Lawyer Accuses Tinubu, Eno Of A/Ibom Seaport Deceit, Forced Rally Attendance

Lawyer and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, has accused President Bola Tinubu and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, of misleading residents over the proposed Ibom Deep-Seaport, while condemning the alleged compulsion of residents and civil servants to attend the president’s campaign event in the state.

Effiong described Tinubu’s announcement of approval for the establishment of the seaport as fraudulent, alleging that successive administrations in Akwa Ibom had repeatedly made similar promises without delivering the project.

Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, announced on Friday that he had approved the establishment of the Ibom Deep-Seaport in Akwa Ibom State.

Reacting in a statement, Effiong said the announcement was another attempt to revive what he described as a fictitious project that successive administrations had used to deceive residents and allegedly misappropriate public funds.

He recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan approved the establishment of a seaport during the administration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio.

He added that former President Muhammadu Buhari also approved the same project during the administration of Akpabio’s successor, Udom Emmanuel.

According to Effiong, Tinubu’s announcement represents another approval for a project that has remained unrealised despite similar assurances by previous administrations.

“Today, Tinubu has taken his turn to give yet another approval for a fake seaport that no one has seen,” he said.

The lawyer accused Akpabio, Emmanuel and the incumbent governor, Eno, of making misleading claims about the project during their respective administrations.

“They have all appropriated and wasted the resources of the State in the name of a non-existent seaport,” he alleged.

Expressing frustration over the repeated announcements, Effiong said Akwa Ibom residents had become tired of what he described as political deceit surrounding the project.

“Akwa Ibom people are tired of this deceit and political lunacy,” he said, adding that politicians should not assume they could continue making such claims without being challenged.

“We have had enough of this seaport approval nonsense in Akwa Ibom,” he added.

Effiong also condemned the Akwa Ibom State Government’s arrangements for Tinubu’s visit, accusing Governor Eno of shutting down the state for what he described as a partisan political event.

He argued that the governor had no justification for presenting Tinubu’s campaign engagement as an official state function, insisting that the president’s visit was specifically connected to his re-election campaign.

“It is shameful that a man who parades himself as a pastor would misrepresent a partisan political event as an official State function,” he said.

Questioning the governor’s decision, Effiong asked whether Eno would similarly declare a work-free day and direct civil servants to attend campaign events organised by presidential candidates of other political parties.

He described the alleged directive as irresponsible and unconstitutional, maintaining that public institutions and state resources should not be deployed for partisan political activities.

The lawyer also expressed concern over an accident involving a vehicle conveying women to the airport to welcome Tinubu, which reportedly resulted in a loss of life.

“Akwa Ibom people are not slaves, and we will never allow the deceit and arrogance of failed politicians to go unchallenged,” he said.

Effiong further criticised Tinubu’s administration, blaming its policies for the hardship experienced across the country and warning that Akwa Ibom was not insulated from the consequences of the federal government’s actions.

“President Tinubu’s disastrous policies and oppressive regime have brought tears, sorrow and blood to Nigeria,” he said.

“Akwa Ibom is not insulated from Tinubu’s misrule.”