A prominent advocacy group in Akwa Ibom State, the Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement (AILM), has strongly condemned Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s alleged approval for the head office of the newly established South South Development Commission (SSDC) to be situated on a private property owned by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The group insists that the state-of-the-art Dakkada Towers is the more suitable location for the commission’s headquarters.
In a scathing open letter, Akparawa Prince Emmanuel Sam, National President of AILM, accused the governor’s decision of “sabotaging state interest to satisfy an individual’s greed.”
The AILM’s stance underscored a growing public debate regarding the strategic placement of the SSDC’s main office, a crucial federal establishment for regional development.
Read full letter below:
26 June, 2025
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY PASTOR UMO ENO
LOCATION OF SSDC HEAD OFFICE ON GODSWILL AKPABIO’S PROPERTY: A SABOTAGE OF STATE INTEREST TO SATISFY AN INDIVIDUAL’S GREED
Background:In furtherance of his avowed commitment to expand the frontiers of development across the country, His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, had graciously approved the creation of regional development commissions as follows;North West Development Commission;South East Development Commission;South West Development Commission;South South Development Commission, andNorth Central Development Commission.
The unbundling of select federal government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was not only long overdue but had become a requisite condition to ensure effective implementation of many lofty development programmes in the regions. In addition, the creation of the regional development commissions was to further take government closer to the people by restructuring them to ensure that their goals and objectives are community-specific as they begin to address the peculiar needs of the communities within them.
Considering the complex nature of this task, we sincerely commend President Bola Tinubu for his doggedness and having political will to push through this process.
South South Development Commission – Our Concern:Following the creation of the South South Development Commission, there were strong advocacies and demands by almost every patriotic Akwa Ibom person. Specifically, these demands were;1) That an Akwa Ibom indigene to be appointed as pioneer Managing Director (MD) of the Commission;2) That the head office of the Commission should be located in Akwa Ibom State.In his magnanimity, President Tinubu granted both demands by appointing an industrial daughter of Akwa Ibom, Ms Usoro Akpabio as the MD of South South Development Commission, and consequently approving the location of the Commission’s head office in Akwa Ibom State.
Your Excellency, it is important to note that the demand by Akwa Ibom people for the location of the Commission’s head office in the State was not only hinged on the fact that the State is well-positioned as the most suitable for that purpose in terms of security and ease of doing business, but also the State currently has the best infrastructure in the region that befits the purpose – the Dakkada Towers (21 Storey Smart Intelligence Building). There is no gainsaying the fact that almost every citizen of Akwa Ibom who canvassed for the location of the Commission’s head office in the state, had this building in mind. However, and quite unfortunately, we are aware that a private property belonging to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, located on Line-A Ewet Housing Estate, which is currently undergoing renovations, has been approved as the head office of the Commission.
Why Dakkada Towers is More Suitable for SSDC Head Office:Your Excellency, when you graciously allocated a space at the Dakkada Towers for the Bank of Industry to locate its office in the State, Akwa Ibom people all agreed that it was a decision that was made in the best interest of the State and the Bank. This is because the edifice was conceptualised and built to meet all the contemporary conditions of an infrastructure meant for a public or official purpose in terms of technology, safety, security, convenience, accessibility, serenity, etc.
We recall vividly that as part of the activities to mark the 34th anniversary of the state in September 2021, the then vice president of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo visited the Akwa Ibom to commission the Dakkada Towers and other projects. While inaugurating the 21 storeys Dakkada Towers, Prof Osinbajo emphatically stated that the International Oil Companies and other organizations will not have any reason not to relocate their corporate headquarters to the Akwa Ibom State, having provided world-class accommodation. He urged oil and gas industries operating within the state to relocate their corporate headquarters to Akwa Ibom State, having completed one of the smartest Intelligence buildings in the state complete with architectural beauty with the latest technology developed for smart efficiency. On his part, the then State Governor, His Excellency Udom Emmanuel (whom you call your “political father”), appealed to the federal government to make a pronouncement that will see to the relocation of the oil multinational companies’ corporate headquarters to Akwa Ibom State. In his exact words; “Today we are presenting to Akwa Ibom people all over the world the smartest building, most intelligent and modern building Nigeria can boast of today.”
For us, the approval for the location of the South South Development Commission (SSDC) head office in Akwa Ibom was the fulfilment of the dream that began in 2021; a dream that was conceived by your political father, Mr Udom Emmanuel, and brought to reality in your administration. Aside the fact that the Dakkada Towers was built to specifications for a purpose like this, it was also meant to expand the state’s revenue base. In fact, we recall that one of the strategies employed by the last administration to cut unnecessary expenditure was relocating government MDAs from private properties to government properties.
Enlightened State Interest or Godswill Akpabio’s Interest?In the build-up to your recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), you had severally said that the move was in an enlightened state interest. As a leader, whose word ought to be his bond, we are certain that Akwa Ibom people would love to know if this plan to locate the head office of SSDC is really in the interest of the State or in the interest of Senator Godswill Akpabio. It is very pertinent because as one of your first major decisions/actions since joining the APC, this will give Akwa Ibom people a clear picture of whose interest you are truly serving.
Conclusion:Your Excellency, words are not just enough to woo investors to the State as you continue to rigorously pursue your vision. Clear, decisive and bold actions are essential too. It is therefore very important for you to use the SSDC, as a government organisation, to set a good example for the private organisations and other multi-national companies who are either already operating in Akwa Ibom or preparing to come into the State. This is an opportunity for you to set a good precedent. We are saying it clearly that locating the head office of the South South Development Commission on Senator Godswill Akpabio’s private property will amount to sabotaging the interest of the State in order to satisfy the greed of a single individual.
God bless you.
Signed:Akparawa Prince Emmanuel SamNational President, Akwa Ibom Libration Movement, AILM