By Solomon OKPO
The growing wave of political rhetoric trailing recent interventions in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area has sparked sharp debate, with stakeholders warning against what they describe as unnecessary political braggadocio that undermines tangible development.
At the centre of the controversy are calls by some political actors urging Ikot Abasi people to reject benefits and projects facilitated by Senator Ekong Sampson, a stance many residents consider illogical and counterproductive.
The projects in question include employment opportunities secured for indigenes of Ikot Abasi, ongoing rehabilitation and construction of facilities at the General Hospital, and education grants recently accessed by students from the area.
Critics of the rhetoric argue that rejecting such interventions would amount to sabotaging the collective interest of the people. “Telling beneficiaries to reject jobs, refund education grants, or send away contractors handling public health projects is not politics; it is hostility to development,” a community leader said.
Beyond health and education, Senator Sampson has also facilitated the construction of academic blocks at the Federal University of Science and Technology, Ikot Abasi, and is reportedly championing efforts aimed at revamping the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), a move widely seen as strategic for industrial revival and job creation. In addition, he is sponsoring the bill establishing the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi (FUTIA) at the National Assembly.
However, the debate has expanded to include questions of equity and accountability. Attention has been drawn to indigenous contracts reportedly domiciled under HENSEK and associated with Engineer Uwem Okoko. Critics argue that with the scale of such contracts, there should be clearer and more substantial direct economic impact on Ikot Abasi communities, rather than symbolic gestures or politically selective largesse.
Concerns have also been raised over recent distributions allegedly involving 120 bags of rice and ₦2 million allocated to each of the 12 local government areas, amounting to 1,440 bags of rice and ₦24 million statewide. Observers note that such interventions, while helpful, fall short of expectations given the scale of resources involved and appear to exclude key stakeholders.
Some voices insist that Engineer Uwem Okoko, as a prominent Akwa Ibom indigene, should extend his philanthropy and interventions across the entire state rather than concentrating on Ikot Abasi alone, stressing that development should not be weaponised for local political advantage.
As the debate continues, analysts caution that development projects, social interventions and legislative initiatives should be assessed on merit, not sacrificed on the altar of political rivalry.
For many residents, the choice is clear: Ikot Abasi needs progress, not performative politics.
The Evangelist News
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