Maintain Peace Movement (MPM), a political group midwifing the succession plan of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, ahead of the 2023 Gubernatorial contest, is set to recommence inauguration of its local government steering committees on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
The group had Peace Maintenance Movement (PMM) as its name when inaugurated on July 19, 2021. Governor Udom Emmanuel was announced as the group’s Grand Patron by the National Coordinator, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, who is the National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Few days back, inauguration of the local government steering committees was put on hold through an announcement by the MPM publicity secretary, Barr. Ini Ememobong, who also serves in the state executive cabinet as Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Strategy.
Membered by faithful of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), MPM is opining that Akwa Ibom State under Governor Emmanuel is peaceful hence the need to usher in an administration that will maintain the peace. Its slogan is ‘That Same God.’
The local government inauguration commenced in Ikono and Ini Local Government Areas on July 19, 2021.
As at the time of filing this report, the inauguration has taken place in 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
PDP National Legal Adviser & MPM National Coordinator, Barr. Enoidem, speaking an MPM Chapter inauguration
PDP National Legal Adviser & MPM National Coordinator, Barr. Enoidem, speaking an MPM Chapter inauguration
The LGAs are: Ikono, Ini, Ika, Etim Ekpo, Abak, Ibiono Ibom, Itu, Etinan, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Nsit Atai, Urueoffong Oruko and Okobo. 13 remaining local government chapters are to be inaugurated in the coming days.
Guidelines violated
As the inauguration poises to gather pace in the coming days, information gleaned from firsthand experience and eye witnesses’ accounts indicate that MPM is running foul of the state government’s guidelines against the spread of the Delta Variant of the Corona Virus Disease, codenamed Covid-19.
Independent findings by this reporter corroborated by video and pictorial content from the MPM media unit show that Covid-19 guidelines issued by the state government which include ban on large indoor social gatherings, social distancing, use of hand sanitizers and total use of nose-masks have all been flouted by organizers and other attendees of the inaugurations.
The inaugurations were mostly held at poorly ventilated halls overflowing with people who even scramble for standing spaces.
Government’s position
A press statement issued in July, 2021 by Secretary to State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, on behalf of the state government, confirmed that there are rising cases of the new Delta variant of the infection.
Part of it reads: “It has since then been confirmed by NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) that the Delta variant of Covid-19 virus found in other parts of the country is in our dear State and that would partly explain the rapid increase in the number of cases in the State because of its high infectivity rate.”
Government via the release reiterated that “It has become imperative that we take actions to rein in the spread of the infection in the state,” observing sadly that “the necessary precautions and guidelines earlier recommended are hardly being adhered to by most people thereby jeopardizing our health and making the control of the pandemic very difficult.”
The press release indicated that “government shall henceforth enforce compliance with Covid-19 guidelines.”
Announcing that “all Covid-19 monitoring mechanisms were reactivated to ensure strict compliance with Covid-19 guidelines and protocols,” government warned that “enforcement teams shall henceforth apprehend anyone flouting this directive,” adding that “businesses, worship places and corporate organizations risk shut down if not compliant with the directives.”
Furthermore, state government recommended the following: “use face mask and use it properly ensuring that both the mouth and nose are properly covered, wash your hands regularly with soap and clean running water, use appropriate alcohol-based hand sanitizer, ensure social distancing of not less than one meter at all times, avoid overcrowded areas especially indoors.”
The recommendations also states inter alia: “all non-essential social gatherings should be reconsidered with the view to drastically reducing the scale and scope or suspending same at this time.
These include: Burials, weddings, birthday celebrations etc. Social distancing in tricycles and in Mini-buses and wearing of face masks are to be strictly complied with. Religious houses (churches and mosques) should run at half capacity and services should last not more than one (1) hour.
Hotels, sit-outs, clubs, schools, transport companies, supermarkets, banks and pharmacies should all ensure compliance with all Covid-19 preventive measures in their facilities.”
The state government via the SSG-signed press statement vowed that its enforcement teams shall henceforth apprehend anyone flouting the guidelines. But, Chairman, Covid-19 Guidelines Monitoring/ Enforcement Team in the state, Mr. Enobong Uwah, is the MPM National Secretary, and has been attending all the chapter inaugurations amidst the glaring violation of guidelines.
