Divided loyalties among media aides undermine governance in Akwa Ibom, says former Lawmaker
• Akpanusoh
A former two-term member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and prominent businessman, Dr. Usoro Akpanusoh, has expressed concerns over the divided loyalties of media aides working for state governors.
Speaking with correspondents, on Thursday, while reacting to latest political developments in the state, Akpanusoh noted that many aides are hesitant to defend their current bosses due to conflicting allegiances between former governors and current officeholders.
“It is evident that some appointees, including media aides, have one foot in the PDP and the other in the APC, with their ‘loyalties’ in the APC and their ‘affiliations’ in the PDP, waiting for their boss to make a mistake. You cannot serve two masters and expect to be trusted.
“You cannot serve two masters and expect to be trusted,” he stated, emphasising the detrimental impact of such divided loyalties on the political landscape.
“Divided loyalty poisons the political landscape and denies genuine public servants the opportunity to serve. We must choose where we belong and stop pretending out of fear of stomach infrastructure”.
The former Esit Eket lawmaker urged public servants to make a clear choice regarding their political affiliations. He criticised those who remain in their positions while expressing dissatisfaction with the current administration.
“If you are an appointee who is dissatisfied with how the current government is being run, please resign and focus on your private business—stop complaining. Do not follow the governor in a ‘corner-corner’ way”.
Dr. Akpanusoh also addressed the issue of inadequate funding in various ministries, revealing that some appointees have claimed to have been using personal funds for operational expenses.
He questioned the commitment of these individuals, stating, “Who does that?”
Akpanusoh noted that during Pastor Eno’s campaign to become governor of Akwa Ibom State, there was significant social media engagement, but this enthusiasm, according to him, seemed to have died down, with many now only sharing press releases from the Office of the Secretary to the Government.
Additionally, he raised concerns about abandoned projects, citing the unfinished internal road in Osong Ama Estate, which has led to flooding and property damage.
“Some contractors have abandoned their sites. For example, the internal road in Osung Ama remains unfinished, allowing floodwaters to enter homes and damage property.
“I recall that the current government established a flood-control committee and allocated funds in the supplementary budget”, Akpanusoh said, while reminding the media of their role in holding the government accountable.
He further urged government appointees to seek productive endeavors beyond their political appointments, warning that reliance on salaries alone is unsustainable.
He reflected on the shifting loyalties of political aides, noting that many who once supported former Governor Godswill Akpabio aligned themselves with Governor Udom Emmanuel during his tenure, questioning why they cannot extend the same loyalty to the current Governor Umo Eno.
“I can remember, many of the ‘boys’ who are now ‘men’ were once loyal to former Governor Godswill Akpabio; when Akpabio brought in Udom Emmanuel, they shifted their loyalty to him. Why can’t you shift your loyalty to Governor Umo Eno instead of constantly finding faults?
