The Chairman of the EMOIMEE Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), Senator Helen Esuene, has assured royal fathers in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom State that brighter days are ahead.
Addressing Mbo Traditional Rulers Council (TRC), on Wednesday, Senator Esuene expressed delight at the warm reception accorded the EMOIMEE team during the visit, and basically for nominating them into the Trust.
She listed the seven LGAs that make up the Trust to include Eastern Obolo, Mbo, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eket, and Esit Eket, saying the Trust was set up to ensure implementation of the community development plan (CDP), using the yearly Trust Fund from the NNPC/MPNU JV, empowered by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Flanked by other Board of Trustees (BoT) members including Clinton Akpan (Onna); Justice Emmanuel Ntuk (Ikot Abasi); and Lady Lilly Evans (Eastern Obolo), the Board Chairman said, “We have never had a thing like this in Nigeria. It is the first time the oil producing communities are being given the opportunity to run their funds in developing the affected communities.”
Describing EMOIMEE as the trailblazer and flagship of the over 137 trusts in Nigeria, Senator Esuene assured the community that better days are coming, as they were working hard to deliver people oriented projects.
She explained, “In the coming years, we assure you that better things are coming. We are implementing the five-year development plan. The trust is all about us and that’s why we are partnering the communities to be sure that the challenges of the people are alleviated.”
Apologising for the oversight of not visiting the Mbo Paramount Ruler when he returned from the kidnappers’ den earlier in the year, the EMOIMEE Board Chairman stated that the Trust was determined to make provisions for periodic settlement of traditional rulers in the affected LGAs.
She said, “EMOIMEE will make it a special case to put something for the royal fathers: paramount Ruler, clan heads and village head.
“Also, efforts in ensuring the perimeter fencing of your palace will be considered in the 2025 appropriation.”
Voicing their concerns, while speaking earlier at the meeting, Chief Xavier Ekpe, the village head of Unyenge and Chief Asuquo Antai Edubio, the village head of Abiakowo Ebughu, inquired about the position of the royal fathers.
In his remarks, the Mbo Paramount Ruler, Ogwong Okon Asukwo Abang, expressed his joy at the visit, sharing his recent tribulations, including being shot and kidnapped by abductors in May 2024.
While congratulating EMOIMEE for being painstaking in executing projects across the five communities in Mbo, the Monarch pleaded for the EMOIMEE HCDT to look into the challenges faced by beneficiaries of the cash empowerment for entrepreneurs in Mbo.
The Paramount Ruler also requested that the EMOIMEE HCDT consider providing quarterly support to the traditional rulers and royal fathers, and to look into the rehabilitation of his palace, particularly the fencing.
Members of EMOIMEE Management Committee at the event included the Ag Head, Chief Ulo Ante Uye; the Secretary, Dr Joshua Ndoho; Chief E. E. Okon, Member and Chief Ita Ntekim, Member of Advisory Committee.
Other TRC members at the meeting were the Clan Head of Udesi, HRH Ita Okon Ottong, Chief Matthias Okon Nta, Chief Bassey Harry Bassey, among others.
