A mild but telling drama unfolded yesterday at the State Planning Commission’s office in Calabar when representatives of Ikom Local Government Area were abruptly walked out during a formal performance review session involving all 18 LGAs in Cross River State.
While LGAs took turns showcasing their achievements in the last six months, the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA), who stood in for the Chairman of Ikom, ran into stormy waters. His presentation was interrupted midway and ultimately halted after the commission described the reported projects as “watery, hasty, hollow, and fake.”
According to sources within the Commission, the Ikom presentation lacked tangible evidence of development. “There were no verifiable records, no physical evidence, and certainly no justifiable impact on the people,” one official stated.
The Commission, dissatisfied with the excuses and unsubstantiated claims, demanded the physical appearance of the Ikom Chairman to address what it labeled “unrealistic and unavailable” projects.
“What we witnessed was an insult to the intelligence of this Commission and the people of Ikom,” one visibly disappointed commissioner said. “You cannot fabricate development, especially not when the people on the ground are crying daily for basic infrastructure.”
In stark contrast, other LGAs came with documents, photos, and videos of completed and ongoing projects – including road maintenance, school renovations, health interventions, and market upgrades.
The incident has reignited concerns over accountability and the prioritization of internal revenue over genuine development at the local government level. A member of the Commission lamented that some councils “are only interested in setting up revenue points to extort helpless citizens while doing nothing to improve their lives.”
The State Planning Commission has since issued a directive for Ikom LGA to return only when the Chairman is ready to appear in person and provide concrete evidence of development within the council.
The development has sparked outrage among citizens of Ikom, who took to social media and local forums to express disappointment in the council’s leadership and apparent neglect of development responsibilities.
As the state government pushes forward with its “People First” agenda, the message from the Planning Commission is clear: lip service and fake reports will no longer be tolerated in the name of governance.
