Date Published: 06/29/09

Sir,

Where is Government Treasury located?

It was one time governor of Kano State, Alhaji Barkin Zuwo who, during trial for corrupt practices, was asked why he kept such a huge sum of money in the government house; his answer was simple, that since it was government money, there was nothing wrong in some being kept in the government house. Whether this was a joke or a fact is not the issue here.

These days, not only that it is suspected that most governors keep huge amounts of government cash in government houses but their trusted aides could also be doing same. The confessional statement to the Police by the (former) Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Chris Ekong, that he received millions of Naira, in two Ghana-must-go bags, from the residence of the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Don Etim, is there as an example. With the cash, Ekong secured the release of one Sassive Khali, a Lebanese, working with Stemco Nigeria Limited, a company handling road construction in Ikot Ekpene. Mr. Khali was abducted on Saturday May 17, 2008 and Akwa Ibom government had to deploy Ekong to do the bargaining that led to his release. According to the earlier statement of Ekong, Akpabio warned that no money should be paid for the release of the abducted. From where then did Mr. Don Etim have the cash he delivered to Ekong? If it was a personal fund, the matter should be treated by the anti-graft agency (if we still have one) because a statement to the effect was made to the Police.

The payment was to two suspected kidnappers, Uyo Nathaniel and Godswill Nkamiang. From TELL magazine edition of April 6, 2009, it was understood that Nathaniel attempted councillorship election. It will recalled that the new Police Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Walter Rugbere had alleged former Chairman of Abak Local Government as the mastermind of the kidnap, collecting N10million ransom yet killed the 23-year old daughter of his successor. These give idea of the breed of politicians in some States.

Ms Eno Ntuk

Oron Road

UYO, Akwa Ibom State

enontuk@yahoo.com