….Says family house under renovation is decades old
Akwa Ibom State Government has described rumours that Governor Udom
Emmanuel is building a six billion Naira mansion in his hometown of Awa
in Onna Local Government Area as totally false, reprehensible and
misleading.
The State Commissiner for Information and Communications, Mr Aniekan
Umanah, stated that the report in a section of the media is tantamount
to taking mischief to new heights of irresponsibility, and chided them for
sacrificing professionalism at the altar of sensationalism.
The information boss said that, contrary to the mischievous claims of the
purveyors of such falsehood , the Governor’s family compound has hosted
several buildings for over 60 years.
“It was in the same building that the Governor hosted friends and
Nigerians from all walks of life when he held a thanksgiving shortly
after his appointment as Secretary to the State Government. It was in the
same compound that he hosted supporters during campaigns and also on the
day of his inauguration as Governor of Akwa Ibom State . What is the
noise about ? ” Mr Umanah questioned.
The commissioner said ” what these merchants of blackmail may not know is
that Governor Udom Emmanuel has been a very comfortable man many years
before he was called upon by the people to serve” adding that Governor
Emmanuel has always had his buildings in Ewet housing and Awa long before
his foray into politics questioning why the mindless attacks on the
person of the Governor over a 4 bedroom house.
Mr Umanah said those accusing the Governor of spending Six Billion Naira
on a building were merely acting the script of mischief and propaganda
of their pay masters maintaining that no amount of blackmail will
distract or deter the Governor from his determination to move the state
forward with high flying performance especially at a time Government was
seeking funds and investors to help in the developmental drive of the
administration.
The Commissioner called on the public not to give in to the cheap
blackmail and antics of those who peddle falsehood as a profession and
seek to score cheap political points as the so called “web of corruption”
and “diversion of public funds for private purposes” four months after
assuming office as the Governor exists only in the imagination of the
purveyors of this reprehensible falsehood.
The Government spokesman further explained that, Governor Emmanuel had
been a very successful man who had risen to the pinnacle in Corporate
governance and financial services where he drove profits for such
organizations.”For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Udom Emmanuel served
as Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria; Director,
International Finance Corporation; Director, Zenith Bank UK, Gambia,
Sierra Leone, Ghana amongst others. It was from this plank of solid
experience, capacity, achievements and success that his people prevailed
on him to exit the private sector and come to serve them as Governor.
“Umanah added and assured that, as a seasoned finance expert of
international repute, the Governor will not compromise on due diligence
and the proper utilization of public funds, stressing that already, the
Governor had in keeping with the current national disposition, read out
the riot act of zero tolerance for corruption.
He therefore called on the media to act as responsible gatekeepers in
the discharge of their duties and avoid being used for smear campaigns.