Inibehe Effiong Explodes! Accuses Tinubu And Umo Eno Of Political Deceit Over Ibom Deep-Seaport, Condemns Forced Attendance At APC Campaign
By Passman Akpos
Prominent human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, accusing both leaders of engaging in political deceit over the purported approval of the Ibom Deep-Seaport project.
Effiong also condemned what he described as the unconstitutional and irresponsible decision by the Akwa Ibom State Government to shut down the state and compel civil servants and residents to participate in activities organised to welcome President Tinubu, insisting that the presidential visit was fundamentally a partisan political campaign.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, November 6, 2026, Effiong said he was compelled to cut short his break from active engagement on social media to address what he described as the “pathetic political deceit” allegedly being perpetrated by the President and the Akwa Ibom governor.
His criticism followed Tinubu’s announcement that approval had been granted for the establishment of the Ibom Deep-Seaport in Akwa Ibom State.
Effiong, however, dismissed the announcement as another episode in what he described as a longstanding political deception surrounding the proposed seaport, alleging that successive administrations in the state had repeatedly used the project to mislead the people.
According to the lawyer, the proposed seaport has become a recurring political promise under successive governors, with different administrations allegedly claiming presidential approval without delivering the actual project.
He specifically accused former Akwa Ibom Governor and current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, former Governor Udom Emmanuel, and incumbent Governor Umo Eno of making misleading claims about the project during their respective administrations.
Effiong alleged that public resources had been appropriated and expended in the name of the proposed seaport despite what he described as the absence of a tangible project on the ground.
He recalled that during Akpabio’s tenure as governor, former President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly approved the establishment of a seaport in the state.
Under Udom Emmanuel, Effiong said former President Muhammadu Buhari also reportedly granted approval for the same project.
The lawyer argued that Tinubu’s latest announcement had further intensified questions surrounding the credibility of the repeated approvals.
“Today, Tinubu has taken his turn to give yet another approval for a fake seaport that no one has seen,” Effiong stated.
He maintained that Akwa Ibom residents were increasingly frustrated by what he described as the continuous recycling of political promises, warning that politicians should not assume they could perpetually deceive the electorate without facing public criticism.
“We have had enough of this seaport approval nonsense in Akwa Ibom,” he declared.
EFFIONG BLASTS UMO ENO OVER STATE SHUTDOWN
Beyond the controversy surrounding the deep-seaport announcement, Effiong also strongly condemned Governor Umo Eno’s decision to allegedly shut down the state in connection with President Tinubu’s visit.
The lawyer argued that the governor had no constitutional justification for shutting down government activities to accommodate what he described as a partisan political event.
He accused the governor of misrepresenting Tinubu’s campaign activities as an official state function, describing the situation as particularly troubling given Eno’s religious background as a pastor.
Effiong questioned whether the governor would extend the same treatment to presidential candidates of opposition political parties if they visited Akwa Ibom State for campaign activities.
“Will the governor also declare a work free day and direct civil servants to attend the campaign events and rallies of presidential candidates of other political parties?” he queried.
The lawyer’s criticism raises broader questions about the relationship between state resources, public institutions and partisan political activities, particularly as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
Effiong insisted that public servants and residents should not be treated as political instruments for the mobilisation of support for any presidential candidate.
WOMEN’S VEHICLE ACCIDENT RAISES FURTHER CONCERNS
Effiong also expressed concern over an accident involving a vehicle reportedly conveying women to the airport to welcome President Tinubu.
According to his statement, the accident reportedly resulted in the loss of a life, although further details surrounding the incident were not provided.
The lawyer’s reference to the accident added another dimension to his criticism of the mobilisation activities surrounding the presidential visit.
He maintained that Akwa Ibom residents were not slaves and would not remain silent in the face of what he described as the deceit and arrogance of political leaders.
“Akwa Ibom people are not slaves, and we will never allow the deceit and arrogance of failed politicians to go unchallenged,” he declared.
TINUBU’S POLICIES UNDER FIRE
Effiong also broadened his criticism to the national political landscape, accusing President Tinubu’s administration of implementing disastrous and oppressive policies that had allegedly inflicted suffering on Nigerians.
He argued that Akwa Ibom State was not immune to the consequences of the President’s economic and political decisions.
“President Tinubu’s disastrous policies and oppressive regime have brought tears, sorrow and blood to Nigeria,” Effiong stated.
“Akwa Ibom is not insulated from Tinubu’s misrule.”
His remarks come amid intensifying political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the President’s visit to Akwa Ibom attracting attention over the reported seaport approval and the controversy surrounding the state’s mobilisation arrangements.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS EMERGE
Effiong’s allegations have placed the proposed Ibom Deep-Seaport project and the conduct of the Akwa Ibom State Government under renewed public scrutiny.
The central questions now concern the details of the latest approval announced by Tinubu, the status of previous approvals reportedly granted under Jonathan and Buhari, the financial resources allegedly committed to the project by successive administrations, and the actual progress made toward its establishment.
Questions have also emerged over whether the Akwa Ibom State Government’s arrangements for the presidential visit were appropriate for a partisan campaign event.
The allegations of fraud, financial mismanagement, political deceit and unconstitutional conduct contained in Effiong’s statement remain his claims and have not been independently established by this report.
The relevant authorities, including the Presidency and the Akwa Ibom State Government, would need to provide detailed explanations regarding the seaport approval and the circumstances surrounding the presidential visit.
The controversy has once again placed the issue of political accountability in Akwa Ibom State at the centre of public debate, with Effiong insisting that residents deserve more than repeated promises and political ceremonies.
The question confronting Akwa Ibom’s political leadership is whether the Ibom Deep-Seaport will finally become a reality or remain another recurring political promise ahead of successive elections.
