Motto: Unity and Prosperity

31 Udo Akpan Ekong Street, Shelter Afrique Estate Uyo,


Musikilu Mojeed’s Insult On Akwa Ibom People

Our attention and that of the entire Akwa Ibom people has been drawn to the shockingly unprofessional statements made by Musikilu Mojeed, the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times against the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State during an event organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council in Uyo recently.

At the event, Mr. Mojeed said “The Akwa Ibom Government is notorious for operating in secrecy. Its budgets and annual accounts are hardly public while its contract-award processes remain unclear.” This assertion is not only unfounded and clearly ill-informed but also a brazen at denigrating the integrity of Akwa Ibomites. The statement is evidently tainted with deeply rooted malice. Ordinarily, we would have ignored Mr. Mojeed and classify his vile statement to be the ranting of a man seeking for cheap attention through the back door. However, because he is supposed to be a respected voice in the society and his political inclination has beclouded his sense of professionalism, we have chosen to set the facts straight.

It borders on dementia that Mr. Mojeed has failed to note the fact that in the last four and half years, Akwa Ibom has been one of a handful of states in Nigeria that publishes audited annual financial statements. The transparency, accountability and integrity visibly displayed by the state government over this period has seen the Governor being decorated with an Integrity and National Service award in the banquet hall of Aso Rock Villa. This recognition is even more significant when you consider that the current Akwa Ibom Government and the Government of Nigeria at the Centre are on the opposite sides of the political divide. It speaks volumes about the transparency and integrity of the current Akwa Ibom State Government.

It might also interest our dear brother and friend, Mr. Mojeed to note that today, Akwa Ibom state is home to over a dozen investor driven private sector industrial endeavors. The presence and continuous in flocks of foreign investors to the state is another pointer to the humongous respect the state government has earned since 2015. To underscore this fact, within this period, the National Bureau of Statistics has twice rated the state as the second highest destination for Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria. Considering the seemingly dodgy perception of our national brand in the international arena, it is remarkable that the armada of foreign investors have chosen to trust Akwa Ibom State and not Mr. Musikilu Mojeed’s home state. It would be interesting if Mojeed could also beam his fabled search light on his home state where payment of workers salaries has for ages been as occasional as an annual Christmas gift.

The glaringly futile and infantile attempt by Mr. Mojeed to incite media against the government and People of Akwa ibom state is highly regrettable especially when he chooses to pretend to forget the meaning of the word secrecy when he talked about budgets and annual accounts of Akwa Ibom State being hardly in the public domain. It would be interesting know if Mr. Mojeed has ever visited www.akwaibomstate.gov.ng in search of the state budgets and account statements. A thorough breed and unbiased professional would have done so before allowing himself to be infected by an incurable diarrhea of the mouth.

Mr. Mojeed also ranted about his imaginary “ widespread poverty and dilapidated school and hospital infrastructure”; but what Mojeed has turned a blind eye to deliberately is the fact that today within a travel time of one hour from anywhere in Akwa Ibom State, residents and citizens have access to atleast one world-class healthcare facility. Mojeed has also blatantly and mischievously turned a blind eye to the fact the Akwa Ibom state Government recently became the first state in Nigeria to organize an education summit as one of the steps to finding lasting solution to challenges in the educational section in the state. Mojeed has also failed to put into context the fact that the challenges of the educational sector has been a national epidemic since independence and not only isolated to Akwa Ibom. It would make an interesting read if Mojeed could x-ray the educational sector and state of economic development in his home state for public consumption like he is advocating for Akwa Ibom State. If and when that happens, will his professionalism and objectivity will no longer be called to question.

Untill then, Akwa Ibomites demand and unreserved apology from Musikilu Mojeed, the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times for his malicious statement that impugns the character of Akwa Ibomites at home and in the diaspora.

This is politics taken to far; this is one insult taken too far. This is an affront on the Intergrity of Akwa Ibomites.

Signed
Calistus Oduduabasi
President General

04.11.2019

PRESS BRIEFING HELD BY COM. INI EMEMOBONG, PUBLICITY SECRETARY, PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AKWA IBOM STATE.

