BREAKING: Bekwara Local Government Council Chairman Theresa Omang Served Impeachment Notice
By Missang AKPET
The Legislative arm of the Bekwarra local government council have served an impeachment notice on the Chairman of Bekwara local government area Hon Theresa Akwaji.
The resolution to impeach the chairman was reached in a unanimous vote on the floor of the Bekwara legislative house on Thursday March 2025.
According to a statement released by the Leader of council Hon. Thompson Inah, the Chairman was impeached based on allegation of Gross Misconduct and Abuse of Public Office levelled against her.
The leader alleged that the Chairman stifled administration among other arms of government thereby hindering the development of Bekwara local government and compromising the development agenda of Governor, Prince Bassey Otu.
He hinted that the Councillors also considered the high level of mal-administration, high handedness and serious retrogression leading to misappropriation of public funds by the Chairman.
The offenses listed on the impeachment notice include:
1. Secrecy: No revenue updates have been shared with councilors since inauguration
2. Lack of Transparency: Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) processes are opaque , bypassing legislative oversight . Opening of various checkpoints in which huge monies are collected without any mentioning to the councilors on the proceeds
3. Unilateral Projects: To mark One hundred (100) days in office, some roads were hurriedly graded and few boreholes drilled without councilors or stakeholders input, sparking allegations of personal interests an real areas were not touched
4.Communication Breakdown: No single meeting between the executive and legislative arms since after inauguration till date .
5. Harassment, Abuse and Isolation: In the process of attempting or creating synergy with the chairman, the leader of the council has faced harassment by the chairman and her brothers at some point,the Leader's phone number was barred or blacklisted for two (2) months.
6. Physical Confrontations: Councilors have been physically intimidated and assaulted by the Chairman's brothers, particularly " Bouncer"
Public assault on councilors by herself or brothers has become a normal thing either in public or private
7. Banking Favoritism: Compulsory /forceful opening of accounts with a bank without a branch in Cross River State ( TAJ BANK) , our salaries are paid to the said accounts which we have no access to.
8. Christmas Palliatives 1,200 bags: Only 40 bags of rice were distributed per ward in Bekwara LGA, as against 120 bags allocated from the state . Also, Councilors were given just one (1)bag of rice with zero (0) Naira, only loan offer by the Chairman to celebrate Christmas in Bekwara. Other local governments in Cross River North distributed more than hundred (100) bags of rice per ward, also gave their councilors monies for celebrating. Why is Bekwara LGA different?
9. Inadequate Facilities: Councilors lack proper offices and chambers to function , letters were written to the chairman but no single response
10. Reconciliation Snubbed: The chairman refused to attend a reconciliation meeting held by stakeholders , sparking further tensions. If should be noteworthy here that Ada Bekwara II painstakingly invited 10 councilors , chapter chairman and some stakeholders twice and twice the chairman ignored with abuses
11. Lack of Concern On Loss or Demise of Our Party Faithful: She always refer any issue of bereavement or loss of party member to the party and that it is not her responsibility
9 out of the 10 councillors representing the 10 wards of Bekwarra local government Council voted yes to the impeachment notice as the move was presented on the floor of the house.
The legislative arm is said to have forwarded a copy of the impeachment letter to the acting governor Rt Hon Peter Odey, CRS APC Chapter Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar, Esq., Bekwarra APC Chapter Chairman, Odama Thomas Odama , Member representing Bekwarra State Constituency, Hon Omang Charles Omang , and the ousted Chairman, Hon Theresa Akwaji Ushie.
