Bekwarra legislative council impeaches chairman Hon. Theresa Ushie as government orders stay, retains status-quo

The legislative arm of Bekwarra Council Area, in a unanimous resolution, announced today, 20th March 2025 the impeachment of the chairman, Hon. Theresa Akwaji Ushie.

According to a statement released by the Council Leader, Hon. Thompson Inah Adie, shortly after their sitting in Abuochiche, the Chairman was impeached based on allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of public office levelled against her.

The Chairman was also alleged to be stifling the development of Bekwarra Council thereby compromising the development agenda of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration in his Peoples First Mantra.

Adie said the Councilors also considered the high level of maladministration, high-handedness and serious retrogression leading to the misappropriation of public funds by the Chairman.

The offences contained in the statement released 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 mention to the councilors on the proceeds
3. Unilateral Projects: To mark One hundred (100) days in office, some roads were hurriedly graded and a few boreholes were drilled without councilors or stakeholders’ input, sparking allegations of personal interests and 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, to which we have no privacy.
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 a loan offered by the Chairman to celebrate Christmas in Bekwara. Other local governments in Cross River North distributed more than a hundred (100) bags of rice per ward and also gave their councillors 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. It should be noteworthy here that Ada Bekwara II painstakingly invited 10 councillors, the chapter chairman and some stakeholders twice and twice the chairman ignored abuses
11. Lack of Concern on Loss or Demise of Our Party Faithful: She always refers any issue of bereavement or loss of a party member to the party and that it is not her responsibility

The impeachment notices in accordance with the provisions of the Cross River State Local Government Law (Part 11, Section 12, Subsection (1) and (2) was duly signed by Nine (9) out of the Ten (10) councillors representing the 10 wards of Bekwarra Council including the leader of council, Hon. Thompson Inah Adie, representing Ukpah Ward and deputy leader, Hon. Ejugu Godwin Odey of Gakem Ward.

Meanwhile, the Acting Governor has invited stakeholders to a special meeting on Bekwarra Local Government Area to discuss crucial and recent developments in the LGA for Monday 24^th March 2025 in the Glass House, Governor’s office, Calabar. A directive by the Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang in the Public Service Announcement made on Thursday 20^th March, 2025 demand that the status-quo before the current crisis remains.

By: Archibong Emmanuel

(Snr. Reporter.)