THE RICHEST COUNCIL IN NIGERIA

FORMER STATE PUBLICITY SECRETARY OF PDP IN CROSS RIVER STATE AND CHAIRMAN AKAMKPA LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL SPOKE WITH SELECTED JOURNALISTS IN HAI OFFICE, SOUTH SOUTH BUREAU CHIEF ,TONY ITA ETIM, WAS THERE. EXCERPT:


DAILY CHAMPION: WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN AKAMKPA?

OLORY: I want to change the mentality of people feel that you can be chairman and things cannot be change. And, when you look at Akamkpa being the treasure base of Cross River State, the richest local government, as far as I am concern, in Nigeria. I have to be contradicted. Akamkpa is the richest, most endowed local government with natural resources than any other local government in Nigeria, and I will justify it. Akamkpa is one of the largest local government in Nigeria and the largest in Cross River State. And we are endowed with so many natural resources that alone threw a lot of challenges on our people, we have to look for somebody who will come and harness the resources, I decided to offer myself. And permit me to tell you that the journey so far is very rough but I am happy because if I didn’t passed through all these processes, maybe I wouldn’t have been like what I am today. It will interest you to know that the then president of Nigeria, former president has one of the largest farms in Nigeria in Akamkpa, Obasanjo Farms. You are all aware. The immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom has his only and the biggest farm in Akamkpa call ALVITA Farm in Akamkpa, Mfamosing. And, of course also we have in the entire South South solid minerals, the highest place is Akamkpa. We have more than 15 companies that have quarries right here in Akamkpa. You must heard of Crushed Rock Industries, Prodeco Industries, Hitech Quarry, Gitto Quarry, Julius Berger Quarry, Setraco quarry, Zerock. Zerock, right now, what we used to call coal tar, asphalt material is lifted from Akamkpa so we have a quarry that is incharge of this. Before this time they used to lift from Port Harcourt but here we have it now.
Let me also take you a little bit to palm, we have the largest palm plantation in Cross River State in Akamkpa. I f you go to Oban Rubber Estate, you go to Kalaro Palm Estate. Now let me also lead you from palm and go to cocoa, If you to Mbeba, if you go to Ojok, if you go to Mfamisong you have cocoa. Let me also take you to limestone, you have heard of Orascom, you also hear about UNICEM, the base where all their natural resources are is in Akamkpa, Mfamosing. And that is why when there was this separation of the industry and the raw materials, they now know that there was a disconnect. The people now are siting these industries, multi million naira, industry in Mfamosing. Let me take you to rubber for some of you heard of En Haurt Rubber, Oban Rubber Plantation.

What is the tourist situation in Akamkpa? Qua Falls is one the natural waterfall that we in this Cross River state. Unfortunately it has been neglected and so that is why we are saying that we need also to go and put all these things in place to attract investors. Now the challenge before us is that with all these natural resources in your place what are you now going to do to harness them and change the poverty level of your people and increase wealth? That is the challenge we now have before us. First, we set out to condition the mind and mentality of our people, appreciate what you have, you have been this rich why is it that you are now poor? And so the challenge we have now is ensuring that our young men, our old men key into this natural resources so that they can also better their lot. And we tell ourselves we owe all the investors conducive atmosphere for them to operate. Once we achieve that we shall sensitize our people, say look you have everything around you, where can you benefit, where can you move in and all that? I mean if you want to be a farmer, the land is there; if you want to go into cocoa, cocoa is there. I have not even talked of foodstuff, if you eat the plantain that is from Akamkpa, our farm; it is different from other plantains. Why? Because we practice what is called shifting cultivation we have a lot of land so we don’t continue using a particular land year after year. Why because the nutrients of the soil enhance great productivity in the farm produce that we produce in Akamkpa. That is why everything you eat in Akamkpa is natural. Let me take you to fruits, if you go to Uyanga, you will see one of the biggest pineapple farm there. Oranges, you go to Mfamosing you will see one of the biggest pineapple farm there. In fact, even my community, I felt so bad that this a private farm, one of the highest orange producing community is my community. You go there the people have no road to bring them out.

