Smear Campaign In Akwa Ibom Over Akpabio

Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, is being seen by most electorate in the state as an extremely lucky man. Perhaps, going by the avalanche of smear campaign against him in both formal and informal media, the mercantile and militant patriots probably thought they could deceive the Akwa Ibom public; or turn them against the truth. That they seem to have failed again tends to confirm the belief that there must be something in Akpabio that defies all human mischief, blackmail and gang-up. That appears to make the governor a lucky man!

Still, it disturbs some with Akwa Ibom blood, when some “media contractors” tend to think that they can bypass the boundary of truth and human sensibility, all in attempt to smear the governor who is barely four weeks in the saddle.

Observers have watched with keen interest the bounty of harvest some newspapers have enjoyed as shadow writers and mercenaries cast aspersion on Akpabio’s administration. With their paymasters clapping on the sidelines, the overnight image launderers masquerading as “concerned citizens” of the state reeled out so much yarn that they themselves must have started believing them as the gospel. It appears there is nothing wrong in trying to beatify Attah as the next saint. He deserves his place in history. But for the charlatans, propagandists and sycophants to try blackmailing, smearing, rubbishing and pulling down Akpabio’s administration in an attempt to cover their seeming questionable tracks deserves both pity and condemnation. It seems to be a known fact that Akpabio emerged as governor as a result of the yearnings for positive change. Once he had the people behind him, he didn’t need any godfather. Attah appears to have wanted a political dynasty; but the Akwa Ibom people tended to have rooted for the will of the Almighty. When Akpabio won, most of the electorate and political watchers thought individual ego had been submerged in the collective will of Akwa Ibom people. How wrong they were! Some agents are alleging that Attah’s regime was most peaceful and crime-free. There is no problem with that it is being compared with Akpabio’s barely four weeks tenure. Many appeared to be shock by the potenially damaging 'news' items circulaing in he state. The political underone of the curren schemings aside, it should however, be noted hat a few months before the advent of Akpabio’s administration, armed banditshad held the state to ransom. Within a period of 60days, men of the underworld feasted on three banks in Uyo, leaving in their wake sorrows, tears and blood. The rusty town of Abak was turned into a war zone by gun men who robbed two commercial banks. Within that same period two commercial banks on Ikot Ekpene Road were attacked by the daredevils, who laid siege on the metropolis for over five hours. Ikot Abasi was not spared by the bandits who had a field day terrorizing the residents, repeatedly.

In some instances, they sent notes to residents intimating them of the impending, yet unpleasant visits. Yet, Attah, according to some of his critics, did nothing. Soon, the oil city of Eket experienced the “hard tackle” from the bandits, three commercial banks in the city were attacked and helpless citizens hacked down. Police records have confirmed that the worst robbery incidents in the history of the state happened during Attah’s administration. It is being said that until Akpabio set up an Integrated Task Force on Security, recently, that the situation started changing for the better. Now, task force, comprising men of the Mobile Police unit and the regular policemen man all the areas hitherto identified as “the red zones”. Students of history would be interested to note that Political 'enemies' of the immediate past governor are claiming that itt was during his administration that kidnapping was introduced into the vocabulary of Akwa Ibom people, as militants stormed Eket, killing two locals and kidnapping expatriates residents in Esa Akpan Estate. In Esit Eket, the daughter of an erstwhile head of council was allegedly kidnapped by some unknown gunmen who reportedly requested a huge ransom. Before then, a council chairman had been kidnapped and was allegedly freed after a long drawn negotiation suspected to have involved some money. For someone to sit somewhere and attribute the problem of insecurity in the state to a three-week-old administration smacks of mischief of the highest order. It is quite unfortunate that some people who are not familiar with Akwa Ibom State would leave their states to come and destabilize Akwa Ibom.

It appears those who are spearheading the seeming smear campaign against Akpabio raped the state through phony contracts during Attah’s administration and are now uncomfortable that they would be exposed. It is an unforgivable shame that the two old men can embark on a hatchet job without bothering to get the facts straight. The so-called monumental achievement of the last administration that, according to them, led to the influx of foreign investors into Akwa Ibom State is only a figment of mischief makers’ imagination. For the avoidance of doubt, though Akwa Ibom remains one of the most peaceful states in the country, the last administration failed to attract a single investment into the state. State funds were wasted on economic summits that yielded no result but were turned into carnivals for government officials and cronies. So where did the investors come from?

