Date Published: 12/03/09

Editor Sir,

Obasanjo and hatred for Akwa Ibom State

On one hand, I appreciated what one Obi Nede-Nuhu wrote in his recent article published in the media, on how when he was a staff of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), in 1992 our (Akwa Ibom) daughter, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, was accorded the respect by then military President Ibrahim as she appealed that the FRSC should not be merged with the Police (then) as planned. Christy had earlier succeeded in persuading the government to set in motion the instrument that abrogated the then obnoxious offshore/onshore oil dichotomy.

On the other hand, I do not agree with the portion of Nede-Nuhu’s article which labeled Akwa Ibomites as ingrates because of the inglorious and regrettable problem the present government in Akwa Ibom tried to have with our daughter and her family. If Nede-Nuhu conducted an opinion poll on the streets of Akwa Ibom when the so-called, albeit political, altercation lasted, he would have discovered that majority Akwa Ibomites was annoyed with the government for trying to run her down for no just cause, instead of appreciating her. Some citizens even went on the pages of newspapers to condemn the regrettable attempt of the government.

One thing most people did not know was that because of the part Christy played in the cancellation of the oil dichotomy, former President Olusegun Obasanjo delayed releasing her award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) for two years before the conferment; General Abdulsalami’s government listed Christy for the MFR award but could not handle the conferment ceremony before handing over the realm of government to the elected President Obasanjo. Though many people considered she should have been honoured in a higher category, nonetheless MFR was what Obj eventually conferred on her after the delay. Also Obasanjo’s fight with Obong Victor Attah on resource control case which impoverished Akwa Ibom for about one year before it was politically resolved was an extension of the hatred Obj has for Akwa Ibom people. Obj tried to undo most of the things his predecessors did.

Chief Okon Nseobong Akpan

Ndoneyo, Onna Local Government Area

Akwa Ibom State.