Zero allocation: LG Chairmen reports Akwa Ibom governor, Udom to Niger Delta militants

Following the allegation that Local Government Council Areas in Akwa Ibom State have been operating on zero allocation for the past six years, the Chairmen have secretly reported the governor, Udom Emmanuel to the Niger Delta militants, CAPITAL POST learnt on Wednesday.

Reacting to the development, militants under the umbrella of Niger Delta Volunteers (NDV) have issued a 14 day ultimatum to the two anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate governor Udom Emmanuel.

The group in a statement signed by its leader in the State, ‘General’ Ekpo Ekpo which was obtained by CAPITAL POST was seeking the probe to ascertain how the fund meant for government at the grassroot level was appropriated since 2015.

The militants vowed to cause disruption of operations of the multinational oil companies, if the anti-graft agencies didn’t commence investigation as contained in the statement.

They alledged that the State governor’s meddlesomeness into the finances of LGs has denied them development worth N2.23 trillion as there was nothing to show that the third tier of government was alive in Akwa Ibom State since 2015.

The statement noted: ”It is a common fact that the government of Akwa Ibom State under the leadership of Udom Emmanuel has been misappropriating, mismanaging and misusing local government council funds while coercing the local government chairmen to sign the amount they have not received.

”The state governor has been starving local government areas in the state without substantial development projects hence our call for accountability,

”Since the swearing-in of the present local government council chairmen last year, the situation has become worse as the governor declared zero allocation, therefore, making the councils ineffective and malfunctions without projects.”

When newsmen called and sent text messages to the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, he didn’t did not respond.