[size=8pt][/size]Press Release

Our attention has been drawn to a cocktail of lies and intentionally manufactured and malicious blackmail- laden article currently floating in a section of the social media platforms, sourced, garnished and served by Mr. Franklyn Isong who heads a nebulous civil society organization: Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network( CHRAN.)

Franklyn Isong, through the Organization in an article headlined, “Eno in soup as group demands account of multi- billion Naira from Tinubu”, made various factually incorrect assertions, including that“, Abuja released the sum of 5 billion Naira and 3 thousand bags of rice to the Eno Administration as palliatives to cushion the effects of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.”

It is shocking and logically confounding that Franklyn Isong could maliciously push this lie. Franklyn Isong, was and is still a Member of the State Palliative Committee, representing the civil society organizations which was inaugurated by Governor Umo Eno, last year.

The Committee was celebrated for the transparent manner the palliatives were disbursed and distributed. To date, no one has complained of not receiving the palliatives.

The State Government received the sum of 2 billion Naira from the Federal Government and this was given as a loan facility which the State Government is expected to pay back. The State Government, as we speak has been asked to pay back the loan. No new funds have been released to the State Government, and once the balance of the remaining 3 billion Naira is paid, Franklyn Isong, as a Member of the Palliatives Committee will be informed. Again, it bears repeating, that, of the promised 5 billion Naira from the Federal Government, it is the 2 billion Naira that has been released to the State Government so far as a loan facility which the State is expected to pay back.

The State Government, had augmented the kind gesture of the Federal Government with additional billions of Naira and several additional bags of rice, which Franklyn Isong, as a Member of the Committee, is well aware of.

Mr. Isong again, made another factually incorrect assertion when he said an additional 30 billion Naira has been given to each State of the Federation, quoting a source attributed to the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON.

If Franklyn Isong is making a prohectic pronouncement of an expected 30 Billion Naira to the State coffers, we join him to say “ may the prediction come to pass and quickly too.” For now, however, the State Government has not received such funds as confirmed by the Deputy Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

We know that this is a season for grandstanding and indulging in blame- game, but we believe a civil organization that is worth the name on its letterhead should do a minimum fact- checking before rushing to make wild and libelous assertions.

Governor Umo Eno has run a very transparent government since his inauguration and has actually worked to cut the size of government, for which he has received plaudits from people across political lines.

He has been saying in the past one week, that we should exercise patience with the policies of the Tinubu Administration, and support him for the common good of all.

Stoking the embers of the society and inciting the populace at this already tensed atmosphere in the country, based on lies and smear campaigns, is sad and highly regrettable.

Franklyn Isong as a journalist, is not blind to the numerous people- centric acts of Governor Uno Eno since his inauguration, such as over 12 billion naira already paid for the settlement of gratuities and other benefits to retired public workers in the State, the bursary paid to students in tertiary institutions, the numerous rural access roads that have been flagged -off in several parts of the State, the N10billion injected for completion of inherited projects, the model primary schools and health centres billed for commissioning soon, regular payment of salaries, the Bill to set up the State Bulk Purchasing Agency, that will help reduce the soaring prices of our staple foods, the medical outreach programmes where thousands of our people have been given free medical diagnoses and treatment among other impactful interventions by the Eno Administration.

These are great interventions that have drawn great praise and commendations across political divides in the State to Governor Umo Eno.

While we concede that Franklyn Isong is entitled to his opinion, but let it be stated that he is not entitled to his facts.

Members of the public are advised to ignore this obviously sponsored piece by the Franklyn Isong -led CHRAN

Signed:
Ekerete Udoh
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
23/02/04