The land we have, we took a look and say we cannot also destroy all our lands. Akamkpa still remain one of the richest rain forests in Cross River state. That is why you have the Cross River National Park; Cross River is like a zone, like a model in Nigeria today. Gentlemen of the press these are the things we have. And the opportunities have come for us to come and tap all the resources we have in this locality. The greatest challenge we have is that we don’t have roads. Akamkpa is a local government that is border with other countries, from here to Ekang is impassable; most of these products cannot be brought out and that is why our people are languishing in poverty. And we are pleading say look: state government, federal government, as a local government there is little or nothing we can do o give our people road when it is a federal road. From Oban-Ekang road is a federal road that the federal government supposes to come and do something. Let me not talk about the local network and all that, these are the challenges we have. And I am happy that you guys have come and see what we are doing. Then we used to have one of the best recreational centre, CREL Senior Staff Club, whitemen used to com from Port Harcourt, NNPC to swim, eat and drink but it is coming up now. We shall go and see there. We are trying to encourage the private partner participation to encourage it to work. We shall go and see it and when you get there you will appreciate what you see. Please help us tell the world that these are what we have and they can come here and tap from these. Now let me talk of timber as you were coming I am sure you might have seen from Odukpani, gmelina. The wood we used most of the product you have in timber markets are either from Oban, Uyanga, Nko and all that. Let me talk of bush mango, there is enormous of bush produce here. And we now tell ourselves that we can never be poor again. We need to key into these things and ensure that we harness these things. Try and tell the world that these are what we have and if you doubt it I can take you around to see things for yourselves.

DAILY CHAMPION: WHAT INCENTIVES DOES YOUR COUNCIL HAVE FOR INVESTORS?

OLORY: Like I did say we feel that no business, nobody can strive in an environment that is not conduicive. So the first tthing is let provide the enabling environment for you to come and tap what we have. As a local government, we appreciate where you are coming from and what can be done to help you depending on what you want. We are here to give you all the maximum cooperation, give you a warm reception. And it will interest you to know that I came and inherited a long lingering crisis between tippers owners and the mine workers in my local government. They went to court, judgement, litigations and all that. We sat here, and said gentlemen put away your machetes, put away everything her you people must accept the truth and it is only the truth we will tell ourselves. And what have we done: we have resolved the matter. And as far as I am concern it is historic now and everybody is happy from both ends. All the people that that withdrew their tippers to whether Nkalagu , or elsewhere they have all come back. They have all brought their tippers.
Unnecessary levies from here not minding who is involved, taxing these people once it get to my knowledge I look at it and critically analysis it. I have stopped them like one ventures who was collecting illegal fees I say look henceforth, quite some prominent sons of our land were involved, I say henceforth stop that collection. No let everybody be free. So those are the things gradually we are trying to do to also help investors.

DAILY CHAMPION: WHAT IS THE INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE PROFILE OF YOUR COUNCIL?

OLORY: Thank you very much, you see as we came, actually, you know, we now meet a structure that was there and we intend to improve upon it. Occasionally you meet some resistance because most people do not appreciate change, it is very inconveniencing, especially in this era of due. So deliberately we have put basic structure on ground to ensure that we improve our revenue. And I am happy to announce to you that now as a local government we have a revenue account where all the things that are generated are put into a bank, and we sit down and we call our executive meeting we announced what is generated. And also when we want to spend we have to be very prudent in spending. Now our revenue base has improved. Gradually we hope that it will come up. There is a reasonable percentage increase. We have come up with 50 per cent increase.

DAILY CHAMPION: YOU HAVE GRANITE AND ASPHALT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THE ROADS TO ENSURE FARMERS IN YOUR COUNCIL EVACUATE THEIR FARM PRODUCTS?

OLORY: Thank you, first, I thank the Almighty God and you for coming to Akamkpa, it is a deliberate intention to draw the attention of government: the state government, the federal government, this is what we have come and help us. On our own we give priority also to all these local roads and we are also trying to involve the companies to partner with us in that regard but not in a manner that will scare them away. We don’t like to be a liability to them, you know, we are not trying to scare them away. We say this is what we have done and this is what we think you can contribute in your little way. Right now I am aware that the road linking Owum and Old Netim, two companies are trying come up with something for them to have a free flow of traffic. Then our greatest headache is the federal government should come to our aid.

DAILY CHAMPION: HOW MANY FEDERAL ROADS DO YOU HAVE IN AKAMKPA?

