The Akwa Ibom State Authorities has criticized the management of the Heart for Human Rights and Accountability Community within the state, led by Franklin Isong, for calling for an investigation into the federal allocation to the state and the 31 transition committees of the native administration.
Isong had stated in an announcement to journalists that he was conscious that the Federal Authorities, after eradicating gas subsidies, has elevated allocations to states, noting that it has launched N5 billion and three,000 baggage of rice to Akwa State Ibom as palliative means to take care of the issues. penalties of the withdrawal of the gas subsidy.
“CHRAN is conscious that following the abolition of gas subsidies, the Federal Authorities has elevated income allocation to the States and Native Authorities Councils within the nation.
“The Federal Authorities had launched the sum of N5 billion and three,000 baggage of rice to the Authorities of Akwa Ibom State for the individuals of the state as palliatives to cushion the impact of the withdrawal of gas subsidy.
“CHRAN urged the Governor of Akwa Ibom State to account for the N5 billion and different palliatives launched by the Federal Authorities to the Authorities of Akwa Ibom State,” Isong stated.
He additionally sought info on the N5bn public transport buses that the state authorities needed to offer to ease the transportation challenges confronted by the individuals of the state as a consequence of gas worth volatility and galloping inflation.
He additional requested that the state authorities have in mind the a whole lot of billions of naira obtained from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, together with the 13 % by-product funds.
However an announcement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerette Udoh, on Saturday described Isong's assertion as a cocktail of lies intentionally crafted to smear the federal government of the day.
The assertion is titled 'That Franklin Isong's manufactured lies and smear marketing campaign'
It learn partly: “The state authorities obtained the sum of N2 billion from the Federal Authorities and this was offered as a mortgage facility which the state authorities is anticipated to repay. The state authorities has presently been requested to repay the mortgage.
“No new funds have been launched to the state authorities, and as soon as the steadiness of the remaining N3 billion is paid, Franklyn Isong, as member of the Palliative Committee, can be notified.
“It should be reiterated that out of the N5 billion promised from the Federal Authorities, it’s the N2 billion that has been launched to the state authorities within the type of a mortgage facility that the state is anticipated to repay.
“The state authorities had prolonged the type gesture of the Federal Authorities with further billions of naira and several other further baggage of rice, of which Franklin Isong, as a member of the committee, is nicely conscious.
“Mr Isong as soon as once more made a factually incorrect declare when he stated that one other N30 billion has been given to every state of the Federation, citing a supply attributed to the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“When Franklyn Isong makes a prophetic assertion about an anticipated N30 billion to the general public purse, we be part of him in saying, 'Might his prediction come true, and that too quickly.'
“Nonetheless, for now, the state authorities has not obtained such funds as confirmed by the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Discussion board, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
'We all know that 'tis the season for grandstanding and indulging in blame, however we imagine that any civil society well worth the identify on its letterhead ought to do a minimal of fact-checking earlier than speeding to make of untamed and defamatory statements.”
