the opposition? '
When I first observed the flooding of social media with write-ups on Eket-Ibeno road, I was of the view that maybe the road has again been abandoned as the case used to be before now, but following it keenly, I traced it to a certain billboard mounted by Exxon Mobil on the newly dualized the Eket-Ibeno Road, I laughed and then ignored the entire online tales and counter-tales because it didn't deserve the Would-Have-Been Governor's reaction. But while still thinking that the undue criticism and counter-criticism will end by a mere click of mouse, I stumbled on another well package criticism from David Augustine seconded by a counter-criticisim by Aniekeme Finbarr.
Even before I could exhaust David and Finbarr's version Franklyn Isong and Uwemedimo Umana took the stage.
The untold version of the entire fight over the Eket-Ibeno road is on the Radio characterized by Sampson Akpan (Planet FM), Aniekan Udosen (Planet FM), Osondu Ahirika (Inspiration FM) Aniekeme Finbarr (Superior Performance on Inspiration FM). Sorry for AKBC and Atlantic FM... Lol
A sincere question here is - what is all these media warlords fighting for?
It may surprise anybody to know that the answer to the above question does not need even one foolscap sheet. It does not even require more than a paragraph.
I got the simple answer on the course of my investigation to know what the fight is all about as well as who is right or wrong.
Surprisingly the simple answer I got after speaking with the authorities of Exxon Mobil and the Akwa Ibom State government is that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has single-handedly constructed the abandoned Eket-Ibeno Road at the cost of N45 billion plus and that Exxon Mobil, the number one beneficiary of the road contributed N8 billion.
What then is there to fight or drag? Why the many stories.
Except for those who doesn't understand the system, it is not strange that once you are in the system, you must show working. You must act to justify that you are not idle to avoid being kicked out from the system, and same is the key reason everyone is seemingly fighting blindly.
Yes, blindly because none of them look at the issue they were fighting for, if it actually deserved such muscle flexing. The Governor I know cannot encourage or support such fruitless fight.
From inception, Akwa Ibom people were told that Governor Udom Emmanuel is not a type that will call 'black' white and neither a type that will say what is not what, hence his nickname, MR. INTEGRITY.
But sadly, many whose aim is to defend the Governor is almost making it difficult for those who are not close to the Governor as they are to believe that he (Governor Udom) is not a liar.
I had while x-raying this issue with Osondu Ahirika, my co-supporter of government argued that Governor Udom whom I know cannot and will never deny the fact that Exxon Mobil contributed N8 billion for the construction of Eket-Ibeno Road. Yes, he is not a liar and cannot sacrifice his integrity to cover up Mobil's contribution.
I had boldly informed the highly respectable Reverend that those who are saddled with the responsibility of defending the governor misfired and that, also, those who have sworn an oath to remain Governor Udom's opponents and anti-government fired the most deadly shots ignorantly.
Their (opposition's) shot could easily be described as 'too much of everything' which has been proven to be a disease. They are so used to firing the government to a point that the wrongly fire at anything that crosses their path.
Thanks to the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Udo who has proven himself to be a highly competent and well exposed Communication expert and rightful mouthpiece of the Governor as well as government image maker.
Nobody would expect Mobil not to publicize their contribution to the construction of Eket-Ibeno Road, if not for anything, for the fear of attack by their host community. So, crucifying them for going public on their contribution was not necessary at all.
But then, as I told Osondu Ahirika, the bone of contention should have been on the meager amount contributed by Mobil and not to outrightly deny that Mobil did not contribute anything.
A careful look at the controversial billboard will confirm that Mobil never claimed that they constructed Eket-Ibeno Road, they stated clearly that they ONLY contributed N8 billion. So, the amount is therefore the issue that deserve such criticism and counter-criticism because take it or leave it, it is total wickedness that a company that is milking Akwa Ibom State on daily basis will contribute 'fucken' N8 billion out of over N45 billion marked for the road project. This would have been the point to drag. Indeed it is annoying.
This has been my earnest submission since after I conclude my fact finding and for Commissioner Charles to agree with me on this, it's a clear confirmation to the theory that FACTS ARE SACRED.
My confidence and respect for the Information Commissioner increased the moment I heard him said thus: "I had spoken with some officials of the ExxonMobil and they told me that ExxonMobil gave Akwa Ibom state Government N8b in 2013 as part of their contributions to the construction of Eket-Ibeno road. The road only started when this administration came on board. The government has spent more than double that amount on the project."
This is exactly what the defenders of government supposed to have maintained, not to deny outrightly that Mobil's N8 billion was not for the construction of the road.
It is obvious that they never mind the fact that there was an MoU signed before the money was given, they forgot that Mobil is not a moribund company with no staff. Unarguably, it was a misfired shot.
For the oppositions who wanted to be more Catholic than the Pope, I think it is high time they changed tactics because theirs was the most detestable of it all. They want to give Exxon Mobil the glory the company never wanted or asked for.
I was proud to have Udom Emmanuel as Governor the moment Mobil Authority officially told me, "Ndanti, we have never claimed Eket-Ibeno Road, we have never said we constructed the road, we have never sent anybody to say such on our behalf, the road is constructed by your State Governor and believe me, we are so happy with him for taking up the road with dedication and commitment.
All we have done on the road is that we supported the state government with the sum of N8 billion as our contribution and that is exactly what is written on the billboard."
If Mobil themselves could acknowledged that Eket-Ibeno Road is constructed by Governor Udom Emmanuel and even commended him for such feat, I see no reason few disgruntled folks in the name of opposition should say that Exxon Mobil is the one constructing the road.
It will be an abomination to give Exxon Mobil the glory of constructing the road and I believe even the gods of Akwa Ibom State will not be happy for such act.
One needs concrete facts and figures to criticize the government, therefore when such facts and figures are not found, it is out of place to criticize and condemn the government.
For clarity and record purpose, it must be noted that the ongoing construction of Eket-Ibeno is done by Governor Udom Emmanuel led government of Akwa Ibom State as the cost of N45 billion plus and that Exxon Mobil contributed a meager sum of N8 billion to support the project.
Let a spade be called a spade and credit be given to whom credit is due.
(C) NDANTI EKUH
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