July 12, (THEWILL) – Elders of the Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have denied receiving contracts from Governor Udom Emmanuel for the reconstruction of their dilapidated internal roads.
THEWILL reports that Emmanuel had, in a recent interaction with journalists, said that Eket leaders should be held responsible for the deplorable conditions of internal roads in the oil-city.
However, elders of the area under the aegis of the Eket Integrity Forum have challenged the Governor to mention the names of those he awarded road contracts to.
A member of the Board of Trustees of the Eket Integrity Forum, Chief (Dr.) Usoro Usoro, said that contracts for the rehabilitation of the worst roads in Eket were not awarded to any indigene of the local government.
Usoro, a former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio, said the group is only aware that the Governor gave contracts to Chief Nduese Essien, a former Minister of Lands and Housing, who had since delivered 16 out of the 19 internal roads contracted to him.
His words, ”At least, the so-called urban renewal was not awarded to Eket elders. The 1-kilometre construction from the bridgehead to where the old Post Office was, on Hospital Road, was not awarded to an Eket elder. That road has been there for more than six years. The abandoned Idua Road, which has been there for about four years, was not awarded to an Eket elder.
”The elders he tried to rope in, perhaps, concern the half- kilometer internal roads around the abandoned stadium project. The roads around that place were awarded to Kefam Limited, a company owned by Chief Nduese Essien. Perhaps, that’s why he made reference to Eket elders.
”The uncompleted, yet commissioned Eket-Ibeno Road, was not awarded to an Eket elder. The Governor commissioned that road about three years ago, yet some sections are yet to be completed. The street lights which were supposed to be part of the road design are not there.
”I don’t know which angle the elders are to be blamed. He should have been more specific? Are we to blame the elders for not making much noise about the deplorable situation in Eket or they should be blamed to not supporting him?
“As it is, it appears Mr Emmanuel was only trying to shy away from the expected role of accountability to the people who worked hard to ensure his initial emergence and eventual return for a second term as Governor.”
Usoro accused Emmanuel of stoking hatred against Eket elders and justifying his failure to develop Eket, which is the headquarters of his senatorial district.
”By his utterances, he has clearly shown his disdain for Eket people. His answer simply meant Eket people do not deserve his attention; they do not deserve a decent and explicit answer from their Governor.
”To that extent, the Governor exposed his feelings for Eket. He simply doesn’t care what we pass through, hence he could brush off the issue concerning Eket; after all, he is better than everyone else. I am a community leader and we feel shortchanged by Emmanuel’s government.
”I am speaking all these as a member of the trustees of an advocacy group called Eket Integrity Forum. It was our shrill cry that made Udom to even ask contractors to return to sites across the state recently.”
Meanwhile, Chief Nduese Essien said he has completed 16 out of 19 internal roads in Eket awarded to his company, Kefam Nigeria Ltd, adding that works are still ongoing on the remaining three.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Amos, who disclosed this to journalists in Eket, said the company lived up to expectation.
He explained: “Thirteen (13) roads were awarded to Kefam Nigeria Limited in 2020 by the Akwa Ibom State government. Out of the thirteen roads, we have completed 11 while the remaining two are ongoing. In January 2021, additional six (6) roads were awarded to Kefam.
”Though the state government has not mobilised the company for the additional six roads, but because it’s our area, we have taken it up and completed five out of the six.”
Furthermore, the PRO of the company said putting together all the roads awarded by the state government under Governor Udom Emmanuel, Kefam Nigeria Limited, has completed sixteen so far.
“Altogether, 19 roads were awarded to Kefam. We have completed 16, the remaining two (Stadium Avenue and Almighty Road) are ongoing while work is yet to commence on one.
“Actually, the nature of work we were given to is to overlay. But when we looked at it and realised that we can not overlay that road without the drain, we had to rewrite to the Ministry of Works to approve the trench and we are waiting for their approval. That is why we have not commenced work on that particular road; that’s Afaha-Atai to Iko Ekwa road (Off Oron road).”
Meanwhile, Kefam Nigeria Limited has acknowledged the fact that the state government has mobilised up to the tune of 74 percent in the contract sum.
The management commended the Governor for his effort in getting internal roads in Eket done and has urged the Governor to do more so that by the time he completes his tenure in 2023, the people of Eket will have what to remember him for.
Roads completed so far include: Stadium Access road, Larkin-Smith, Clinic Road, Stadium Road, Udo Umoh, Edem Udo Extension, Nssien Street, Akpaisang Street and Afaha Ukwa Obokidim-Iko Ekwa Road.
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