Tension is rising in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State after stakeholders, traditional rulers and community leaders issued a seven-day ultimatum to the leadership of the Esit Eket Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Trust.
They are demanding a full public account of funds received and how they have been spent since 2021, warning that failure to comply will lead to petitions to anti-graft agencies.
The decision was reached through a unanimous voice vote at an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting held over the weekend at the residence of the Paramount Ruler in Akpautong.
The gathering brought together traditional rulers, political leaders, village heads and representatives from the three zones of Esit Eket.
Concerns at the meeting centred on alleged lack of transparency, weak accountability and poor consultation in the management of PIA funds.
Speaking at the meeting, the Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Ubong Peter Assam II, stressed that the push for accountability was not politically motivated.
“Our children were given opportunity to serve our community since 2021 in the PIA and their tenure had long expired.
”We asked them to come and render account. It was not an act to witch-hunt anyone,” he said.
He also accused some representatives of resisting accountability efforts and allegedly attacking traditional authorities online.
“We had asked the donor company to come and present to us funds given to the Esit Eket Trust, but those we sent to represent us as Board of Trustee Members stopped the company from rendering account.
”We now mandate them (BOT members) to come and render account,” the monarch added.
Former lawmaker Hon. Eseme Eyiboh said the community had little to show despite significant inflows from the PIA framework.
He pointed to poor infrastructure and lack of basic services as evidence.
“Whatsoever anyone is, it is as a community effort and we must account for what we are as a result of the community,” Eyiboh said.
He also criticised attacks allegedly directed at traditional rulers, insisting the leadership of the community must be held accountable.
Former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Bassey Essien, also expressed concern over alleged mismanagement of resources.
“We must not allow thieves to steal what God has given us, which is the proceeds of PIA,” he declared.
He added: “For every responsibility, there is accountability. If you can’t manage public funds, say so,” while also alleging irregularities in scholarship and grant disbursement.
Former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, urged residents not to remain silent over alleged wrongdoing.
“People must be accountable for the resources of the community. I am interested in what they did with the PIA funds.
”They should come and tell us in public; we want to know,” she said.
A community leader, Chief E. J. Unyongmkpo, also called for the return of allegedly mismanaged funds to support development projects in Esit Eket.
The meeting ended with a unanimous resolution demanding that the current leadership of the PIA Trust present a detailed account of expenditures within seven days or face legal action and petitions to anti-corruption agencies.
In an earlier communique from traditional rulers, concerns had already been raised over alleged refusal by some PIA representatives to render accounts despite repeated invitations.
The communique accused Sir Bassey Abia Jnr, Engr. Imaobong Inyang, Engr. Emmanuel Akpaekong and Unwana Evans of failing to provide details of financial inflows, projects and spending under the PIA arrangement.
It further called for an independent audit of all PIA-related funds and projects from 2021 to 2025, suspension of further payments to the current structure pending investigation, and replacement of the representatives under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.
Stakeholders said the earlier resolutions were ignored, prompting the renewed ultimatum and threat of escalation to anti-graft bodies.
