Chief Executive Officer of UpdateAfrika Communications , Dr. Joseph Effiong has lent his voice against the leadership of Akwa Ibom state on the recently commissioned International Worship Center said to have cost N32.3 billion.
He described the act as a misplaced priority, stating that it was insensitive to the plight of AkwaIbom indigenes.
He stated further that the state’s government has betrayed the public trust reposed in it.
The church being built by former governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel was according to Emmanuel of great significance to a state named after God and consisting of a 99% christian population.
Reacting, Effiong lamented that expending huge amount of public fund on a religious centre was out of place, stressing that public infrastructure should be prioritised in the interest of indigenes.
According to the media expert, the state is already being plagued by infrastructure deficit, including the roads, health centre and manufacturers lag.
“These deficiencies directly impact the quality of life of citizens, with the poorest bearing the brunt of these inadequacies. The allocation of ₦32 billion naira for a religious centre clearly demonstrates a misallocation of public resource and a misguided direction.
“Direction should have been on developing infrastructural backbone, that will translate to progress in communities. Improved roads would facilitate transportation, enable socio-economic growth and improve access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. Enhanced healthcare facilities would mean adequate medical services to the sick, factories development would bridge unemployment gap, promote economic growth and empower citizens to break loose from vicious cycle of poverty”, he said.
He urged government to shift focus and intervention on poor masses, while also urging indigenes to demand accountability from the authority.
“It is imperative that we hold our government accountable for their actions and demand that state funds are utilized wisely and efficiently for growth of the people and the state at large”, he declared.
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