APC’s Sustained Imposter syndrome

Discerning minds have once again been treated to newer levels of paranoia and display of imposter syndrome via the text of the press conference addressed by the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Ini Okopido. In the statement,he expressed fears which were transparently lacking a strong foundation in both facts and law. For the avoidance of doubt, the state chairman of that broom confraternity ought to be aware that election petitions are sui generis (of a special type) and therefore not all the rules of civil procedure apply therein. There are different laws enacted for the adjudication of these matters before the tribunal, which must be followed stricto sensu and failure to do so, usually attracts consequences. In Amaechi v. INEC, the court of Appeal held inter alia that failure to comply with procedural steps, which ordinarily could be waived in a civil matter, will be fatal to the petition. Additionally, in the cases mentioned by Mr. Okopido, the petitioners(APC and their failed candidates) failed or neglected to apply for Pre-trial forms which is in contravention of the provisions of the extant Electoral Act and the consequence is trite- the petition must be dismissed, same being incompetent. The Supreme Court in Okereke v. Yar’Adua held that pretrial is a condition precedent to the hearing of a petition and without it, a petition is incompetent . On the issue of amendments sought for and denied by the three member tribunal( not the Chairman of the Tribunal), the law is specific that after the period allowed for filing of a petition, no amendment shall be made except to correct typographical errors. The amendments sought by the APC has the capacity to change the tone and character of their petition- this, the law clearly forbids.

A careful observation of the issues raised by the Chief broom carrier, will reveal that the APC is blaming the judge(who incidentally is not sitting alone )for their woes. The rational question will now be, how is the judge responsible for the omission by APC counsel to comply with the provisions of the law governing election petition? Should they ideally blame the judge, the Law or their lawyers?

On the issue of bias, may we remind the broom movement, which is currently on the inevitable downward spiral that, bias is not just a word to be bandied about in a legal proceeding, it must exist in fact and be felt, at least by the reasonable man. The rulings of the three man panel, like every other panel or court of like composition, can either be by unanimity or majority. The chairman’s vote is not a veto, it carries the same weight as that of the members and no more. Situations abound where the two members have voted against the decision of the chairman and their decision became that of the panel, the recent judgment of the Osun state Governorship election tribunal can refresh our minds on this subject. So if the rulings of the tribunal is against the APC, it is not the position of the judge complained about, but either the unanimous decision or majority decision of the panel. The APC cannot seek to rely on the Bulkachuwa scenario in making its ill-intentioned application because the two scenarios can be clearly distinguished.
My Lord the PCA,Bulkachuwa posted ‘himself’ to the panel conscious of the existing political relationship between one of the parties (the Respondent) and his family. In this case, the tribunal Chairman was posted by the PCA here, without any contribution or influence by the Judge. And recall that in the PCA’s case, personal relationships in addition to partisan ties between the parties were clearly brought to the fore. In the instant case, there is no proof of personal relationship between the parties before the tribunal and the chairman of the tribunal, except the inchoate allegation that her spouse is a member of the PDP. Even with that, there is no evidence to suggest that the husband of the chairman of the tribunal is a card carrying member of the PDP. That he was appointed SSG in Benue does not infer and cannot be construed to mean, that he is a member of the PDP. Membership of a political party is a process and documents exist in witness of same. There is no legal requirement that stipulates membership of a political party as a basis for appointment, unlike the case of the PCA, whose husband’s election to the senate was sponsored by the respondent before him. The SSG could have been appointed on the basis of his expertise and nothing more. The reliance on the illusionary social media post by an imaginary son of the Judge is most laughable, as we are all aware that in this age and time, mere name similarity is not a conclusive proof of biological relationship. There are suspicions that the APC is behind that post, in their usual scenario creation tactics.

Finally, we want to advice the APC to be more circumspect in their rants and shouts, as it is becoming very glaring that the fear of the unfolding reality of the judicial confirmation of their woeful electoral loss , is getting to them and they are terribly mortified. The consciousness that the entire country will laugh at their earlier loud mouthed boasts of delivering Akwa Ibom to the APC is gradually settling in. This panic reaction will only worsen their already battered public image. The world recalls their previous attempts at preventing the panels from sitting in Akwa Ibom and later seeking to relocate them. Having failed in those moves, they have changed gears and are asking for substitution of the chairman of a panel, so as to intimidate the other remaining judges, that if they don’t do their(APC) bidding, they will push for their change. The said judge is their test case and they are ready to commit resources and energy to this futile attempt.

We urge the entire public to discountenance the false claims by the APC and advice them to put their house, both political and legal in order. Neither the PDP, the Law or the Tribunal is the cause of their unending melancholy.

