African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, on Monday tore into the Akwa Ibom State Government, accusing it of abandoning the state’s once-ambitious development path for “bungalow projects” while oil money remains shrouded in secrecy and major facilities like Ibom Hotel stay locked.
In a no-holds-barred interview, the former senator questioned why a state floating on oil wealth now celebrates basic structures that should be the routine work of local government councils.
“Akwa Ibom was once known as a destination for development. When did we begin settling for bungalow projects?” Udoedehe asked.
He dismissed the fanfare around model primary schools and primary healthcare centres as an attempt to elevate ordinary responsibilities into achievements, insisting the real question is whether the state is building for the future or merely polishing mediocrity.
Udoedehe demanded full transparency on funding sources. He asked whether the projects are being bankrolled from local government allocations or state coffers and called for public disclosure of actual costs and development objectives.
The ADC hopeful also raised alarm over construction of bungalow-style structures inside Ibom Unity Parks, alleging the work may violate the state’s master plan that designated the area as green space. He challenged the government to explain the long-term plan for the park or admit it is being compromised.
On oil revenue, Udoedehe went for the jugular. He demanded clear answers on the status of disputed oil wells and the 13 percent derivation fund, insisting Akwa Ibom people have a right to know exactly what the state is entitled to and what has actually been received.
“The management of the state’s oil resources must be subjected to public scrutiny,” he said, noting that oil money remains the lifeblood of the state’s budget.
The former senator rejected any suggestion that the government should stay out of industrialisation. While acknowledging that the state need not own every factory, he insisted the government has a duty to create an environment that attracts foreign investment, grows the private sector, and generates real jobs.
Turning to the abandoned Ibom Hotel (formerly Le Meridien), Udoedehe asked why more than N25 billion budgeted for renovation has produced a closed main hotel while only the bungalow chalets are being prepared for reopening. He linked the prolonged shutdown to lost jobs and a crippled hospitality sector, accusing the government of misplaced priorities.
Contractors, he said, are also crying out over delayed payments that have stalled road projects across the state. Such delays, according to him, destroy timelines, discourage serious contractors, and leave residents with incomplete roads.
Udoedehe further accused the administration of weak budget implementation and an inactive cabinet, charging that commissioners appear more interested in ceremonies than measurable results.
He said his intervention is aimed at forcing a serious conversation ahead of the 2027 governorship election, promising that the ADC will soon release a detailed manifesto for voters to compare with the current direction of the state.
“The 2027 election must be about more than personalities and empty promises. It must be about interrogating public spending, assessing real development outcomes, and demanding accountability,” he said.
Udoedehe urged Akwa Ibom people to pay close attention to these questions and decide whether the state will continue on its present path or chart a new course.
