Akpabio: Budgetary Allocations, Transformation, And Looting

caption: Governor Godswill Akpabio

He calls himself the uncommon transformer. His loyalists call him Ete or Obongowo. They worship him. He likes to be worshipped for sure.

He goes around donating and frittering away state resources to “outsiders” leaving his own people to wallow in penury and hunger. He prefers to award contracts no matter how small to non indigenes even when they have no capacity to execute the jobs satisfactorily. A case in point is the various road signs in Uyo that have “Igbonized” some native Akwa Ibom names; thus one finds “Ikot Udo Uzo” instead of Ikot Udo Uso. Another feature of the road signs is that you are told that you are heading to Uyo town when in fact you are heading towards Oron. The blunders are repeated as the signs announce that you are going to Oron when you are actually coming into Uyo from Oron.

The reason for the above would be assumed to be that Gov Akpabio found no Akwa Ibomite “capable” of producing road signs so the contract had to be awarded to a non indigene. It will therefore not be surprising if the state government goes ahead to gazette these roads as they appear on these road signs.
Akpabio has a phobia for a particular ethnic group in his state even when the people embraced him whole heartedly. He behaves like an emperor superintending a conquered territory. His view of transformation is stealing and looting with members of his family as conduit pipes.

I have the (dis)honour and privilege to present to you, ladies and gentlemen, the man who wants to be vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2015, Barrister, Dr, Obong, Chief Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State.

Apart from late MKO Abiola and possibly Dr Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State, Akpabio would undoubtedly be the most “crowned” governor in Nigeria’s history. He has received sorry, purchased chieftaincy titles and awards from every nook and cranny of the world. Soon he is expecting an award from President Assad of Syria; a man who is murdering his citizens in their thousands just like Akpabio did in his state.

If Gov Akpabio makes noise and you don’t seem to recognize him, he asks you how much your award or chieftaincy title is worth in any currency. Just name it and it will be yours for the asking. His is what money cannot buy, more money can.

He is a Machiavellian student. He uses you when he needs your services and discards you when he has gotten what he wanted. Check the list, if you will: Obong Ufot Ekaete. The gentle man and one time deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and former Minister Niger Delta Affairs, took Akpabio to Obasanjo during the struggle for the governorship seat in 2006. As soon as he got the position, he dumped Obong Ufot Ekaete. Today Akpabio cannot even stand the presence of this man. To complete the humiliation of the family, he denied Senator Eme Ufot Ekaete a second term senatorial ticket. News had it that Obong Ufot Ekaete told Akpabio point blank in 2006 that he does not know him and would therefore not support his governorship ambition. It was at this stage that Eme Ekaete was alleged to have knelt down with Akpabio and his wife and pleaded with the husband to adopt Akpabio. He did.  Soon after becoming the governor, he shut the door to his wicked heart to the Ekaetes.

Gen Edet Akpan, Gen Etukudo, Air Vice Marshall Nsikak Eduok rtd, Sen John James Akpanudoedehe, who served as his Campaign Director in 2006/2007, Amb. Sam Edem, past Chairman NDDC, Group Capt Idongesit Nkanga rtd who later became the Campaign Director of Akpabio’s campaign organization, was serving as the Chairman of Ibom Airport Implementation Committee; was sacked from the board of the Airport soon after Akpabio won his second term governorship; Dr Chris Ekong was ready to do anything for Akpabio. He was ready to die for Akpabio if need be. He was compensated the Akpabio style. Dr Chris Ekong was wrongly framed up and jailed for years by Akpabio after he Ekong had served Akpabio loyally in various capacities; In fact all the prominent men and women in Ibibio land, who sided Gov Akpabio against Attah’s choice of successor in 2006, all have one sour story or the other to tell against Gov Akpabio. Dr Ime Umana, Akpabio’s tribesman did not fare any better as he was also framed up and detained by Akpabio. Chief Fidelis Etim who introduced Godswill Akpabio to Obong Victor to be made a Commissioner has since been sidelined by Akpabio. Obong Victor Attah who provided the platform and environment for Akpabio to serve in key government positions as Commissioner during his tenure, is Akpabio’s number one enemy. He has denied Obong Attah all his entitlements as former governor of the state. Lastly, Nsima Ekere his immediate past Deputy Governor, who actually made huge contributions in terms of links and finance for Akpabio to become governor, has also been given his now famous “Akpabio friendly kiss”.

Who is next? Your guess is as good as mine especially considering that Umana Umana, the Secretary to the State Government, is the only recognizable Ibibio man left in his government.

I wonder how Gov Akpabio hopes to live in the midst of these people after he has become “ex this and ex that”. How does he hope to make peace with these people? What kind of life will he live when those who are supposed to be his brothers have all been betrayed by him?

WHY HE IS DELIBERATELY ALIENATING INFLUNETIAL PEOPLE.
There are strong reasons why Gov Akpabio is deliberately fanning the embers of disunity and alienating important personalities in his state. Top on the list of reasons is the fact that he does not want any other cock to crow in Akwa Ibom State because of his many infractions and atrocities. He does not want to be called to question by anybody, over his many misdeeds. Akpabio does not want to be told he has done any wrong.

