– constituents raise alarm as former lawmaker gets 1million grant
-state PDP Chairman allegedly include two children, relatives as beneficiaries
By Shadrach Okon
Fresh crisis is brewing in Ukanafun/ Oruk Anam Federal Constituency over what constituents in the two Local Government Areas described as injustice, favouritism and nepotism perpetrated by political stakeholders in the area using the ongoing constituency briefing and empowerment programme by Governor Umo Eno in Akwa Ibom State.
The tension follows Governor Umo Eno’s constituency briefing and empowerment programme for Ukanafun/ Oruk Anam federal constituency held yesterday 29th April, in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
Investigation carried out by the Guide Newspaper reveals that some constituents from both Ukanafun and Oruk Anam Federal Constituency are not happy with political stakeholders in the federal constituency whom they alledged to have hijacked the governor’s empowerment programme in the constituency in their favour.
Some constituents who spoke with the Guide Newspaper accused Akwa Ibom State PDP Chairman Elder Aniekan Akpan, of hijacking the empowerment programme in Ukanafun and sharing the empowerment slots to his family members and relatives in the Local Government Area.
Speaking with the Guide Newspaper, one of the constituents who spoke on condition of anonymity said that two children of Hon Aniekan Akpan, The State People’s Democratic Party, PDP Chairman were included as part of the beneficiaries of the governor’s empowerment programme. The source hinted that the names of Hon. Aniekan Akpan’s children appeared as number 15 and 16 in the empowerment list as beneficiaries of the traders grant while his nephew, Iniodu Moses Sam is a beneficiary of a Mini Bus.
Our source further revealed to the Guide newspaper that other relatives of the State PDP Chairman are beneficiaries of the empowerment programme as some names were twisted to mask the shady deal from members of the public.
The Guide Newspaper also reports that a former lawmaker in Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Mrs Charity Ido from Ukanafun Local Government Area, was among the beneficiaries of the governor’s empowerment grants for farmers in the federal constituency. Hon Charity Ido is listed to receive N1million as Arise Farmers Grant as captured in the programme containing the names of the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme.
Reacting to the development, a political pundit in Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Kufre Patrick wondered why politicians should hijacked empowerment programmes targeted at the poor in the society when they have already earned enough from various political offices.
Comrade Kufre Patrick described such attitude as anti party and attributed the crisis in PDP to the greedy nature of politicians in the party. He lamented that many youths in Akwa Ibom State who sacrificed to ensure the success of PDP in the state have not benefitted from any government empowerment in the State.
“This is a clear demonstration of greediness among politicians. There are many youths who sacrificed for PDP in the State who have not benefitted from any government empowerment, yet politicians are sharing slots to themselves and family members. This is the very reason PDP as a party is failing. As I heard, many of them are planning to defect with Governor Umo Eno to APC after using injustice and nepotism to ruin PDP.”
The Guide Newspaper reports that the state government at the flag off of ARISE empowerment programme had claimed that the programme was targeted at encouraging struggling entrepreneurs, artisans and less privilege traders and farmers in various communities across all the federal constituencies in Akwa Ibom State.
The empowerment programme according to Governor Umo Eno is to cushion the effect of poverty in the state through provision of funding for entrepreneurs, artisans, farmers and traders struggling for funds to fund their various endeavours.
