Victor Attah’s legacy in shambles as A’Ibom govt moves to distort Shelter Afrique Masterplan

*Mbiabong Community issues traditional injunction

•Udom should Call His Jezebel to Order – says Youth Leaders

Joseph Atainyang

Legacies of former Governor Victor Attah are in shambles as the Akwa Ibom State Surveyor General, Mrs Emem Isang has taken steps to distort the masterplan of Shelter Afrique Estate.

The Surveyor General, last week stormed the recreational centre with military men and a grader, virtually breaking the drains and partitioning the field.

Accordingly, Emem Isang who is married to a retired Army General, is reportedly seeking to grab the land for personal use, in the guise of government’s donation to army generals in the state.

Speaking with journalists, the Village Head of Mbiabong Community, Etidung Sunday Offiong said not less than 80 percent of the community land has been taken by government.

Etidung Offiong stated that the Estate is made up of three villages: Mbiabong Ikot Udo Uso, Mbiabong Ikot Akpabio and Mbiabong Ikot Udowot, out of eight villages of the community, which were not recognized as gazetted villages.

“They have made us strangers in our own land. We were gazetted and recognized during the government of Obong Victor Attah. But that recognition was abolished and we have no government’s pvillages

“A common thing like the Covid-19 palliatives could not be extended to us because we are not recognized. This portion of land is a ‘green area’, as clearly shown in the Shelter Afrique Masterplan. It is indicated as a recreational centre.

“Some years ago, I sought to be given a land to build in this place. But I was denied, even as the head of this village. That was how I got to know the truth. We will not fold our hands and see this happen to us.

“Let government go elsewhere and find land for any Army General that wants to build his house. Or let the General go and buy his land. That’s why we’re putting this traditional injunction”, he said.

Also speaking, the Youth President of Mbiabong Ikot Akpabio, Comrade Saviour Inyang and the Youth Leader of Mbiabong Etoi Community, said it was unfair for government to attempt to take the only thing left for them in Shelter Afrique.

Urging Governor Udom Emmanuel to call the Surveyor General to order, as she was not Queen Jezebel to think that she could grab the land when the immediate past lands commissioner could not, the duo appealed to the state chief executive to rather give them a befitting infrastructure like school and standard market.

On his part, the custodian of the playground, Comrade Jackson Kingsley noted that instead of seeking to destroy the masterplan of the estate as designed by Architect Victor Attah, Governor Udom Emmanuel should build on the foundation by turning the place into a befitting sports complex.

Meanwhile, the former Member, Essien Udim State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nse Ntuen and the Commissioner Designate of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Victor Antai could not build their houses in the space 11 years ago, after buying landed property of N8.5 million each.

According to them, due diligence opened their eyes to the masterplan which clearly showed that the space was a green area, marked for a recreational centre.

Antai, it was he, who hired machines to level the space, making it a football field. The duo have been using their personal resources to maintain the field, together with other prominent state actors in the area.

Ntuen stated that in 2019 he had to call the Governor on phone, when the Late Mr Ime Ekpo had come with beckon stones to survey the place.

“In 2019, the immediate past Commissioner for Lands, Late Arc Ime Ekpo came with beckon stones to survey the place. He told me that the Governor directed him to find land for some Army Generals who needed to build houses.

“I had to call the governor who said he never asked him to come and take the field. He was jittery when I was dialling the governor’s number. He left immediately afterwards.

“I bought land here for N8.5 million. But I couldn’t use the land because it is a green area. All secondary and nursery schools around here do their sporting activities here. Marriages are done here. And these youths do their trainings here”, he pointed out.

In a phone interaction with our reporter, the Surveyor General, Mrs Emem Isang who did not deny the allegation, asked journalists to channel their questions to the current commissioner for lands.

The Commissioner of Lands, Umo Eno could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.