Now we can’t hardly tell when, especially the governor’s aides, are reeling out facts and figure or when they’re playing the proverbial adage that says that he who pays the piper detects the tune.
The line between ‘saints’ and ‘sinners’ in the Hiltop Mansion is becoming thinner and thinner and we hardly know who to believe anymore.
Begging yet the question: do we really deserve what we’re getting as dividends of democracy having known that the funds accrued to the state’s purse since 2015 in terms of: borrowings, IGR, Security Votes, funds from federation account, Paris Club refunds, ecological funds and several others do commensurate with what is on ground?
It is on this basis that I want take a bi-partisan view on at least ten (10) scandals that rocked the seat of Government of Akwa Ibom State.
1. 5,000 Employed Teachers:
The Udom government showed some signs that it was interested in turning around some sectors by probing the previous administration’s acts as it concerns the recruitment of 5000 teachers.
The governor said the teachers’ recruitment, hurriedly done in the last days of Godswill Akpabio’s administration, was infiltrated by a cartel that “sold” fake employment letters to desperate applicants. As such the process was cancelled; little did we know this was the beginning of the sufferings of innocent applicants due to no fault of theirs.
It was surprising to note that Mrs. Maria Ikorok who sat as Chairman of the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), during the last recruitment exercise of 5000 teachers, which the governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel later cancelled was thereafter appointed as Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
One would have expected the governor to go tough on a woman who was in charge of a process he claimed was marred with gross irregularities ranging from bribery and corruption, fake credentials and nepotism.
So Ikorok’s appointment and activities while in office is seen as most controversial in recent times considering the fact that one Mr. Right is good at rewarding failure.
This process didn’t go down well for the said applicants who visited the courts to demand for justice while also making their case to God through public prayers.
In a new twist, the Head of Civil Service announced that there will be a retest for the said applicants “to defend their suitability and ability to teach in the State’s Public Schools.” Remember this happened while the case was still in court.
PremiumTimes had reported that as the accreditation was ongoing, a female senior civil servant who came to monitor the centre announced that “those people who went to court will not write this test, they should wait for the court to give judgment before. we could screen them.” Can you beat that?
The wrangling concerning this recruitment exercise is far from ending as just some days ago, the angry sacked teachers took over Idongesit Nkanga State Secretariat demanding that their unpaid salaries and entitlement be paid by the state government even when about nine of them had died seeking for justice.
Now, the questions on the lips of discerning citizens are: What is role NUT/NLC/TUC in solving this crisis? Who are those with unseen hands pulling the strings? Why can’t the AKHA come in to assist even when it’s referred to as “the people’s assembly?” Is the state government really sincere in its handling of this crisis?
2. The Dakkada Fraud Of Life:
It’s been two years since what is termed by many as the state propaganda machinery, the Dakkada Initiative was conceptualized and taken to all the local government areas of the state.
The Guide Newspapers quoted a PDP stalwart as thus: “We were asked to recommend youths for Dakkada Ambassadors in our local government. I’m sure other local government areas also submitted names and from my understanding those are the youths who were inaugurated as dakkada ambassadors.”
The project has made victims as well as billionaires. Some of the victims have accused the government of not implementing what was promised to them for this period, a clear departure from “Governor Udom Emmanuel two years of working beyond the promise.”
Onlookers wonder why young people who are hopeless and jobless are made to suffer in some dubious and spurious recruitment exercise.
According to The Guide Newspapers, over 620 youths from across the 31 local government areas were shortlisted to receive these stipends for disseminating the ‘dakkada’ propaganda in their localities but with information in the public domain, they have been cleverly short-changed.
In what appears to be a snipe at the organizers of the project, Zion Umoh an Akwa Ibom indigene based in USA posted on his Facebook page titled: “Dakkada Scam,” claiming that the whole process has been riddled with massive irregularities.
“In my home town, Abak LGA, I’ve heard several reports that the folks that are in charge flooded that thing with hundreds of fake names to receive that 25k naira monthly and the few citizens of Abak that are legit members have to pay their leader the sum of 5k naira monthly each time they get paid else, he will replace your name with a fake name and be getting the whole 25k naira for him self.
