By Solomon OKPO
An open letter to Hon. Dr. Nsidibe Akata, Member representing Eket State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has raised pressing questions about accountability, equity, and transparency in the execution of constituency projects under his tenure.
The letter, authored by Peters Buhari, a journalist and constituent, queried Dr. Akata’s performance in relation to the 2024 and 2025 state budgets, particularly regarding the utilization and distribution of funds earmarked for constituency projects.
According to the letter, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly received ₦5.9 billion for capital projects in 2024, later increased to ₦8.5 billion, with ₦2.6 billion allocated for constituency projects. The writer asked Dr. Akata to clarify which specific interventions were carried out in Eket under his name in areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
The 2025 budget, which earmarked over ₦7 billion for Assembly projects, reportedly allocated just ₦95 million to Eket. Out of this, ₦65 million was set aside for a 250-capacity civic centre at Ikot Abasi Village, Okon-Eket, and ₦30 million for a solar-powered borehole in the same community.
“These projects, though laudable, raise questions of fairness and cost,” Buhari noted. “Why should both projects be sited in just one village out of over 100 in Eket? And why should a borehole cost ₦30 million when the same amount could provide multiple water facilities across the constituency?”
He further questioned the need for a new civic centre in Okon, recalling that the community had already been compensated after the demolition of its old hall during the Eket–Etinan road dualisation project.
The letter also acknowledged Akata’s motion on the Qua River Hotel, describing it as commendable, but pressed for follow-up actions since the facility remains abandoned. The lawmaker was equally urged to disclose other motions, bills, or interventions he has initiated on issues affecting Eket, including flooding, unemployment, education, and security.
“Our humble request is for transparency, accountability, and equity in project distribution and legislative performance,” the letter concluded. “We look forward to a published scorecard detailing your efforts in the past two years.”
The call, Buhari stressed, is not an attack but a demand for effective representation, reminding the lawmaker that “constituents deserve more than attendance at plenaries, they deserve a voice that attracts tangible benefits.”
