Akwa Ibom says BudgIT’s report on states is ‘voodoo analysis’

Akwa Ibom state government says BudgIT, a data simplifying civic organisation, carried out voodoo analysis, in its state of states report, which posits that 33  states cannot meet recurrent needs.

In a statement signed by Ekerete Udoh, the state’s chief press secretary, the state claimed that no intellectually astute state would place Akwa Ibom at the bottom of a list on the inability to meet recurrent expenditure.

“Ordinarily, we would have dismissed the report and analysis as representing the immortal  words of ex-President of the United States, George H. Bush, who in describing the economic policy as enunciated by his then opponent for the nomination as the Republican Party Presidential Candidate in 1980, -Ronald Reagan had dismissed the whole plan as ‘Voodoo Economics’,” the statement read.

“There is no doubt that the conclusions reached by BudgIT, is nothing but voodoo analysis or how else would any rational and intellectually astute organization place Akwa Ibom State “last on the table of inability to meet monthly recurrent expenditure commitments.

“It bears repeating here that, Akwa Ibom State is one of the few states where workers are paid regularly and on time. Governor Udom Emmanuel has stated in so many fora and platforms that he cannot sleep and will not sleep well, if workers are owed salary. He has not only paid their salaries, but has gone ahead  to pay their 2016 leave allowance, as well as their pensions.”

Udoh further stated that “in spite of the challenging economic times we are currently experiencing, Governor Udom Emmanuel is embarking on many life touching projects- projects that align with his campaign promise to alleviate poverty and ensure wealth creation”.

“It is  spurious and curious for an organization that may pass itself off, as a credible organization to come up with such a flawed analysis.

The state claimed that “the famed CEO of Financial Derivatives Limited, Bismarck Rewane, dismissed the analysis   stating that he  has ‘doubts about this report’ maintaining that report is ‘inaccurate'”.

“Governor Udom Emmaniel is working hard to fulfil his campaign promises  and he will not be distracted by reports that are not based on facts.”

Reacting to the statement, Stanley Achonu, operations lead at BudgIT, told TheCable  that it never claimed that any state cannot pay salaries, but only prepared its report based on publicly verifiable data.