…Says successive Akwa Ibom administrations have deceived residents over the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
…Faults Governor Eno for shutting down state activities for partisan rally.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has condemned the alleged mobilisation of civil servants and residents for President Bola Tinubu’s campaign event in Akwa Ibom State, describing it as an abuse of public office and a violation of citizens’ rights.
Effiong also described Tinubu’s announcement of approval for the establishment of the Ibom Deep Seaport as fraudulent, accusing successive administrations in the state of repeatedly using the project to mislead the people and waste public resources.
Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, announced on Friday, November 6, that he had approved the establishment of the seaport during his visit to Akwa Ibom.
Reacting, Effiong said the project had been repeatedly presented to the people by successive administrations without any tangible outcome. He accused former governors Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel, as well as incumbent Governor Umo Eno, of deceiving residents over the project, which he alleged had become a channel for the appropriation and wastage of public funds.
He recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan had approved a seaport for Akwa Ibom during Akpabio’s administration, while former President Muhammadu Buhari also gave approval for the same project under Udom Emmanuel.
Effiong questioned why Tinubu was announcing another approval for a project that, according to him, had remained unrealised despite previous presidential approvals. He said the people of Akwa Ibom were tired of repeated promises and political deception.
The lawyer also criticised Governor Eno for shutting down state activities to receive Tinubu, arguing that the President’s visit was essentially a partisan campaign event and should not have been treated as an official state function.
He challenged the governor to explain whether he would similarly declare a work-free day and direct civil servants to attend a campaign rally organised by an opposition presidential candidate.
Effiong further expressed concern over an accident involving a vehicle conveying women to the airport to welcome Tinubu, which reportedly resulted in a loss of life.
He insisted that the state government had no justification for compelling residents to participate in a political event, stressing that public institutions and resources should not be deployed for partisan activities.
The lawyer declared that Akwa Ibom people were not slaves and would not remain silent in the face of what he described as the deceit and arrogance of failed politicians.
He also condemned the Tinubu administration’s policies, describing them as disastrous and oppressive, and accusing the government of bringing tears, sorrow and blood to Nigerians. He said Akwa Ibom was not insulated from the consequences of what he characterised as the President’s misrule.
