-Says Aniekan Umanah has questions to answer
A foremost socio-political group in Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Akwa Ibom (IAI), has urged the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate the failed 1.5 million dollars Pioneer Newspaper printing press.
The state government under former governor, Godswill Akpabio, had purchased a $1.5 million printing press for the state-owned newspaper, The Pioneer, but the equipment has remained unused since its installation in 2015, The Guide can authoritatively report.
AIA, in an open letter to Governor Eno with the caption “Time For Thorough Investigation Into Failed 1.5 Million Dollars Pioneer Printing Press” and signed by its Secretary General, Comrade Solomon Akpan-obong, described the failure of previous administrations to probe the case as a costly oversight, urging the state governor to order an immediate investigation.
“We are deeply concerned that a huge investment like the printing press for the state-owned newspaper, The Pioneer, which cost the state a whooping 1.5 million dollars in 2015, was allowed to fail without any explanation. Our investigations show that the equipment has never been put to use since it was installed and it is sad to see the state condone such wastefulness.
“We are however even more concerned by the fact that the man at the centre of the scandal is currently serving as the State Commissioner for Information. Having left such a scandalous legacy in his first time as Commissioner, it was ordinarily expected that Aniekan Umanah would be answering questions for his misconduct.
“To us, that previous administrations did not probe the case, was a very costly oversight. That Aniekan Umanah is not only walking free but even occupying a public office, is an indictment on the administration and the state as a whole. It clearly shows that the administration does not care about accountability and it is very bad for our reputation as a people,” the group stated.
AIA appealed to Governor Eno to include the failed Pioneer printing press case among the list of cases he has authorised for probe, adding that there is for the EFCC to also be involved in the case.
