By Ofonime Honesty
The member representing Itu State
Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Idongesit
Ituen, has come under fire for allegedly masterminding the trial of the
Transition Committee Chairman of Itu Local Government Area, Hon. Elsie
Esara.
The council boss has so far appeared twice at the House
of Assembly for questioning over a petition on alleged fraud sent to the
state parliament by three Supervisors in the Itu Transition.
The
petition amongst other allegation accused Esara of pilfering the
council purse as well as using council funds to cater for the welfare of
Akwa Ibom first lady, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel.
Though the
Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke,
stated that the involvement of the House in the matter is bereft of
political undertones, many are of the opinion that Hon. Ituen having
been locked in a cold war with the embattled Esara, is now using his
Assembly colleagues in a perceived mission to oust Esara.
Making
its stance known on the issue, a group, Itu Patroits’ Forum, in a
release captioned ‘Before Idongesit Ituen runs mad’, decried that “Hon.
Ituen, using a couple of Supervisors in the Itu Transition Committee as
pawns, has also joined forces with his House of Assembly colleagues in
the rather futile attempt to oust the council boss.”
The release
signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of the group, Elder Edem Linus
and Barr. Silas Uboh, observed that “no anti-graft agency in Nigeria has
acted on the petition underlines the fact it lacks credibility”, adding
that, “it is even more mind boggling when one realizes that the main
reason for the call for sack is a mere allegation which is yet to be
proven by a court of competent jurisdiction.”
Reeling out
Esara’s achievements in office to include, “construction of a befitting
storey building to serve as the Itam market office, drainage system in
Itam, empowerment of over 180 women and youths in agriculture,
empowerment of 200 youths with grants and other life touching projects”,
the Itu Patroits’ Forum challenged Ituen to present his scorecard as
legislator.
Accusing him of being a serial blackmailer and
fraudster, the group alleged that, “in 2007, Governor Godswill Akpabio
(as he then was) gave him Inter-ministerial Project worth 200 Million
Naira. Ituen siphoned the money. We challenge him to show any project he
executed with the money.
As the transition chairman of Itu, Ituen built
about 30 shops with council funds and later sold all the shops to
himself and his aide, a certain Idorenyin Raphael.
“Nowadays, Ituen
goes around bragging about his football academy. The bitter truth is
that the club, rather than being an avenue for talent harnessing and
wealth creation, has become that of exploitation.
An ex-international,
Friday Ekpo, who coached the team for nine months is still being owed
nine months salary. The welfare of Ituen FC players is pitiable.”
He was also accused of “recruiting cultists and arming them to
mastermind violence during elections”, as well as instigating a
blackmail campaign against his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Ekaette Okon.
Reacting to the allegation that the Governor’s wife, Mrs. Martha Udom
Emmanuel, connived with Esara to defraud Itu people, the group declared
that, “Governor Udom Emmanuel has been very magnanimous to Itu, and we
must reciprocate, not malign him, his administration or any member of
his immediate family.
Ituen, with his stained reputation, should not rub
tar on the immaculate image of the Governor’s wife whom many hold in
high esteem. Mrs. Esara too must be spared the embarrassment.”
They warned: “Itu Patriots’ Forum hereby states clearly that, we will
henceforth not condone any act aimed at creating disunity and
distraction in Itu.
We have set machineries in motion to that effect.
We have the clout and know-how to tame Idongesit Ituen whose maniacal
mannerisms have reached astronomical heights. He who has ears should
hear.”
Another group under the aegis of Women Arise Initiative,
lamented that, “at this time when the nationwide agitation for the 35%
affirmative action on women is gathering momentum, a rather unwholesome
agenda of sacrificing women on the altar of petty politics is underway
in Akwa Ibom State.”
Part of the release signed by the State
Coordinator and State Secretary of the organization, Chief (Mrs.) Emah
Donatus and Lady Imaobong Imoh Etukudoh, reads: “It is just a political
gimmick spun by Mr. Idongesit Ituen, who is occupying the Itu State
Constituency seat in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The ignoble
role played by him in this issue has not escaped our radar.
“Why
should a man be so desperate? The fact that he failed woefully in his
bid to install his candidate as a Transition Committee Chairman
shouldn’t prompt him to go haywire to extent of mudslinging the
immaculate images of the Governor’s wife and Mrs. Esara. Perhaps, Ituen
is jealous of the synergy between the duo. Today, the duo are victims,
and no one knows who will be the next victim(s).
“While the positive
exploits of the duo are downplayed by Ituen and his co-travelers, we
wish to state unequivocally that this is unhealthy for democracy.
Failure to realize the dangerousness of this futile mission will be
regrettable, and we pray so!
Urging women to stand up against
what they described as witch-hunt, the group declared that an attack on
the Governor’s wife is an attack on all Akwa Ibom women.
They
reeled the achievements of Hon. Esara in office and warned Hon. Ituen to
“henceforth be wary of his unwholesome inactions. We are all out to
protect our own, and have explored all viable means to ensure that our
mission comes to fruition.”
Hon. Ituen could not be reached as his mobile phone line wasn’t connecting. He did not reply to text message sent to his phone.
No comments: