THE TRUTH ABOUT PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO'S ABSENCE FROM COMMISSIONING OF ST. GABRIEL'S COCONUT REFINERY.

 

By Edet Okpo

Again, the Media arm of the opposition forces  in Akwa Ibom State is on the prowl, trying frantically to take advantage of the recent commissioning of St. Gabriel's Coconut Refinery to continue their stock in trade - disparaging  and casting a slur on the personage and character of  Mr Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

It is true  that the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor  Yemi Osinbajo who was initially billed to commission the Multi- million Naira state- of- the art factory was unavoidably absent from the venue, despite being in the State as scheduled. Contrary to the propaganda mischievously peddled  by some Critics of  Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration,  the Vice President's absence from the event had nothing to do with all the idiotic things written by idle media hirelings in the last two days. In fact, most of the falsehoods are too infantile and downright dumb to deserve a response. 

For the avoidance of doubt, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has enjoyed a very chummy and robust  relationship with Governor Udom Emmanuel and has  visited Akwa Ibom State  and undertaken the commissioning of projects more than any other State in the federation. 

The  misleading Press  statement credited to the Chief of Staff to the Vice President, Mr Adeola Ipaye wherein he allegedly adduced reasons for the Vice President's conspicuous absence is fabricated by the media wing of the opposition  forces to fit into their devious scheme of blackmail , aimed at demonizing and de-marketing Governor Udom Emmanuel's superlative performance and the State government.

From available record, Governor Udom Emmanuel has never hidden the fact that St. Gabriel's Coconut Refinery belongs to Akwa Ibom  State Government. So, issues bordering on the ownership of the investment couldn't have been the reason for the Vice President's  absence from the inauguration ceremony. Indeed, this is kindergarten and artistic lies concocted to present a scenario where our revered Vice President is on a Collision course with our esteemed Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

The fact is that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was billed to commission the project as he has done several times in the past at the instance of the state government where he Commissioned World-class Syringe Company, 21 Storey - Smart Building( Dakkada Tower),  Metering Company, laid foundation Stone for the Dakkada Estate, among others. This time, it turned out to be an electioneering  season with its peculiarities and intrigues.

Although neither the Vice President nor Governor Udom Emmanuel has been nominated as the Presidential flag-bearer of their  political parties, that doesn't change the fact that both parties are out to outdo each other in a crucial presidential election holding  a few months from now. The state government had  thought the Vice President would demonstrate his usual characteristic political maturity and Statesmanship  of prioritizing governance over partisanship. Alas, this time around, he is  probably influenced by the fact that he's directly in the presidential race . If i most borrow the words of former Governor of Benue State, Mr Gabriel Suswan, the Vice President's  handlers erroneously convinced His Excellency  to believe  that commissioning such a gargantuan industrial complex in the build up to a general election will be tantamount to promoting and  campaigning for, and endorsing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming  Presidential elections.

Moreso, the need to address the intractable factional crisis bedeviling the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Vice President's Party also made it practically impossible for him to attend the  scheduled inauguration. It would be misinterpreted as being akin to a man who goes on a celebration galore with strangers while his homestead is on fire.  On his arrival at Victor Attah International Airport, His Excellency, Obong Nsima Ekere, former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State and immediate past Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission,(NDDC), had introduced to the Vice President and APC Presidential Candidate Mr. Willie Ekanem as the authentic Chairman of All Progress Congress(APC), while the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs who is also APC Governorship Aspirant in the State, Senator Ita Enang introduced Mr. Stephen Ntukekpo as the Federal High Court Confirmed State Chairman of APC. 

For me, this was already a serious problem for the Vice President to settle in his own Party because one of the reasons he came to Akwa Ibom, was to Consult and interface with Delegates, ahead of APC Presidential Primaries.

Of course, the Vice President of Nigeria was  customarily and warmly received by  Governor Udom Emmanuel at Victor Attah International Airport. There's no other reason for the Vice President's decision to boycott an event he earlier consented to than the need for political correctness. This is understandable. 

Every other reason given outside above stated facts, is a figment of the imagination of agents of political propaganda  and tissues of lies concocted by those who think falsehood is synonymous with politics.

The allegation of non accountability of  reimbursed One Hundred and Seventy Billion Naira(#171B) by the State Government is laughable. In as much as I don't intend to  hold brief for Akwa Ibom State Government, it must be clearly mentioned that there's no record  from anti-graft agencies to authenticate or prove that  such huge  amount of  money reported to have been refunded by the Presidency to Akwa Ibom State Government , was misappropriated.   . Even an average secondary school student knows the process of accountability in public finance. The duty of oversight over the finances of Akwa Ibom  State is that of the State House of Assembly. Where there's a case of misappropriation or embezzlement of funds, there are agencies of government, like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigerian Police Force, which are saddled with the responsibility of investigating such allegations and prosecuting defaulters accordingly. Since the Akwa Ibom State is not an arm of the presidency, there was no way the Vice President would have received  or acted on such frivolous  petitions. If such amount was remitted to the coffers of the state government, how would anyone know whether or not it was judiciously     deployed. One question begging for an answer is,  has the agent of this unsubstantiated negative report against the Vice President conducted  a comprehensive auditing of Akwa Ibom State's Government Açcount to discover financial impropriety?.  As a thoroughbred and globally acclaimed financial expert  who believes in probity, Governor Udom Emmanuel has been masterful in administering the finances of the State, even in troubled times when many state governments were unable to meet basic financial obligations.

Assuming without conceding there were petitions against the Governor, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), the Vice President could never have passed a guilty verdict based on such unsubstantiated allegations when a court of competent jurisdiction hadn't done so. Some propagandists and media hirelings need some tutorials on public administration, protocol management, Strategic Information networking, branding,  Corporate  Communication, Image  and Reputation Management, the judicial process among others .

The allegation bordering on non completion of the Dakkada Luxury Estate is absolutely ridiculous and tends to question the judgement of the  Chief of Staff to the Vice President, when his principal, the Vice President,Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo was the one  who performed the groundbreaking. The  Dakkada Luxury Estate, although an initiative of the State Government will harbour houses which are privately owned. In other words, the completion of the estate is dependent on the acquisition of the advertised parcels of lands, construction of houses and completion of same by individual owners. Are the propagandists in any way suggesting that the Vice President knows nothing about the project? The answer is No.

It is  not true that Governor Udom Emmanuel has denied former Councillors  their severance gratuities. It is not also true that protesting former Councillors were shot at. It never happened and it couldn't have occurred at the order of the Governor who is well known as someone who respects and values human lives. To the best of our knowledge, the process of settling the claims of former Councillors is on.  

Few days ago, Akwa Ibom State Government organized Leadership Retreat for serving Councillors in the State in order to broaden their horizon in the trinity mandate of lawmaking, oversight and representation in their various legislative Councils. 

Detractors and their media hirelings should learn a bit of decency and basic knowledge in public Communication and administration before engaging in infantile falsehoods in the name of politics and stomach infrastructure.

* Edet Okpo,  Media and Image Management Consultant writes in Uyo,Akwa Ibom State-Nigeria.