Signed:

Comrade Ini Ememobong ANIPR
State Publicity Secretary
People’s Democratic Party
Akwa Ibom State Chapter
15-07-2019

BREAKING NEWS!

I WILL RECLAIM MY MANDATE AT THE APPEAL COURT -SAYS AKPABIO

...claims appeal court president in his palms

The defeated former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio is back to his devious and boastful ways, assuring that with or without the tribunal in his favour he already has the judgement of the Court of Appeal.

Exclusive information made available to our reporter has it that Akpabio is using fake photographs purported to represent violent situations in the State in order to have the venue of the Election Tribunal moved from Uyo, the State Capital to Abuja.

The fake pictures are said to have been manufactured by his devious cohorts and have found their way to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The embattled senator is also reported to be boastful that he will singlehandedly influence the outcome of judgement when the case gets to the Court of Appeal.

“I have already received the assurance from the husband of the President of the Court of Appeal, my dear brother and our party-the APC Senator-Elect for Bauchi North Senatorial District, Alhaji Adamu Bulkachuwa that he will prevail on the wife, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa to change the tribunal members and ensure that only those who are sympathetic to the APC will be made members of the tribunal.

"As I speak, I have the names of those who would be made members of the tribunal and the President has approved of it”, Akpabio was said to have bragged to several people.

In their reactions, some people in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district wondered why Akpabio has failed to realize that he was rejected and beaten fair and square.

They also queried why Akpabio is unaware that the people of Akwa Ibom State have made their choice and the choice was done at the polls that were adjudged to be the freest and most credible and transparent election ever conducted in the State.

"Why is Akpabio playing with the destiny and the will of Akwa Ibom people, when the people have spoken and made their choices known as to those they prefer to lead them?

"Akwa Ibom State is the most peaceful State in the nation. It is a known fact that throughout the electioneering campaigns and the election proper, no single life was lost. In spite of the intimidation and harassment from security agencies, the people were civil and resolute in ensuring that they voted for the candidates of their choice.

"Manufacturing fake pictures purported to depict violence during the election is the high of desperation and hypocrisy and the world must be put on notice, Chief Eno Akpan opined.

On his part, Elder Okon Obot maintained that, "after boasting that the elections will be conducted in mere three hours and that he will deliver the state to APC and indeed the South South, he is again boasting of ensuring the outcome of the judgement at the Appeal Court level. He is boasting of using the APC Senator –Elect for Bauchi North Senatorial District, Alhaji Adamu Bulkachuwa whose wife, Zainab is the President of the Court of Appeal to not only have only Justices who are sympathetic to the APC , but that he will single handedly influence the judgement in favour of the APC. How ridiculous.

Another statesman in Ukanafun, Obong Edet Umoh said, "as always, he has thrown the name of President Buhari into the equation, Godswill Akpabio should be humbled by his defeat and rejection by his people and stop playing God. Akwa Ibom people have made their choice; he should and MUST respect the choices the people had made.

Why PMB is visiting Akwa Ibom state on Monday, March 4, 2019

Segun Akintola

President Mohammadu Buhari is set to visit Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital tomorrow, Monday 4 March, 2019. This comes a week after the presidential elections that pronounced him victorious in a much debated and criticised process, described as a step backward from the electoral standard set by the 2015 elections. The outcome of the election has been the subject of numerous interrogations by citizens and international observers who have pointed out a yawning gab between the actual figures from the polls and the results announced by INEC.


An Anonymous source within the Presidency has revealed the reason for the proposed visit of the President to the oil- rich, South-South state. The source indicates that the President's visit is aimed at convincing the crisis torn, disappointed and defection bound members of the All Progressive Congress against defecting to the ruling party in the state, the People's Democratic Party.

It is a fact that Akwa Ibom state has been a core PDP state since the birth of the fourth republic in 1999 and has since then produced all political office holders in the state at all levels. In August 8 last year, a leading member of the Party in the state and former Senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio defected to the APC. On the heels of his defection, the Senator made many promises including delivering victory in the state to President Buhari within three hours in the Presidential elections. On the 23 of February, the reality that Akwa Ibom is indeed still PDP became manifest even to the politically blind; Buhari did not just lose in Akwa Ibom, Senator Akpabio also lost his re-election bid to the Senate.

