Ibaka Deep Seaport: Akon Eyakenyi Fingers Senator Akpabio
Joseph Atainyang
The Senator, Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Senator Akon Eyakenyi has exposed Senator Godswill Akpabio as the chief culprit, who influenced the relocation process of Ibaka Deep Seaport.
Reacting to agitations by her people in Oron Federal Constituency, the Senator fingered the administration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio, saying it was to be blamed for the seaport’s relocation.
The people of Oron Nation, made up five local government areas of Oron, Udung-Uko, Mbo, Urue Offong Oruko and Okobo, are calling for the seaport to be restored at Ibaka.
In a statement personally endorsed by Dr Akon Eyakenyi on Wednesday, the senator cited a report by FELAK MTBS which was submitted to the Akwa Ibom state government in 2014 as being the main reason why the seaport was relocated.
She stated that FELAK MTBS was contracted by the state government under the leadership of Dr Godswill Obot Akpabio.
Her words, “The report submitted to the Senator Godswill Akpabio administration by FELAK MTBS in October, 2014 condemned the Ibaka Bay for having numerous oil pipelines in favour of the SEASIDE.
“According to them, it will be more cost effective to relocate the Seaport than relocate the oil pipelines. No mention was made of the draft of Ibaka Bay being shallower than any location around Akwa Ibom coastlines at that time (AKSG website www.aksg.gov.ng/ibaka-project, in 2014 reported a non-dredged draft of 13.5 meters for Ibaka Bay)”, she cited.
Eyakenyi however noted that contrary to FELAK MTBS report of 2014, all earlier reports had favoured Ibaka Bay for the siting of the project.
“The highway designed by the Obong Arc. Victor Attah’s administration from the Seaport at Ibaka through Oron to link up the Airport was and remains the shortest and most cost effective.
“With respect to topography, it is the best route compared to any other contemplated route.
“Any other conceived or anticipated location and highway route would best satisfy political correctness if the preponderance of objective technical reports on the proposed Ibaka Deep Seaport project are anything to go by.
The Senator who maintained that Ibaka would remain the perfect location for the seaport, called on Oro leaders to seek audience with Governor Udom Emmanuel so that the project could maintain the original location.
“It is instructive to note at this point that, government being a continuum, the Deacon Udom Emmanuel administration inherited a distorted report (with alterations in name of the Seaport, site of the Seaport and access road to the Seaport) on the Seaport from the preceding administration.
“It is sufficiently clear that Ibaka Bay remains the most suitable location for a Deep Seaport in Nigeria from time. Akwa Ibom State Government confirmed this when HE Obong Arc. Victor Attah’s administration designated Ibaka as the location of the Deep Seaport.
“Most importantly, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, HE Deacon Udom Emmanuel is a father to all sections of the Akwa Ibom family.
“Oro people should seek audience with the Governor and place their good case before him for a resolution in a manner befitting a family.
“I am unshakeably confident that HE Deacon Udom Emmanuel will very happily receive Oro people, listen to their concerns and act in a way that will assure the peace loving people of Oro Nation that he is a leader that cares”, she concluded.
But the precursor of the Gulf Coast City, Ibaka, Chief Monday Ekong has said the pipelines story was a smokescreen and meant to move the project on politician reasons.
The world-class finance and insurance consultant reasoned that tourists know exactly how to protect pipelines.
He argued that pipelines in Ibaka Waters were not more than those between Britain and Sweden or the United States of America.
