...Ada Bekwarra II fingered in alleged nepotism, sabotage.
ABOUCHICHE – Bekwarra local government area is in the news again over controversies surrounding the sharing of Christmas 'hampers' donated to critical stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the area by the State Governor,Sen. Prince Bassey Otu during the last Yuletide.
The development is coming weeks after the ouster of Hon.Theresa Ushie as Chairman of the Council area following alleged abuse of office and gross impunity leveled against her by the council legislature.
A socio-political support group of the APC in the area,The Bekwarra Rebirth, has alleged impunity and sabotage against the Ada Bekwarra II, Hon.Chief Signor Omang Idiege, whom they said was directly involved in the selection and submission of names of the potential beneficiaries of the Governor's Christmas goodwill.
In its statement made available to newsmen in Calabar,The Bekwarra Rebirth alleged that by the act,Chief Idiege deviated from the original mandate of equitable distribution of the package to thirty critical stakeholders of the APC with three from each of the ten wards of the area as selected and instead preferred nepotistic approach.
They argued that preferential treatment was given to Gakem Ward where the Ada Bekwarra hails from with nine persons benefitting, leaving other wards to share twenty one, while Abouchiche, the council headquarters had none.
Endorsed by Odey Paulinus and Ogar Eneji, President and Secretary of the group respectively, the statement said the "other nine wards were left with staggered names."
The development, according to them, reflected "the usual nature of impunity" characteristic of the leader," adding that "other leaders of note who were duly selected for the 'hampers' and had submitted their account details were deliberately denied for obvious political reasons."
The statement queried, "how can a ward have nine beneficiaries whereas Abouchiche, where situate the council headquarters has none; Ibiaragidi has one, and so forth?" This kind of impunity has lingered longer than necessary in Bekwarra, and needs to be addressed immediately!"
The group appealed to Governor Otu to order a full investigation into the matter and ensure that justice is done to avoid unpleasant experiences in the future.
The statement also urged Chief Idiege to come clean on the allegations or better still,prove otherwise that the list was manipulated without his knowledge and consent.
Names and status of the potential beneficiaries,listed in the group's statement for emphasis include:
1. Chief,Hon. Signor Omang Idiege, (Gakem Ward) RECEIVED
2. Rt Hon.Barr.Legor Idagbo(Ugboro Ward) RECEIVED
3. Elder Odey Ochicha(Ugboro Ward) RECEIVED
4. Elder Mike Irifo(Nyanya Ward) RECEIVED
5. Dr. Patrick Ali Eneji(Otukpuru Ward) RECEIVED
6. Barr. Bernard Ushie Odey -(Nyanya Ward) RECEIVED.
7. Hon.Moses Oko (Beten
Ward) RECEIVED
8. Dr. Efenji Odey (Afrike 2 Ward) NOT RECEIVED.
9. Dr.Clement Oshaka (Afrike 2 Ward) RECEIVED.
10. Hon. Marc Enamhe(Gakem Ward) RECEIVED.
11. Hon.Cletus Amama (Beten Ward) NOT RECEIVED.
12. Prince Abel Adinya-Ibiaragidi Ward) NOT RECEIVED.
13. Chris Ogar Idang-(Gakem Ward) RECEIVED.
14. Dr.Timothy Ogbang Akwaji(Afrike 2 Ward) RECEIVED.
15. Mrs.Dorothy Oko(Otukpuru Ward) RECEIVED.
16. Mrs. Rebecca Idagu(Ukpah Ward) NOT RECEIVED.
17. Hon.Mrs. Juliana Odey(Gakem Ward) RECEIVED.
18. Mrs. Bridget Ukor(Afrike 1 Ward) RECEIVED.
19. Hon. Oshen Ojugbo(Ugboro Ward) RECEIVED
20. Hon. Christopher Ekunke Adie (Gakem Ward) RECEIVED.
Others are,
21. Mrs. Ann Ushie (Gakem Ward) RECEIVED
22. Dr. Mrs. Monica Okom (Nyanya Ward) RECEIVED
23. Hon.Edward Ajang(Nyanya Ward) RECEIVED
24. Elder Matthew Ntamu (Afrike 1 Ward) RECEIVED
25. Rt.Hon. Idagu Agaji(Gakem Ward) RECEIVED
26. Sir Hubert Ogar(Ibiaragidi Ward) RECEIVED
27. Dr. Josephat Emeka (Abouchiche Ward) NOT RECEIVED
28. Engr.Clement Akwaji(Afrike 2 Ward) RECEIVED
29. Hon.Dominic Okana (Gakem Ward)RECEIVED.
30. Elder Thomas Adama (Otukpuru Ward) RECEIVED
31. and Barr.Cecilia Adams (Gakem Ward) RECEIVED
The group reasoned that "it is crystal clear and an undeniable fact that the perpetrator of the alleged favouritism, impunity and gross sabotage of the Governor's goodwill is from the Gakem side of the local government area, and if nothing else,for giving out nine out of the twenty six hampers to his Gakem brothers and sisters and sharing the remaining seventeen among nine wards in a staggered manner which also left out the council headquarters, Abouchiche."
The Bekwarra Rebirth wants the State Governor to intervene over the alleged favouritism and impunity.
Responding to the allegations, the Ada Bekwarra II, Hon. Chief Signor Omang Idiege, dismissed the allegations as baseless, distancing himself from the group behind the claims.
He stated that he does not recognize the group, describing it as neither a known support group nor a registered pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bekwarra.
According to him, responsible party members or genuine support groups are expected to channel their grievances through established party organs at the ward, local government, or state levels, rather than resorting to social media to air complaints or cast aspersions on party leaders.
"I do not know them, and I am not aware of such a group," he said, adding that the use of social media to insult leaders under the guise of activism is irresponsible and contrary to party norms.
He urged party members to adhere to internal dispute-resolution mechanisms and uphold discipline and respect within the APC.
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