Having now recognised their place, they is a serious hegemony in the Party, with names like Umana Umana, Senator Udoedehe and even the APC Gubernatorial Candidate in the state, Mr Nsima Ekere wandering in search for new levels of significance and assurances of victory. This circumstance has torn the party apart, with youths Waring against the elders.

Our source reveal that the party's stakeholders have invited PMB to the state in the hopes that his presence and authority can bind again the scattered broom of the APC.

Another source from Akwa Ibom state also mentioned that the President's visit is not unconnected with the long duel that the APC have been engaged in with the state INEC REC, Mr Mike Igini. It is no news that the APC in Akwa Ibom state has been on a stand alone battle against Mr Igini whom they have accused of many things and have been vocal in their displeasure over his role as REC in the state. Alarmingly however, all the blames have been from APC as all other parties in the state have variously and independently passed a vote of confidence in Mr Igini. The source reveal that the planned visit by the President is the last move on APC's chessboard upon the failure of all previous efforts to woo Mr Igini to bed with them. The President is expected to align with the APC in Akwa Ibom state in calling for the redeployment of Igini before the March 9 elections. We are yet unaware of the new allegation that will be used against him.

On the effect of this proposed visit, there is a clear precedent to judge from: President Buhari commenced his campaign in Akwa Ibom state for this year's general elections yet the PDP held their victory untouched. It may most likely follow that this proposed visit shall be another near useless adventure as the PDP in the state appear undaunted in their resolve to ensure the victory of all their Candidates at the March 9 polls.

BREAKING: AKPABIO PLOTS TO REPLACE CHIEF OF STAFF, ABBA KYARI


Following his loss at the just concluded National Assembly elections, former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio has made fresh moves to replace current Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari.

A source at the presidency revealed that Senator Akpabio in the last 48 hours has had a couple of meetings with close confidants of the president and top officials to discuss the move.

Akpabio is proposing that should the president appoint him, a Christian from the core southern part of Nigeria into such a sensitive office, the current notion that Mr President is shielded by a cabal controlling the affairs of the state will die a natural death.

Akpabio is expected to tie the knots on that appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari as the latter is scheduled to visit Akwa Ibom State on Monday on a thank you tour where he will have a town hall meeting with a cross section of people from all walks of life.

The presidential advanced team have already checked into Bexco Hotel and Suites, 24 Abel Damina Avenue, Osongama Estate, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

The other presidential advanced team scheduled to be in Imo State have moved over to Delta State in anticipation of the president's visit.

The presidential source revealed that part of the Akpabio's plan is to use the town hall parley in Uyo to instigate the audience to call for the redeployment of current top staff of INEC in the state, which should pave way for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to take over the oil rich state.

The former Governor of Akwa Ibom State had made similar inroutes into the presidency during the Goodluck Jonathan era, knocking off the like of former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who eventually left the PDP in acrimonious circumstances.

Abba Kyari was appointed Chief of Staff to the president on 27th August 2015. He was preceded by Brig.-Gen Jones Oladehinde Arogbofa and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, who both served under President Goodluck Jonathan.

AKPABIO, JUDAS ISCARIOT AND PLOT TO ERASE THE SOUTH SOUTH

Aniekeme Finbarr

When he defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC), on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, Senator Godswill Akpabio boasted that he will re-connect Akwa Ibom State and the South South back to Nigeria.

The reverse has been the case clearly. In its place, Akpabio has aided, abated, supervised and assisted the rape on the soul of the South South region. On September 14, 2018, Matthew Seiyefa, a son of the region was sacked as DSS boss and replaced with Yusuf Magaji Bichi. The next six most senior persons in line of succession at the DSS after Seiyefa, from my findings, were all southerners, which explained why the president picked a man who had already retired from the DSS to lead because of ethnic affinity.

Akpabio's idea of reconnecting the south south with Nigeria is to ensure that no son of the region occupies any serious position of authority in the country.

Enter Hon Justice Onnoghen, another son of the Niger Delta. Buhari reluctantly invited Onnoghen to Aso Rock Villa on November 9th 2016, to swear him in, in acting capacity as the first Southern CJN in about 28 years of Northern domination, which produced seven CJNs from that part of the country in succession. It took providence taking Buhari out, on a sick leave for VP Yemi Osinbajo to send Onnoghen’s name to the senate for confirmation. When he returned, he swore to take him out and has done so.

It therefore cuts us to the quick that Senator Akpabio choses to do all he can, including "threatening war and Warsaw" to ensure Buhari wins in the south south and formally deliver the region into the hands of its sworn enemy. God forbid.

