- Forces chairmen to sign off over N2Billion
- Pockets N1.6Billion
- ..as ALGON fights over N130!
The latest victim of the funding of the Udom Emmanuel must be governor project of Godswill Akpabio is the 2.1Billion Naira one percent statutory savings of local governments in the last five years which was meant for agricultural projects.
Reports reaching Midweek Concord indicates that, the 31 local government Chairmen in Akwa Ibom State were recently coerced to sign off the money. In a meeting which held in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and presided over by the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, saw the governor carting home the sum of 1.6Billion Naira.
According to a very reliable source, each local government chairman went home with 10Million Naira totaling 310Million Naira for the 31 local government chairmen for accepting to trade off the savings to Governor Akpabio.
A source close to the Council helmsmen told our reporter that they were forced to sign the documents stating that the money was withdrawn from a Zenith Bank branch in Uyo.
The source continued that, the sum of 130Million Naira was given to ALGON executive. But the bubble busted when the governor’s cousin, Sir Emem Akpabio who is known in political circles as godfather got 20Million Naira from the ALGON’s money, the governor’s wife 20Million Naira, Paul Ekpo, 10Million Naira, Commissioner for Finance, Akan Okon, 10Million Naira, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, 10Million Naira and the Accountant General, Udo Isobara, 10Million Naira
Our source who pleaded anonymity wondered why the governor would leave his exalted office and condescend to preside over a meeting of local government chairmen and their money all because he wants to impose his anointed candidate as governor of the state.
Our investigations further reveal that, the over 2Billion Naira withdrawn from Zenith Bank, Udom Emmanuel’s former bank, translates to the one percent statutory deductions from local governments account meant for agricultural projects in the 31 local government areas of the state saved in the last five years.
Meanwhile, the media has been awash with reports that Akwa Ibom State is indebted to contractors to the tune of over 390Billion naira and another 100Billion Naira bank loan.
Speaking to our reporter in the telephone discussion, a senior citizen of the state and stalwart of All Progressive Congress warned that whoever will succeed Akpabio will carry the burden of explaining to Akwa Ibom people what exactly happened during Godswill Akpabio’s tenure. According to him, “Godswill told Akwa Ibom people that he inherited an empty treasury. What will he say he left behind in the treasury if reports of our indebtedness are true?” He called on the appropriate federal agencies to swing into action and investigate the mindless fraud which the Akpabio administration is being accused of especially now that he has demonstrated his desire to confront Akwa Ibom people with his self succession plan.
