Some political leaders of Ukanafun extraction in Akwa Ibom Local Government Area are still facing attacks following their alleged acts of nepotism, described by many as extreme greed.
It followed the inclusion of the names of either the political leaders themselves or their children and other families on the list for the empowerment grant provided by the state government, for less privileged farmers and other artisans.
Last week, the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, in continuation of his town square meeting in the various federal constituencies in the state, had visited Ukanafun where the names of beneficiaries of the grant were announced.
On the list, however, it was discovered that the names of Akpan’s children were part of the published list of beneficiaries.
Ironically, the same two children were part of those who benefited from a similar government’s empowerment gesture under the last regime headed by Deacon Udom Emmanuel.
Apart from Akpan’s alleged greedy posture, some other political leaders from the local government, including Dr Charity Ido, the immediate past house of assembly member and currently a honorary adviser to the governor, also had her name on the list.
Another political leader who is currently a commissioner in one of the commissions in the state, Saturday Akpan, was equally a direct beneficiary.
Obong Eno Akpan, always referred to as the political leader of the local government, also enlisted some of his family members believed to be his children, for the grant.
The anger caused by their action has continued to go away, even after the governor is said to have directed that all the political leaders and their family members should be excluded from the grant.
On social media, the political leaders have been pilloried and chastised by angry Ukanafun citizens, most of them jobless youths who ought to have been given the opportunity to benefit from the government’s grant.
The chastised political leaders have tried to hide their faces in shame, refusing to talk about the issue, apart from the former lawmaker who did a video on facebook during the first few hours after the list was published, in an effort to defend herself.
She had also told TNN that he had the right to apply for the grant as a farmer and that she was called upon to apply, just like other applicants, considering the size of her farm.
She had also told TNN that the state government was aware that she had a farm and had been supporting her with fertilizers.
The PDP state chairman is yet to speak on the matter. On Tuesday, TNN called him twice but he did not pick. But one of his associates who goes by the name Kenworld Jumbo on facebook, wrote this in an effort to defend the PDP chairman.
“This is my opinion on this matter. When you are a big person of our party chairman’s standing, when lists like this come up people can include names of your Children without your knowledge, just to please you, the children, whom o believe are very grown can even hustle their ways into the list without the father’s knowledge. Forget about who they are, if they have not been given that soft billionaire children’s life, or taken to live abroad, they remain hustlers who could hustle for any opportunity to have something in their pockets just like any of us.
“In the midst of all these, we have not heard the man’s side of the story. Until we hear from him let’s not crucify him. If I were close to him or have his phone number I would be sending him messages of solidarity, it’s indeed a trying time for him. On a normal day, a party chairman is not supposed to be so insulted and embarrassed, if PDP is a religion in Akwa Ibom State, he is the pope or General Overseer. No be we Dey defend our pastors when they fuck up?
“I see even PDP loyalists and office holders dragging their state party chairman and I laugh. In those days would you drag Hon. Uwem Ita Etuk? Let’s hear Rt.Hon. Aniekan Akpan’s side of the story.” But Akpan has not responded to calls made to his phone.
But while those political leaders are facing attacks, Unyime Idem, the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, seem to be Ukanafun’s beautiful bride.
Praises and accolades poured on him for drawing the governor’s attention to the delay in the issuance of appointment letter to Ekpono Moswill Umoh, son of the late Christian leader in the local government.
On the day that Umoh was to be buried, Eno had announced the appointment of the late bishop’s son as his adviser on education matters.
But about two years after, the state government was yet to issue him with an appointment letter, making it difficult for him to assume duties and get paid, to enable him take care of his bed-ridden mother.
It was Idem that mounted the rostrum and reminded the governor about the need to give instructions for the letter to be issued. Same day, the letter was issued and also back-dated as directed by the governor.
Apart from this particular grant, TNN learnt that some political leaders in the local government have been in the habit of taking projects and projects for themselves and their families first, especially when asked to nominate people for certain programmes.
There have been cases when some of the leaders would nominate their servants, in-laws and other relations whenever they were given the opportunity by the state government to nominate people.
Besides, most of the projects listed for execution in Ukanafun have been taken to Ikot Oku Usung, tvillage of the PDP chairman.