In Akwa Ibom State, the story is not different. Senator Akpabio pledged on behalf of President Buhari that when Mr Nsima Ekere leaves as MD of NDDC, another Akwa Ibom son will occupy that slot. What a lie. Akwa Ibom has been short-changed.

Instead of another Akwa Ibom son, one Professor Nelson Braimbraifa (from God knows where) has been appointed. The president has dissolved the entire board and sacked everyone. Even Nsima Ekere has not been given the honour of resigning. Anyone who has followed the Akpabio political tactics will know he likes to be the "only cock that crows" and excellently ensured no other person shares the spotlight with him. This is his move.

It is trite to note that Akpabio is playing the Judas role, kissing the south south people on their forehead, betraying them and handing them over to their tormentors. Is this his idea of reconnecting the region to the center? It is easier for a male-man to get pregnant than for any south-southerner to occupy any top position in the country.

The South South people pooh-pooh all local rebels who are colluding with imperialist federal forces to deprive the region of access to power, development, and positions of authority.

Matthew Seiyefa, Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen should be the last in this onslaught against the people of the South South.

IT IS OVER FOR APC IN ORON/UDUNG UKO

RT. Hon. Hogan Etta Bassey (APC House of Assembly Candidate Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency) has Defected to the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) with 12 APC Chapter Executives and Supporters.

The ceremony which took place in his residence witnessed a large turn out of APC Faithfuls who defected with the former Council Boss to the PDP family to give their total support to Gov Udom Emmanuel.

While addressing the mammoth crowd, Hon. Hogan Etta described the APC as a failed party, which her agenda is to return Akwa Ibom State to the 2007 era where the state was engulfed with assassination, kidnapping and hunger.

Etta also used the forum to intimate the supporters to get ready for the mega defection rally which the state Governor Udom Emmanuel will be the Special guest slated soon.

The Former APC House of Assembly Aspirant, Hon Hogan Etta also used the occasion to collapse the ORON PEOPLE'S FORUM FOR ONE which was group that was initially used as a platform to canvas Support for APC Gubernatorial Candidate to ORON PEOPLE'S FORUM FOR UDOM. The motion for the change of name of the Group was moved by Mr. Emmanuel Etta and seconded by Comr. Ntangwoh Edet.

While responding the Commissioner for Petroleum and transport Rt. Hon. Orman Esin, used the occasion to thank Hon. Etta, for returning to his root, that he is actually coming back to take his rightful place in the party. Hon. Esin used the forum to donate a brand new car to one Mr. Bassey Ita Edohonsi.

Also responding, Dr. Mrs Akon Eyakenyi also thanked Hon. HOGAN ETTA for seeing the truth and believing in the Government of UDOM EMMANUEL.

NAMES OF THE ORON APC CHAPTER EXECUTIVE THAT DEFECTED WITH THEIR LEADER. HON HOGAN.

1. EFFIOM ETIM ----- Chapter Secretary APC.
2. Bassey Edohonsi ----- Chapter Youth Leader.
3. Ntangwoh Ntangwoh ---- Asist. Youth leader.
4. Pst. Bassey Nyong ---- Publicity/ Media
5. Hon. Victor Bassey --- Ex- Officio
6. Pst. Effiong Ubokulo --- Asist. Legal Adviser
7. Victor Sunday ---- Organising Secretary
8. Godwin Ekong ---- Legal Adviser
9. Victor Nduonyi ----- Auditor
10. Okon Ntekim--- Asis. Organising Secretary
11. Goodwin Effiong --- Ex-Officio 2
12. Bassey Inyang---- Financial Secretary.
With over thousands ward Exco across the LGA.

#DivineMandate
#ONLYGOD.

IBOM AUTOMOBILE PLANT: HOW POLITICS STALLED COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Among the key industries that Governor Udom Emmanuel had planned to get investors to establish on assumption of office was Amoured Personnel Carrier, APC, and other Heavy Earth Moving Machines plant in Itu.  Few months after being sworn in to office, he walked the talk by carrying out the groundbreaking ceremony of the plant with pomp.

Unfortunately, while governor Emmanuel has for the past over three years been able to attract investors to establish other factories, like the Jubilee Syringe, St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery, Kings Flour Mill, Electric Metering Solutions, Greenwell Fertilizer Blending Plants,  Ibom Agricon Rice mill,  the dream of having the first automobile plant in this part of the country seemed  albeit to have been dashed.

