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UNITED AKWA IBOM COALITION

Motto: Unity and Prosperity

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Musikilu Mojeed’s Insult On Akwa Ibom People

Our attention and that of the entire Akwa Ibom people has been drawn to the shockingly unprofessional statements made by Musikilu Mojeed, the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times against the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State during an event organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council in Uyo recently.

At the event, Mr. Mojeed said “The Akwa Ibom Government is notorious for operating in secrecy. Its budgets and annual accounts are hardly public while its contract-award processes remain unclear.” This assertion is not only unfounded and clearly ill-informed but also a brazen at denigrating the integrity of Akwa Ibomites. The statement is evidently tainted with deeply rooted malice. Ordinarily, we would have ignored Mr. Mojeed and classify his vile statement to be the ranting of a man seeking for cheap attention through the back door. However, because he is supposed to be a respected voice in the society and his political inclination has beclouded his sense of professionalism, we have chosen to set the facts straight.

It borders on dementia that Mr. Mojeed has failed to note the fact that in the last four and half years, Akwa Ibom has been one of a handful of states in Nigeria that publishes audited annual financial statements. The transparency, accountability and integrity visibly displayed by the state government over this period has seen the Governor being decorated with an Integrity and National Service award in the banquet hall of Aso Rock Villa. This recognition is even more significant when you consider that the current Akwa Ibom Government and the Government of Nigeria at the Centre are on the opposite sides of the political divide. It speaks volumes about the transparency and integrity of the current Akwa Ibom State Government.

It might also interest our dear brother and friend, Mr. Mojeed to note that today, Akwa Ibom state is home to over a dozen investor driven private sector industrial endeavors. The presence and continuous in flocks of foreign investors to the state is another pointer to the humongous respect the state government has earned since 2015. To underscore this fact, within this period, the National Bureau of Statistics has twice rated the state as the second highest destination for Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria. Considering the seemingly dodgy perception of our national brand in the international arena, it is remarkable that the armada of foreign investors have chosen to trust Akwa Ibom State and not Mr. Musikilu Mojeed’s home state. It would be interesting if Mojeed could also beam his fabled search light on his home state where payment of workers salaries has for ages been as occasional as an annual Christmas gift.

The glaringly futile and infantile attempt by Mr. Mojeed to incite media against the government and People of Akwa ibom state is highly regrettable especially when he chooses to pretend to forget the meaning of the word secrecy when he talked about budgets and annual accounts of Akwa Ibom State being hardly in the public domain. It would be interesting know if Mr. Mojeed has ever visited www.akwaibomstate.gov.ng in search of the state budgets and account statements. A thorough breed and unbiased professional would have done so before allowing himself to be infected by an incurable diarrhea of the mouth.

Mr. Mojeed also ranted about his imaginary “ widespread poverty and dilapidated school and hospital infrastructure”; but what Mojeed has turned a blind eye to deliberately is the fact that today within a travel time of one hour from anywhere in Akwa Ibom State, residents and citizens have access to atleast one world-class healthcare facility. Mojeed has also blatantly and mischievously turned a blind eye to the fact the Akwa Ibom state Government recently became the first state in Nigeria to organize an education summit as one of the steps to finding lasting solution to challenges in the educational section in the state. Mojeed has also failed to put into context the fact that the challenges of the educational sector has been a national epidemic since independence and not only isolated to Akwa Ibom. It would make an interesting read if Mojeed could x-ray the educational sector and state of economic development in his home state for public consumption like he is advocating for Akwa Ibom State. If and when that happens, will his professionalism and objectivity will no longer be called to question.

Untill then, Akwa Ibomites demand and unreserved apology from Musikilu Mojeed, the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times for his malicious statement that impugns the character of Akwa Ibomites at home and in the diaspora.

This is politics taken to far; this is one insult taken too far. This is an affront on the Intergrity of Akwa Ibomites.

Signed
Calistus Oduduabasi
President General

04.11.2019