Militants threaten mass protest in Akwa Ibom

The Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) has threatened a mass protest in Akwa Ibom after 14 days, if the State Governor Udom Emmanuel fails to publish federal allocations to local government areas in the state.

The group called on the governor to publish records of all council allocations received by the state from June 2015 till date, adding that the mass protest planned for failing to adhere to their demands may lead to unpleasant consequences in the state.

The NDLF earlier accused the Governor of tampering with the allocations of the council areas since his assumption of office in 2015, saying it has hindered development at the grassroots.

In a statement signed by the state commander of the NDLF, Victor Eyoh, and four others, and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Uyo, the group said only by publicizing the records of the allocations would the government be innocent of the allegation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, as indigenes of Akwa Ibom state, we are very much aware that during the first five months after the inauguration of the outgoing local government councils, all the 31 councils were operating on zero allocations.

“In subsequent months, N6 to N8 million per month were disbursed to each LGA for the payment of political office holders, elected councillors and traditional rulers.

“We, therefore, stand by our earlier claims that the state government has been illegally tampering with local government funds, and challenge the government to publish for public scrutiny details of all the monthly receipts of revenue from the Federation Account from June 2015 in respect of the allocations to the 31 local government areas of the state and records of disbursements of same to the councils,” the statement read.

However the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong has denied the allegations, saying Governor Emmanuel was not a signatory to any local government council account.

Ememobong, who stated that the NDLF was probably working for the opposition, advised them to reach out to the Federal Government for records of allocations to local government councils in the state.

He said, “The publication of allocation to local government areas is done by the federal government and is available for all to see.

“The local government leadership through ALGON can answer whether the Governor has been tampering with their allocation or not.

“However, for your information, the Governor isn’t a signatory to any local government council account and therefore cannot tamper with an account he’s not a signatory to.

“But it’s amazing how a militant group can now claim to be spokespersons for issues, that make them sound like echo chambers of some Akwa Ibom opposition chieftains.” (Daily Trust)