RE: UKANAFUN
COTTAGE HOSPITAL CONTRACT
Following so much media interest on the Ukanafun Cottage Hospital Contract, arising from Governor Godswill Akpabio and some social media correspondents, making some disparaging comments against Atuekong Don Etiebet, CON, on the contract, I have decided to clarify the issues concerned as follows, being the MD/CEO of Global Corp Ltd which got the contract.
1. My company, Global Corp Ltd successfully bided for the construction of the Cottage Hospital at Ukanafun, Akwa Ibom State and the Contract was awarded in August 2008 in the sum of N1, 120, 036, 491.42.
2. By even government’s account and records, the mobilization in the sum of N400, 973, 063.93 was paid on 23/12/2008 upon submission of Advance Payment Guaranty (APG) and Performance Bond from our bankers. The APG and the BOND were discharged after “above 50% execution” of the contract as stated by the Ministry though, by our estimation about 70% of the work was done in 3 months. Our performance received the Ministry’s commendation.
3. The 70% work done within 3 months was achieved through my enthusiasm as an indigene of Ukanafun to complete the hospital in record time within the 6 months as stipulated in the contract for the good of my people. So I went out to borrow more money from our bankers and others to do the job, hoping that I would be paid according to the contract terms within the 6 months period.
4. But when Governor Akpabio knew through his administration machinery of the contract that it was my company that got the contract, he personally orchestrated the delay in the payment of the next two IPCs of N163, 059, 010.23 and N53, 347, 266.71 respectively put in May and June 2009, through their consultant, Oliver Ebong of Olkem Nig Ltd, which the Ministry of Health officials caused me to pay them the sum of N100million before my further IPCs could be processed. The 1st IPC in N163, 059, 010.23 was then paid in November 2009 while the second one was still pending.
5. Because of the willful delay in the payment of the IPCs, my bankers refused to advance me more money to progress on the work and because of my mounting debt to the bank and suppliers further work on the project stalled for almost 2years until July 2011 when they paid the second IPC in N53, 347, 266.71.
6. Hoping that we had reached some amicability with the payment of the second IPC in July 2011, I borrowed again to continue the work and put in 2 more IPCs in N81, 153, 389.85 and N178, 481, 313.21. They paid only the first one of N81, 153, 389.85 in October 2011 but refused to pay the second one in N178, 481, 313.21 until July 2013 after a lot of haggling, begging and crying as I was by now thrown into heavy debts with my bankers and suppliers.
7. So it was only by July 2013, five years after the award of the contract, that the government paid a total of N877, 014, 051.95 but what came to our purse after the forced payment of N100, 000, 000 to the consultants was only N777, 014, 051.91 till date.
8. This is a contract that was to be completed within 6 months and we did our own best from the beginning to beat the deadline but the government’s unwillingness, for reasons only known to them, to process and pay the IPCs as and when due within the six months period dragged the contract completion till the 7th year, today.
9. During the Town Hall Meetings in 2014 when Governor Akpabio visited Ukanafun and the issue of the Hospital was raised, he asked how much work had been done and his Ministry official said over 84%. This is on tape recording of the Town Hall meeting. I am glad to say that the work done even at the Ministry’s estimate of 84%, although our estimate was at 90%, is more than the percentage of what we have been paid at 78% of the contract value. It was then that the Governor told the audience that the Hospital project would be completed in the “next two months” and asked to see me. I was told of this development and I made several efforts to see him thereafter but never succeeded. Mr Etekamba Umoren, his Chief of Staff knew about these attempts.
10. Before this time, I had put in a variation of about N300 million to complete the job because of rising cost of materials after 7 years which was never attended to but I was surprised to hear recently that the Governor had directed that our contract be terminated since March, 2015 and is being re-awarded to a designated contractor for about N600 million, something I had asked for only N300 million since last year to complete the project. What is the justification for this?
11. The records of what I have said above are there to substantiate them. I challenge them to contradict these figures. So, where did Atuekong Don Etiebet come in, in all this and where is the money the Governor keeps accusing Atuekong Don Etiebet of diverting on this contract. I would like to emphasize very strongly here that Atuekong Don Etiebet has nothing to do with this contract or has benefited from it in any way. On the contrary, I have borrowed money from him to put into this contract.
12. What is true is that through deliberate actions to frustrate me because of my refusal as a friend and confidant to join his gang of “Youths” in the State, the Governor has orchestrated his plan to render me bankrupt, instill grievous pain and destruction on my life and business as he does to others who do not agree with him. He is annoyed that I am still alive and well because of my closeness with Atuekong Don Etiebet.
13. Governor Godswill Akpabio has continually forgotten our humble beginning as friends, brothers and even as colleagues when he worked for Mr Emeka Onwuegbuzia, MD/CEO of Emis Telecoms and I also worked with Mr Onwuegbuzia because of our common mentor, Chief Don Obot Etiebet, a major shareholder in Emis Telecoms. The entire Emis Telecoms transmission infrastructure and operational office were located in ETIEBET PLACE. Barr. Godswill Akpabio benefited immensely in his only formal carrier job from Atuekong Don Etiebet. You can call Mr. Onwuegbuzia (0803-572-5113) to enquire. It is from Emis office my brother, Barr. Godswill Akpabio was invited by HE Obong Victor Attah to join his government in 2002 and later became governor.
Maybe there are issues waiting at Emis Telecoms for him to address after his 8 years of immunity in Government House that he also turns his anger on me and my company, Global Corp Ltd.
The Atuekong has no interest or shares in Global Corp Ltd and is not even a director of the company. He only gives my company some jobs to do.
For HE Governor Godswill Akpabio to attempt to malign this great man, an Icon of our time from Annangland because of a one billion naira cottage hospital project, an amount this great man of honour has spent developing most of us including Godswill Akpabio, to get to what he is today, is preposterous, shameful and disgraceful and should be condemned by all right thinking people.
I wonder what his testimonial would say if the four men very qualified to write on HE Governor Godswill Akpabio - Mr Emeka Onwuegbuzia of Emis Telecoms, Atuekong Don Etiebet, HE Obong Victor Attah and Dr Imeh Sampson Umana were to put pen to paper.
God in His infinite wisdom has used these men for Godswill Akpabio to achieve what he is today but over his 8 years in office, there are no abuse, castigation, cursing, ridiculing and falsehood remaining that Governor Akpabio has not employed to destroy these great men in his life.
Thank You
Mr. Enobong Jimie Idiong
Managing Director / CEO
Global Corp Ltd
0802 313 7323
enobongjimie@icloud.com
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