Israel Umoh
Akwa Ibom’s public space is in a drifting state. What could have served as a marketplace of constructive ideas to bolster meaningful development has been turned to a cancerous house of hatred, half-truths, corrosive thought, unfounded rumour and orchestrated media attacks.
At the centre of this drift is a growing culture of blackmail borne out of egocentrism, tribalism, power tussle, and false narrative entitlement mentality to overshadow genuine democratic engagement. This, indeed, turns positive narrative to pristine and awkward decisions and judgment by individuals.
In a way, blackmail is a two-way spanner either used by individuals or governments for selfish reason and purpose. Individuals persistently capitalise on it to unsettle public confidence, create confusion, discredit government actions or dent image of fellow brothers, thereby causing the downfall of a government or damage the reputation of others. But government could strategically employ it to dent the public image of an uncompromising critics in a bid to implement agenda or policy that benefits the actors or government in power.
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In recent times, for example, network surrounding the late financier Jeffrey Epstein has fueled significant speculation about large-scale sexual blackmail schemes targeting high-profile individuals, including politicians and business executives, to potentially influence policy or secure interests.
Again, in non-democratic states, leaders like Marshal Mobutu Sese Seko of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) or General Sani Abacha of Nigeria used systemic corruption and intimidation, including the threat of exposure, to maintain their power and enrich themselves.
In Akwa Ibom, the story assumes a different dimension as government becomes the kiln receiving heat of blackmails from the disconcerted segment of the society.
During the era of the former Akwa Ibom Governor Obong Attah who ruled from1999 -2007), he was accused of corruption. In reaction, he went to the courts to address defamatory statements. He filed a N1.5 billion suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) after a government pronouncement allegedly placed him on a UK watch list for corrupt governors, which he stated caused him to lose contracts and face public ridicule.
Attah consistently maintained his innocence regarding all corruption allegations, stating he was cleared of previous claims concerning the sale of the state’s shares in Econet.
The duo of Anietie Okon and Assam Assam published more than 12-page advertorial in the defunct Newswatch against the Elder Statesman, describing Attah’s time in office as “the locust years of Akwa Ibom history.”
Later, Okon blasted Attah thus ‘‘”The truth is that the campaign endangered our inheritance to the extent of inciting a ruinous response from President Obasanjo who with his Attorney General, the late Bola Ige instituted actions and processes in court which for a long while strangulated this State. Obong Attah can save us the angst of his self serving pontificating because they painfully remind us of missed opportunities with him as Governor.
Needless to remind him of the serial deprivation of our State by his uncanny penchant for mis-steps in the management of our patrimony. Whatever for example happened to the State’s Investment in Econet Communications Ltd? Or again for the record what is the truth about the FG’s investment in Ibom Power? How did we end up without a viable financial institution to drive economic details in this State?
What is the true saga of the Cooperative Development Bank that was largely owned by people and institutions of our State? What has happened to over four hundred staff of the bank from this State who lost their jobs following the disaster of the contrived and intriguing hand over of our bank to a distantly inferior entity.’’
Moreover, the late Dr. Ime Umanah, the opposition candidate in the 2003 general elections, petitioned Governorship Elections Tribunal to nullify Attah’s re-election, citing a Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) indictment over financial impropriety. The petition alleged that Attah used his firm, Inter Design, to transact business with the state government, a violation of the Nigerian constitution.
B.V. Okangbe & Co. (an Abuja-based law firm) filed a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) against Attah’s aide, Mr. Emmanuel Obot, over the significant and unexplained accumulation of wealth that far exceeded his legitimate income from 1999 to 2004.
In a press-briefing statement reported by Ibomplaza News (Facebook), Attah was quoted: “this is not a threat or blackmail but a prediction borne out of sound reasoning and the lessons of history.”
On Passion 94.5 FM Uyo’s social media, he similarly criticized what he called “blackmail” by his opponents.
Godswill Akpabio, who governed from 2007-2015, was not spared the angst of blackmailers and petition writers. In June 2015, an Abuja-based lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong (now deceased), threatened to take legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, if it fails to investigate a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.
He said Mr. Akpabio became governor when Akwa Ibom led in revenue accruals among the 36 states of the Federation.
“The former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had confirmed to the whole world that our state’s revenue surpassed the entire yearly budgets of some African nations,” Mr. Ekpenyong wrote.
“She went on to confirm that the so much hyped ‘uncommon transformation’ in the state does not constitute 10 percent of what Akpabio got from the federation account alone.”
He argued that Mr. Akpabio never debunked the fact that he received the largest chunk of revenue from the Federation Accounts, adding that over N3 trillion accrued to the state in eight years.
In 2015, a faceless group petitioned former Governor Akpabio to EFCC for committing ₦108 billion fraud.
The petition was found to be lacking in substance and evidential law. Then state Accountant-General, Sir Udo Isobara went to EFCC and debunked the allegation found to be frivolous and borne out of malice and selfishness.
To be continued
