Ekere Billboard Palaver: AKSG Dragged To Abuja


By UbongAbasi Ise

Obong (Dr.) Nsima Ekere’s proposed campaign billboard at Akpan Andem Market seems to be fetching more troubles for the Akwa Ibom State Government as the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Iniobong Essien, and Uyo local government council chairman, Elder Imoh Okon are reported to have been moved from the State Police Headquarters at Ikot Akpan Abia to Abuja for further questioning.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh, who was at Ikot Akpan Abia police station yesterday, expressed frustration during his interaction with newsmen over the Federal Government’s involvement in the billboard dispute between the state government and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“We all woke up one day and found out that an official of the state, the Commissioner for Environment has been invited for a discussion with the police on instruction from Abuja, over a dispute on a billboard location

“The billboard is located in a densely populated area. The approval before locating the billboard was not followed to the later because it was not located where it should have been located. Secondly, structural standard was compromised, so the Commissioner for Environment whose duty is to supervise issues relating to environment in Akwa Ibom State took necessary steps to ensure that the properties around the vicinity were secured, especially as the design and structural integrity of the billboard were compromised.
“So on that, account he was invited by the police and that was two days ago, government stepped in, and it required the SSG to sign an undertaking to bail him, today the instruction was given that he and the Chairman of Uyo Local Government council, Mr Imoh Okon should be brought to Abuja for further questioning, and the question I ask is; these are officers of government, appointed and elected, carrying out their legitimate duties and here they are intimidated by the officers of the law,” said the exasperated commissioner.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State APC, in a second press statement released yesterday which was signed by its State publicity secretary, Mr. Nkereuwem Nyongekere, expressed shock at what it described as Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government's efforts at falsifying and distorting accounts in a bid to commandeer a billboard erected by the APC at Akpan Andem Market.
“We are shocked by the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government's efforts at characteristically falsifying and distorting the accounts of its failed attempt to commandeer a three-faced unipole billboard erected by our party at the Akpan Andem Market in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The billboard was erected in strict compliance with due process, which includes obtaining valid approvals from the appropriate authority and payment of all statutory fees to the State Government's agents,” the statement reads.

APC further narrated how the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Iniobong Essien and Chairman of Uyo Local Government Elder Imoh Okon made attempt to take over the billboard belonging to the party.
“On the night of Sunday, October 14, 2018, we were informed that welders had moved into the market to mount the PDP and Mr. Emmanuel's campaign advertisement materials on our billboard. We dismissed it as a huge joke because we believed that there are still some sensible people in government who would counsel against such impunity. We were rather shocked when our team discovered in the morning of Monday, October 15, 2018 that finishing work and painting had started on the unipole by totally strange persons. Our men who complained about the theft were briefly detained and released by officers from the Area 'C'Crime Unit.  Thereafter, we reported the matter to the State Police Command who stepped in to investigate.  Both parties were immediately counselled to stop work until the ownership of the board was established and all issues in contention were tabled, hence a meeting was scheduled with the parties concerned for 10.00 am the next day.
 “In spite of this however, the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Iniobong Essien and Chairman of Uyo Local Government Elder Imoh Okon, led thugs and a team of heavily armed Policemen to the market at about 7.00 pm to continue work and install Governor Udom's materials on the billboard paid for and erected by us.  It took the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) to persuade the people and Environment Commissioner, Dr Iniobong Essien, to stop the daylight robbery by the State Government at about 1.00 am,” the party submitted.
However, one of the traders who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity at Akpan Andem market yesterday slammed the Commissioner for Environment in the state for failing to evacuate the waste along Ndiya Street near the market which has caused serious stench, thus throwing the traders, buyers, and the residence of the area into serious health concern. He wondered why a harmless billboard could be a priority to the state government while the common plights of the citizens are neglected. 



IGP Squad Begins Probe Of Alleged Assassination Attempt On NDDC MD

2019: Udom Drops Moses Ekpo, May Pick Emmanuel Enoidem As Running Mate

Any News for Us? ubongabasiise@gmail.com | +2348023151931

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Is Naira Giving Way To Cryptocurrency?

5,000 Sacked Teachers: Nwoko Storms Court To Reject New Sole Witness …As AKSG Sets To Recruit 1,000 Fresh Teachers Amidst Litigation

Uyo Village, A Place Where Indigenes Cry