A socio political group in Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Advocates for Peace and Development, has slammed the Executive Director of Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr Victor Antai over his comments on the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
It could be recalled that Antai, at a rally in Eket, alleged that Eno and the PDP are using poverty as a weapon to ensure that the people remain incapacitated and weak to challenge his administration.
Antai also condemned the Bulk Purchase Agency established by the governor to help the indigent members of the public fight hardship, saying that Eno should have used the money to empower farmers to produce more food.
Irked by the comments, the group, at a press conference on Wednesday addressed by its National President, Comrade Enefiok Udofia, wondered what Antai stood to gain by making such misleading comments.
The group alleged that the comments were borne out of “ignorance and bitterness.”
Describing Antai’s comments as standing the truth on its head, the group said it was dumbfounded that a man selected by providence to attract projects through the NDDC was bent on destroying the state.
Parts of the statement reads, “Antai should bury his face in shame for wrongly accusing the state government of impoverishing the people.
“The government has shown enormous commitment to ensuring that Akwa Ibom people live well through the various empowerment programmes embarked upon by the government, within this comparatively short time in his tenure so far.
“Antai’s criticism of the temporary measure of the government to mitigate hunger especially for the poor and vulnerable members of the society through the food security programme of the Bulk Purchase Agency is pitiable.
The governor has said it over and again that the food purchase arrangements is not a permanent solution but a stop-gap arrangement, urging everyone to return to the farm.
“While we are concerned that he has abandoned his office to become the state rebel leader, our concern is that he has refused to see and acknowledge that whatever money received by the state has been well utilized for the development of the State and prosperity of the people.”
