₦airaland Forum

A socio cultural group Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Akwa Ibom has written an open letter to Governor Umo Eno indicting him of using Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to probe his predecessor ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The letter is sequel to the setting up of a panel by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to probe the ownership of St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery by Akwa Ibom State, House of Assembly.

Part of the letter read: "Your Excellency, we aware of the recent development in Akwa Ibom State, where Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is initiating a process to probe the ownership of St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery in Mkpat Enin - one of the legacy projects of your predecessor and benefactor ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel.

While we will not query your decision to use Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to probe the records and deeds of your predecessor, we will however seek your company as we saunter on the paved lane of history of governance in Akwa Ibom State since the inception of our current democracy in 1999."

The group accused the Governor of pursuing selective justice in Akwa Ibom State by choosing to probe Coconut Refinery ignoring the glaring reckless spending during Akpabio's administration.

"Interestingly, throughout the second term of Chief Godswill Akpabio--your newly adopted political grandfather-- he budgeted billions of naira yearly for industrialization of Akwa Ibom State, yet he left office in 2015 without any single industry to show where such state's fund approved by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly were spent on.

"Also, in September 2008, Chief Godswill Akpabio, the then governor of Akwa Ibom State, had signed a N33 Billion contract agreement with Silver Bird Group for the construction of Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre. The centre was proposed to be modern class leisure and business resort that would provide employment opportunities for over 5000 Akwa Ibom people according to Akpabio. Based on available records, Chief Akpabio spent close to N68 Billion on Tropicana yet the project was never completed.

"Sadly, In 2019, Chief Godswill Akpabio openly accused Ben Bruce of Bayelsa of defrauding Akwa Ibom State, billions of naira by abandoning Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre in Akwa Ibom State. Even the equipment that were procured for the entertainment centre were destroyed yet no one had the courage to probe such era of financial recklessness in Akwa Ibom State."

Ibom Akwa Ibom recalled that ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel never had any cause to probe his predecessor despite their political differences.

"Although ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel had his personal differences with Chief Godswill Akpabio, he rather prefer to be busy with crystalizing his vision for Akwa Ibom State than to spend his few years in office to dig into the records of his predecessor.

"Today, your administration has suddenly considered it wise to sink again billions of state's funds to revamp Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre without caring to set up a panel to investigated how previous funds sunk into the project were spent. Even Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly does not consider it pertinent to probe how N68 billion was spent on the Tropicana Entertainment Centre before approving new funds for the project. "

The group urged Governor Eno to be conscious of the fact that his administration will equally be probed after his exit from office.

"Your Excellency, be reminded that this same people that are pushing you to probe your predecessor also pushed Chief Goodwill Akpabio to probe Obong Attah but he refused, they equally pushed Mr Udom Emmanuel to probe Chief Akpabio yet he refused even when he had tangible evidences to back such probe. Today, you have finally fallen into the ditch by accepting to be used against your predecessor.

"In summation, Your Excellency, we do not intend to by our letter to stop you from probing an administration that you were part of but we wish you reiterate to your consciousness that you will be equally investigated after your fickle years as the governor of Akwa Ibom State. "

Full statement below.


IBOM AKWA IBOM, IAI.

An Open Letter to Governor Umo Eno

13 Aug., 2025

THE SPONSORED PROBE AGAINST UDOM EMMANUEL BY AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

Your Excellency, we hope this letter meets you well where ever you are.

We write this letter to you as critical stalkholders in the Akwa Ibom Project. We represent the conscience of democracy that has come to remind you to stand for justice, equity and fair play - the values you took oath of office to uphold..
Your Excellency, we are aware of the recent development in Akwa Ibom State, where Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is initiating a process to probe into the ownership of St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery in Mkpat Enin - one of the legacy projects of your predecessor and benefactor ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel.

While we will not query your decision to use Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to probe the records and deeds of your predecessor, we will however seek your company as we saunter on the paved lane of history of governance in Akwa Ibom State since the inception of the our current democracy in 1999.
Our dear Governor, we wish to inform you that, you are about to make a history in Akwa Ibom State as the first democratically elected governor in the State that has launched a probe into the records of a predecessor since 1999. Permit us to remind you that even when ex Governor Godswill Akpabio was not in talking terms with his predecessor, Arch. Obong Victor Attah, he never had a cause to investigate into his projects and programmes. Till date, Ibom Science Park, a legacy projects initiated by Obong Victor Attah on the eve of his administration remains a deferred dream to Akwa Ibom people but no successive government in the State, not even Chief Godswill Akpabio had considered it pertinent to launch a probe into the abandoned project.

Interestingly, throughout the second term of Chief Godswill Akpabio; your newly adopted political grandfather, he budgeted billions of naira yearly for industrialization of Akwa Ibom State, yet he left office in 2015 without any single industry to show where such state's fund approved by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly were spent on.

Also, in September 2008, Chief Godswill Akpabio, the then governor of Akwa Ibom State, had signed a N33 Billion contract agreement with Silver Bird Group for the construction of Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre. The centre was proposed to be modern class leisure and business resort that would provide employment
opportunities for over 5000 Akwa Ibom people according to Akpabio. Based on available records, Chief Akpabio spent close to N68 Billion on Tropicana yet the project was never completed.

Sadly, In 2019, Chief Godswill Akpabio openly accused Mr Ben Bruce, an indegene of Bayelsa State, of defrauding Akwa Ibom State, billions of naira by abandoning Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre in Akwa Ibom State. Even the equipment that were procured for the entertainment centre were destroyed yet no one had the courage to probe such era of financial recklessness in Akwa Ibom State.

