Akpabio blames sabotage for ‘uncommon’ flood in Uyo

Flood has continued in Uyo despite the government’s claim of multibillion naira remedial effort.

Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, on Sunday named a committee to probe why billions of naira spent by his government on water drains, have failed to plug flood in the state capital, Uyo. He blamed the failure on sabotage.

Mr Akpabio, renown for praising self as the man behind ‘the uncommon transformation’- a boastful reference to his administration’s modest effort at building roads, bridges and other infrastructure – has remained frustrated by increasing water overflow in Uyo.

He has touted the tunnels built by his government as the longest in Nigeria. But the floods never go away for long.

Last week Monday, parts of the city such as Ukana Offot, Atiku Abubakar way, IBB Way, and Ekom Iman junction, were rendered impassable after heavy rainfall.

Mr Akpabio described the incident as strange, recalling that last year, when the entire Niger Delta region was flooded, Akwa Ibom was exempted. He said it was clear the government’s effort at building ducts to remove the water had been sabotaged.

“I therefore, see no reason why the flood should assume such a momentum if not sabotage. I want to investigate and know the root cause of the flood because we have invested heavily in constructing underground drainage system,” Mr Akpabio said while inaugurating a committee on Sunday to probe the matter.

The committee is headed by Etido Inyang, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical Matters.

Flooding in a city not known for much environmental problems, has remained Mr Akpabio’s curse; and last year, a worse overflow prompted mockery by residents, of the government’s claim of unimaginable reforms.

During the heavy rainfall, people in Uyo took photos of a city ravaged by flood and posted them along with satirical comments on Facebook and other social networking sites.

Princess Etim, a female journalist residing in Uyo was one of the few who were quick to post on her Facebook page, a photo of the flood on Atiku Abubakar Avenue, Uyo. Etim mockingly tagged it as ‘Uncommon Atiku River’.

Commentators – most of them journalists living in Uyo – who responded to the Facebook post, were quick to catch the joke and also used the word ‘uncommon’ to poke fun at Gov Akpabio’s most familiar phrase.

“The flood on Atiku Abubakar Avenue not bigger than uncommon IBB River,” one commenter said.

“The one at Nsikak Edouk (avenue) is uncommon too, but (it is) the largest river in Africa,” another wrote.

Mr Akpabio is widely celebrated in the local media and the Peoples Democratic Party for “governing Akwa Ibom State well”.

But the state remains with some of Nigeria’s worst statistics on all key indicators of unemployment, HIV/AIDS prevalence, poverty, high mortality and maternal death.

Corruption also thrives with politicians diverting state funds for personal use. Mr Akpabio himself is notorious for spending public funds on frivolous donations and acquisitions.