 This was inspite of the fact that as part of showing commitment to the project, the government graciously donated land to the investors and with perimeter fencing carried out to avoid encroachment.

Investigations however, revealed that the major setback to the commencement of work at the site, that some indigenes were already sent to Israel for training was purely political. It was gathered that the application for issuance of production License by TABUL, a company with expertise in building military hardwares  such as the APC, was turned down by the Federal Government.

Key Northern Region players had argued at the Federal Executives Council detailing adverse implications of approving such a plant in the Southern part of the Country moreso in Akwa Ibom.

Some of these key influencers at the federal level were said to have later reached out to suggest to the investors that they would be guaranteed approval for License should they  relocate the plant to any part of the Northern states of the Country instead of Akwa ibom
The Israeli investors on their parts were said to have rejected the relocation idea taking into cognizance the religious empathy and leanings of the Northern part of the country.

Secondly, the investors maintained that such plant needed to be sited near a River and where there will likely be seaport.  On this consideration, the Investors were said to have been insisted on having the plant established in Akwa Ibom based on the fact that it is purely a Christian dominated state, the nearness to Itu River and the planned development of the Ibom Deep seaport.

Though  opposition party have gone to market with unfounded propaganda against the government for the inability to ensure the kick start the plant in Itu, investigations revealed that Akwa Ibom state government have been holding talks with the investors  to ensure that the automobile assembly plant became a reality as dollars seem to have stabilized at N360 from over N550 when the groundbreaking was done.
 It was gathered that as part of the move to secure the license, the investors have changed the concept from production of Military Hardware line to Civilian vehicles line that can produce cars and luxury buses with the aim of flooding  the African continent market with buses and ambulances.

Having changed the concept to civilian vehicle lines,  the Israelis government insisted on the safety of her citizens and other investors that the plant will attract noting  that to build such a sensitive factory, must have a safe city.

Safe City, it was learnt is a community- based initiative that unites law enforcement , businesses, residents and city officials through a project intended to maximize safeness and minimize theft and other crimes in the communities.

Authoritative source informed that, unknown to so many people that as part of efforts to meet the conditions of having safe city as in Abu Dbabi that has been ranked the safest city in the world, investors have for the past few months carried out surveys and mappings of locations where CCTV cameras would be installed within Uyo and its metropolis.

The investors, it was learnt will also establish a Kibut, that will serve as their residences.

It was gathered that since the condition for the establishment of the car plant was also having a Safe City, it was imperative that the two projects go together. There are several other Israelis companies that are interested in investing in the state once the Safe City project is completed. These projects, it was leant would be handled by the tripartite of Mimshac, Magal and Merkavin.

Governor Udom Emmanuel, it was gathered had insisted and secured  a back to back guarantee from the investors financial institutions of funds that once the Safe City Project is completed,  the Car Assembling Project would commence immediately.

Close sources in government circles informed that most of the equipment for the commencement of work at the Assembling plant was already at the Lagos Seaport awaiting clearance. He said the most interesting part of the assembling plant was the Safe City project because, once other investors are aware of Akwa Ibom having a Safe City in Uyo, it becomes a major driver of investments into the state.

He regretted that though some people were gearing up towards making political capital of the project as a failed one, he was happy that though the process has actually taken a long time because of political consideration, the project would kick start in earnest before the end of February.

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Akwa Ibom Redemption Frontiers
Ikot Abasi LGA
Akwa Ibom State

Open letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC

December 27, 2018

Universal Energy Resources Limited: Questions Nsima Ekere must answer

In line with President Muhammadu Buhari's commitment to fight corruption, we hereby call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate the role of Mr. Nsima Ekere who is Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission and APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state in defrauding Akwa Ibom government and people of their shares in the state-owned Universal Energy Resources Limited.

A man aspiring to the office of governor should come clean. The people deserve to know the history of the man aspiring to control their common patrimony.

The EFCC should ask Mr. Nsima Ekere to answer the following questions:

1. What happened to the 51% shares that Akwa Ibom State Government had in Universal Energy?

2. What relationship does he have with Septa Energy known to have later shortchanged the Akwa Ibom state government vis-à-vis its investment?

3. What led to Universal Energy changing its name to Seven Energy at his instance?

4. What is his relationship with Mr. Philip Iheanacho of Septa Energy alongside Mr. Jide Omokore as well as Mr. Kola Aluko who was Managing Director of Septa Energy?