“I read several articles about it and one was published about that very DAKKADA and I tagged as many people to draw their attention but guess what? They don’t care but rather, they will think that is against the government,” Umoh said.
He further gave the following analysis: “25k naira × 100 fake names = 2.5 million naira per month. Forcefully deducting 5k naira from the citizens × 100 citizens = 500k naira per month. I’m fully aware that this is the settlement for them based on what part they played in the 2015 governorship election for Udom Emmanuel.
Now tell me something here, What project has DAKKADA been able to accomplish? I’m aware that what’s going on in Abak is likewise the same elsewhere in Akwa Ibom State and it’s very heart broken,” he submitted.
It is no more news that the whole process is fraught with endemic corruption and entrenched inefficiency. It is unlikely the governor will call for a probe. As it is the norm, no eyelid is blinked as everyone goes about their duties. What a reward for electoral support!
3. Relationship With Development Agencies:
Under Mr. Udom, Akwa Ibom state’s relationships with relevant intervention agencies has been in sixes and sevens. There is no clear relation direction as the government gradually lost its clout on how the common man on the street rates it.
The state government was left with a bloody nose after ExxonMobil one of the IOCs operating in the state told the whole world its contribution of 8billion naira as counterpart funding for the construction of Ibeno-Eket road.
As such, this didn’t go down well with the occupants of the Hiltop Mansion as series of arsenals were directed towards the company across different media at their disposal.
As if that was not enough, all the gigantic billboards erected by ExxonMobil were pulled down with orders from above.
Here comes the turn of NDDC. The situation here really baffles keen observers demanding why the government and its handlers have decided to become a pain in the neck with unreasonable demands even in mass media as well as from unceremonious paid agents on social media.
In thinking they can have a field day by making infantile claims that the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani had lambasted Nsima Ekere and his NDDC leadership for being responsible for abandoned projects in the state, during the former’s visit to the state as part of his tour of the region; they failed headlong.
Mr. Usani, in a strong-worded press release wondered why such strange claims could be credited to him, stating clearly that his observations predates the current management which an articulate son of Akwa Ibom State sits as Managing Director.
We saw it as very shameful when Usani noted that, the report sound malicious and do not convey any coherent correlation between his views and the role of the current management vis-à-vis the agency’s performance.
Akwa Ibom indigenes yet again got embarrassed when the news got to them that the state government has rejected the offer to contribute its quota of 30 per cent counterpart funding to the European Union (EU) for water project which amounts to N350 million to fulfill its part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
It’s most worrisome to note that we have lost over 200 million euros of grants for this failure.
The people of the state are now certain the government is not bothered about their welfare where important concerns of this programme mainly to enhance access to safe, adequate and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services becomes absolutely irrelevant.
Noting that the occupants of the Hiltop have no human feelings and have lost touch in their plight.
4. Anchor Borrowers Scheme:
This is perhaps one of Mr. Udom’s biggest albatross. He went to sleep while his aides ran amok shouting down anyone who came out to inquire how the programme was carried out as if it was their private venture.
Problem started when participants in the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme accused officials of the state government and the consultant, New Face of Agriculture of fraud.
The Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly did set up an ad-hoc committee to look into the matter. In the process, it was alleged that some aides of the governor as well as the consultant were involved in some shady deals.
The AKHA was later pressurized to act decisively when it became clear that the scandal could cost the executive arm more embarrassment if allowed to persist.
We as observers witnessed series of drama while the whole episode went on. At the end of the day, not a single soul was punished in the whole saga. What a time to be an Akwa Ibomite!
5. Akwa Ibom State Treasury Shrouded In Secrecy:
Akwa Ibom State’s finances has been shrouded in utmost secrecy in the last two years, the first of its kind since the creation of the state. This is the same governor who swore to serve the people during his inauguration in 2015. All that turns to a mere mirage.
The state government could not conduct the local government elections giving reasons that the state could not afford such budget as conducting the said elections even when court rulings shows that Transition Committees constituted by Nigerian governors remains illegal.
