Essien Replies Enang Over Corruption Allegations Controversy Against Udom
Uko Okon, Uyo
Chief Nduese Essien, a former Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, has responded to Senator Ita Enang’s involvement in the corruption allegations controversy surrounding former Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. According to Essien, the controversy is a manufactured media trial orchestrated by Mr. Fejiro Oliver, a self-proclaimed anti-corruption crusader.
Recall that Oliver’s organisation, Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), recently petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Emmanuel.
But Essien, in a Press conference on Monday in Eket LGA, questioned Oliver’s motives, highlighting his sudden interest in Akwa Ibom State and his previous attempts to “extort former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa”.
Essien also criticized Senator Enang for lending credibility to Oliver’s tactics, rather than championing legislative reforms against corruption.
“This media trial has also drawn in Senator Ita Enang—an experienced legislator and seasoned government figure—who has inexplicably aligned himself with Mr Oliver’s tactics.
“One would have expected a man of his standing to champion substantive legislative reforms against corruption rather than lending credibility to what increasingly appears to be a manufactured controversy.”
Furthermore, Essien expressed concern over the ethnic undertones creeping into the issue, emphasising that corruption, accountability, and the rule of law transcend ethnic affiliations. He urged the public to differentiate genuine demands for accountability from opportunistic grandstanding.
“Additionally, we must reject the ethnic undertones creeping into this issue. Corruption, accountability, and the rule of law transcend ethnic affiliations. Whether one hails from Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, or any other part of the state, the law remains the law.
“Those purporting to fight corruption must do so with fairness and objectivity, rather than sowing discord along ethnic lines to manipulate public sentiment.
“At some point, we must differentiate genuine demands for accountability from opportunistic grandstanding.
“Public officials are, by default, subject to scrutiny by the EFCC, ICPC, and other anti-graft agencies. If there are legitimate grounds for prosecution, due process will take its course.
“Until then, let us refrain from fueling baseless media trials. And, above all, I will not allow my name to be co-opted into this circus for the sake of sensationalism,” he said
