AGRIC LOAN PROBE: WHERE IS AKHA REPORT?

By Ofonime Honesty

Days, weeks and months have passed. And now, 2016 is almost passing without Akwa Ibom people being briefed on the findings of the Ad-hoc committee investigating alleged misconduct by handlers of the Central Bank of Nigeria sponsored Anchor Borrowers Loan Scheme in Akwa Ibom.

A state based tabloid, Global Concord, blew open the alleged impropriety, and the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly wasted no time in constituting an Ad-hoc committee to investigate the issue. It was headed by Hon Idongesit Ituen of Itu State Constituency.

The committee’s action raised huge dust in the polity. And while Akwa Ibom people keenly strained their ears for goings-on in the committee, the issue escalated when the House issued an arrest warrant on Mr. Ufot Ebong (SA on Due Process and Technical Matters) for failing to appear before the committee.

Tension mounted but Mr. Moses Armstrong invariably provided comic relief when he appeared before the committee saying he knew nothing about agriculture prior to being appointed as SA on Agriculture by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

While the duo of Ebong and Armstrong were grossly vilified in the media, I penned that the accused persons deserve respect since allegations against them are yet to be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

My words of advice were thrown to the winds. The tantrums continued even as the committee fully adopted the media trial technique much to the chagrin of sane minds.

Well, the ‘probe’ continued. People were brought in to confess. 
After several days, the committee concluded its work.

Till this very moment, Akwa Ibom people are yet to be told the outcome of that investigative hearing. Recently, aides to legislators added more controversy to the issue by alleging on social media that Ebong and Armstrong were on their knees pleading the legislators for forgiveness.

It is rather disheartening that the Assembly could set up a committee with taxpayers money and does not deem it necessary to brief the masses on the outcome of the committee’s assigned task.

The ungolden silence must be broken. If the accused persons actually pleaded for forgiveness, Akwa Ibom people must be told.

I urge the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, to live up to his reputation as an activist. I have been hearing him repeatedly condemning the federal government’s handling of the Dasuki case.

At the moment, the Dasuki probe is even better because he (Dasuki) is being vilified because he confessed to have disbursed arms funds to cronies. In the Akwa Ibom situation, Ebong and Armstrong were vilified over allegations they denied.

See, we are talking about people’s hard earned reputation.
And information reaching me has it that the scheme is on the verge of being launched in Uyo. Interestingly, this is the same scheme that was suspended by the Assembly after quotation of copious laws.

The probe which started with a bang should not end with a whimper. We are still observing.

(Ofonime Honesty, a journalist writes from Uyo. honestyofonime@yahoo.com 08025286082)