Tuesday, 8 July 2014

OIL SPILL CRISES: Why Eket Traditional Rulers sold out

OIL SPILL CRISES: Why Eket Traditional Rulers sold out
* Chairman accused of offering bribe to Exxon Mobil Officials 

It is no longer news that the consulting bid for the award of consultancy job by Exxon Mobil to Eket Local Government Area has seriously brought turmoil and challenges to the people of the area. This follows series of allegations that prominent citizens of Eket has sold out after being bribed with some millions of naira. Amongst those who were linked to this bribe were some traditional rulers of the area whose interest in the matter has shocked sincere followers who had hitherto believed that they will act to protect the sanctity of their respective tools.

THE INK gathered in Eket last Friday and Saturday that the council Chairman had promised Chief ECD Abia that he was going to influence the making him of a paramount ruler following rumours of His Majesty Chief Oduenyie’s death. It was not however very clear whether by ranking and by all assessment Abia could not emerge the next paramount ruler if actually Oduenyie is death and will subsequently be announced so. Sources say the paramount rulership of Eket is not always an easy scale and hence the promise to offer ECD Abia a paramount rulership position may have influenced his decision to back the sell out against Eket People whom he should rather be protecting.

It was gathered by our reporter that the Village head of Idung Offiong Chief MD Uwem was also promised to be supported financially to emerge the clan head of Afaha clan. The rumoured death of the Paramount ruler of Eket must have caused very serious politicking in the ranks and file of the traditional rulers in Eket and has really allow some of them who are unsure of their next move to begin intense lobbying to get what they want. Chief Uwem was even described as being two edged following his inconsistency in his contributions to the matter. The People of Eket has so far expressed total displeasure on the matter and has promised to shut down all activities of Exxon Mobil if an indigenous contractor is not given the responsibility to handle the job.

But the council Chairman, a source in the Local Government Exco said is not leaving anything to chance. Aniekan Akpan is said to be frequenting Lagos on a mission to force and bribe the company officials to doctor the result of the technical bid Exams to favour his candidate of Union Oil against the said winner Ultimate Power Oil services. The council Chairman is said to have visited Lagos thrice within three weeks with a view to forcing Exxon Mobil to favour the choice candidate who is alleged to have given them bribe.

As at the time of filing this report, efforts to reach Aniekan Akpan was not fruitful as a call to his cell phone indicated that his number was switched off and a text message to his phone was not responded to.

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