There are strong indications that the current scrambling for projects execution and other aspects of democratic deliverables being witnessed in some local government areas might not be unconnected to a hidden agenda of most Transition Committee Chairmen in Akwa Ibom who want to curry favour by all means from Governor Umo Eno, to retain their office at the expiration of the current transition arrangement.Recall that the present Transition Committee Chairmen were appointed into office by Governor Umo Eno last December, after a three-year tenure of the last elected council chairmen came to an end. Although almost all the people who served in the last local government administration as elected chairmen were appointed as Transition Committee Chairmen, many have expressed shock that there appears to a great difference in performance between when they were elected and now that they are serving as appointed chairmen. This reporter gathered during an unannounced visit to the local government areas recently that the chairmen, since they were appointed, have been approaching development within their domain in a hurry, a situation some locals in certain local government areas believe must have been occasioned by their interest in gaining favour from the governor for considerations when the next local government election will be conducted.When this reporter visited Uyo Local Government Area, a lot of project work was seen going on, either in the council Secretariat or in some communities.In the council Secretariat, a dilapidated structure this reporter gathered was pulled down this year, was seen undergoing construction, as work had reached an advanced stage of completion.A source in the council told Naija to the World that the building, when completed, would be commissioned by Pastor Umo Eno and would serve as an office block for the staff. The council has also embarked on grading of some rural roads in Anan, Ikot Ebo and Nung Assang, all in Ikono Clan.The village head of Ikot Ebo, Eteidung Samuel Moses Udo, who spoke revealed that the village had never witnessed any development until this present Transition Committee Chairman, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, came on board. This reporter also gathered that another way to still curry favour from Governor Eno was evident in the action of the chairman who, on the March 4, refunded University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration fee to at least one hundred candidates from Uyo who had earlier registered for the exam. From our investigation, the chairman, in less than four months in office, has achieved more than what he achieved in three years as an elected council boss, an indication our reporter gathered might be propelled by his desire to retain the office after the expiration of the transition arrangement.When this reporter visited Nsit Atai Local Government Area, it was gathered that the Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Emem Ibanga, last month, flagged of a rural road grading in Ikot Edong community.The community, it was gathered, was overjoyed, following over 79 years of involving in a boundary dispute with Ndon Ikot Itie Udung Community.This reporter gathered that the grading of the road was sequel to the recent intervention by the Akwa Ibom State Government, led by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, through the leadership of Hon. Ibanga.The chairman, a source in the council disclosed, is also working on plans to extend the road grading to other communities with very deplorable state of roads, as well as other democratic deliverables, efforts Hon. Ibanga believed, allegedly, will endear her to the governor which possibly will earn her a chance to be retained.A visit to Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area revealed that the chairman, Hon. Nsikanabasi Ukobot, has been working to ensure that he also gains for from the governor.Early this year, the chairman ordered for the clearing of all drainages with the council Secretariat and its environment. It was gathered that Hon. Ukobot had, on assumption of office last year, completed the construction of the Secretariat gate project beautification which was started by his predecessor, Hon. Polycarp.This reporter also gathered from reliable sources in the council that the chairman recently approved a three-month Cash Transfer to Small and Medium Scale business owners in the area.The first phase of the payment which commenced in February, saw 100 beneficiaries selected from the 13 Wards in the local government area who received N20,000 each.In Etinan Local Government Area, the chairman, Hon. Uko Umoh, it was gathered, has been working to transform the area into an investment hub.This reporter, during a visit to the council, gathered that the chairman recently restored electricity to the Secretariat which had remained in a blackout for many years.Hon. Umoh has also graded some rural roads, something many said was not heard of throughout the administration of the previous elected local government chairmen in the state.The chairman, it was further gathered, had purchased University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms for candidates in the area.This reporter was also told that the chairman is working on plans to introduce Akwa Savings and Loans Limited and Global Bank to Etinan, a performance that might be occasioned to his alleged interest in becoming the elected local government chairman at the end of the current transition arrangement.Many other council chairmen have also taken dividends of democracy to the grassroots in the last three and half months of the current transition committee experience in the state.Sources said the performance of the chairmen, apart from the current rise in allocations sent to local government areas across the country, must have been occasioned by the need to curry favour from Pst Eno and be anointed to retain office eventually.
