Member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Dr Usoro Akpanusoh, has accused state Governors of working against the full autonomy of state legislature and judiciary.
Dr Akpanusoh, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities, made this known in Uyo on Friday during an interaction with #TheNarrative, a team of seasoned journalists drawn from National and State-based Newspapers, dedicated and committed to the development of Akwa Ibom State through positive reportage and by changing the narrative.
He said “To some extent, the State House of Assembly is still alive to its primary responsibility of law making, representation and oversight. The State House of Assembly is completely dead in the aspect of not having independent funding, financial autonomy. That is why the whole State Houses of Assembly have been shutdown.”
“I believe the agitation for the autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary will see the light of the day. The problem of autonomy has been the Governors and some of them are power drunk. There would have been no need for the staff of the state judiciary and legislature to go on strike to get autonomy. It has increased the already existed tension in the country to another level. The quest for autonomy is not an amendment to the Constitution. It is the implementation of the Constitution.”
The lawmaker decried the spate of insecurity, tension and hostility in the country, saying “All is not well in our country. Governance is not right from the top to the bottom. We are still moving on as a country only by the grace of God. There is so much of insecurity in this country. There is so much of killing. There is so much of hunger in the land. There is so much of tension and pressure in the country. There is so much of bitterness. The young people in the street are so hostile. And what we need now is a proactive leadership.”
Speaking further, the Assemblyman said “There is no job and there is no job opportunity in the country. Nigeria cannot provide security for her citizens. The citizens are now on their own, all man for himself. Everybody is now depending on the social medial for hope, security and information. The social media has become our centre of development and governance.”
On the level of insecurity in the state, Dr Akpanusoh said “Governor Udom Emmanuel cannot do it all alone. Things have gone so badly. Akwa Ibom was widely known to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria but today it is no longer so. We have insecurity in Essien Udim, Ika, Etim Ekpo, Mbo, Okobo and a few other local government areas. All these are as a result of the piled up hostility in the country.”
On the seeming slow pace of development in Akwa Ibom, he said “There is no road to Abia State and there is no road to Cross River State but at least within Akwa Ibom State, the Governor is opening new roads. I have seen a new ring road that he is working on. I pray he completes it and a few other ongoing projects before he leaves office. Mind you, the Governor may not also be responsible for the slow pace of development and progress of economy in the state.”
“From 1999 till date we have always had the very best of Governors, compare to what we have in other states. Obong Victor Attah did his best. Chief Godswill Akpabio did his best. Governor Udom Emmanuel is also doing his best. Things may not flow the way it ought to, business may not run the way it ought to but he is doing his best. It is our prayer that his successor should not be like the type we have in Cross River State,” he maintained.
On what the focus and the expectation of the people regarding 2023 Governorship in the state, Dr Akpanusoh said “For 2023,I will expect all the political parties to put up their best for the Governorship. The people of Akwa Ibom must go for the best. They must really x-ray the character of who they want as Governor, be it from the PDP or the APC. I pray God to give Governor Udom Emmanuel the wisdom to choose a good successor.”
