As Governor Umo Eno administration begins the second phase of development projects under ARISE Agenda in the 31 LGAs in the state, aggrieved leaders of benefiting communities are peeved over the siting of the projects.
Accordingly, they have rejected plots by some political leaders particularly in what is known as Abak 5 to site the projects in their villages or locations favourable to them, not others.
In the first phase of ARISE Agenda, Eno administration had sited similar projects worth over N700 million ranging from clinics to schools in each of the local government areas of the state.
Our correspondent gathered that on completion of the first phase, Governor Eno directed stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pick projects of their choice and locations and submit proposals to his office next week for appraisal and approval.
It is understood that in the second phase, each project is equally worth over N700 million per local government area of the state.
Findings by our newspaper show that in what is commonly known as Abak 5, some political leaders had their way in the first phase of the projects and are mounting pressure to site the second projects in their villages on locations which the state government had already awarded contracts, executed and completed similar projects.
According to the newspaper, the leaders have recommended siting of the projects in villages with dwindling numerical strength at the detriment of thickly populated urban or local government headquarters for the siting of the projects, a situation viewed will negatively impact on the majority who should benefit from such people-oriented projects.
Abak
Findings by our correspondent show that a few privileged political leaders in the area renovated the dilapidated Convent Primary School, Abak.
Though the school is within the urban, our correspondent learnt that the school is situated along erosion-prone area.
Unfortunately, the pipe- jacking project constructed by ex-Governor Goodwill Akpabio from UduakAbasi Clinic, Ikot Ekpene Road is emptying into the school’s premises, making the school looks like a cemetery.
In addition, the school is sparsely populated, though with dilapidated buildings and a population of about 300 pupils.
But, the second phase of the project is Primary Health Centre proposed for Afaha Obong.
A community leader in the area, Etim Udoh saw the first project as a waste pipe owing to the location.
According to him, there are more suitable locations for the siting of the project to benefit the majority, not to where it will satisfy the selfish interest of a few.
He called on the state government to critically appraise the project with a view to siting such at a convenient area to benefit many in line with the governor’s ARISE agenda.
Lady Atim Inyang, a teacher in a primary school near the area, was sad how people could not differentiate politics from governance.
The Catholic faithful said the location was unsuitable, asking Governor Umo Eno to open his eyes to truncate ambition of selfish politicians scheming to achieve their personal interest, thus rubbishing his good intentions of empowering the masses.
She, therefore, called on the governor to ensure the project is sited where many would benefit from it, not in a waterlogged area.
However, Anietie Udofia, a community leader from Eka Nto Obo lauded the siting of the second phase of the project at Afaha Obong, which, to him, was central and acceptable to the PDP Stakeholders even community leaders in the area.
Etim Ekpo
Reports from the area show that a leading political light in the area has decided to site the project at Group School, Utu Nsekhe/Utu Ikot Eboro.
Incidentally, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, the International Co-ordinator of defunct Maintain Peace Movement (MPM) hails from Utu Ikot Eboro Village.
The school is located along Nkwot Ikono-Utu Nsekhe spur bursting into Abak-Ukanafun Road.
Our correspondent who visited the area discovered that ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio administration under Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Committee awarded contract for the construction and renovation of the school’s infrastructure.
Again, the ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel awarded contract under Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Committee for the renovation of the school.
Moreover, our correspondent discovered that the State Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has severally intervened in the renovation of the school.
At present, it is learnt, SUBEB is constructing a perimeter fence in the school duly handled by Hon. Okon Ekpo, a one-time Special Assistant on Projects to ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel.
However, our correspondent gathered from the grapevine that the political Leader in Etim Ekpo, Mr. Enoidem had summoned a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and told them that he wanted to site the second phase of the ARISE agenda’s project in the same school that has had several government’s interventions.
This newspaper heard that the unilateral decision displeased many attendees of the meeting and community leaders who saw the idea as a conduit by him to siphon the humongous amount to private use, thus defeating the ARISE Agenda’s mission of taking dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
A community leader in Utu Nsekhe, Mr. Cyprian Akpan felt disappointed that a project of such magnitude would be sited in a school that has witnessed several government’s interventions, despite the fact that many schools in the area are begging for interventions.
Akpan, therefore, called on the state government to stop siting of the project at the school with dwindling pupils’ population but direct it be taken to another school with thick population and dilapidated infrastructure.
Another community leader from Utu Etim Ekpo, Mr. Andikan Ekpo wondered why an individual would suggest the siting of such project in the school, attributing this to his political influence in government.
Ekpo said Native Authority School, Utu Etim Ekpo has thick population with more than 1,000 pupils and dilapidated infrastructure, yet nobody suggested the siting of the project there.
