THE OTHER SIDE OF ITA ENANG’S PONTIFICATION OF BUHARI’S ACHIEVEMENTS

By Idongesit Uyo

Last weekend, one of the President’s liaison officers in the National Assembly Senator Ita Enang briefed the press in his Uyo residence and wooed support of Akwa Ibomites on the premise that Buhari had produced a steller performance in the state.

After going through the interview granted by Sen. Ita Enang, one scenario crossed my mind and that is what Sen. Akpan Udoedehe said about Mr. Nsima Ekere. On returning from an official trip to Abuja, Sen. Udoedehe was welcomed at the airport by his supporters. Addressing them, he said among other things that "Nsima asinwong cocaine (Nsima sniffs cocaine). What Udoedehe meant was that nobody should take His Excellency Mr. Nsima Ekere serious because he is a drug addict, therefore his actions and opinion most times are propelled by drugs.

Although I do not know if Sen. Enang also takes cocaine but what I am sure of is that the interview he granted portrays him as someone that "wongs" cocaine. A cocaine controlled person cannot organise his thoughts well, he says what he cannot defend, he sleep talks etc.
Here, I will attempt a review of all he said...

1. " Sen Enang said the President has delivered enough democracy dividends to Akwa Ibom in line with its position as the highest revenue earner for the country.
Senator Enang who listed the projects executed by the President to include the N56bn Calabar –Itu –Ikot Ekpene Road with a spur to Ididep, the $11bn Lagos – Uyo- Calabar railroad project as well as the appointments of prominent indigenes into prominent federal positions"..

ME: What Ita Enang has ended up doing here is to show the world that he has not driven through Calabar - Itu road since 2015. Calabar Itu road is one of the worse roads in the country even when Buhari has spent N56bn as confirmed here by Sen. Enang. When we keep saying that Buhari is very corrupt, people think we are just hating. Does that road look like a road where such amount have been spent on? Normally, a trip from Uyo to Calabar should be at most 1hour but as we speak, it is four good hours. That road is more of a death trap than a road where such amount has been spent on. Well, I appreciate Sen. Ita Enang for being bold enough to disgrace Buhari's government which pundits says is the worst government on planet earth. If he is saying that the road has been executed, probably he is talking about the paper paintings and not the actual project.

On the rail project, this project was to start since 2016 as approved in the 2016 budget, but as we speak not even a wheelbarow has been taken to the site but instead of Sen. Enang to remind Buhari that nothing has been done, he is here thanking a man that has literally forgotten about the existence of such project. Meanwhile, most railway projects in the Northern part of the country have been kick started. Sen. Enang is a hypocrites and if not that president Buhari enjoys eye service, Sen. Enang has no business working for Nigeria.

As regard appointments, since 1999 Akwa Ibom State has always been carried along at the Federal level and it would have worked against Buhari if he did not consider Akwa Ibomites for appointment because we are virtually feeding the whole country. If Sen. Enang should thank anybody, it should be Gov. Udom Emmanuel who pleaded with Buhari to consider him and others for appointment. Sen. Enang should also thank core APC members who did not revolt when a new comer like him was considered for appointment to the detriment of those who suffered for the party. When the likes of Udoedehe, Don Etiebet, Ita Toyo and others were campaigning for Buhari in 2015, Sen. Etang was in PDP wishing to return to the red chambers for a second term. He should keep quiet and enjoy his undeserved appointment. "Adia mfon abasi ke mbad ubok"... Did Sen. Enang thank former Presidents Obasanjo, Yar'adua, Goodluck Jonathan who during their tenure considered Akwa Ibomites for higher federal appointments like Secretary to the Government of the federation, Chairman of NIMASA etc?

2. Ita Enang said he went to Atlanta Georgia to represent the President at the annual convention of the Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA Inc,(AKISAN).
The presidential aide said he mesmerized AKISAN with all the achievements of President Buhari and called for support for him.
“The President had what to account for, and he sent me to the AKISAN Convention plenary to give account to Akwa Ibom State indigenes in USA".

