Nduese Essien has urged Senator Ita Enang to prioritise legislative reform rather than lend credence to what he described as a manufactured controversy surrounding the media trial of former Akwa Ibom governor Udom Emmanuel.

The former Minister of Lands and Housing and political leader for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District made his remarks while hosting journalists at his Ntaisip country home in Eket. Essien expressed dismay at the spectacle being created by political activist Fejiro Oliver, who on 8 January 2025 declared his intention to file a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Udom Emmanuel. According to Oliver, the former governor was in such a state of panic that he had sent an advance team to the Inspector General of Police to obstruct the petition.

Essien, an Akwa Ibom high chief, was quick to distance himself from the unfolding drama when his name was dragged into the controversy. “I was neither consulted nor involved in any of these discussions,” he asserted. He noted that the petition eventually emerged on 21 January 2025—two weeks after Oliver’s initial announcement—highlighting, in his view, a desperate attempt to manufacture evidence for a media frenzy.

Having previously criticised Udom Emmanuel alongside other prominent figures such as Obong Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio, Essien maintained that his past remarks were grounded in principle and a call for accountability. He emphasised that genuine reform must follow proper legal channels rather than devolve into reckless public declarations. Furthermore, he condemned the ethnic undertones now pervading the debate, insisting that corruption and accountability must be pursued without reference to tribal or regional affiliations.

Reflecting on the current political climate in Akwa Ibom, Essien commended the spirit of unity and progress fostered under Governor Umo Eno since May 2023. “The days of relentless political bickering have been replaced by an inclusive approach that is truly paving the way for a brighter future,” he said. He warned the public to be wary of opportunistic grandstanding, urging them to distinguish between legitimate demands for accountability and sensationalist manoeuvres.

Essien’s comments underscore a growing call for measured and principled political discourse in the state, with a renewed emphasis on the rule of law and accountability through appropriate channels.