…labels him a greedy warmonger.
The President General of Ekid People’s Union Dr Samuel Udonsak has berated the Paramount Ruler of Ibeno Effiong Bassey Archianga for peddling false, malicious, unfounded allegations against former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
In a press statement titled “Between Udom Emmanuel’s Record, and an irritant Monarch’s Rant”, the Eket People’s Union President noted that Archianga’s “malicious utterances are designed not to build, but to tear down, and they stand in stark contrast to the verifiable records of Udom Emmanuel’s tenure. Records that speak for themselves and cannot be erased by propaganda.”
Speaking further Dr. Udonsak stressed that “It also smacks foolishness for the Paramount Ruler to shamelessly posit that no Ibeno son served in Udom’s government as Commissioner, whereas that government first appointed Mr Ekpenyong Enyinna as Commissioner before appointing Chief Okpolupm Etteh as his successor.
These are not indications of a “worst governor”; they are legacies of a governor who believed in equitable development and fairness.”
“It is both unfortunate and deeply concerning that the Paramount Ruler of Ibeno, ‘Professor’ Effiong Bassey Archianga, has chosen to use his exalted position to peddle malicious and unfounded allegations against the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel,CON, a leader whose tenure has been widely recognized for its unprecedented achievements and dedication to the peace, unity and progress of Akwa Ibom State.”
“I have been in the political space of this State long enough to distinguish between a constructive criticism and a disjointed attempt to obliterate history and cause confusion. For the records, I was running mate to Chief Ime Umanah, in the 2003 Governorship elections, I was an aspirant in the 2007 Governorship Elections and I was a member of the G-22, a groups of aspirants who who contested in the primaries of the 2015 elections. I played a critical role in galvanizing the group, for members who remained in PDP, in support to the Udom Emmanuel administration. Despite this, the then Governor chose to favour Chief Archianga’s kinsman, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh as his Honourary Special Adviser, Commissioner for Special Duties and later as House of Representatives member, a bit of history that the monarch seems to have forgotten.”
”Obviously, what ‘Professor’ Archianga seeks to portray is definitely nothing more than a wicked attempt to distort history and destabilize the peace that Governor Udom Emmanuel worked so hard to institute, nurture and protect. One must wonder what would prompt such a diatribe against a former governor who has since completed his tenure peacefully and given his successor the free hand to implement the ARISE Agenda across the state.
It is not lost on Akwa Ibomites that individuals like Professor Archianga have always benefited from crises in the coastal communities. His bitterness and outbursts can only be interpreted as fear. Fear that the enduring peace and unity among the people of Ibeno and Akwa Ibom will cut him off from the crisis funds and other benefits he has long harvested in the name of “maintaining peace.”
For instance, before the emergence of Udom Emmanuel, no road had been constructed in Ibeno. It was Governor Emmanuel who constructed a 19.5km dual carriage road linking Ibeno to Eket Local Government Area, opening up the region for commerce and development. This same governor ensured that for the first time in history, an illustrious son of Ibeno rose to become the highest political office holder in the entire Eket Federal Constituency.
Contrary to the Paramount Ruler’s bitter rhetoric, Udom Emmanuel’s government was a beacon of inclusive governance. Under his leadership, every local government area, including Ibeno, witnessed road projects and infrastructural development. He did not rule for one community or one party. He ruled for the entire Akwa Ibom State, restoring peace and prosperity and giving every citizen a renewed sense of belonging.
Governor Emmanuel’s record of transformational projects is unmatched in the state’s history. From the Uyo-Etinan dual carriageway to the Etinan-Eket six-lane superhighway, the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road, and the magnificent 10-lane Clement Isong – Idongesit Nkanga superhighway, the Etinan – Ndon Eyo dual road and the Airport expansion from four lane to Eight lanes, Governor Emmanuel connected communities, opened up trade routes, and redefined the face of the state.
His tenure witnessed the birth of Ibom Air an airline that has placed Akwa Ibom on the global aviation map. His industrial drive birthed the Sterling Global Petrochemical in Eastern Obolo, the Kings Flour Mill, the Coconut Refinery, the Jubilee Syringe Factory, and the Metering Solutions Company ,creating jobs and stimulating the economy.
Just as he built the highest number and longest dual carriageways, he also built the longest and most bridges, such as the Etebi – Enwang Bridge and the Ikot Oku Ikono Flyover, both measuring one kilometer each.
Governor Emmanuel did not just build roads and bridges; he built people. Twelve general hospitals were remodeled and equipped. The Itam Multispecialty Hospital was brought back to life, and civil servants were never owed salaries, a testament to his belief in governance as a tool for service. He may not have been faired well in upsetting all the arrears of gratuities owed civil servants, but he never owed them pensions.
The 18,000-seater Eket Sports Stadium and the facelift of Eket town are just a few of the ways he invested in the youth and their future.
Under his leadership, Akwa Ibom got its first official map and the magnificent International Worship Centre, cementing the state’s Christian heritage and fostering unity. The 21-storey Udom Emmanuel Towers, the tallest building in South-South Nigeria, now houses the Bank of Industry in Akwa Ibom State, standing as an enduring legacy of visionary leadership.
Unlike those who see governance as a personal fiefdom, Udom Emmanuel believed in building on the successes of the past. He laid a solid foundation upon which his successor, Governor Umo Eno, now builds and expands, ensuring that projects like Ibom Air, the Victor Attah International Airport, and the Ibom Deep Seaport will not just remain dreams but become lasting legacies.
Let it be said: while some talk, others work. While detractors hurl insults, Udom Emmanuel built roads, industries, and lives. While political opportunists sow division, he sowed peace and unity.
Governance is not about noise; it is about impact. And the impact of Udom Emmanuel’s administration is etched in the roads we drive on, the hospitals that save lives, the jobs that feed families, and the peace that binds communities.
To describe such a leader as “the worst governor” is either the product of a mind clouded by age-related forgetfulness or of a heart hardened by greed and a phobia for peace. History will remember Governor Udom Emmanuel as one of the best governors Akwa Ibom has ever produced,a governor who left the state better than he met it, and whose legacies continue to speak louder than any insult ever could.
Let those who thrive on crisis find another stage for their performance. Akwa Ibom has moved beyond bitterness and division; it is on the path of progress, built on the solid foundation laid by leaders like Udom Emmanuel.
