By Uko Etim

UYO—Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom, has accused the State government of repackaging old approvals for the Ibom Deep Seaport achieved during the administration of ex-governor Udom Emmanuel, as new achievements.

PDP under the PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice, PAPA-J, urged the administration of Governor Umo Eno to “stop misleading the public.”

A statement issued by the Chairman and the Secretary of PAPA-J, Dr. Tom FredFish and Mr. Saviour Uko, expressed shock over reports circulating on social media claiming that the Federal Government had granted fresh certification and compliance approvals for Akwa Ibom and four other proposed deep seaport projects.

FredFish said the processes being celebrated by the present administration were already completed and publicly acknowledged during the tenure of former Governor Udom more than six years ago.

“The PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPA-J) has expressed shock and surprise over reports circulating on social media claiming that the Federal Government has approved certification and compliance processes for Akwa Ibom State and four other proposed deep seaport projects aimed at reclaiming over 70 per cent of Nigeria-bound cargo currently diverted to other African nations.

“While such reports are being celebrated by the present administration in Akwa Ibom State, PAPA-J finds it necessary to remind the public that the same certification and compliance stages being celebrated today were already achieved and publicly acknowledged during the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel over six years ago.

“It is puzzling that the same Federal Government would be portrayed as granting approvals for processes that had already been concluded and celebrated as far back as 2020,” PAPA-J Chairman said.

Citing a March 2019 interview with Mrs. Mfon Usoro, then Chairperson of the Technical Committee for the Realization of the Ibom Deep Seaport and Industrial City Project, FredFish said critical approvals, including the Outline Business Case, Full Business Case, Bureau for Public Procurement and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission certifications, had been completed and submitted to the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

He noted that the Federal Executive Council approved these processes in 2020, triggering celebrations across the state at the time.

He maintained that the public deserves honesty and transparency rather than the political repackaging of past milestones to generate excitement ahead of election campaigns.

“Governance should not be reduced to repeated announcements of old achievements simply to create fresh political excitement,” the statement read.

FredFish urged Akwa Ibom residents and Nigerians to be vigilant as the country enters another campaign season, warning that projects neither initiated nor advanced by the current APC administration may be presented as fresh breakthroughs.

He called on the media, civil society groups, and citizens to verify facts and hold public office holders accountable to truth and responsible governance.