Akwa Ibom Governor's aide in fraud scandal

Miss Akpan

The Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Students Matters Otobong Akpan has landed herself in big trouble following her refusal to share the over one hundred bags of rice delivered to her by the state Government for Students xmas largesse last Christmas.

The students under the aegis of concerned Students Union Government Presidents and Worldwide Students leaders in a petition to THE INK  reporter last night expressed total dissatisfaction in the activities of Akpan otherwise known as Aquila. They observed that the Governor’s SA rather than distribute the over one hundred bags of rice that was meant for the students have decided to be selling same.

She is said to have so far sold a good number of the bags of rice with the Dakkada stamp on them. A certain lady who is a friend to one Esther (names withheld) is said to be the beneficiary of the auction sales Aquila is employing to dispose of the students’ rice. She is said to be selling the rice at nine thousand naira per bag.

But the decision by the Governor Udom’s SA to deny the students of the rice meant for them has further infuriated the students who are threatening hell, fire and brimstone saying that Aquila and her likes should with immediate effect release the rice for the purpose in which it was meant for. The students have also called for her resignation insisting that her continous service to the Akwa Ibom State Government is not doing the Governor any good. Students from the state have maintained that Otobong Akpan has failed to live up to the billings of her office and have insisted that they may be left with no other option than to resist Aquila and whatever she stands for.

Meanwhile, the students in registering their protests have stormed the office of the Commissioner for Education on Tuesday were they vehemently opposed the decision by Aquila to deny students xmas largesse from the Akwa Ibom State Government and rather chose to mortgage them for pecuniary benefits with the excuse that the government is dry and that Udom is not circulating money.

The meeting between the Education Commissioner Aniekan Akpan and the students leaders have however been scheduled today at the conference room of the ministry of Education. THE INK gathered also that Aquila has however called on some students to come get the rice but with a caveat that each person who collects the rice must ensure that they endorse a factional NANS JCC leadership that she intends to install in Akwa Ibom State.

As at the time this paper went to press last night, Otobong Akpan could not be reached for comments but a source quite close to her confirmed the development. Our source said, Otobong Akpan is the SA to the Governor on media and therefore has the right to do whatever she likes with the rice.

In the meantime, information gathered by our correspondents has shown that except urgent steps are taken that the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua may be thrown into crises tomorrow following the decision by the Governor’s SA to inaugurate a factional and parallel students body of NANS JCC in Akwa Ibom State. Students who spoke to our reporter said they have gotten enough of Aquila and her antics and that they have mobilized to ensure that Aquila does not have her way this time around. The leadership of the students body which comprises of SUG leaderships of different campuses, worldwide presidents of different local Government Areas and other students stakeholders contend that if the SA to Governor Emmanuel thinks she can play with the intelligence of Akwa Ibom students then she had better have other plans as they will be on hand to ensure that any NANS JCC leadership that is other than the Akwaowo Clifford led own is dead on arrival. They insisted in separate interactions with THE INK reporters that they shall not recognize any NANS leadership other than that of Akwaowo Clifford which they said that is duly recognized by NANS at the zonal and National.

The students have however called on the Rector of Akwa Poly Mr. Israel Affia to desist from allowing Aquila to use him as a vessel of trouble in the institution. The students said, there is a NANS JCC body already led by Akwaowo Clifford and the Rector Mr. Israel Affia whom they have very high regards for should not act for knowing or unknowingly either by himself or through a proxy in encouraging Otobong Akpan cause trouble in the state owned Polytechnic.

With this development, it appears obvious that crises may engulf Akwa Poly if the planned inauguration by the Aquila factional NANS JCC sails through.

The Rector of Akwa Poly Mr. Israel Affia could not respond to calls sent to his phone to comment on his approval of the venue of the factional inauguration till press time when this paper went to bed.

(Culled from THE INK)