5. What interest does he have in Qua Iboe Gas Plant in Ibeno, a completely private investment that he got then Gov. Akpabio to spend millions of dollars, with both of them as shareholders?

6. Why was Akwa Ibom State Government's 51% shares in Universal Energy when he was Executive Chairman of AKIIPOC reduced to 20% by the time he left office?

7. What business interest and relationship does he have with these companies that he used to dupe the Akwa Ibom state government and buy off the shares in Universal Energy: Stallionet Limited, Zawadi Investment Nigeria Limited, Acrevine Nigeria Limited, Castlepines Property Limited, Engineer Hayatu Z. Abubakar, Nisa Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited, Casue Nigeria Limited, Toledote Consult Limited, Latorra Energy Limited, Septa Energy Nigeria Limited, Mutual Crown Investment Limited, Creek Tower Limited, Konokonics Ventures Nigeria Limited, Grandbond Integrated Services Limited, Donarson Services Limited, Workstation Limited, Sartoria Ventures and Stallion Business Systems etc.?

8. What did he do that Chief Godswill Akpabio as governor had to stop a Universal Energy Annual General Meeting, AGM, in January of 2014 from holding until he was briefed on 'what is going on' in the company?

9. Why was the then governor angry with him that his 'cut' of $20million earlier promised him as part of his share of the embezzlement was not given to him?

10. The Stubb Creek Oil Field started producing about 3000bpd of crude oil from 2014. Where is the money and who are those benefitting from the sale of crude drilled from the oil field?

11. The Stubb Creek Oil Field in Mbo has been producing crude oil since 2014 through 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Where are the revenues derived from the over 1.86million barrel of oil drilled annually for the past five years?

12. What role did he play in changing the shareholders structure of the company on March 31st, 2008?

We call on the EFCC to invite Mr. Nsima Ekere to give answers to these questions and many more that we shall be asking him in the days ahead. We are ready to provide the EFCC with all relevant documents to assist the anti-corruption agency do its job effectively in line with its mandate.

Signed:

Akwa Ibom Redemption Frontiers
Ikot Abasi LGA
Akwa Ibom State

Nsima, Akpabio shun Oku Ibom coronation

By William Effiong

The duo of Mr Nsima Ekere and Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Monday, shunned the coronation ceremony of Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, Oku Ibom Ibibio/President General of the Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers, despite the ceremony being postponed from the earlier scheduled date to ensure that their party’s campaign flag off in the state was hitch free.

It would be recalled that the coronation ceremony had earlier been fixed for December 28, but was shifted to today, 31st, after the APC announced 28th as the chosen date for the flag off of their campaign and Akwa Ibom International Stadium as the venue.

In a statement, the Ifim Ibom leadership said it decided to honour President Muhammadu Buhari by shifting the coronation to a later date. Buhari was going to be part of the APC campaign flag-off ceremony in the state.

But in what many have described as a brazen display of pride and affront on Ibibio nation, Akpabio and Nsima shunned the invitation extended to them by the coronation planning committee.

“Nsima has decided not to reciprocate the honour and goodwill that we showed to them; Ibibio people will not forget it,” Obong Charles Inim, an Ifim Ibom Ibibio chieftain told journalists after the coronation ceremony at Asan Ibibio on Monday.

Propellerng.com can authoritatively report that Akpabio, Nsima, and other APC chieftains were given invitation to the well-attended ceremony. Speaker Onofiok Luke, Chairman of the coronation planning committee, it was learnt, had given instruction that the ceremony be devoid of politics and that every Ibibio sons and daughters as well as top political figures in the state be invited. But while others like Sen. Ita Enang and Umana Okon Umana showed up to honor the Ibibio King, the duo of Akpabio and Nsima shunned the ceremony without any excuse.

Meanwhile, the coronation ceremony of Ntenyin Solomon Etuk recorded a marked success. If was attended by first class chiefs across the country including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeyi Enitan Ogunwusi and the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu.

How Buhari snubbed Akpabio's Ukana reception

Reliable facts have it that former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio is feeling despondent over his inability to host President Buhari at his Ukana residence after the flag-off of the presidential campaign in Uyo. It can be recalled that Akpabio and wife, Unoma successfully lured Mrs. Aisha Buhari to their Ukana home when the president's wife visited the state recently. It is gathered that Akpabio also made all efforts to lure the president to his home country but failed as the president snubbed him.

