BY, :VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
The people of Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have appealed to the Federal government to replace the late Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Acting Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Elder Ibanga Etang with another son of Esit Eket, when the time comes.
A community based interest group in Eket Federal Constituency, Uku Ndito Ekid, in a press statement dated June 18 and signed by its National President, Mrs. Ime Willie said, “ordinarily we won’t make this kind of request now as the painful death of our son is still fresh in our minds but there is need to shut up speculations from some quarters in the state that Esit Eket has no qualified replacement for Etang.
“We find this position very insulting and embarrassing considering the level of professionals with many years of experience we have in the field of Accounting and others in Esit Eket”.
In view of this, “when the time comes, we passionately appeal to the Federal government through the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Supervisory Minister of the NDDC, Senator Godswill Akpabio to consider an indigene of Esit Eket as a suitable replacement for Elder Etang, on the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC who died in active service recently”.
The plea according to the National President of the group, “is also borne out of the need to holistically allow Esit Eket make up for the position which you (Senator Akpabio) magnanimously gave to us through late Elder Etang, our brother.
“Sir, we know your love for Esit Eket and her people predates your tenure as Executive Governor of the State, hence, we humbly solicit that it will be fair, just, equitable and a display of compassion in the sight of man and the God to graciously allow Esit Eket complete the tenure irrespective of whom you will find worthy for the exalted position.
“Esit Eket has an array of highly professionally qualified financial experts or technocrats who have made their marks in various financial houses both in public and private sector and can competently discharge the duties of the exalted position of the Acting Executive Director of Finance and Administration to your delight and that of the President and the people of Nigeria especially now that the forensic audit have begun.
Contrary to speculations “we have a long list of qualified persons as for instance we have Mr. Imah E. Esentia, a Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) with over 25 years working experience in government and the oil and gas sector. We also have Mr. Emmanuel Mbong Bassey, Willie Akpadiaha with similar professional qualifications in Accounting.
“These individuals, Willie averred, after close scrutiny of their service profiles will certainly help you reposition the commission to deliver on its onerous task to radically re-write the story of the Niger Delta and her people.
“We know the tragic death of Elder Etang has dealt a big blow on you, the government and the on-going forensic audit of the commission to uncover fraud and looters of the regions wealth irrespective of position and status”.
Uku Ndito Ekid, recalls with pride, “the unflinching joy and our support for the uncommon developmental policy of your administration in the state and wish to wholeheartedly assure you not to be deterred by the antics of those corrupt individuals and their collaborators who believe the commission is their cash cow and should therefore continue to serve their parochial interest and not that of the residents of the region. It therefore cannot be business as usual again.
“As the lion and leader of the people, we the patriotic and concerned individuals of the region wish to state in clear and unambiguous terms that our support for you and your resolve to rid the region of corrupt elements and bring them to justice is sacrosanct”.