OLORY: The major federal road that we have is between Calabar – Ekang Road and is border with Cameroun. If you get to Ekang, you cross a bridge, the other side is Cameroun. That is the major federal road, Calabar-Oban-Ekang Road. I f federal government can do that for us that is the greatest thing they would have done for us as a people, and of course, Cross River, because it is a border road.

DAILY CHAMPION: WHAT DO YOU STAND TO BENEFIT FROM THAT ROAD WHEN CONSTRUCTED?

OLORY: Look at the produces that are all there. Our people will bring their produces to the world, and they will advertise and people will go there and have access. Right now, unfortunately for women that we call “bush market women” they will go and buy a bunch of plantain that you are suppose to sell here in Calabar for say 500 naira, you buy them for 50 kobo or one naira they [the bush market women] made guy to the farmers, they bluff them, because if they don’t buy the thing all will be heap there, nobody buys. So if you carry like hundred naira to buy a pick- up load of plantain and you are charging the pick up load for 50 thousand, now you are suppose to come and make gain, and so a bunch of it is going to be about 400 or 500 as the case maybe. If we have access all those things will be taken care of. Of course, the prices of foodstuff will come down.

DAILY CHAMPION: BESIDES BAD ROADS WHAT ARE OTHER CHALLENGES FACING AKAMKPA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA AND YOUR COUNCIL?

OLORY: One of the greatest challenges is road like I say. And two, in fairness to the state government, the present governor [Liyel Imoke] is also coming to partner with the local government. There is what we called Rural Development Agency. The local government chairmen are members of that agency, automatic members. What is it intended to achieve, one for use to liaise and identify the rural roads in our communities. And once we identify all that, the state government and council will partner together. There is also electrification, we partner together because we are here on ground and we are not sentimental, if you know that it is easy to get access and this is what is involved and all that to repair the road. Most of the community has one natural resources or the other so it is important we partner together. That is what the state government is doing with the local government now.

DAILY CHAMPION: AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS A BORDER WITH ANOTHER COUNTRY, WHAT ARE THE SECURITY CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING?

OLORY: Sincerely, Akamkpa local government is very peaceful. We try to engage our young men. There is a saying that an ideal mind is the devil’s workshop, so what we tell our people is we say look, we are realists, we tell you the truth: gone are the days when you come to hang around a chairman, a supervisor for 10 thousand, you must do something. So you are either engaging in farm work or the other. And, of course, our major occupation, is farming as a local government. So an average Akamkpa son has a machete to farm [laughter] I emphasized. Some of them also are hunters; go to hunt some, not endangered species, species of animals. So when you find yourself in such a community or environment, what violence are you bringing in. the federal government, also in fairness to them have some military presence along the road, road that leads to the border town. There has not been any security threat anyway as far as Akamkpa is concern.

DAILY CHAMPION: THE UYANGA MODEL VILLAGE WAS SUPPOSE O PROPEL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THIS IDEA ON AKAMKPA AS A PILOT COUNCIL?

OLORY: We owe the former governor [Donald Duke] a lot on that regard. And you know every government has its own vision and priority. And so he came and gave us a model town, I am sure if he had continue as governor, maybe he could have also, like he did say locate another community to make it a model town or a model village. This government, here in place is also trying to also delve in to the rural areas to also put some developmental projects: roads, water, electricity, schools, health facilities, and all that. And we are keying into that vision to also see what can be done in that regard. But then if you get to Uyanga now, Uyanga is not the same Uyanga that use to be. All those facilities put in place: the schools are working; the police post is there, the fire service and all that.

DAILY CHAMPION: HOW HAS THE WEALTH AND RESOURCES OF AKAMKPA TRANSLATES INTO NAIRA IN THE POCKETS OF THE INDIGENES?

