The leadership and members of Uyo leaders Council, rising
from a meeting held at House F10, Shelter Afrique Housing Estate, Mbiabong
Etoi, Uyo, have exonerated the Chairman of Uyo local government Council,
Otuekong Ekerette Ekpenyong of blame over alleged sales of land at Uyo shopping
centre claimed to be the property of Oku Clan in Uyo local government area to
the managing Director of Nsik Motors without reference to the land owners.
In a press release signed on behalf of all the members by the
Chairman of the “forum”, Obong(Hon.) Tony Asikpo(uko uyo) dated February 22,
2013, and made available to Weekly
Insight reportorial desk, the forum “observed with great dismay the
contentions, comments and uproar made” on the said matter by “the youths of
Ikot Udoro Oku”, stating that “records and facts” available at their disposal,
as “former leaders” of Uyo “indicate that the property was dully acquired by
Uyo local government council and compensation paid to the community, even after
the creation of Nsit Atai, Ibesikpo Asutan and Uruan local government councils
out of Uyo”.
According to the forum, “the property was still given to Uyo
as her bonafide property and since then the property had been under the
administration of Uyo local government”.
The forum stated that all documents on the said transaction
as known to them confirm that the decision to lease out the property and the
proceeds use for the completion of the “Royal Palace” was purely Uyo local
government decision based on the recommendations sent to the council boss by
“property verification committee” made up of former council chairmen and headed
by Chief Clement Ekott; the “technical committee/Royal fathers on moribund
properties”; the “economic blue print of Uyo local government” headed by Sir
Dr. Val. Attah, adding that same was approved by the Finance and General
Purpose Committee(FGPC) of the Council, Uyo legislative council as well as
joint Council general meeting.
The forum said based on the foregoing, such decision over the
shopping centre land was that of Uyo people and not that of the Council
Chairman as touted by detractors and described the brouhaha as a “non-issue and
political distraction caused by 2015 elections”. They also argued that to the best of their
understanding, Prince Ekerette Ekpenyong was yet to indicate interest to
contest any elective office or seek a second term as chairman in 2015.
Lending their voice to the issue of relocation of motor parks
which the chairman may have been falsely accused of opposing the state
government’s decision, the forum said though the Constitution of the country
gives the right of operation and management of motor parks/markets to local
government councils which Uyo LGA reserves such right to own a motor park to boost internally generated funds for
council coffers, that they “welcome wholeheartedly any effort by both
council/state” to curb the chaotic
traffic situation and what they called “social menace” in the metropolis, which seems to under mind
the uncommon transformation/beautification of the city by Chief Akpabio’s
administration.
The forum, with emphatic stress to bring about a
“lasting/enduring solution…justice, equity and fairness to Uyo local government
council” requested that Uyo local government council be made to be adequately
involved in the process and management of the parks in Uyo.
The forum appealed to the state government to re-visit the
issue of most properties of Uyo local government council used by state agencies
to render social and economic services to the people of the state such as Uyo
low cost housing units used by former Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Abak
road and Security Village used by Ministry of Social Development.
The forum, made up of former Council Chairmen, Vice Chairmen,
Secretaries of Council, Party Stalwarts and Women leaders of Uyo local
government origin, expressed satisfaction on the transformation of Uyo council
secretariat with construction of new office for the Chairman, new Legislative
Chambers, administrative blocks and prompt payment of salaries, despite what
the forum calls “lean financial allocations”.
The chairman’s bold step at awarding revenue contracts to Uyo
people was commended by the forum which also frowned at agents who could not
perform creditably, urging the Chairman to engage credible consultants, where
things go wrong, to get positive results.
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