Barr Inibehe Effiong’s 13 Points of Concern in Akwa Ibom
1. Let the revolt begin in Churches
I support Church member disgracing Akwa Ibom politicians in Churches when they go for their usual godless “thanksgiving services” or when pastors invite them to the pulpit to deceive people.
Let the revolt begin in Churches.
If you cannot protest in the streets, you can protest in your Churches. Jesus did not keep quiet when the temple was desecrated. He took a cane and flogged those who desecrated the temple and chased them away.
The Christianity of silence in the midst of evil and corruption that we are practicing in Nigeria has only made things worse.
If you do not openly disgrace and oppose these people, nothing will change. When they are called to the pulpit, shout them down and do not let them use the pulpit for their politics.
Many Christian leaders in Akwa Ibom have been part of the problem. They have aided and benefited from the crass criminality and bad governance for too long.
Akwa Ibom State would not have been this bad if citizens were conscious.
People must rise up and say enough is enough
2. Governance has collapsed in Akwa Ibom
Mention one Faculty or Department in Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) with standard classrooms, library, laboratory and other facilities that a standard university is supposed to have?
AKSU does not have good hostels. I don’t want to talk about the security situation in the school.
This is the only State-owned university in one of the richest States in Nigeria.
What is the present situation of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic?
How about the Akwa Ibom State College of Education?
If Akwa Ibom people do not rise up and demand good governance, things will only get worse.
Governance has collapsed in Akwa Ibom.
The monies that politicians have stolen over the years would have made that Akwa Ibom State the most developed in Nigeria.
3. “Thoughtless new Governor’s Lodge”
What has Governor Umo Eno done with the useless and thoughtless new Governor’s Lodge that the very disgraceful and incompetent former governor Udom Emmanuel wasted billions of Akwa Ibom resources on in Lagos State?
A Governor who was supposed to govern Akwa Ibom, decided to waste huge public funds on a new lodge in Lagos because he was too lazy mentally to think of what to do with public funds.
Governor Umo Eno should tell us what his plans are for the new Governor’s Lodge in Lagos.
My suggestion is that it should either be sold outright or leased out for many years and the income should be specifically invested in healthcare delivery or education.
For how long will Akwa Ibom politicians continue with their criminal and reckless waste of public resources while the masses are suffering.
4. Blackout in UUTH
The University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) is the major tertiary health centre in Akwa Ibom State, but it does not have constant power. I know people who had to be taken to private facilities from UUTH for urgent scans due to lack of power. The place is in dire need of revitalization. While it is true that UUTH is a federal institution, most patients who visit the facility are Akwa Ibomites.
We cannot continue like this.
6. Akwa Ibom Judiciary grossly underfunded
Even the Judiciary in Akwa Ibom State is grossly underfunded. Do you know that the Akwa Ibom State High Court and Magistrate’s Courts have been in partial darkness for a long time due to lack of power supply?
Judges and lawyers are suffering in silence due to daily heat. Electricity is being rationed in courts in one of the richest States in the country.
Before you can get certified true copies of court documents, you may have to wait for many days because of lack of power.
Things are so bad but the governor is busy running from one Church to another because religion is their tool for silencing people.
I insist that governance has collapsed in Akwa Ibom State.
7. Educational system in Akwa Ibom State has collapsed.
There is no single public primary or secondary school in the whole of Akwa Ibom State today that is in good condition.
Not even one.
If you disagree, let us know the school.
The educational system in Akwa Ibom State has collapsed. Even government teachers are sending their children to private schools.
I insist that governance has failed in Akwa Ibom.
8. Frustrating Akwa Ibom youths
I hereby challenge the Akwa Ibom State Government or anyone to mention just twenty entrepreneurs that have received up to N5 million Naira as loan or grant from the State government to support them in their businesses?
I want them to present evidence that the government is interested in the growth of young people.
Instead of supporting our youths, they are looking for ways to frustrate the few ones who have the courage to start businesses because they want young people to perpetually depend on crumbs from politicians.
9. Demonic unemployment in Akwa Ibom
Many (if not most) private schools in Akwa Ibom State are paying teachers less than the minimum wage. Teachers in private schools in Akwa Ibom are earning averagely between 20k to 30k per month as salary.
Hotel employees and fuel attendants are also earning ridiculous amounts as salary. The same applies to staff of supermarkets and recreational facilities.
These are the places that even offer little job opportunities.
Akwa Ibom is a State with a dead economy but most people are too blinded by dirty partisan politics and religion.
Governance has failed in Akwa Ibom State.
The poverty and unemployment in that State is demonic.
There is no reason why most politicians should be appearing in public comfortably without being scared of what the masses will do to them.
10. Akwa Ibom: Rich yet poor
I challenge the Akwa Ibom State Government to conduct a survey on the number of graduates who are riding tricycle for a living. The young people are wasting away while few ”politicians” are living large.
Why is unemployment rate so high in one of the richest States in Nigeria?
Why are people so quiet?
Churches are multiplying, people are getting poorer, politicians and religious leaders are getting richer.
This is the tragic story of Akwa Ibom State.
11. Corrupt politicians
How many firms, companies or organizations can or are paying graduates up to N100,000 monthly salary in Akwa Ibom State?
You can hardly find a place where someone that’s willing to work can earn up to N50,000 monthly in Akwa Ibom.
Why are Akwa Ibomites so happy and comfortable with corrupt politicians who have ruined their lives?
12. Greedy politicians and public fund
Akwa Ibom is supposed to be a wonderful place to live in. Given the trillions of Naira in revenue that has accrued to the State in recent years, infrastructural development and employment opportunities should be taken for granted.
There is no reason why people should be going through so much hardship in that State given its relatively small population, limited landmass and humongous revenue.
Tragically, the trillions have ended up in the pockets of a few greedy and sick politicians who have stolen so much and become overnight billionaires while the majority are languishing in poverty.
13. Sickening Electricity
Electricity in Akwa Ibom State has become a scarce commodity.
During my last two visits to the State, I left my residence in one of the so-called elite areas in Uyo to lodge in a hotel because of lack of power supply.
It is quite shameful that the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company has failed miserably and the State Government has not taken drastic measures to address the situation.
People should be protesting.
It is sickening.
