Despite pressure and threats from persons suspected to be agents of the Akwa Ibom state government, the Lagos-based rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, yesterday successfully mobilised people into the streets of Uyo to protest against Governor Udom Emmanuel’s plan to build a new governor’s lodge in Lagos.
Although Akwa Ibom state already has a governor’s lodge in Lagos, the state government said the lodge was too old and dilapidated and that there was the need for a new one that could host potential foreign investors who may wish to meet with the governor in Lagos.
Those who opposed the building of a new lodge argued that the government could renovate the old one and use the remaining money to tackle hunger and poverty at home, as well as the infrastructure deficit in the state.
In addition, they argue that with an international airport in Uyo, potential investors could fly into Akwa Ibom for a business meeting or go to the nation’s capital, Abuja, where the state has a state-of- the arts governor’s lodge.
The previous attempt by Effiong to hold the protest in Lagos, in front of the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge, was frustrated by thugs said to had been allegedly drafted from Uyo by the state government.
The Uyo protest saw a handful of young people defying the heavy downpour to march from the Four Town Secondary School, Abak Road, to Wellington Bassey Way which is about four killometres.
“We are not myopic. N1.2 billion is not paltry”, “Our schools are dilapidated”, “Gov Udom, please what is your meaning of paltry” were some of the inscriptions on the cardboards.
Commissioner for Information, Charles Udoh, said it was N2 billion, while Governor Emmanuel said there was no such provision for a new governor’s lodge in the state supplementary budget.
The Speaker, Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, said there was provision and that the amount was N1.2 billion. The governor later backtracked and admitted that a “paltry” N1.2 billion was budgeted for the lodge.
