I will start by reacting to the recent impeachment turned to resignation of the

Speaker and the Deputy Speaker (who was lucky to be spared) of the Akwa Ibom State

House of Assembly, Ignatius Edet and Okon Uwah respectively. Their sins, according

to the courageous 22 lawmakers, include corruption, fraud, gross misconduct and

abuse of office. I would like to know if the actions of the lawmakers would stop at

accepting the situation which was created by the intervention of the executive

governor or that they would live up to their billing by going ahead to probe and

sanction the fraudulent, corrupt actions that they enumerated committed by the

former Speaker Ignatius Edet. If they failed to probe those, then they also stand

condemned for condoning things inimical to the masses they represent; it will also

show that they (individually) might even be worse than Edet, if given the chance for

a shot at the position of Speaker.

In my article in the Daily Sun of Wednesday July 2, 2008, page 9, titled, “Stop

Persecuting the Igbokwes”, I stated vividly my fear that the House would find it

difficult restricting focus to essential matters of the State, when they inaugurated

a mundane Ad-Hoc Committee to verify the issue of a printing machine supplied,

installed and in use by State newspaper (Pioneer) for nearly eight years before the

existence of the current House of Assembly. Of course the final outcome of the issue

which the State government media and apparatuses were deployed as if it was the only

project the government had then on hand, is no more news. The State government was

disgraced in the final analysis because it based its action on unfounded and

unwarranted vindictive ground. On the streets and market places in Akwa Ibom then

were raining curses on the executive and legislative arm of the government for

daring to tarnish the integrity and image of our beloved

 daughter, Christy Essien Igbokwe, MFR, through whom God blessed our Akwa Ibom State

with the present tag of ‘oil-producing-state’. It is the tag that has brought about

the stupendous wealth now accruing to us and which many people believe is being

mismanaged. My assumption on this matter has been proved right with the present

happenings in the House of Assembly but I still fear.

My fear was further heightened, and it confused me and other Akwa-Ibomites, when I

read two years ago in The Punch newspaper of Thursday August 7, 2008, page 32, that

this same House denied an impeachment notice believed to have been earlier served to

this same Speaker on the ground of (alleged)misappropriation of N570 Million (meant for the

House) and other ridiculous and ignoble things they listed, but, unfortunately he

was still retained. It was reported that the Governor came to his aid by doling out

the same amount to the House in order to save then Speaker.

Sadly enough, we are in a nation where the separation of powers between the three

arms of government is quietly going extinct. The executive arm of government is in

full control of the legislature and judiciary. Reading This Day of Tuesday, May 25

2010, page 8 and Daily Champion of the same day, page 6, it was reported that the

Akwa-Ibom State’s Governor, Godswill Akpabio, enticed the members of the State’s

House of Assembly with financial offer and car gift to reinstate the impeached

Speaker. It was also reported that he released their project funds which had piled

up since 2008 as a result of bad leadership, all in his quest to return a man who

has, since he mounted that sacred position dragged the name of the House and the

entire State in the mud. Yes, it could be that they were offered cash and car gift

that made them deny the impeachment notice that was earlier saved the Speaker, in

2008, as I mentioned in third paragraph. There is more to this

 than meets an ordinary eye, for a governor to go this far to return a man who had

been condemned by all and sundry.

My dear Akwa Ibom people, it is high time we opened our eyes to lies and deceitful

nature of government in our state. For how much longer are we going to be

brainwashed with empty promises, and non-existing projects by this present

administration in Akwa Ibom state. The government had even in a sponsored article

first published in the Compass newspaper of Thursday 22nd April, 2010, page 47,

written by one Muhammed said to the National Coordinator of Freedom and Democracy in

Nigeria claimed to have constructed the Shelter Afrique Estate at Mbiabong (by

Attah’s administration), the Ebiye Havens along Udo Udoma Avenue Uyo (by Group

Captain Ebiye’s administration), the Akwa Ibom Legislative quarters, the Federal Low

Cost Housing (by federal government), the 50 3-bedroom Bungalow in each of the 31

LGAs (by Attah’s administration), etc. I would not have bothered if the article was

published in only one newspaper but it found space at later dates in other

 newspapers – Leadership, Nigerian Tribune and The Nation. Many thanks to Akwa-Ibom

Citizens Rights Group, for the sponsorship of an advert carried in all the national

dailies published between the periods 3rd to 12th May 2010, on Ibom Tropicana

project. When Governor Akpabio’s gimmick advert was first carried in Saturday

Vanguard of September, 19, 2009, I had the premonition that it would join the long

list of Akpabio’s media acclaimed but non-existing projects. Honestly, I have no

sentiment attached to this article, I do not know Akpabio in person neither do I

have anything personally against him, but we must not allow evil to prevail over

good.  All the political shenanigans among our politicians in Akwa Ibom must stop

at once.

As the new Speaker and the reinstated deputy have mounted the troubled seat, I would

give my humble advise that they should showcase an outstanding character with moral

and religious scruples, so that they would not be tossed about by the cabal that has

held the state to ransom from the beginning of this present administration, to

unleash inexplicable trauma to innocent dignitaries of the State. They should

understand the sacredness of the seat they occupy and should carry out their duties

without any fear or favour. In that way, the peace and tranquility Akwa-Ibom state

is noted for would gradually be restored, and posterity would forever be grateful to us all.

Udoh sudoh68@yahoo.com writes from Lagos