Ubong Ise, a social commentator had querried why the state finances remains privy to a selected few. He pointed out thus: “Granted, but how could the Akwa Ibom citizenry come to terms with the claims that there is actually a dearth of funds when the financial situation of the state is shrouded in secrecy? Beside the fact that Akwa Ibom is amongst the top allocation beneficiaries from the federation account, Mr. Udom Emmanuel is yet to come out plain and tell Akwa Ibom people how much he met in the state’s coffers at his arrival as the state governor, so that the public could be convinced well enough to see reasons with him.
Unless the governor demystifies the state’s financial status then, the excuse of insufficient funds at every point is bogus and baseless.”
At this point, not even the “People’s Assembly” can come to our aid as we’ve been left to grumble for all they care!
6. Reigners Bible Church Collapse:
On 10 December 2016, the roof of the Reigners Bible Church International, an evangelical congregation, collapsed in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during the consecration or ordination of the bishop, Akan Weeks. At approximately 11 a.m., thirty minutes into the church’s Saturday morning programme, the building’s roof collapsed from the centre.
The church had been under construction until shortly before the incident, with some reports stating that work was unfinished at the time of collapse. The construction had been rushed to prepare the church for the ordination.
The official report pegged the number of people who died in the disaster at 23 while other varying reports stated numbers as high as 160.
This could be understood as Mr. Udom including government officials were present with thousands of other congregants at the time of collapse and the governor happens to be a friend to the General Overseer, Mr. Weeks.
While there were accusations and counter-accusations, arrest of contractors, protests by families whose loved ones were victims; Udom set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the causes of the collapsed Church Building.
The Commission which was headed by Justice Umoekoyo Essang (retd) commenced its fact-finding on the controversial tragic event at the State Judiciary Headquarters, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo.
Majority of Akwa Ibom citizens till this day have been waiting impatiently to know the outcome of the investigation which its report was submitted even when different people had expressed divergent opinions on what the outcome would be.
The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Akwa Ibom chapter, raised an alarm, alleging cover up by the state government.
CLO, which represented the family of victims at the commission together with the good people of Akwa Ibom State and concerned people of the world have frowned at government’s failure to make the report public, alleging compromise on the part of government and the commission.
7. The Keke Ticketing Scandal
The fight between the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Transport and Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), over absolute control of ticketing deepened during the former commissioner for transport, Dr. Godwin Ntukudeh’s era as he had declared total war with anyone disturbing smooth running of transport business in the state.
Information in the public domain has it that Ntukudeh, who was removed as transport been commissioner since last year is still in charge of ticketing and levy imposed on tricycle operators in the State profiting close to 2B Naira, getting N200 each from over 30,000 Keke operators in the State.
Sources say Godwin Ntukudeh merely remits N4M monthly to the State Government totalling N60M yearly and N1M monthly to the Ministry of Transport as Levies received from the operators. In a year and for the past 2 years Godwin Ntukudeh has remitted N24M to the Ministry, while government got N120M in revenue.
Analysis shows that the former commissioner through his company, FingerPrints Limited generates N6M daily across the State from levies paid by KEKE OPERATORS and almost N180M monthly, while he remits N5M to government.
Will the government invite the EFCC to interrogate the former Commissioner? Only time will tell.
8. Itugate:
You may also refer to it as “Esaragate.” What started as a honest petition to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) by the trio of: Ubong Edem (Works), Kufre Ema (Special Duties) and Emem Uboh (Health), later tuned out to look like a story line in Nollywood.
The three members of Itu Transition Committee had in a petition sent to AKHA, accused Mrs. Elsie Esara, the Council Chairman of mismanaging the funds that have been accruing to the local government council, alleging that Mrs. Esara “deceives and misleads members of the Committee that the internally generated revenue meant for the council was used to settle bills on behalf of the First Lady of our dear state.”
The petitioners stated clearly in their petition that the Itu transition chairman also claimed that she has been sharing the council money with influential citizens from the area like Senator Anietie Okon; Idongesit Ituen, member representing Itu in the state House of Assembly; and Akan Okon, a Commissioner for Special Duties in Governor Udom’s cabinet.
