Akwa Ibomites protest in Uyo against construction of new governors' lodge in Lagos

AKWA Ibom youths took to the streets of Uyo yesterday to continue the protest against Governor Udom Emmanuel's plans to build a government lodge in Lagos at a reported whopping cost of N9bn ($24.5m).

Last week, protesters demonstrated outside the existing Akwa Ibom State Government Lodge in Lagos, saying it was wrong for the governor to spend public funds building a facility in Lagos at a time when pensioners were owed arrears. In a swift response, however, the government quickly organised a counter-demonstration of loyalists, leading a clash between both parties.

Continuing the protests despite pressure and threats from persons suspected to be agents of the Akwa Ibom State government, Lagos-based human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, successfully mobilised people into the streets of Uyo. During the protest, they urged Governor Emmanuel to renovate the old lodge and use the remaining money to tackle hunger and poverty back home, as well as the infrastructure deficit in the state.

In addition, they argue that with an international airport in Uyo, potential investors could fly into Akwa Ibom for a business meeting or go to the nation’s capital, Abuja, where the state has a new governor’s lodge too. However, the state government is saying that the lodge is too old and dilapidated and that there is a need for a new one that could host potential foreign investors who may wish to meet with Governor Emmanuel in Lagos.

Unlike the Lagos protest where thugs were allegedly flown in from Uyo at the expense of the government and molested Mr Effiong and other protesters before TV cameramen, yesterday's march was largely peaceful. It involved a handful of young people defying the heavy downpour to march from the Four Town Secondary School, Abak Road, to Wellington Bassey Way which is about four killometres.

Their placards carried messages which read: “We are not myopic. N1.2bn is not paltry”, “Our schools are dilapidated”, “Gov Udom, please what is your meaning of paltry.”

A little drama occurred before the march began as some persons suspected to have been sponsored by the state government had infiltrated the protesting group. These infiltrators snatched the group’s banner and ran into the bush with it as soon as the group was set to march into the road, causing uproar and commotion bit it did not stop the march from taking place.

Protected by the police, the protesters were orderly and peaceful and marched in the rain and into the city. At Wellington Bassey Way, few metres away from Government House, they stopped to listen to Mr Effiong who addressed them and others who had joined the march midway.

Mr Effiong said: “Mr. Governor, on the 29 of May 2015, you took an oath of office as the governor of Akwa Ibom State. You did not take an oath of office as the governor of Lagos State.

“You took an oath of office to protect Akwa Ibom people, not Lagos State. Mr Governor, you do not need another lodge in Lagos."

After Mr. Effiong’s address, the march continued into Dominic Utuk Avenue and moved towards the State House of Assembly Complex, Udo Udoma Avenue. It was the first time in the state that residents would pour out into the streets to protest against an alleged unpopular policy or programme of the state government.