Till date, critics are saying that none of the much taunted developmental projects initiated by Attah attracted a kobo counterpart funding from any foreign investor. From Ibom Power Plant to the Five Star Hotel to the Airport project, all are alleged to be funded by Akwa Ibom State. Except, perhaps, the IPP, where the Federal Government reportedly refunded the state some money later. Surprisingly,millions of public funds was said to be spent on numerous foreign trips in search of investors; while some persons allegedly made princely billions for merely bringing in some hungry looking Asians, who posed as interested investors. The question critics of the Attah administration are asking is---isn’t it curious that despite all the noise of Attah’s developmental strides, no single building has been erected at the airport site? The only work said to be going on there now is the piling of the runway. There is yet to be constructed the hanger building (for the Maintenance, Overhaul and Repair (MOR)); the control tower, the administrative building, etc. The Science Park too allegedly has no investor. The first two buildings are said to be just getting to the window level.

Critics are insisting that the University of Science and Technology has no building. Yet, the political jobbers in the state are claiming that the projects had been completed. For them, Attah should count himself lucky that he was not succeeded by a vindictive person, ''otherwise, the new governor would have raised questions on why the former governor’s daughter had to be the one handling the main contract of the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort'', they said. According to them, records abound that she is the one still subletting contracts to major construction companies. The hotel is said to have gulped about N20 billion already, and allegedly still requires over N126 million to ensure effective power connection. Not to mention the construction of the remaining wings.

At present, according to those who claim to know, only about five rooms have been fully furnished, while the remaining ones have not been touched. Guests at the last inauguration dinner, which took place at the hotel allegedly had to literally swim through a puddle to get to the banquet hall. Meanwhile, contract fees are said to have been exhausted and the contractors are already awaiting fat cheques from the new government.

While he IPP is being said to have been completed and even commissioned, it appears the project still requires billions of naira to be really completed. An engineer at the Ikot Abasi site of the IPP, is being quoted as having saod that the project is not 40% completed yet, and that it may not be completed this year. The first turbine was said to be hurriedly placed for the ceremony which allegedly explained why light was not turned on during the alleged commissioning ceremony . What the Attah critics tend to label as commissioning may just be the routyine testing process by the engineers. Howeverm they are also alleging that he museum, which Attah commissioned has no roof and that the Stock Exchange building along Udo Udoma Avenue, had no glasses. According to them, only the outside was plastered and painted. Those who know better are saying that the former governor was on inspection tour of the facility and not for ''commissioning''. The current ''bad belly'' politics in Akwa Ibom will not do anyone any good. What is needed by all and sundry is to put all hands on deck to ensure that the state becomes one of the industrial giants in the Niger Delta.

It is not necessary for those who are expected to know better to be insinuating that Akpabio exposed the rot he inherited because he is an Annang man. As if it a crime to be an Annang man. Whipping up nonsence ethnic politics will not put food on the table of the ordinary people nor will it resolve the unemployment crisis in the state. So far, Akpabio seems to be starting well. JThe previous Sunday, despite the attempt to rubbish him, he attended a thanksgiving orgainsed in Attah’s honour and reiterated his respect for his former boss. He also reaffirmed his resolve to run the state in love and oneness. A practical demonstration is in his appointments, so far. Moreover, to ensure continuity, he has promised to complete projects started by Attah.

The prayer of the popular people of Akwa Ibom is that professional blackmailers trying to find relevance should try it some where else. According to one commercial moorycle operaor, ''they should allow Governor Akpabio to concentrate on the serious business of governance. They should allow him deliver the dividends of good governance which Akwa Ibom people so much expect from him, after overwhelmingly voting him into the office''.

Akanimo Sampson is the Co-ordinator of Journalists for Niger Delta (JODEL), a media group concerned with the affairs of Nigeria's oil and gas region.

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