OLORY: That is the challenge we now have. We asked ourselves why is it that my father is rich, my mother is rich, my brother is rich, everybody in Akamkpa, I cannot even have a car for myself. That is the problem. There is a disconnect. And so that is the challenge, we are also coming out a position to face the reality. One greatest problem we have, in Nigeria, is people not having the courage to take the bull by the horn, some because of this tendency of trying to please “I beg make I no challenge that one oh.” We say look anything it will cause us no matter who is involved we shall tell ourselves the truth. Right now, Orascom they are employing now, the Assistant Managing Director, told me your people have to be employed. And when I came back home, how many of our sons and daughters qualified in the first instance to key into all these professional positions? That is the problem. And we now say, what do we do to have people, and I confided in someone that I want people that would have to go to Port Harcourt or anywhere for this industrial welding. And if you know how much they are paid, even if you are a Phd holder, you will like to go and be an industrial welder, they make so much money. My people say go and hold them and enforce them to make sure they employ, what am I causing them to employ for. They say they are looking for masons, you you are looking for someone to buy Mercedes 190, with eight loaders CD for you to drive, play carry girlfriends and drink. You cannot lay one block on another so what do you want me to do? It is not possible. Look at granite; I called somebody here two days he was able to lay tiles and granite for 48,000. How many of our sons, how many young men can lay these things and make 48,000. POP, how many of you, even common painter, how many? These are the issues we are addressing squarely and they are beginning to appreciate. It is very inconveniencing but there is nothing we can do. And we as a council try to encourage them; some who can go to driving school, some can go and learn to be carpenters, some who can go to do electrical jobs. We shall on our we try to put a machinery in place to try to encourage them in that regard and I am sure after two years they will appreciate it.

DAILY CHAMPION: ARE YOU SETTING UP A SKILL ACQUISITION CENTRE?

OLORY: I don’t believe in starting a thing that I will not end. I have considered all these options, and I am a realist. Simple, I am a practical person, every ward give me five persons each; and I am sure of 50 people. What you do you, driving school, go and enroll there? Maybe, I place you on a little allowance, even I it is 5,000 a month. But I must monitor that you go to school or otherwise don’t get the 5,000. Okay you want to go and learn electrical works, I call these Cotonou guys, look I will pay every month you are entitled 5,000 to just enable you, some six months, some one year. But if I want to go and build a skill acquisition and bring equipment, and all that some of them will still abandoned it. These are the challenges I intend to put practically.

DAILY CHAMPION: HOW DO YOU COPE WITH THE MENACE OF GODFATHERISM?

OLORY: Thank you very much. I feel excited for this question and that is the greatest problem I have. And let me tell you, I will not be ashamed to say that I am one of the less privileged person that have held this position. From my background, I come from a polygamous family, so from my day one, the garri we sip, we hustled and struggled. The schools we go we struggled and all that. Now I also check my family, I am married with kids, I have been the State Publicity Secretary of PDP for eight years, I have been a Director with the cross river State Water Board Limited for about six years. I have been a General Manager of Cross Lines Limited. So I am an adult, I am above 45 years, so godfather, who is fathering who? And those tendencies are there. Sometime jokingly I say Chris Uba and Ngige can’t work in Akamkpa. I tell them to their faces because you tell them the truth. Those tendencies are there. Let me also tell you our people appreciate truth. I may be inconveniencing. We have perfect relationship because they now appreciated me, who I am. And I am also conscious of the fact that it is not how well I started but how well I end. And I am also conscious; all those that believed in this godfatherism are the ones that have ended in so many crisis because one cannot met the demands of anybody no matter how good you are. So we are cautious and we say god give us the grace and the courage to continue. And we are very firm as far as this issue is concern because we tell ourselves the truth that we shall be firm in doing what is right and be truthful. Simply put it I don’t have a godfather are Akamkpa people.

DAILY CHAMPION: THE ISSUE OF JOINT ACCOUNT BETWEEN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS IN CROSS RIVER STATE?

OLORY: It is the best and very comfortable situation because the present government of the state, first, has made us to know what we are suppose to get from the federal allocation and after Joint allocation the whole thing is given to council. Then, now we have a new accounting system which is called MTEF [Meduim Term Expenditure framework]. It is very strange. It is very inconveniencing but it is the best. Now, why is it the best? They say look, this is your salary, you are entitled to 100,000. but tell us how you are going to spend the 100,000. it is your money. You now say I will use 50,000 to drink, use 30 to pay rent, use the other 20 to carry women; I say no. that proposal is not the best. You come out again and say I will use 20 to pay my children school fees, use 30 pay my landlord, use 20 as savings. Then I will now look at you as a very reasonable person and you must come and defend. What I am trying to say, you are coming out with what a budget. You cannot spend what you have not budgeted for first. And also when you come out with a budget, you must come out with a Bill of Quantity. How much is this thing is going to cost? What is the Bill of Quantity? Come and defend it, justify it; the greatest need of the people. So you mind all these things. Now the calibre of chairmen who have emerged in Cross River state, of course, you know that nobody will want to come and mess himself up.