ME: Again, this is very laughable. During the AKISAN "comedy", President Buhari was still in London attending to his health and had contributed nothing to the growth of the country. Fact is, he did not even want to return to the country to face the recession he created but was chased away by Nigerians in London. London police had to advice him to return to Nigeria to avoid a breakdown of law and order in their country as they feared that the protest might turn bloody. So I wonder what Sen. Enang mesmerized AKISAN with. Ever since Buhari came in 2015, he has only mesmerized us with the following..
a. High cost of living.b. Recession; Boko haram killings, which he has done nothing about; Herdsmen killings, which he has done nothing about; appointments of Northerners into the most strategic positions; Lies and propaganda; Corruption. Abba Kyari, MTN saga, Babachair's saga, budget padding, readily comes to mind; Killing of peaceful protesters with IPOB and the Shites on my mind; Silencing opposition; Protecting his party from EFCC; Blame games; Absconding to London to treat unknown sickness with tax payers money; and lots more.

So I can imagine how mesmerized AKISAN members were when you tried to cover up for a man who is a total failure. A man that does not know his right from left. A man that is trying to murder freedom of speech in a democratic settings. A man that is totally confuse and knows nothing about governance. AKISAN members with access to social media I am sure were very disappointed when you tried to mesmerize them with lies. President Buhari has nothing to account for except lies, lies and lies. He has visited no south south state to either commission or flag off a project since he assumed office two and a half years ago.

3. While acknowledging the contributions of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the State, Senator Enang however said the credit should go to President Buhari who released the state’s allocation to the Governor.
“Credit should be given to President Buhari for giving Akwa Ibom State Government money to construct toothpicks factory , tomatoes farm , cattle ranch, and the roads.”
This according to Mr Enang, was because the, “State Government is operating a feeding bottle economy to FG and doesn't have an internally generated revenue that could be accounted for "
"Akwa Ibom people should be inquisitive to how the money allotted to them by the Federal Government is used by their governor,” Enang added.

ME: First and foremost, I want to thank Sen. Enang for accepting that Gov. Udom Emmanuel has done so much but crediting it to Buhari is a NO. Buhari has no other option than releasing the state allocation, so what is there to celebrate? Maybe we should also attribute the failure recorded in APC controlled states that Buhari releases allocation to too. Buhari has in no way contributed to the development we are today witnessing in Akwa Ibom State.
I also want Sen. Ita Enang to know that the monthly allocation is not close to enough compared to the projects carried out by this administration and that internally generated revenue has gone a long way in helping execute these projects.

Maybe you feel it is only toothpick factory, tomato farms, roads, cattle ranch that Gov. Udom can boast of as his achievements but you are wrong. Workers in the state are paid on time, pensioners are paid on time, there is a coconut factory, syringe factory, metering factory all coming soon, Peacock paints factory is working, WAEC fees is paid for students by the government, education is still free, hospitals are renovated with new facilities provided, flooding is well controlled, etc. So no need asking the Governor to account for Internally Generated Revenue and the allocation that comes into the state, the people already know what it is used for.

If anybody should be questioned, it should be you and the government you are working for. What happened to 2015, 2016 and 2017 budget? The trillions borrowed by Buhari's government, what have they been used for? How much of tax payers money did they use in treating Buhari? How come Buhari's wife gets dollars at a cheaper rate than other Nigerians and businessmen? The Helipad at Daura, how much was spent in constructing it? In two years, can you point to one project started and completed by Buhari? Why are your corrupt party members not invited by EFCC? Why have you not question Nsima Ekere for constructing death traps in the name of roads in Uyo? Why have you not scolded Nsima Ekere for spending billions of naira to attend a jamboree at USA? Why did you look down of Osinbajo when Buhari travelled and handed over to him? Remember you said he can't sign the budget. You spent twelve years at the green chambers and four years at the red chambers, what development did you attract to your people? How many people did you empower? Until you provide answers to these questions, you have no right to question another.

Idongesit Uyo is Political Analyst and Social Commentator