Ibom Deep Seaport Saga: Vinci Marine CEO Identifies Ibaka as Suitable Location for Ibom Deep Seaport .... Condemns Verbal Attack on Governor Udom,Engr. Nkpubre ...Warns political jobbers, Media hirelings Over heating Up Polity.

 

By Bassey Uweh

A  renowned business mogul  and Managing Director of Vinci Marine and Logistics Limited,  Chief Victor Mathew who is also the International Coordinator, Niger Delta Movement for Development,  has described as uncalled for, divisive , embarrassing and misleading,  the  trending  alternations and campaign of verbal assault against the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, and the former Managing Director/ CEO of Niger Dock, Engr. Nkpubre Okon Nkpubre over issues surrounding the Ibom Depp Seaport project.

He said the dimension the matter has assumed in the past few days was capable of pitching brothers against brothers, misinforming the masses and generating more tension in the State.  

The Niger Delta  activist and business magnet who made his feelings known yesterday in an exclusive chat with journalists  in Uyo, maintained that with dialogue and understanding anchored on  true sense of brotherhood, love,unity  and transparency, it was possible to resolve the issues without the commotion it has so far generated.

Praising the progenitor of the Deep Seaport and former Governor of the State, Obong Victor Attah for his vision and Statesmanship, as well as efforts put in by successive administrations towards actualizing the vision of the Ibom Deep Seaport project, located in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area,  Mr. Victor Mathew warned that nobody or group should foist selfish interests on such huge project that holds great socio-economic benefits to the entire State.

He regrets that matters may have been heated up by some factions in the media with no sense of professionalism, that places importance on the proverbial brown envelop.

In particular,  the activist blames the current brouhaha on political jobbers, mercenaries and overzealousness busy-body government agents whom he observed went beyond their bounds.

He said, "When did it become the norm for ordinary Personal Assistants to the Governor to insolently issue unguarded press statements on behalf of the State Government, casting aspersions on whomever they so choose. This must be condemned. In moments like this, information ought to come only from respectable authorities and  channels".

He therefore condemned in strong terms the questionable practice of two or three PAs meeting in hotels, spewing out diatribes in the name of Mandate Eye, and giving wads of dollars to quack journalists to misinform the people.

Cautioning his Oron brothers, Mr. Matthew stated that, because Oro Nation that is known for peace is also stupendously blessed with human and material resources, an oil-bearing zone  contributing over 70 per cent of wealth to the State, it has never been in short supply of those who can champion their cause and concerns successfully, both at State and national levels. 

He therefore advised that, whatever was the case, stakeholders in Oro were capable of handling the present situation only if they were accorded listening ears by both the government and the people of Oro Nation who made genuine agitation based on recommendations of various experts who selected Ibaka as the most suitable place for the Seaport Investment. 

In his words, "We have our channels of information. They include the Council of Traditional Rulers (COTR), Oron Union with President General as the Prime Minster and Spokesperson of Oro People, Oro Think Tank, and Essu Nlap Oro. These are responsible  and recognized leadership structure and leaders we can count on anytime any day". Not few political  appointees who are drawing their salaries from the Governor.

Emphasizing on the need for calm and caution in words and deed, the social advocate of justice however said that one of the preconditions for peace and understanding is justice in handling matters pertaining to the Ibom Deep Seaport on the part of government. He added that political appointees must avoid double-dealing for the sake of pecuniary gains and sycophancy that is the order of the day, but be bold to advise the Governor to listen to the popular opinion of the people by allowing the seaport to be sited in Ibaka, not to fan embers of disunity and deny the Oro race of their ancestral rights.  

Chief Mathew stated that the quietness and simplicity of Oron People in the face of gross marginalization should not be taken for granted. He called on  Governor Udom to see Oro ethnic Nationality as an integral and strategic part of the State,adding that Ibaka has natural bay,while Ibeno and the Okposo ares have dugout which will frustrate the execution of the project.

He particularly warned that matters should not be politicized to the personal benefits of a few in the corridors of power or outside government quarters. 

Hopeful that calm will surely come after the present storms, he therefore advised government to summon a stakeholders meeting where respected names like Obong Victor Attah, Don Etiebiet, Chief Michael Afangideh, Amb. Etim Okpoyo, royal fathers, leaders of thoughts,etc should be in attendance and given room to articulate on issues.

Chief  Mathew hinted that Oro Nation contribute 70 percent of the wealth Akwa Ibom State is enjoying through her revenue profile and  urged that, even as matters stand, nobody should insult the Oro People for airing their views and the Governor directly or through innuendoes as he trusts that the State's Chief  Executive was capable of handling the situation, knowing that history shall tell the role he played now and in the future regarding the Seaport Project. 

It has been observed that what may have sparked the current waves of misunderstanding apparently rose from the Governor's recent media chat in celebration of the State's 34th Anniversary, during which he made comments on the Deep Seaport project,and attributed the delay to its execution to the petition written by the Oron People. But the Oron People came out openly to set the record straight.