It is an absurdity, and indeed a paradox, AKWA IBOM does not have a refinery. For an oil producing State, reportedly earning more than 19 northern States in revenue, one is “unbelievably shocked” the AKPABIO government has not considered it expedient to build one in partnership with the private sector.
It is very unfortunate and very disturbing that, just before the New Year, AKWA IBOMITES bought kerosine for 140 naira per litre, petrol for 90 naira and Diesel for 160 naira per litre. Pray, are we, as an oil producing State, suppose to pay more while people in Lagos were Paying 65 naira per litre for petrol?
Recently, Professor Uwem Essia described AKWA IBOM as the “fastest growing economy in West Africa”. One is at loss, as how this “renowned and erudite” Professor of Economics arrived at his postulations. For the uninitiated, AKWA IBOM is a “consumption–driven” economy, that is, we hardly produce anything for export. We import everything under the sun including toothpicks, tokumbo pants and bra. Since the inception of the present administration, no single investor has considered worthwhile to establish a single industry, despite the AKPABIO government unsubstanciated claims of “uncommon transformation”.
One is tempted to think this is perhaps failure of the AKPABIO government to create the enabling environment for business to strive, vis a vis, provision of adequate security, access roads, power supply and other infrastructural facilities, tax free holidays, facilitating acquisition of Certificate of occupancy, partnering with private sector on projects that are capital intensive, consistency in government policy, etc.
Is it possible for AKWA IBOM economy to grow when industries are not there to stimulate employment generation? Are we really growing when Rural–Urban migration is on the increase and at an astronomical rate? Every AKPAN, EKAETTE, and OKON is leaving AKWA IBOM at the slightest opportunity. Can we have welfare packages, health and education when recurrent expenditure is higher than capital expenditure? It is a shame that salient welfare packages which are expected to have direct impact on the people is being ignored for GOD knows why. For example, there is no pipe borne water anywhere in the State. Electricity supply is still epileptic despite the billions of naira that have been “invested” in IBOM POWER PLANT. Instead, what we see everyday are “MONUMENTS” (GOVERNOR’S LODGE, FLYOVERS, E-LIBRARY, TROPICANA, etc) that have no immediate economic relevance on the people of the State. Even the “free and compulsory” education that was supposedly programmed to eleviate the “AKPANS” of this world is not really FREE. Students are allegedly cajoled to buy desks, school textbooks, brooms , machetes and pay “hidden charges”.
It was with great amusement I observed AKPABIO, defending the recurrent expenditure in the 2012 budget tagged Budget of “industrialization”. It was like one defending a bloated bureaucracy and waste which feeds all manners of aides and Personal assistants whose duties are often duplicated. In some cases, ministries are created with overlaping duties to just satisfy some “political vultures” who “worked hard” during elections.
For instance, we have witnessed non government officials (perhaps political contractors) releasing public information that tend to emanate from the AKWA IBOM State government in the cyberfora. This writer has had cause to query this anomaly through an open letter to ANIEKAN UMANNAH who we all know as AKWA IBOM State Commissioner of Information. The Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs does nothing but post pictures of AKPABIO and his visitors. There is urgent need for government to reduce the cost of governance, to ensure there is enough fund to pursue capital projects.
The Members of the House of Assembly appears to be mere rubber stamps, who are subject to the whims and caprices of the “godfather” who handpicked them to do “his” biddings. While at the national level, members of the House of Representatives are visibly engaged in Nation building, it appears the AKWA IBOM House of Assembly is only concerned with passing “draconian” laws (according to PROFESSOR SAGAY) that only accentuate the powers of AKPABIO. Instead of enacting laws that will ensure and enhance the quality of life of the downtrodden, especially those who are affected by the incessant oil spillage in the riverine areas, these “honourable” men are allegedly involved in the “see no evil, hear no evil” game.
One is not unmindful of the challenges facing governance in this country, especially in provision of social amenities. In AKWA IBOM, some workers could not celebrate last Christmas because they were being owed back log of salaries. Paying the minimum wage appears to be a herculean task for the AKPABIO government despite the billions of naira in revenue which is accrued monthly. There is a temptation to think AKPABIO has not been able to maintain the social contract between the downtrodden and the government. Already, there is a deep rooted mistrust between our governments at all levels in the country and the people, an unfortunate situation that has been brought about by the unhidden lavish lifestyles of our leaders made possible through misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds at all levels. Simply put, there is obviously a disconnect between the masses and the “leaders”. I want to believe this is as a result of the fraudulent electoral process which produces these “despotic leaders”.
Performance driven and goal oriented governments are embracing the private sector in Nation building, but unfortunately this is not so in AKWA IBOM. While Governor Fashola of LAGOS State has been busy involving the PRIVATE SECTOR in building Major Infrastructures (e.g Lekki–Epe expressway, ORILE–IGANMU RAILWAY/ROAD, EKO ATLANTIC CITY, COSCHARIS MOTORS-EKO ENGINEERING LLP, AKUTE POWER LIMITED,) through private public initiatives, the AKWA IBOM “digital” Governor has been busy boasting he is building roads at over 1billion naira per kilometer and TROPICANA (an entertainment centre) at over 50 billion naira .What an irony! .
One would be stating the obvious if one suggests the AKWA IBOM State government should initiate a policy that would be teleguided towards attracting investors to build a refinery. A refinery in AKWA IBOM will stimulate employment generation, create an influx of people, reduce pump prices of petroleum products, attract investors who utilise petroleum products, facililate the building of the IBAKA SEAPORT, drastically reduce rural–urban migration, create a robust informal economy, ensure there is avaliabilty of gas to power the Ibom power plant,promote our cultural heritage, etc.
EMMANUEL IMOH EKEREUWEM,
“ETI AKWA UTANG 1 OF AKWA IBOM”
OF VANGUARD FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, ABUJA.
IS A MORAL PHILOSOPHER AND POLITICAL THINKER,
WRITING FROM THE HOUSE OF EXILE.
E-MAIL: vanguard.4.social.change@gmail.com
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