A professional association has called on Akwa Ibom Government to ensure that the completion of abandoned Ukanafun Cottage Hospital in the State rises beyond mere rhetoric.
Contract for the construction of the 50-bed hospital was awarded along with others in 2008.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno on August 13, 2023 had visited the site of the cottage hospital at Ikot Akpa Nkuk, the Ukanafun Local Government headquarters, pledging to look into the abandoned project.
A press statement by the Secretary of Ukanafun Professionals’ Association (UK-Pro), Nsikak Ekanem saw the pledge as heart-warming but also worrisome.
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Ekanem said ‘‘That particular visitation, the first and only one by a chief executive of Akwa Ibom State Government since the project was initiated and commenced about 15 years ago, is another vindication of UK-Pro’s press statement of April 18, 2023 that declared the project as ‘Failed Completion Agenda.’
According to him, ‘‘It is also a further proof that the statement issued by the Akwa Ibom State Information and Strategy commissioner, Mr Ini Ememobong, on January 27, 2023, to the effect that the work at the site of the project “has reached advanced stage and will soon be commissioned” was far from truth.’’
‘‘On the face of it, Governor Umo Eno’s visit highlights the Governor’s commitment, sensitivity to people’s yearning and his readiness to toe the path of sincerity in enforcing social justice and rendering services to Akwa Ibom people.
‘‘We hope the assertion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in _MY WATCH_ will come to truism on Governor Umo Eno, particularly at this point in time and on the proposed hospital project in Ukanafun: “When you visit a project, you have it etched in your mind and in your memory, and that one visit is worth more than a book report; you can also ask questions on the spot and learn lessons for taking future decision.
‘‘Since the UK-Pro has not been in the dark of what has basically been the lot of the project and taking into cognizance possible paucity of information at public domain and misinformation bandied in some quarters, we wish to furnish the public with facts behind the abandoned project.
‘‘The truth is that the contract for the project was terminated by the administration of Godswill Akpabio, which awarded the contract and till date the Government of Akwa Ibom State has not bothered to inform the people why the contract was discontinued.
‘‘The truth, also, is that the contractor of the project has since instituted a legal action against the state government at the Akwa Ibom State High Court. Further, it is a fact that the contract has never been re-awarded as falsely claimed by the state government’s spokesman on June 27, 2022 after the Executive Council meeting of the state government held the same day.
‘‘With due respect to age-long sanctity of the judiciary institution, the UK-Pro does want to go into discussion of the court processes regarding the matter. But the fact that the ensuing contractual dispute is sub judis does not, in any way, imply that the abandoned project is at its dead-end.
‘‘In fact, with the axiomatic position that the court is the last hope of the common man, the pendency of the matter in court should offer assurances that the project is still alive. But we are agitated because “justice delayed is justice denied,” he pointed out.
As law-abiding organization, the UK-Pro does not encourage flouting of the rule of law by any of the party in the matter. However, we believe that since the contract was awarded and terminated by the Akwa Ibom State Government, coupled with immensity of will-power that government wields in organized society like ours, the onus is squarely on the state government to get work re-started and completed.
While we recognise the law court as an ideal quarter for the aggrieved to seek redress, we are also well-abreast that in ensuring speedy and amicable administration of justice, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) through a number of non-adversarial approaches is so much in vogue these days, as it has greatly checked delayed justice.
UK-Pro said the ultimate justice in this matter is accelerated completion of the cottage hospital within a reasonable time possible, noting ‘‘In that wise, and without prejudice to the pendency of the matter in court, the UK-Pro enjoins both parties in the matter to sincerely explore the ADR option for the overall interest of the people.’’
It is also vital for the government to constantly get the people informed on true position of progress, or whatever issues arising, in the process of getting works to resume at the site of the project. But the call for the people to be adequately informed is neither invitation to further false information nor free-flow of rhetoric on the part of the government. Blame-game should also be seen as tiresome and revolting in the minds of the people.
Truly, the UK-Pro is deeply worried as to whether another round of infusion of falsehood would not be deployed in attempting to deceive unsuspecting members of the public since the same Ini Ememobong remains the spokesperson of the Umo Eno Administration and has never bothered to retract the false statement he made on behalf of the immediate past administration of Udom Emmanuel, let alone apologizing to the people.
‘‘Cheering as the Governor’s action of visiting the site of the project is, in the light of what has befallen the proposed cottage hospital in Ukanafun in the hands of the two previous administrations in the state, our hope is cautiously kept on reserve.
‘‘It is disturbing that this is the fifth time since September 2022 that the UK-Pro has been making statement on the fate of the abandoned cottage hospital. Although advocacy is one of our means of campaigning for a better Ukanafun, it must be understood that the UK-Pro takes no delight in agitating on one issue again and again without getting expected result.
‘‘To the UK-Pro, the uncompleted hospital project in Ukanafun is a litmus test to gauging the functionality of the ‘ARISE Agenda’ of the Umo Eno administration. Let the ‘Failed Completion Agenda’ Arise in the “ARISE AGENDA” to the Glory of God and benefit of humanity,’’ he added.