Also mentioned were the member representing Itu Federal Constituency, Dr. Henry Archibong, Effiong Okon, a stalwart of the PDP, and Victor Okon, another PDP stalwart as being among those who benefited from the unlawful sharing of the council funds.
The First Lady embroiled in a corruption-related scandal?
A House Committee was set up and thus invited Esara to appear before it. She called it bluff and approached the court to seek for an injunction restraining the House or its committee from any invitation.
After much exchange of words from different camps, she later honoured the call. During the Q&As, she apologized to the house that she had acted after listening to the ‘ill-advice’ from Senator Okon who had asked her to sue it.
Having seen to have breached the oath of office the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Akwa Ibom State Local Government Administration Law, lawmakers of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly during Plenary recommended to the State Governor that the Council Boss of Itu, Mrs Elsie Esara be sanctioned.
Many commentators till date have continued to wonder how they arrived at this conclusion when the key actors have not been invited to present their case as their names were mentioned in the said petition.
In what was seen as pressure mounting on the petitioners from different quarters, Ubong Edem (Aka White Boy), Supervisor for Works, Itu transition committee, said: “Notwithstanding, no matter who we owe our loyalties to, what is wrong is wrong and what is right is right. Nobody can suppress the truth for long, let us always learn to be true to our conscience.
“I petitioned the Akwa ibom State House of Assemble aganst the transition chairman of Itu. In the petition, non of those things are lies, that the First Lady’s name is being mentioned is unfortunate, but that was what my transition chairman said,” Mr. Ubong Edem claimed.
He further stated that all he wants is the truth to prevail. “I am fearless because my conscience is crystal clear. Everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion in this matter. One thing is certain, the truth will surely come to light.
Tell those trying to prevail on me to back out either by means of threat or by trying to entice me with peanuts so as to sell my bright future that I am not ignorant of the devices of the wicked, as such, they are wasting their time. I might not be a journalist or a writer, but I believe I’ve been able to communicate” he concluded.
One Mr. Patrick Jackson noted: “It is on record that Elsie Esara has not paid in any money into the treasury of Itu Local Government Council since her assumption of office.
That alone is criminal. More so, in which of the FGPC meeting during Esara’s regime was the building project discussed and approved? How much was approved for the construction? Which company got the bidding approval? Esara is a mere figure head parading as the chairman or chairperson of Itu LGA. Every departmental and political structures of Itu LGA have collapsed since the arrival of Esara...”
In the foregoing, it could be said that the real essence of the petition: justice and fairness cannot and will not be achieved. The matter would be swept under the carpet just like other unresolved ones but the people of Akwa Ibom will take a stand when the time is ripe.
9. Insecurity in Ukanafun
For some times now, there has been series of insecurity threats in Ukanafun local government area. The security challenge ranges from kidnapping, assassination and other threats to people.
The Akwa Ibom state governor, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and the various security agencies seems not to know of what to do to curb the menace. Many families have been sacked from their homes. People kidnapped.
What happened recently marvelled a lot of people. The proprietor of Sure Foundation Polytechnic, Dr. Udom was kidnapped by men of the underworld. They later released him, but amputated arm. This was done after ransom was paid.
The council secretary, Late Ime Atakpa was recent murdered in cold blood. A youth leader and village head had also been killed. You Corpers serving in the area were recently raped and robbed by the same people, who are yet to be unveiled.
The last one is that, member of the dreaded group who go about carrying out the dread act have distributed letters to some prominent members of the area, demanding for certain amount of money or they will be either kidnapped, killed or attacked in any way. All these are not speaking well of the government of the day.
10. Blackmail:
There has never been greater percentages of blackmails as witnessed in the current administration of Deacon Udom Emmanuel.
Young guys in the name of blogging who are under the payroll of the Akwa Ibom State government have in the last couple of months blackmailed seasoned politicians and elders of the state in their bid to satisfy their master.
This has caused serious concerns amongst people of the state, who are worried on the trend of blackmails and has called on the governor to cautions those boys, whom they said are working beyond the border of decency.
*Amanam Uko writes from Uyo with contribution from Gideon Ekere.
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