Ikono in Crisis: Corruption, Power Struggles, and a Council on the Brink
Ikono, Akwa Ibom State A storm of political chaos is sweeping through Ikono Local Government Area, exposing what insiders describe as a deeply entrenched network of corruption, manipulation, and abuse of office allegedly orchestrated by the council chairperson, Engineer Oto-Obong Okon Essien.
Twelve out of thirteen councillors of the Ikono Legislative Council have submitted a damning petition to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, accusing the embattled chairperson of brazenly looting the council treasury, sidelining the legislature, and turning the local government into her personal fiefdom.
The petition, officially delivered on Tuesday by Aniefiok Attah and signed by the Council Leader, Saviour Ebong, Deputy Leader Idorenyin Akpan, and ten others, alleges that Essien has been withdrawing large sums from the council’s accounts without legislative approval, in direct violation of Section 66(1) of the Akwa Ibom Local Government Administration Law.
Sources inside the council reveal that the real rot runs deeper than the public realizes. Allegedly, Essien has been diverting public funds to personal projects and media campaigns aimed at whitewashing her image while neglecting statutory obligations. She reportedly launched a self-promotional radio programme but has failed to pay the stations that aired them. Some broadcasters are now privately demanding settlement, further proving the council’s financial mismanagement.
Behind closed doors, whispers of “she’s chopping alone” have grown louder — an accusation that suggests Essien has monopolized public resources without involving her political allies or sharing patronage, a common but unspoken culture in local politics. This may explain why twelve of her councilors, some of whom may have been complicit or silent in the past, are now speaking out. When the spoils of corruption are unevenly shared, betrayal often follows.
Despite the weight of these allegations, Essien has not offered a direct rebuttal. Instead, she has dismissed journalists’ inquiries, telling them to “go around Ikono and see what I’ve done.” But the people are not impressed. Projects are few, payments are pending, and transparency is nowhere to be found.
Worse still, Essien stands accused of using security operatives to intimidate and harass councillors during official sessions. According to the petitioners, she frequently absents herself from legislative meetings and employs thuggish tactics to disrupt governance, a move they describe as “illegal, dishonourable, and grossly irresponsible.”
Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, has acted swiftly, referring the matter to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The committee has three weeks to meet with all parties, including Essien, the Head of Service, and the council’s legislative leadership.
On the streets of Ikono and across social media, tensions are boiling. A prominent political stakeholder, Godwin Udobot, publicly called on Governor Umo Eno via Facebook to “declare a state of emergency and appoint a sole administrator” claiming “our money is missing.”
Residents are anxious. “I hope this petition won’t lead to bloodshed,” said Ubong Sampson Akpan, reflecting the growing fear that Ikono may be sliding into dangerous political unrest. One insider close to the legislative council added, “The situation is volatile. The Governor must act now to prevent total breakdown of law and order.”
At the center of this storm is a local government that should be thriving. Ikono is rich in agricultural land and natural resources. It boasts fertile valleys, mineral-rich cliffs, and eco-tourism potential. Yet, amid all this natural wealth, its political leadership stands accused of mismanagement and greed.
If these allegations are confirmed, the State Assembly could recommend the suspension or outright removal of Essien. But more than that, this crisis has unveiled the silent cancer of corruption that thrives when public funds are misused in the dark and when those meant to serve the people treat the public purse as private property.
The fate of Ikono, and perhaps the credibility of grassroots governance in Akwa Ibom, now hangs in the balance.
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Ikono in Crisis: Corruption, Power Struggles, and a Council on the Brink