N45 million delegates money tears Eket apart * Nduese Essien, Aniekan Akpan, ors fingered

 

The Just concluded  purported Peoples  Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary in Akwa Ibom State has caused trouble, conflict and tension in Eket Local Government Area over Governor Akpabio’s 45 Million Naira largesse meant for delegates from the Area.

Our correspondent gathered that each delegate for the Governorship Primary in all local government areas of the state were given One Million Naira as a gesture from the state government but the 45 Million Naira meant for delegates from Eket grew wings into the pockets of a few Party Chieftains.

The aggrieved delegates were seen on Monday morning expressing anger at the house of the former minister in Eket, Chief Nduese Essien, threatening to cause havoc if their money was not paid.

Speaking, an aggrieved delegate who craved anonymity said that they were at the premises of Chief Nduese Essien to demand for their own share of the cake because “he is responsible for the payment”.

They fingered Hon. (Obong) Aniekan Willie Akpan, Chairman of Eket Local Government Area for their complicity in the missing money and vowed never to allow peace reign in the party until they are paid.
Another aggrieved person, a youth leader of the party absolved Nduese Essien of any blame but demanded that the one Million Naira meant  for each delegate must get to them before it becomes an embarrassing scandal.

Chief Nduese Essien could not be reached for comment as the gateman to his house said “Oga is very busy with some important visitors” and his phone lines were all switched off. 

Reacting, a former Vice Chairman of Eket Local Government Area himself a delegate, Hon. Ekanem Willie wondered why some people would decide to tear the party apart for selfish reasons especially now that the general elections is approaching.

He admitted that he is aware that money went round to delegates during and after the purported party gubernatorial primary, adding that he is aware that some aspirants also got a share of the over N3 billion State fund given out as largesse to aspirants from the 31 LGAs of the State.

“The Udom Project would not have run into a hitch but some unscrupulous Politicians, especially in Eket, hijacked it for personal reasons, shielding others away to score cheap political points”, he said, adding that he will demand to know why other Local Government Areas got the money but Eket got a sour taste.
Hon. Ekanem said further that he assumes the money is from the State treasury and doled out as a soft empowerment to party faithful some of who for many years now have faced financial hardship as a result of capital flight experienced in the State.

“If such money is an empowerment to party faithful, then it must get round all delegates including me, I have not collected it as a delegate and I need it or else the EFCC will have a job to do for the State”, Ekanem said.

All effort to speak to the Chairman of Eket Local Government Area, Aniekan Akpan on the issue proved abortive.

However, a source has revealed that some aspirants from Eket believed to be strong advocates of “Udomkpabiosm” have received their One Million Naira each but behind closed doors.