Although ex-Governor Udom Emmanuel had his personal differences with Chief Godswill Akpabio, he rather prefer to be busy with crystalizing his vision for Akwa Ibom State than to spend his few years in office to dig into the records of his predecessor.

Today, your administration has suddenly considered it wise to sink again billions of state's funds to revamp Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre without caring to set up a panel to investigate how previous funds sunk into the project were spent. Even Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly does not consider it pertinent to probe how N68 billion was spent on the Tropicana Entertainment Centre before approving new funds for the project.

Your Excellency, who has bewitched you to contemplate of using Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to witch-hunt your predecessor and benefactor, Mr Udom Emmanuel?

Akwa Ibom people cannot be deceived. The recent probe initiated by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly into the St Gabriel Coconut Refinery is the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob is very obvious. Your attempt to redicule the name of Mr Udom Emmanuel that you claimed to still maintain a cordial relationship with is laughable.

We will rather suggest that you come out openly to declare an open war with your predecessor than to use Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to witch-hunt you predecessor.
Moreso, we have carefully observed how you have recently made frantic attempts to reverse every policy and incompleted projects initiated by your predecessor Mr. Udom Emmanuel, just to expose him to public redicule and attack.

Your Excellency, be reminded that this same people that are pushing you to probe your predecessor also pushed Chief Goodwill Akpabio to probe Attah but he refused; they equally pushed Mr Udom Emmanuel to probe Akpabio yet he refused even when he had tangible evidence to back such probe. Today, you have finally fallen into the ditch by accepting to be used against your predecessor.

In summation, Your Excellency, we do not intend to stop you by our letter from probing an administration that you to were part of but we wish you reiterate to your consciousness that you will be equally investigated after your fickle years as the governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Signed:

Otuekong Udeme Umoh
Coordinator

Cdr. Solomon Akpan-Obong
Secretary General

ogugwa1992:

--- Says Governor Using AKHA to Witch-hunt Udom Emmanuel

---Demands probe of Ibom Tropicana Entertaiment Centre



https://independent.ng/group-writes-eno-over-probe-of-st-gabriel-coconut-refinery/

uunwanaobong3:
This group should be ashamed of themselves, so instead of them to encourage the governor on accountability and bold step he has taken, they want him to continue in corruption and money laundry operations of the past that has rendered the stated useless and lacked of investment and industry...... Young people are jobless because of corrupt money laundry and wastages of the past administrations.


Umoh Eno, I may not benefit from you, but go on, the God of justice is with you. Fear not sir, you are on the right track.
Get those swamp of locusts out of your admin.

Kukutente23:
Obviously these are the elders looting the state
Why will you be so troubled that a gov wants to probe his predecessor?
Shouldn't you rather encourage the ex- gov to make himself available in the interest of pribity and accountability? Instead you're blackmailing the gov
I trust the orange man though
Him no kuku dey see for afternoon

Melagros:
COMRADES, that baby governor don dey get mouth abi? You want to bite the finger that fed you

uunwanaobong3:
This group should be ashamed of themselves, so instead of them to encourage the governor on accountability and bold step he has taken, they want him to continue in corruption and money laundry operations of the past that has rendered the stated useless and lacked of investment and industry...... Young people are jobless because of corrupt money laundry and wastages of the past administrations.


Umoh Eno, I may not benefit from you, but go on, the God of justice is with you. Fear not sir, you are on the right track.
Get those swamp of locusts out of your admin.

ogugwa1992:

--- Says Governor Using AKHA to Witch-hunt Udom Emmanuel

---Demands probe of Ibom Tropicana Entertaiment Centre



https://independent.ng/group-writes-eno-over-probe-of-st-gabriel-coconut-refinery/

idanone:
May God see him through


Amin jesus, he joined APC and he became power drunk. FC for the first time after joining this forum for years.

appleous:
This was taken a mere 3 years ago.

Today, he stands face-to-face to challenge his benefactor.

How have the "turntables"?

Body language experts, analyze the closed-off posture of the woman on the sofa.

It says a lot.

Olu1000:
Such is life ! He is so blinded by power today that he will say the kneeling was forced ! Even Nyesom Wike used to prostrate to greet Amaechi and Peter Obi but today ; he insults both men at the slightest opportunity!

ibechris:
Wike Bowed to Obi when he visited Obi in Anambra state.

Exousiang01:
Wike prostrated to greet Peter where and when.
You people imagine things and take your own imagination for fact. This Obidients are something else

rigid123:
I will continue to say it. When scouting for a successor, look for a highly qualified, skilled, integrity, bold, confident, exposed, prudent and well connected person. The era of oga oga, kneeling down person, a perceived mumu push over has come and gone. Infact, it is the person who you think that's a loyalist will so deal with you.

ogugwa1992:

--- Says Governor Using AKHA to Witch-hunt Udom Emmanuel

---Demands probe of Ibom Tropicana Entertaiment Centre



https://independent.ng/group-writes-eno-over-probe-of-st-gabriel-coconut-refinery/

maxiuc:
If am a governor and it's time for me to leave office I won't have any Loyalist as successor it will be an open contest I won't work for anyone.

Exousiang01:
Wike prostrated to greet Peter where and when.
You people imagine things and take your own imagination for fact. This Obidients are something else


You have moved from "prostrated" to "bowed"
Anyways please show us where it happened, we need evidence.
Our you can change the goal post as we are expecting you to do