By 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.
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.
Recall too that in 2014, then Accountant -General, Isobara was blatantly accused of embezzling Internal Generated Revenue. Though the specific amount was not stated, some local tabloids bantered with fictitious N6 billion or more to score cheap political points. The ignorant reporters did not know that revenue accounts have no cheque books for withdrawal of money.
Based on this, then Governor summoned senior staffers of the state Accountant-General Office for questioning. The story was found to be untrue, though the blackmailers had gone viral. At the end, the allegation seen as unfounded and a figment of the peddlers’ imagination was dismissed.
Surprisingly, the administrations of former Governor Udom Emmanuel and Pastor Umo Eno maintained and is still maintaining the revenue accounts without cheque books for withdrawal of money, except by the banking electronic system to the one in government account which is seen by everybody.
However, this was the mother of all blackmails as it was politically motivated against Akpabio administration and Office of the state Accountant -General.
Consequently. the governor exonerated Udo Isobara Accountant -General of financial malfeasance and promoted him as a Permanent Secretary in the state Civil Service.
Despite other petitions and blackmails, Akpabio and his associates consistently dismissed allegations as “cheap blackmail,” “frivolous,” and “manufactured controversies” designed to tarnish his reputation and distract him from governance.
He called for transparency in the handling of petitions, asking the EFCC to publish reports of all investigated high-profile petitions, especially those found to be politically motivated.
In 2023, reacting to an allegation of “N1 trillion fraud,” his Chief Press Secretary Jackson Udom stated that the accusations were part of a “plot … to blackmail him out of contest for the presidency of 10th Senate.”
Earlier, in his role as governor, the Akwa Ibom State Government (via its Commissioner for Information) accused unnamed politicians of waging a “smear campaign … to rubbish the governor …”
Then enter 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senator Akpabio, the 10th Senate President of sexual harassment, assassination attempt and organ harvesting. Eventually. Dr. Sandra Duru also known as Prof Mgbe took Natasha to taters and her evils were exposed and thrashed out.
After this episode, Pat, wife of Ibanga Akpabio spewed personal allegations spiced with hatred and unfounded rumours against Akpabio in the social media. The unsuccessful rubbishing of Akpabio’s image is, nonetheless, a sponsored job and a calculated attempt to distract him from his busy schedule and of course 2027 re-election bid. Yet, the accuser who sojourns in United States is unable to substantially prove the allegations. This is seen as another scandalous but yeoman’s job to draw undue attention to herself at the detriment of Greater Akpabio Family , which she has purportedly denounced her membership and affiliation.
The ring of blackmail spread to the administration of Mr. Udom Emmanuel who ruled Akwa Ibom from 2015 -2023. He was petitioned by a group, Network against Corruption and Trafficking, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing Mr Udom Emmanuel of committing N700 billion fraud while he was governor.
However, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has dismissed as “false” the allegation that his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, was involved in a N700 billion fraud while serving as governor.
Emmanuel chose not to “dignify failure with attention” by engaging directly with “attention-seeking blackmailers,” preferring instead to focus on his administration’s work and achievements.
He advised the people of Akwa Ibom to be wary of politicians who use blackmail and violence to attain power, emphasizing that power comes from divine providence, not political mudslinging.
His supporters and allies, including the current governor, have defended him by dismissing claims as untrue and politically motivated, arguing that vilification of past leaders discourages public service.
When faced with petitions leading to his arrest by the EFCC after leaving office, he reportedly honored the commission’s invitation to respond to the allegations.
That may reflect limited digitization or archival coverage from his period (1999–2007).
Several reports (e.g., by Vanguard and Independent) cite his media assistant, Barrister Steven Abia, calling corruption allegations by a group called Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) “malicious and baseless,” and describing the group as “faceless … blackmail[ers] to extort money from politicians.”
In a different case, the Akwa Ibom State Government (under Emmanuel) rebuked a former aide of Akpabio for “cheap blackmail” when that aide claimed Emmanuel’s wife was denied entry to Government House.
Also, a Vanguard report quotes Udom’s Commissioner for Works (Ephraim Inyang) saying that smear campaigns against Emmanuel were politically motivated: “some persons have embarked on a smear campaign … because he refused their insatiable plan to continue looting the state
Today, Akwa Ibom faces not just political opposition—a healthy part of democracy—but a persistent ecosystem of orchestrated misinformation.
Political observers trace this rise to a blend of heightened political contestation, rising digital access, and a thriving cottage industry of content creators willing to trade integrity for visibility. With smartphones and anonymous pages, the barrier to entry is low; the returns—attention, influence, or political bargaining power—are high.
The anatomy of modern blackmail in Akwa Ibom often follows a predictable pattern:
First comes a sensational accusation—frequently unsupported by evidence but packaged in emotionally charged language. Then comes rapid amplification by pseudo-activist pages and anonymous commentators who lend the illusion of widespread outrage.
Beyond the political noise, the consequences are far-reaching. Blackmail erodes public trust, distracts from genuine issues, and creates a climate of fear around public service. Many government workers privately admit that the fear of being targeted by false claims is now a part of their daily reality.
More worrying is the chilling effect on public discourse. Genuine critics—those who care about governance and accountability—risk being drowned out by the loud machinery of fake narratives. The result is a shrinking space for serious conversation.
Whether the state’s information environment can be reclaimed depends on how citizens, media actors, and political leaders respond to this growing menace. What remains clear is that blackmail has become a dominant—and dangerous—fixture in Akwa Ibom’s public discourse.
The question now is whether society will continue to allow orchestrated falsehood to shape its political future, or whether it will insist on a return to facts, reason, and responsible engagement.
- Umoh, a former chairman of the NUJ, Akwa Ibom State, sent this from Uyo
