Ripples in Ikono: Councilors at loggerhead with Chairman * Budget presentation suffers setback

BY NSEOBONG DAVID

Ikono Local Government council has hugged the  news headlines lately for some reasons.  The latest was during the presentation of the 2014 Appropriation Bill by the Executive Chairman of the council, Honourable Emmanuel Ukpong.

Our source who did not want his name in print hinted that the cold war between the council chairman and his councilors is traced to the kind of leadership style employed by the chairman, which according to the source has not gone down well with the council legislators. The council chairman is accused of unilaterally taking decisions on issues concerning the council without consulting anybody, thus, running the council as his personal enterprise.  He is also accused of being very secretive and deceitful and employing pretentious friendly disposition in all council transactions; a pattern of life that is widely condemned, not only by his councilors but by politicians and the entire people of Ikono Local Government Area.

The case that culminated in the suspension of the presentation of the 2014 fiscal budget by the councilors was a blatant display of disrespect by the council chairman, Honourable Emmanuel Ukpong and gross negligence of duty by the entire Executive arm of Ikono Local Government council as the councilors were not aware that the chairman and his selected cabinet members were coming to present the 2014 budget to the Honourable Members.

The council chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ukpong, according to our source, was bubbling with undiluted assurance that he will have a smooth and easy ride with the councilors, given their weak and easily manipulated tendency, got the shock of his life when the Local Government Lawmakers unanimously voted for the suspension of the Budget presentation, citing non-formal notification (official letter) by the chairman and the council through a motion raised by Honourable Etop Umoidem, Councilor representing Ediene 2, Ward 10, and seconded by Honourable Ephraim Akpan, member representing Ikono Middle Ward 1.  It was also gathered that some top officials of the council were not aware of the budget presentation as they claimed that they were not invited by the council chairman to the budget presentation session. 

As at the time of filing this report, information emanating from some quarters has it that the chairman has gone round appealing to the councilors to show understanding and accept to pass the 2014 Appropriation Bill, as failure to do so would have an adverse effect on the council’s ongoing projects; and has presented the budget.

However, in the ensuing melee, the leader of Ikono Legislative Council, Honourable Iboro Akpan called for the adjournment of the House till Thursday, 2nd October, 2014.