FREDERICK USEN
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.
(Barr) Onofiok Luke has charged citizens of Akwa Ibom to demand accountability
for monies coming into the state and kept under the charge of government.
Luke made the charge on Monday in Uyo during a meeting of Akwa
Ibom stakeholders on the ALTERATION OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION. The meeting held
at the Assembly complex, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.
In his speech, the Speaker noted that the people get to suffer
where there is no demand for accountability, adding that the possibility of
Akwa Ibom attaining the future desired depends on a government that is
accountable and transparent.
His words: "Whether you are my brother or sister, you have
given us the mandate ranging from the Governor to the Speaker and to members of
the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly.
“Please ask us to account for the monies that have come into the
state. Ask the state legislature to say what our appropriations are, what we
have done with the public accounts. When we don’t ask for accountability, the
people suffer. It is our thinking that Akwa Ibom can attain the future that we
hope to see.
“And we can only achieve this if the populace ask for
accountability and we make accounts and run a transparent government as is
currently the case under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel with the
support of the state legislature".
He also noted that the House of Assembly knows where it stands,
but that the members chose being proactive so as to get experts' opinions. He
said he wants the people to tell the House to vote either yes or no on clauses.
"I will listen to the voice of the people and that is the
only voice I'll listen to and in line with our legislative agenda. That is why
we called on you to come and talk to us", Speaker Luke stated.
Speaking further, Luke said, "on the devolution of powers,
we want more powers to be transferred to the state and local governments, since
the exclusive is too bogus. Some decisions at the federal government are
encouraging violence. We are not quarrelling, but we are saying, the same way
you are giving out money to fight Boko haram, also give out money for the peace
of the Niger Delta. Imagine that there is no restiveness in the Niger Delta,
yet the issue of Ogoni land clean up for instance has not been taken to the
level it should be.
"Why haven't monies gotten from Petroleum risen from $30
per barrel to about 60$ shared accordingly but still on the former cost. We
need the remittances of those accounts. Always ask for the renditions of
accounts without fear of anybody", he added.
Speaking at the meeting, Governor Udom Emmanuel, represented by
his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, thanked the people for turning out enmasse to attend
the crucial meeting which affects the future of the Akwa Ibom people and
Nigerians as a whole.
He applauded the House of Assembly for being a listening house
and also giving the people an opportunity to be a part and parcel of the
alteration.
Stressing that constitutions are not amended in a hurry as every
detail that is given a 'Yes' or 'NO' must be considered. Mr Udom Emmanuel
stated that the state government will rely totally on what the legislature has
to say on the amendment of the constitution.
The Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon Udo Kierian Akpan in
his opening remarks said, that since the alteration of the 1999 constitution
will not only affect the state but her people, necessitated the inclusion of
the masses thus the Assembly convened the stakeholders meeting. "We'll
have the courage to make inputs not looking at anybody's face or the negative
impacts of the alteration but on its positive".
No comments: