MARGINALIZATION OF EASTERN OBOLO L.G.A IN AKWA IBOM STATE
Eastern Obolo has one poor road to its communities. I understand this
road was constructed either before or during Obong Attah's regime.
There is also an 'empty' health centre which I suspect was constructed
by shell. There are 2 dilapidated schools in Eastern Obolo, there is
an old generation church and 2 new generation churches, there is also
a local government head quarters.
Live in Eastern Obolo revolves around shallow water fishing, and
burial ceremonies. Their boats are made of woods and dilapidated to a
fault. I call them moving coffins on water. They live in thatched
homes and still depend on raffia lives for their roofs. Firewood is
their only source of Energy and cooking. There is endemic poverty in
Eastern Obolo
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There are no industries, no good roads, no water, no good schools, no
functional health centre. Electricity visits them like strangers few
hours in a month, but this is not guaranteed. You can hardly find any
visible growth both in the people and in the surrounding environment.
There is no state government presence in Eastern Obolo,”the people are
total marginalized’.
Beside Eket and Ibeno, Eastern Obolo has the highest number of oil
wells in Akwa Ibom State which attracts huge revenue to the state
every month, but these people have nothing to show for.
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There are basically 3 interested points in Eastern Obolo. These are
the waterside, one old generation church, and the LGA HQ.
OIL REVENUE THEFT AND CONSPIRACY
The plight of Eastern Obolo is replicated in all the oil producing
areas/communities in the state. They live in penury while watching
helplessly as their source of livelihood are destroyed by oil
prospecting and exploration companies without any form of
compensation.
However, there are several perspectives to the state of neglect of oil
bearing communities that anchored on greed, dishonesty and
exploitation.
The Depth of Eastern Obolo Marginalition
The marginalization covers every facet of the politics and policies of
Akwa Ibom State as follows:
1. Despite been the number one oil producing local government area in
Akwa Ibom state and the only onshore and offshore local government
area, Eastern Obolo person never being appointed into the Board of the
Niger Delta Development commission either into the executive or
commissionership position since the inception of NDDC.
2. Outside, the only road constructed by CCECC during the Obong
Victor Attah administration, Eastern Obolo Local Government cannot
show any other project despite over 85% contribution to the financial
base of the state.
3. People in Amazaba community had communal crisis with their
neighbors, Ikot Akpan Udo In Ikot Abasi Local Government Area for over
6 years now and hundreds of people been displaced, the government of
Akwa Ibom State had done nothing to seeing to the peaceful resolution
of the crisis to enable the displaced persons return back home.
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