Secret Reporters No place to hide
As part of the last minute looting of Akwa Ibom State by Governor Godswill Akpabio, alliance has been formed between him and the State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) for the building of a N1.5 billion International Press Centre.
The foundation laying ceremony which was laid at the weekend saw the Governor donating a whooping N100 million from tax payers money who will never use the luxurious centre. The NUJ State Chairman, Elder Patrick Albert noted that the press centre will have in it designs of two storey buildings, club house for recreational facilities, media museum and ICT centre and other facilities.
During the ground breaking event, Akpabio charged press men to be men of truth while protecting the peace in the society. He was so joyful at the naming of the centre after him, ‘Godswill Akpabio Press Centre’.
Sources who spoke to us condemned the spending on such money on an elephant project wondering why the State Council cannot build a simple facility that will host journalists and conferences. Some wonder what a museum will be doing there when the State already has a museum as well as a tourist centre in Tropicana and Le Meridan.
A government source however revealed to us that the centre will not cost up to a N1 billion but it’s a way of the State NUJ of eating their share of the National cake while Akpabio garner some for himself.
