Information filtering indicates, the battle for 2015 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom state took another interesting twist.
The 31 local government chairmen in the state just signed of a saved N2.1 fund meant for agricultural projects to the Governor of the state, Mr Goodswill Akpabio.
The Governor is currently engaged in the capital intensive exercise of installing a candidate of his own as successor in the 2015 gubernatorial election. And he appears to be battling on ‘all fronts’ to achieve this.
The signed off fund is described as ‘is the 2.1Billion Naira one percent statutory savings of local governments in the last five years which was meant for agricultural projects.’
Reports monitored on news platform midweek concord alleged the chairmen signed off the fund based on promises of personal gain and subtle coersion.
The meeting where this agenda was perfected reportedly held at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The state head reportedly earmarked N1.6m for his office from the funds, while ALGON the umbrella body for council bosses got N310m. N10m was allegedly pencilled down for individuals.
More information obtained from the reports revealed some of the other beneficiaries of the funds as office of the first lady, that of the Commissioner for Finance, also that of Commissioner ofr Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, that of the accountant general and equally included is unofficial individual and cousin of the governor, Sir Emem Akpabio.
Sources claim information that the governor’s relative and bearer of the appellation ‘Godfather’ got more than the council men in the ‘deal’ created disgruntlement and talks leaked the matter.
And the governor and his backers are said to be taking heavy flaks for it especially against the background that, the state has outstanding financial obligations to some contractors in the region of ‘ over 390Billion naira along with a N100Billion Naira bank loan’.
Informants alleged the governor is trying to live growing criticism over this development.
Culled: Society Now
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