Investigation: How FG’s Dismissal Of Oron Union’s Petition Against Akwa Ibom Deep Seaport Project Vindicated Gov. Udom Emmanuel 

Since last Saturday, when the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, during the 9th edition of the popular Television and Radio program, “Governor Speaks” accused the Oron Union, a socio- political group of writing unfounded, spurious and unsubstantiated petitions to scuttle the Ibom Deep Seaport Project, there had been a firestorm of reactions from a section of the Oron Nation. 

Some have poured invectives on the Governor, saying that he did not put the facts right; that they did not write petitions to scuttle the project while others have crossed the red line, by wishing harm to the Governor.

Some even descended to the level of making all manners of incendiary and morally reprehensible assertions that are lies and products of vile blackmail.

Facts have however, emerged to show that the Oron Union indeed wrote petitions to the Federal Ministry of Transport to scuttle the  Ibom Deep Seaport Project.

“Incontrovertible fact is, the Oron Union acted against the development of Akwa Ibom State and the Oron Nation by writing unfounded, spurious and unsubstantiated petitions to scuttle the Ibom Deep Seaport Project. Governor Udom Emmanuel was very right,” a source in the Federal Ministry of Transportation told our reporter.

It was gathered that in response to Oron Union’s various petitions against the Ibom Deep Seaport Project, the Federal Ministry of Transportation wrote a letter dated April 22, 2021.

The letter, referencing the Petition number: IDSP/ 02/21/ MOT, titled; “Illegal Relocation of Ibaka Deep Seaport  from Ibaka Bay to Ibeno Bay” was signed on behalf of the Minister by AD Suleiman, Director of Maritime Services.

It reads in part; “the Ministry conducted an extensive in-depth investigations into the matter with the view to establishing the veracity or otherwise of the allegation. The petition was consequently found to be lacking in merit, and unsupportive of the reality on ground.

“Accordingly, you are enjoined to advise Oron Union to cooperate and support Akwa Ibom State Government in its quest to successfully and timely execute the project for the overall interest of the citizens of the State and the Nigerian economy.”

An official of the Ministry of Transportation, who made the letter available to our reporter under the condition of anonymity said; “Oron Union owes His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel and indeed the entire peace-loving and developmentally conscious people of Akwa Ibom State apologies for putting their selfish interest over those of the State in particular and the nation in general.”