He, therefore, called on the state Governor to look into the plights of the area by siting the project at a central but acceptable location to benefit many.
Apart from trying to influence the siting of the second phase project in his village, our correspondent gathered that the community leaders also accused Enoidem of alleged cornering of many key projects meant for the area using his cronies and kinsmen.
For instance, the newspaper discovered that he is alleged to have been awarded the building of Model Primary Health Centre, Utu Ikot Nkor, which is ongoing.
It is reported that his crony is the person handling the project worth N700 million, but he is still angling to supposedly hijack the second one.
Our correspondent learnt that community leaders including most politicians in the area are bitter with him for abandoning Electrification project (Sub-station) at Utu Nsekhe/Utu Ikot Eboro awarded to him by ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel administration years ago.
Other projects still handled by his lackeys are the construction of Compassionate Home, Obong Ntak; construction of Nto Unang-Utu Ikot Ekpo Road, which has been abandoned as well as the ongoing Local Education Authority (SUBEB) secretariat, Utu Etim Ekpo.
A community leader in Utu Ikot Ekpo, Mrs Catherine Umoh, a trader plying her wares in Mkpok Eto market in Ika, was unhappy over the abandonment of the road, thus causing untold hardships to road users.
Mrs Umoh, therefore, called on the state government to review the project with intent of either completing it or terminating and re-awarding to a competent hand.
A community leader from Nto Unang, Mr. Udo Unangetor expressed disappointment over awarding contracts to one person in the area, but during election every member of the party will be involved.
He called on the state governor to be wary of concentrating many jobs and financial resources in one hand, knowing that the person could become power drunk in working against the common good of all.
Ika
In Ika, the political pendulum rotates around the Nwokos- Uwemedimo and Utibe- and the rest follow.
While Uwemedimo is the Ika PDP political leader, Utibe, his brother is the Transition Chairman of Ika.
The first phase of ARISE agenda’s project- Primary Health Centre was sited at Abiakana, the village of Uwemedimo and Utibe Nwoko.
Obong Victor Udo, a community leader from Ikot Osukpong, is concerned that cabal politics has been allowed to permeate the membrane of projects’ siting.
According to him, this is unhealthy to the political oxygen of PDP in the area as majority in the party are not given opportunity to make any contribution in the siting of the project.
Udo called on the Governor to revisit the project to ensuring equitable distribution of social amenities to all in the area.
For the second project, our reporter gathered that the stakeholders have recommended the renovation of St. Patrick’s Primary School, Urua Inyang.
Aniekpeno Okon, a community leader from Nto Ukara, has hailed the choice of St. Patrick’s Primary School and commended the stakeholders for the recommendation.
Oruk Anam
Oruk Anam is one area that enjoys the support and cooperation of most party’s members.
Though the first project was QIC Primary School, Ikot Ibritam, the second one Oruk Anam is alleged to have been nominated by Personal Physician to the Governor, Dr Emmanuel John to be sited at Ikot Osute, his village.
To many people, the first project received an overwhelming support of the people, but for the second, they are speaking in muted voices.
To Mr. Aniekan Ibritam, a community leader from Ibesit Okpokoro, the first was sited at a central location with an appreciable pupils’ population.
However, he was unhappy over the proposal for the second one.
Ukanafun
Our correspondent learnt that the second phase of ARISE agenda’s project is billed for Ikot Udo Mbang, the hometown of Obong Eno Sampson Akpan.
Obong Akpan is the PDP political leader in Ukanafun.
The project which is Primary Health Centre seems to complement the Health Centre abandoned by NDDC in the area.
Political observers see the siting of Primary Health Centre in Ikot Udo Mbang as a balm to soothe Obong Akpan’s wound since the first project of ARISE Agenda – Model Primary School was sited at Ikot Okusung, the hometown of Elder Aniekan Akpan, the State PDP Chairman.
But, some political pundits see the intriguing siting of projects between two political ‘generals’ in the area as “winners-take-all” affair.
Anietie Udosen, a PDP member from Idung Nneke, blamed the government for seemingly succumbing to pressure of leading political leaders in projects execution at the expense of other PDP members.
He pleaded with the Governor to set up a strong monitoring team to verify sites of the projects before approval to forestall denying majority the benefits of his government.
An anonymous source confided in this newspaper that despite the N700 million for the each of the project, the remaining N100 million or N200 million is usually shared among key PDP stakeholders in the area.
”To me, the project is for empowerment of politicians and not for real development. How do quantify the project where humongous sum is sunk in for renovation of a health centre alone or primary, yet equipment of the project with facilities is left out in the execution?” he queried.
Culled from TNN newspaper of June 12, 2024