The level that Gov Akpabio has plundered the state’s resources is such that even he cannot explain to himself. He is indeed a frightened man pretending to be strong but very fearful of his tomorrow.

He has every cause to be gripped by fear of life after government. He knows that even the money he has looted will not save him when the day of reckoning comes calling. Of course who will not be afraid having in mind the unmitigated disaster that his government is.
If you are wondering what he has to be fearful of, please take a look at the following cases of outright looting.

IBOM SCIENCE PARK
This project was a subject of probe by Akpabio’s administration alleging misappropriation of fund by former governor Attah through Frank Okon. But what most of us may not know is that as recent as 2009/2010, Akpabio voted N2.5billion for landscaping, installation of facilities, road network and drainages in Ibom Science Park. As we all know there has not been any work done in that premises since Akpabio took over in 2007. The place is completely dilapidated and abandoned. Where then did his government install the facilities, road network and drainages for which N2.5billion was voted?

ST LUKE’S HOSPITAL ANUA
The state government also voted N350million for the construction of four 2 storey buildings, 15 one bedroom flat for House officers for residential Quarters in St Luke’s hospital Annua. Status report: no such buildings exist in St Luke’s hospital.
It also set aside N25million for a Physiotherapy unit in the same hospital. Again this only exists in the books of Akwa Ibom State government.

FEEDING AND TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS/STUDENTS
Model Science School, Ekparakwa, was voted N500million for completion and provision of other facilities in the school. The school premises are overgrown by weeds and nothing has been added by way of facelift since 2007. N500millions? It must have developed wings.

Three secondary schools, Government Technical School, Uyo, Abak and Ikot Akata were to benefit from perimeter fencing, 8 classroom block and purchase of students’ buses. A princely sum of N350 million was budgeted for this. Some other schools were also voted to benefit from another N250million for buses. Up till now students still trek or use public transport to school. Where did government spend the N600million?
Feeding of pupils in the state was to consume N1.3billion Naira.

Boarding facilities (whatever that is) similarly got N1billion during the period under review. Feeding of pupils? When next your child comes back from school, find out what they were served as meal.

FISH FARMS ESTATE
In 2011, the administration of Godswill Akpabio voted N2.4 billion for 10 Fish farm estates and 10 community fish farms in each Federal Constituency in the state. Expectedly, there is nothing like this in any Federal constituency in Akwa Ibom State.
 

IBOM HALL, MECHANIC VILLAGE AND TROPICANA
The State Government similarly budgeted for renovation of Ibom Hall, Government Guest Houses, relocation/construction of the Mechanic village, and construction of Banquet Hall in 2011. Consequently, it allocated the sum of N53.8billion for these projects. To the best of my knowledge, it is only the Banquet Hall that will directly affect Gov Akpabio that has been executed of all the projects listed above. Tropicana’s 16 storeys 5 star hotel, shopping mall, international conference centre and water parks were due for completion in 2011. Here again nothing is on site to suggest its completion even if Akpabio’s ends his infamous tenure in 2015.

INTERNAL TRANSPORT
Government also claimed it had acquired 600 fully air conditioned taxis and 40 buses in 2011. It would appear as if these taxis and buses are plying in hell or another planet because there is no evidence of such vehicles in the state.

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE    
In 2010, the Governor’s Office was allocated N8.4billion as ‘Security Expenses’, N1.5billion for ‘Security Equipment’, N2billion for ‘Constituency Projects’, N5billion for ‘Special Projects’ and other subheads of over N1.8billion.  In summary, the Governor’s Office received N18.7billion just in one year alone! Higher than allocations to education and health, and those to Agriculture, Commerce and Urban Electrification, Social Development, Science and Technology, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries, Water Supply combined!    

One interesting feature under this heading is ‘Constituency Project’. The Governor is supposed to have the whole state as his constituency and should therefore capture whatever projects he intends to execute even in his village in the main Capital vote in the budget. Again N5billion allocated for ‘Special Projects’ under Governor’s Office is questionable.  What special projects would the governor’s office undertake that cannot be accommodated in the capital vote?

HOUSING AND URBAN RENEWAL
In 2010, government allocated the sum of N71.274 billion to Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal. In 2011, the same Ministry got N36.156billion as allocation. The Ministry therefore got a total of N107.430billion between 2010 and 2011. Where in the state is the state government constructing new housing estates and urban renewals that would justify these huge allocations?

It is of interest to note that Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewals is manned by gun totting street fighter, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem who, like his boss, spends, shops and offers the “women of easy virtue” that he keeps all over the place in foreign currency. Any wonder why this government has not been able to cater for the basic needs of its citizens.

Dear reader, considering the above and other government sponsored murders, kidnappings, maiming and other atrocities committed by our dear uncommon “transformathief” governor, why would he not fear for his life after government?
But he need not be; after all with small arrangement man can see god. I expect him to use his loot to bribe his way to see “god” for his sins to be remitted.

This is a tip of the iceberg of the level of looting and squandering of the financial resources of the state under Gov Godswill Akpabio.
Yet the nation is awash with all kinds of fabrications, hired and compromised praise singing and media hype to the effect that the governor has transformed his state.

Uncommon Transformation really has another meaning.

It is a shame indeed.

SAVE AKWA IBOM FORUM.