Thousands Defy Rain to Protest Akwa Ibom Proposed Governor’s Lodge in Lago

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Barr Inibehe Effiong leading the protest
 
Despite the torrential rain that descended on the city of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, thousands of residents joined the peaceful protest march, organized by the Akwa Ibom Conscience to protest against the proposed building of a second governor’s lodge in Lagos by the Gov. Udom Emmaneul administration.

The protest march which took off from Four Town Secondary school, witnessed enthusiastic participants who started arriving the venue as early as 9 am, for the event scheduled to start by 10 am.

Addressing the participants, Comrade Inibehe Effiong, the arrowhead of the protest, thanked the participants for coming out to join the historic march. He said the march was borne out of the conviction of the people of Akwa Ibom state that the proposed lodge had no utilitarian value to the state when the state is faced with myriads of problems requiring finances.

He said that the people of the state had rejected the project, whether it was going to cost N9b or N2b or any amount for that matter. He stated that the courage of those who came to join the march has demonstrated that the tide has changed and the citizens are beginning to take their destinies into their own hands.

Despite the early signs of restiveness by some rough youths who invaded the venue and made away with the banner for the march, allegedly on the orders of an Uyo politician, who was also once a commissioner and now in charge of a government agency, the march went on peacefully.

Chanting songs depicting the rejection of the proposed lodge, the marchers moved to Wellington Bassey Way, where they met a barricade by security agencies, refusing them to proceed near the seat of government.

But the organizers took the stands at the roundabout by the Presbyterian Cathedral and addressed the people once more.

Comrade Effiong urged the people never again to remain docile in the face of clear misrule, adding that what the people of the state needed now far outweighs the consideration of government in the proposed project. He asked them, “do you need another lodge in Lagos?”, to which they answered in the negative. “Do you want jobs? Do you want pensioners to payed? Do you want industries to stimulate our state economy? Do you want an end to poverty in the midst of plenty? Do you want an accountable governance?” To which the crowd answered in the affirmative.

The marchers thereafter proceeded through the streets of Uyo to the House of Assembly, where the organizers once more addressed the crowd, berating the Assembly for lending itself to unpopular policies of the executive arm of government, urging them to make laws with the people’s interests being paramount.

Speaking to The Global Eyes Reporter during the protest, a participant, Bassey Ediminue, said he had to travel from Oron the previous night to be part of the protest. He said he was happy that it was successful, “despite all the propaganda from government and its media collaborators”.

“I am proud to have been part of this history. This has never happened before in our state and that is why they have taken us for a ride. I must commend Barr Inibehe Effiong for his courage and love for our state. Today I feel proud to be from Akwa Ibom state,” he stated enthusiastically.