The lingering crisis rocking Etinan Local Government Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, took a different dimension last week when stakeholders from the area embarked on a peaceful demonstration to the State Secretariat of the party, No 4, Atiku Abubakaar Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, over what they termed hijacking of contracts money by a group of individuals.
The said contract, according to the protesters, was allegedly facilitated by the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere, to empower members of the party. The protest which was led by a foremost politician and chieftain of the APC in the state, Arch. Ekong Etuk, was joined by the Etinan Chapter Executives led by Chapter Chairman, Rev. Samuel Ukut, Ward Chairmen and excos as well as elders and stakeholders of the party in the area.
While lambasting those they accused of diverting the proceeds of the contract, the sum of which they put at over Two Hundred and Forty Nine Million Naira, the protesters brandished placards with different inscriptions such as “Sunny Jackson, Return The Money. It’s Not Meant For Your Family”; “Sunny Jackson and Dr. Friday Etuk: Don’t Kill Etinan APC With Your Selfishness”; “Dr. Friday Etuk (ASSUR) Is Not A Member of APC. He has Not Decamped From PDP”; “APC State Exco, Save Us From Political Undertakers, Prostitutes”; “Help Etinan APC From Political Herdsmen”; “This is a Game Plan To Destroy Etinan APC and Return to PDP Afterwards”, amongst others.
Receiving the protest letter on behalf of the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of APC, Dr. Amadu Attai, the State Deputy Chairman, Elder Emmanuel Udoh, thanked Etinan APC for their orderly conduct during the demonstration pointing out that protest was an integral part towards proper democratic enthronement.
While expressing his displeasure over the allegations, the APC helmsman promised that the party shall look into the matter with a view to finding amicable resolution, assuring that those found culpable would be dealt with in line with the constitution of the party.
Also speaking, the State Secretary, Dr. Effiong Etok, noted that anything that came into the party from any source was meant to empower its members, thereby strengthening the party.
He hinted that APC in the state had sharing formulae accommodating every segment of its members. The party scribe further noted that the concerns raised by the protesters would be addressed by the appropriate quarters.
Earlier in his comment, Arch. Ekong Etuk, a one-time governorship candidate on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, who is also the APC Political Leader in Etinan, while submitting the protest letter to the APC State Chairman, alleged that those whom he said “hijacked the money” claimed that it was Obong Nsima Ekere’s magnanimity directly to their group and not the faithful of the party in Etinan.
He decried the bad blood which the action of those he described as “faction” in Etinan has caused in the party.
While debunking the claim that the proceeds of the said contract was meant for “group”, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Barr Edet Bassey, in a phone chat with our correspondent said there was a template approved by the party on the matter.
He noted that while the APC in the state recognized approved party structures, any group which activities tend to cause disaffection within the party cannot be recognized. The party’s image maker however promised to furnish this paper when he is properly briefed on the issue.
