GROUP BERATES AKPABIO OVER QUA RIVER HOTEL CLAIMS
A foremost socio-political group in Akwa Ibom State, Ekid Nation Interest Forum, has lambasted the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio over what they describe as frivolous, deceitful, misleading and inciting statements made by the former governor on the re-purchasing of the abandoned Qua River Hotel in Eket.
In a release dated 20th of February, 2024 and signed by the Convener, Comrade Samuel Ubokudom, the group frowned at the Senate President’s claim at the pulpit of All Nations Christian Church in Eket on Sunday, February 11th, 2024. that the Qua River Hotel which had been sold to a private firm by the the Government of Arch. Victor Attah in 2001 had been repurchased by his administration and that he had gone ahead to design a 16 Storey Hotel for the present location of Qua River Hotel for Eket people.
The group described the claim as a tactical way of opening old wounds on the sensibilities of the people of Eket especially given his eight years reign as Governor between 2007 and 2015 which Eket never enjoyed tangible development.
They described the Qua River Hotel claim as untrue adding that the comment emanated as a result of guilt.
The group further reminded Akpabio of his numerous promises during the 2007 campaigns which included the building of a new stadium in Eket, revamping of the ailing Qua River Hotel and revival of the Qua Steel Factory in addition to Ibeno and Eket-Etinan Roads which he never fulfilled but chose to mock Eket people again after such ill treatment.
“Let us therefore remind Akpabio that at the QIC Primary School, Usung Inyang Eket in March 2007 when he visited Eket to seek for votes as the PDP Governorship Candidate, he made bold to promise several things: the building of a new stadium in Eket, revamping of the ailing Qua River Hotel and resurrecting the Qua Steel Factory. He also promised Eket – Ibeno Road and Eket-Etinan Road among others.
“He clearly said, ‘I know you want Eket Sports Stadium, I can assure you, I can assure you and I can assure you.
“You want the Qua River Hotel, I can assure you I can assure you and I can assure you…”
The group maintained further that “it had since been confirmed that Akpabio in 2007 was basically listing all what he will never do for Eket people; and he showed undiluted fidelity to the pledge to neglect Eket as if he swore to an affidavit to do just that. He did none after eight years.
“This is why we condemn his open mockery on Eket after such heartless treatment? Oh what an audacity to add salt to injury”, the statement reads.
The Senate President was also rebuked by the group for disrespecting the Governor by accusing him of taking the State Thanksgiving Service to his own church, “forgetting that on the 24th of September, 2023, Pastor Umo Eno had hosted the State Anniversary Thanksgiving Service at the Apostolic Church were he(Akpabio)infamously condemned the Akwa Ibom State Map that was duly enacted by the House of Assembly and signed into law by the immediate past administration all to spite the people of Eket who had reclaimed their ancestral land and property.”
The group stated that Eket had since taken their destiny in their hands and commenced processes of revoking the Hotel contract deal with Ekpoudia Enterprise, through a motion by the Member representing Eket in the State House of Assembly, Dr. Nsidibe Akata.
This, they explained, will afford the Governor, Eno the right to legally revoke and re-claim the project and build a standard hotel for Eket.
They further showered praises on the immediate past administration for the dual carriage roads projects, stadium and remodeling of the area
The group also advised the former Governor to desist from pressurizing Pastor Umo “who is a God-fearing leader who doesn’t allow ethnic sentiments or mundane trivialities to wedge between him and his plans for Akwa Ibom people and further expressed confidence that he will build and ultra modern Hotel complex for Eket in addition to industries and infrastructures.”
