A fresh crisis is brewing in the civil society space in Akwa Ibom State, as two factions of civil society organisations (CSOs) are locked in a supremacy battle over who truly represents the umbrella body of the sector in the state.
The controversy, which observers have likened to a “war of identical twins,” reached a boiling point last week when a coalition of prominent rights groups and civic organisations publicly disowned the Akwa Ibom Civil Society Forum, led by Mr. Harry Udoh.
In a strongly-worded statement jointly signed by 10 frontline CSO leaders, including Otuekong Franklyn Isong of the Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), Barr. Clifford Thomas of Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community (AKHRC), and Dr. Victor David of Vital Partners for Development (VPD), the coalition warned the public against transacting business with Mr. Udoh or recognizing his forum.
According to the group, “There is no umbrella civil society organization in Akwa Ibom State known or recognized as Akwa Ibom Civil Society Forum. Anyone who deals with Mr. Harry Udoh in that capacity does so at his or her own peril.”
The coalition further alleged that, Mr. Udoh had been parading himself before unsuspecting members of the public as chairman of a non-existent forum, and vowed to notify security agencies to prevent further misrepresentation.
Barely three days later, Mr. Udoh and his associates fired back, dismissing the claims as an act of mischief aimed at erasing the legacy of a duly registered and longstanding platform.
In a counter press release signed by 39 trustees and members, including development activists and academics, the group maintained that the Akwa Ibom State Civil Society Organizations Forum (legally registered in 2014 as the Guild of Community Development Advocates in Akwa Ibom State – AKGCODA), is not only legitimate but also recognized nationally as part of the 36 states CSO network in Nigeria.
The statement, signed by Mr. Udoh as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, insisted that the forum has since 2008 attracted “several million dollars’ worth of socio-economic development interventions” to Akwa Ibom, and enjoys the trust of donor agencies, government, and the international community.
“Our forum was founded with eminent citizens as trustees, including the late Obonganwan Imo Isemin, Prof. Selina Ekpo, and others.
“We remain committed to strengthening civic space, promoting accountability, and advancing good governance. The recent publication disowning us is nothing but a calculated attempt to mislead the public,” the group declared.
The unfolding supremacy war has left many stakeholders concerned about the credibility of civil society voices in the state.
While one camp insists that Udoh’s forum is an impostor, the other brandishes corporate registration papers, board of trustee records, and years of donor engagement as proof of legitimacy.
Analysts fear, the division could undermine the effectiveness of CSOs in holding government accountable, especially at a time when public trust in governance is waning.
Meanwhile, government agencies, donor partners, and the general public have been urged todisregard Mr. Harry Udoh’s Akwa Ibom Civil Society Forum saying, CSOs in the State does not have an umbrella body, but sometimes they can meet as a coalition on any matter of urgent public importance, as the authentic voicesl of civil society in Akwa Ibom.
For now, the CSO community in the state has declared a caveat emptor on Mr. Harry Udoh’s led Akwa Ibom Civil Society Forum alleging that the group is fake and not known to the CSOs in the state.
