SUNDAY April 6, 2025 |
www.thenewsdesk.ng
By Dennis UDOMA, Uyo
The Host Community Development Trusts (HCDT) in Ibeno have disagreed with the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly’s move to dabble into the operations of the Host Communities Trust Funds, in the disguise of addressing purported looming crisis among oil producing communities in the state.
They said that such effort tantamounts to slowing down the excellent performances and work already going on in several communities within the HCDTs operations.
The disagreement by Ibeno stakeholders follows a motion brought under Order 3, Rule 1 of the Standing Orders of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly sponsored by the Member Representing Ibeno/Esit Eket State Constituency, Hon. Friday Udobia Udo.
Hon. Udobia Udo, during a recent sitting of the House had said that, the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in August 2021, and subsequent incorporation of several Host Community Development Trusts, HCDT, in Akwa Ibom from around the year 2023 for the development of oil bearing communities, is embroiled in displeasure and dissatisfaction by community stakeholders over approach to projects execution and funds management by the HCDTs in the State.
But speaking on behalf of Ibeno people, the President of Ulok-Ulok People’s Assembly, Chief Ekaluo Asuakasi countered the House of Assembly Order saying that, it is anti – development to the people of the State.
In an interaction with newsmen in Uyo on Sunday, Chief Asuakasi described the motion by the lawmaker as a brazen attempt to truncate the excellent performances of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund in the State, particularly Ibeno Local Government Area.
He said, by the Act of Parliament establishing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly does not have the right to interfere, oversight or cause disruptions in the activities of the Communities Development Trust in Ibeno adding that, the entire Act establishing PIA is regulated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
According to him, “by the contemplation of the Petroleum Industry Act, I do not think Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has the right to interfere in the activities of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund.
“The Act establishing the PIA is regulated by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which is the supervisory body over the activities of the Trusts across the entire country, and up till now, about 140 HCDTs have been incorporated.
“For instance, the Ibeno Host Community Development Trust, in Ibeno Local Government Area, under the sterling leadership of Hon. Samuel E. Thomas, as (BOT) Chairman, has been doing excellently well; and there are no complaints by the people or stakeholders from the area against the activities or operations of the IHCDT.
To enumerate the activities and achievements of the Trust in Ibeno in less than 2 years of its existence would be a difficult task, but the IHCDT had paid bursaries and had recently paid scholarships to Ibeno students in tertiary institutions across the country; spending well over One Hundred Million Naira to do so. The Trust also embarked on free medical missions to all indigenes of Ibeno during which, visitors who trouped in from neighbouring local government areas of Onna, Eket, and Esit Eket received treatments, and many underwent surgeries on the goodwill and largesse of the Trust.
“The Trust has procured and begun the process of distributing over 50 speedboats/state of the art outboard engines to help some fishermen across the communities of Ibeno and ease water transport for those residing in the riverine villages.
“The Trust has awarded contracts for electrification as well as the upgrading of lightning facilities across many communities of Ibeno. As at today, 12 brand new transformers have been procured for this purpose, while about five hundred high and low tension poles have been planted at strategic areas in Ibeno in furtherance of the upgrading.
“The Trust has begun the reconstruction of Uwuo-Okpom Opolom Primary School. The school was completely dilapidated, and children in that village had not a single classroom block left to continue their learning. All entreaties and appeals made to relevant government agencies from members of Uwuo-Okpom Opolom had fallen on deaf ears until the Trust took the bold steps to reconstruct the school, particular mention must be made that the Trust procured two state of the art boats fixed with all the modern gadgets and four 200 horsepower outboard engines which were donated to the security unit at Upenekang to fight sea pirates. The Ibeno community was ravaged by sea pirates who kidnapped, maimed, and killed many of the fishermen. This menace was reported to the government of Akwa Ibom State for many years, but nothing was done about it. Since the procurement of these fighter boats, these heinous crimes have reduced drastically. Worthy of note, but very ironical is the fact that, it was these same boats that were borrowed by the State government to conduct surveillance and rescue operations when the amiable and personable Paramount Ruler of Mbo was kidnapped some months ago.
Chief Asuakasi however advised that, if there are complaints from the people of Eket and Esit Eket, such complaints should be treated in isolation by their stakeholders in Eket and Esit Eket”.
Some months ago, the entire state was awash with stories of the mismanagement of funds in other trusts where scholarship lists were alleged to have been padded with outrageous sums; buying of reketie Keke Napep and Mini buses etc. Such matters can be investigated by the relevant crime agencies.
Chief Asuakasi further stated that, Host Community Development Trust Fund in Ibeno is a distinct body saddle with the development of Ibeno communities, and that it is only Ibeno people that have the right to complain, not somebody off – shore in the name of a House Member to do so.
He queried, where was Hon. Friday Udobia Udo, who purportedly represents Ibeno/Esit Eket State Constituency in the House of Assembly, several months ago, when his people from Eket/Esit Eket violently killed innocent people and destroyed properties in Ibeno communities?
He added that, “when Ibeno people were being killed by Eket/Esit Eket people in unwarranted attacks throughout last year, he was there in the House of Assembly closing his eyes, ears and mouth against the cries of Ibeno people. He neither raised a motion nor urged the State Government to intervene or caused the State Assembly to investigate, pay visits, or console the affected families in Ibeno over the loss of lives and properties of his constituents
“For Hon. Udobia Udo to call on the House of Assembly Ad – hoc Committees to investigate the purported crisis in Host Community Development Trust Funds in Ibeno is a smacks of insult to Ibeno people; it is uncalled for, unwarranted and in bad faith. It is outside the purview of his responsibility to the people of Ibeno, but he may exercise it to the people of Esit Eket LGA outside Ibeno.”
While saying that, the lawmaker was on a frolic mission of his own to do the bidding of Esit Eket people in total disregard to the feelings of Ibeno people, it was also alleged that, he may have personally overseen the activities that led to the violent attacks against Ibeno by Esit Eket/Eket at the wake of the remapping exercise by former Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration.
“When the House of Assembly hastily carried out the so – called Public Hearing on the evil and malicious attempt to remap Ibeno communities and çeded our ancient communities to Eket, Esit Eket and Onna, Hon. Friday Udobia Udo was publicly in tacit support, not minding he was representing the two local government areas at the House of Assembly, and supposed to act as an unbiased abiter, and cause a parley between both people of Esit Eket and Ibeno for peaceful and amicable resolution of the issue. Instead, he was in full support of the evil attempt to remap and decimate our communities and cede them to Esit Eket and Eket adding that, the activities and manner of Hon. Friday Udobia Udo representation has called to question the rationale behind the joint State Constituency, while has made nonsense of all the sacrifices of members who held that position in the past.”
