Re: Does Akpabio Deserve His Several Awards By Abasianam Uma

Please permit me to reply to an article hosted in your good publication on 24 th December 2009, in which one Mr. Uma described my sincere observation on the award of UNIZIK honourary doctorate degree to Akpabio, as “what would better described as height of ignorance and perfect display of colonial mentality, oiled with tribalism”. I am an Akwa Ibomite. He went further to describe me as an ignorant fellow. He reeled out what he considered as Akpabio's achievements.
It is very likely that Mr. Uma was among the hundreds of Akwa Ibomites who went to the UNIZIK for simple award of a honourary doctorate degree to Governor Akpabio. If you investigate you would find out that millions of Naira belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom was spent in the process. At Awka, Akpabio and Chief Don Etiebet campaigned openly for candidate of opposing political party and described the former PDP governors in Anambra State as failed governors.
I wonder what airport Uma was referring that was constructed by Akpabio. We are all aware that the airport was initiated by the past administration and when he came to power, inflated the figure by over $52million dollars; yet the main flesh of the airport project which is the Hangar would only be completed by end of 2010, according to him. There was free education up to JSS-3 and this was raised to SSS-3 by Akpabio but yet no single classroom has been added and this situation witnesses the students crowding in classrooms. The Ibom Power Plant project was commissioned by ex President Obasanjo with only transmission line left, and we hear of lies that the Eket and environs have in the last four months been enjoying uninterrupted power supply; the people have protested against this lie. We heard of that 17 dialysis machines were donated to University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; a total lie. We heard of unfounded 3000 projects initiated and completed by Akpabio and when he was asked to name them, he could not, up till date. We heard that Akpabio has spent N210billion on roads as if no road existed before he came to power. Now we hear from Mr. Uma also that the Tropicana is on course and the completion of 'digitalized government house'; what a colonial mentality? Lies are too many. All these are just to justify the ongoing looting of the State treasury.
Can Uma defend the Governor who said that he spent N140m with This Day to bring in foreign musicians for the so-called Peace Concert? In any case, I am in support of the throwing of canned drinks and pure water sachets at the governor that night. How many of our local (Niger Delta or Akwa Ibom) musicians benefitted from that wasted N140million? Or can one talk on the $3.1m cash which Bank PHB is trying to cover up because of threat that if they failed to accept ownership, the State government would withdraw the Accounts with them; let them continue fooling themselves. People know this much.
Mr. Uma can reply to the above and convince the whole world.
Dr. Emmanuel James, Plot 1159 Woji Road, Port Harcourt.