The Guidelines Monitoring/ Enforcement Team has been prosecuting violators. Some business outfits and churches were sealed by the team.
The team arrested Emmanuel Effiong, a Pastor at the Uyo zonal headquarters of Believers Loveworld Incorporated (Christ Embassy) and a videographer in the church, Gabriel Ekpa, during one of its monitoring trips.
The team had alleged that the church denied them access to its premises. The claim was, however, disputed by the church.
Inadequate vaccines
Government through the statement signed by the SSG also announced that it has taken delivery of sixty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-six (63,336) doses of the Modena vaccine as part of its effort to combat the disease.
The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health and Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency have unveiled a list of vaccination centres in the 31 LGAs.
With an estimated population of 6 million, the 63,336 doses available have been viewed as inadequate. A social media user, Emem Ukpong, suggested that government should procure the vaccines and even request for vaccines from agencies and organizations in Nigeria and abroad.
She wrote: “The 63,336 doses are not enough considering the vast population of Akwa Ibom State. Let the state government buy the vaccines, the ones available were sent by the Federal Government. National and international agencies and organizations should also be contacted to help us at a time like this. The cases recorded in Akwa Ibom alone is worrying. Stay safe, guys.”
Some state government officials and a handful of members of the public were vaccinated after the state government on March 10, took delivery of 69,030 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government.
In the wake of the Delta variant, studies now show that the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19 infection has dropped from about 91% to 66%.
The findings corroborated by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States of America underscore the importance of keeping the disease at bay through strict adherence to related guidelines.
But, while the Akwa Ibom State Government keeps harping on the importance of members of the public adhering to laid-down guidelines, its officials on the MPM inauguration train are apparently acting on the contrary.
Delta Variant thrives as Isolation Centres overflows
At a recent news briefing on the third wave of the pandemic occasioned by the Delta Variant, Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chike Iheakwazu, divulged that 80 percent of tests conducted in Akwa Ibom State have been confirmed to be Delta variant of the dreaded virus.
The claim was confirmed by the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The state currently occupies 10th position on the national Covid-19 infections table, with a total number of 4,028 confirmed cases, 786 cases on admission, 3,200 discharged, and 42 deaths.
Sources told this reporter that the capacity of 300-bed space isolation centre at Methodist General Hospital, Ituk Mbang, Uruan Local Government Area, has been stretched.
“Over 400 Covid patients are currently being treated at isolation centre. Covid is real. If not for the economy, I would have preferred another lockdown,” a staff of the hospital told our reporter via a WhatsApp call.
The isolation centre at the Ibom Specialist Hospital is also filled to brim, this reporter can authoritatively report.
MPM budget vague
Funds earmarked for and released for the setting up and inauguration of MPM have not been made public. The funds which were not captured in the state budget have been a cause for concern in recent days.
A state based tabloid had ran an exclusive banner story alleging that 70 million Naira of taxpayers money was released for the forum’s activities. But the state government swiftly denied the claim, labelling it as fictitious.
The statement issued by Barr. Ini Ememobong, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, who is also MPM Publicity Secretary, stated that “the membership of the Maintain Peace Movement, like any responsible organization, is capable of funding her activities without recourse to public funds.”
He declined mentioning the budget size of MPM and the source of funding.
APC also violators
With the MPM inaugurations in full swing, other pre-2023 political activities have seems to put the state in a precarious position as far rising cases of Covid-19 are concerned.
Fallout of the controversial chapter and ward congresses of the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have triggered some rallies and counter rallies in Uyo.
State Chairman of a faction of the party, Dr. Ita Udosen, a medical doctor, has been convening and addressing a large crowd of party members in what he labels ‘solidarity rallies’ at the state secretariat of the party.
Pictures circulated online by the party’s new media team have been eliciting condemnation over the disregard for public health by Dr. Udosen.
Udosen is said to be enjoying the backing of National Secretary of the party and 2023 governorship hopeful, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.
Other bigwigs like Obong Umana Okon Umana and Obong Nsima Ekere are rumoured to be in tune with Dr. Udosen.
Another faction of the party is populated by loyalists of Niger Delta Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and SSA to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang.
The faction has Mr. Edidiong Idio as its state chairman. Like the Udosen faction, they have also held a couple of non-Covid compliant rallies at the state secretariat of the party.
