𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗨𝗠 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦’ 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗙 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗠, 𝗦𝗔𝗡: 𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗠 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘

𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗨𝗠 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦’ 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗙 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗠, 𝗦𝗔𝗡: 𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗠 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘

We, members of the Eket Federal Constituency Media Professionals (EFCMP), have read with disappointment a fabricated and mischievous report published by Premium Times, seeking to misconstrue, twist and distort the comments of the Political Leader of Eket Senatorial District, Chief Assam Assam, SAN. The slant, “there is no road at all in Eket Urban,” is a clear distortion of context and mischief taken too far.

We cannot pretend to be unaware of the frequently deployed antics of Premium Times in recent times, as scandal-hunters and click-bait merchants foraging for stories to disparage and revile the administration of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D. We would ordinarily have chosen to ignore them. However, since the said statement was made in our presence during a visit to the former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia and Belarus on Thursday, September 3, 2026, we are duty-bound to set the records straight on what we actually heard.

We understand that such misrepresentation occurs when journalists allow prejudice and bitterness to colour their reports. True journalism demands verification, not scavenging for scandals.

In setting the records straight, we state categorically that Chief Assam was commending His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, Ph.D., for approving another 12km road for Eket on the day he commissioned the 2.4km internal road network at Mkpok Housing Estate, Phases I & II, and the 2.4km network of roads in the Ikot Akpa Ikpo – Udua Udoinyang axis of Eket on June 24, 2026.

While explaining the distribution of the 12km road to members of the Eket media community during the engagement, he mentioned internal roads, including Okon, Esit-Urua, Effoi and Ikot Udota roads earmarked for construction according to their needs. He also explained that 5.7km would be apportioned to further strategically drive urban development, with another road project spanning from Okpongkpong (Atabong Road by Bridge Head), RCC – Uqua – Afaha Uqua and terminating at Marina Junction.

For him, that stretch of road is central, strategic and further boosts the urbanization of the Oil City.

According to him, the crux of the decision by stakeholders in Eket was that the distribution of the 12km should not be limited to rural areas alone, and that the community should maximize the opportunity and deploy it strategically in the drive for further urban development.

That is the comment that Premium Times mischievously distorted in their vile quest to smear the image of Chief Assam Assam and stir a fissure between him and the Governor. What a shameful exercise in futility.

Why was Premium Times unable to capture the actual import of the Ambassador’s comments, that the Governor has done so well in Eket through the following projects:
– Reconstruction of 3.3km Idua Road
– Emergency erosion and flood control/road project in Afia Nsit
– Model School in Idung Udo
– Okon – Nduo Eduo – Ikot Imo Dual Road Project
– Ofriyo – Ikot Ekpene Udo Dual Highway with Bridge
– St. Francis Secondary School Access Road and Internal Roads
– The ongoing model health centre project at Hospital Road
– Mkpok Housing Estate Internal Roads
– Ikot Akpa Ikpo – Urua Udoinyang Road

As media professionals with a collective experience spanning decades in the field, it is easy to spot a hatchet job, such as is obtainable in the once reputable Premium Times online news organization.

Incidentally, the learned Senior Counsel took time during the visit to frown at the bias and unprofessional conduct by journalists who tend to slant news to justify a prejudiced stand — a biased viewpoint driven by preconceived notions rather than facts.

How does Premium Times expect people to believe that the Chief Marketer of Governor Eno’s re-election could end up telling journalists that the Governor has not performed well on the same day he was urging them to join him in the re-election campaign?

We call on the good people of Akwa Ibom State to disregard this campaign of calumny and hatchet job by the newspaper. We also advise the news organization to retrace its steps from the ignoble descent into the dustbin of yellow journalism.

Signed

Comr. Enobong Nsimah
Chairman

Comr. Ifiok Itiaba
Secretary