Aniefiok Christopher
Akwa Ibom government has ordered operational audit into the Ibom Power Plant in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state.
Addressing journalists during a media parley at Banquet Hall, Uyo, Governor Umo Eno said the investigation was meant to unravel the operations of the state-owned company.
Flanked his Deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi and Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Eno allayed fears that it was not a witch-hunt but intended as a fact-finding measure to unravel why the plant has not been able to produce power optimally for electricity consumers in the state.
Also read: Submit audit report on Ibom Power Plant- directs Governor
“I have ordered an operational audit. We are still putting money into Ibom Power. Let me understand what the issues are. Are we able to transmit power?
‘‘Are we transmitting optimally? If we don’t have that holistic understanding, you can’t solve the problem. Let us get to the roots of the problem. Why can’t we transmit optimally and what can we do to transmit optimally?” the governor queried.
The governor used the occasion to announce that he is under intense pressure and threat by the political class to share money or risk his second term.
Eno warned against distraction from politicians, saying he was on a mission to address the challenges confronting the common people under the rural development programmes as enunciated in the ‘Arise Agenda’ blueprint of his administration.
“I have received lot of threats from the political class that I won’t do second term. I am putting money in rural development because a good first term is better than a useless second term.
”I don’t want to put more money in one person’s hands to the detriment of the 7.9 million population,” he said.
Urging politicians to exercise patience by giving him time till December to put the governance structure on the right footing, the Governor noted that the challenge of youth unemployment was a clear and present danger that must be settled for the already rich politicians to be at peace, adding that if the restive youths are not properly handled, rich politicians would not enjoy their wealth in peace.
He stressed the need to create jobs for youths at the grassroots level for them to be meaningfully engaged in order to curb rural-urban migration, which he said, informed his decision to impress on the House of Assembly to enact the law compelling local government chairmen to relocate to their council areas in order to engage the youth in meaningful ventures and oversee grassroots development.
On the local government elections, he reiterated his administration’s desire to uphold the principles of zoning established in the past, adding that such will enhance peace and tranquility in the political spheres of the State.
“I’m a product of zoning, if the governorship was not zoned to Uyo Senatorial District, I, probably may not have been in the race, talk less of being considered”.
Responding to questions on the yet to be announced date for local government polls, he said “If zoning does not favour you, don’t try to use anybody to mount pressure. That’s always the beginning of problems. So, check if zoning favours you before coming to contest for any position in your local government area.’’
The Governor who announced that the timing for the conduct of elections, for the would be council officials, are to be determined by the party, said his administration will not swim against the tide nor support any candidate, whose election is capable of causing disharmony at the respective areas.
He vowed to implement the local government administration Law that makes it mandatory for heads of Councils to reside at their respective local government areas to enable them address promptly, the teething problems of the people at the grassroots.
“I have to implement that law. Don’t come aspiring to be Chairman of a particular local government area and then expect to live in Uyo,” the Governor cautioned.
He also announced his readiness to execute his one project per local government campaign promise, stressing that his administration already had a catalogue of needs from the respective LGAs and intends to address them in line with the list of preference presented to him by the stakeholders of the affected areas.
Eno stated that his administration has so far carried out interventions in terms of erosion control and would continue to do so where necessary, while reiterating his resolve to take development to hinterland to address the rising rural to urban migration phenomenon in the State.
