By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo
Leaders of Gas Pipeline Host Communities in Ukanafun Local Council of Akwa Ibom have reaffirmed the nomination of one Mrs. Akaninyene Patrick for the Board of Trustees, BoT, position into Savannah Energy Company Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, implementation committee.
Some of them who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Uyo said they were surprised when the company disclosed recently that it has two BOT nominees on its table for the Ukanafun axis, comprising four local government areas of Oruk Anam, Etim Ekpo , Ukanafun and Abak.
Speaking, Mr. Kufre Emmanson, Coordinator of Nine LGA Gas Pipeline Communities, Akwa Ibom State, explained that Akaninyene Patrick was unanimously and duly nominated by the four Paramount Rulers, four local government Council Chairmen, as well as 18 village heads of Ukanafun Gas pipeline host communities, under the Ukanafun axis.
Emmanson who is an indigene of Ukanafun LGA, therefore, urged the management of Savannah Energy to disregard any other nomination that was not authorized by the royal fathers to avoid any form of crisis in the area.
“What happened was that a letter was sent by the company to the Paramount Rulers of Gas pipelines host communities in Akwa Ibom state for nomination of persons into the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) implementation committee.
“The letter was sent through the coordinating Paramount Rulers in each of the axis. In Akwa Ibom state, we have Esit Eket axis, Uyo axis, Eket axis, Ikot Abasi, Oron and Ukanafun axis.
“Then the Ukanafun axis comprises gas pipeline communities in Ukanafun, Oruk Anam, Etim Ekpo and Abak LGAs, with HRM Akuku Johnson Obosi (JP) of Oruk Anam as the coordinating Paramount Ruler. And the traditional leaders decided to share the three positions into PIA implementation committee among the four Local Government Areas.
“So the one slot for the Board of Trustees position was alloted to Ukanafun LGA, while other three LGAs were given the two slots for the Management Committee and one slot for Advisory committee. Surprisingly, the company has contacted all the nominees to submit their credentials, except Mrs. Akaninyene Patrick of Ikot Essien village, Ukanafun.
“And Akaninyene told us that when she contacted official of the company to ask why she was not contacted as the BOT nominee, she was told that there are two names for the position, and that they are still waiting to resolve the issue. This is not acceptable to us.
“As we speak, the people of gas pipeline host communities, Ukanafun axis are not aware of any other nominee for BOT position, apart from Akaninyene Patrick, duly endorsed by all the Paramount Rulers, Local government Council Chairmen and 18 members of Forum of Village Heads Ukanafun, LGA.
“Any other nomination is null and void. Therefore, I am calling on the company to disregard any other nomination to avoid causing crisis in our communities. And we warn against ploy by any individual or group to bring confusion in our area in respect of the Host communities development trust.” He explained.
Also in a letter dated November 22, 2022, addressed to the Regional manager, South East, Savannah Energy Akwa Ibom State branch, Chairman of Ukanafun Local government Council Hon. Godwin Inyieng described Akaninyene Patrick’s nomination as irrevocable.
The letter obtained by newsmen reads:”The government of Ukanafun is delighted to nominate Mrs. Akaninyene Nteido Patrick for Board Of Trustees (BOT) position of the local government slot on impacted communities programme of your company. This nomination is irrevocable. Please accord her all necessary assistance”
On his part, the Chairman Forum of Village Heads, Gas pipeline host communities , Ukanafun LGA, Chief Iniobong Udom said reaffirmed their unanimous endorsement of Mrs. Patrick.
“As Chairman of the Village Heads forum, I want to tell the company that all the village heads of the Gas pipelines host communities
nominated Mrs. Akaninyene Patrick and that is the only person we know. We all agreed that she should be the one from the community to represent us for the BOT position.
“We will not recognize any other person nominated for that position. That is our stand.Even if you ask all the village heads, each of them will say exactly what I have said”, the Village Head said.