Akpabio, it is learnt, had made all preparations at his country home in Ukana with the hope that the he will successfully host the President to further boost his ego. To show how desperately the former governor wanted to host the President, reliable information has it that he had lobbied to ensure that the visit to Ukana was included in the President's itinerary. Perhaps, having successfully squeezed the Ukana visit into the President's itinerary, Akpabio started bragging. However, with the President's snub, Akpabio is feeling downcasted. He has even accused some members of the APC of being behind the snub by badmouthing him to the presidency.

Breaking news!

APC’s evil plot exposed!

- Plans to burn down party offices and blame it on the State Government.

- Plot aims at creating imaginary violence in the State during President Buhari’s plan visit.


The level of desperation of the APC in Akwa Ibom State has gone to a new low. In its evil plot aimed at creating an imaginary security challenge in the State during the visits of President Buhari to the State tomorrow to flag off his presidential campaign, the party has asked its murderous goons to burn down their party’s campaign offices along Wellington Bassey Way and that of Udo Udoma and then blame the State Government for the incident.
According to exclusive information gleaned form a source who was part of the evil plot but felt a moral burden and backed away ” the APC has been frustrated by the way the State Government had acceded to the request for them to use the Nest of Champion Stadium for their campaign flag-off. They had wanted to use the initial denial of the use of the stadium to cause all manner of mayhem in the State during the Present’s visit as a way of showing the President that there is violence and security challenge in the State. Once that failed, they quickly came together and instructed us to go and burn down the main campaign offices along Wellington Bassey Way and that of Udo Udoma, and the blame it on the State government. Their narrative was to say that Governor Udom Emmanuel had ordered the burring down of the offices. At this point, I said to myself, enough! How can I be a party to such evil plot and to frame an innocent governor, who is doing his best for his people. I know politics is dirty but this one was the height of it for me, my conscience will not allow me to be a part of such an evil plot. It is very sad indeed”
Akwa Ibom people, now you know: APC wants to burn down their main campaign offices and blame it on Governor Udom Emmanuel. If they go ahead to burn the offices, you now know who is responsible. May God forgive them for this evil plot!

Yuletide: Gov Emmanuel Fetes Ukanafun Ex militants

"Refuse Being Used As Political Tools" - Hon. Udo Ekpenyong Cautions

Earlier today, in the spirit of the season, Governor Udom Emmanuel through his honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Obong Udo Ekpenyong met with repented Ukanafun militants in his country home.

The meeting which was held at Ikot Okusung, saw them beaming with smiles as the commissioner handed down gift items and money to the erstwhile militants for Christmas.

Speaking, the state Governor commended them for keeping calm since they were brought out from the bush, saying that his administration is committed to improving their welfare in line with government's commitment for their rehabilitation.

Speaking through the Local Government Commissioner, Hon. Udo Ekpenyong, the Governor assured them of governments resolve to rebuild vandalized properties belonging to them as well as engage them in meaningful ventures which would add value to their lives, pleading with them to continue to embrace peace, love and repentance which is the theme of Christmas.

Speaking on the forthcoming elections, the honorable commissioner charged them to avoid being used as political thugs during the elections, noting that such would amount to breaching the Peace Deal they'd entered with the Governor as well as pose serious danger on them, as they could be hurt or even killed in the process.

Hon. Ekpenyong however admonished them to be of best character, go more closer to God especially as they have been forgiven and reintegrated into the larger society. He promised to always extend hands of fellowship to them if they remain good and calm.

Responding, the Leader of the team, Mr Kingdom John aka Stainless, thanked the Governor for extending an olive branch to them even when they'd deserved to be condemned, in view of their atrocities.

He particularly expressed joy for the kind gesture shown to them by the commissioner, describing him as a GENEROUS FATHER who according to him, has boost their confidence and belief in the promises of government to them.

Stainless however promised, on behalf of the team, to remain peaceful and loyal to the government of the day for giving them what he called "Another Chance To Live", and enjoy life, as their experiences in the bush was nothing non of them would wish to go back.

He said" We owe the state government our heartfelt gratitude for giving us another chance to live a new life. We are very happy for all what our commissioner has been doing for us, he has given us hope and strengthen our belief in the government of Udom Emmanuel. For this and many more, we will vote Governor Udom Emmanuel and all the PDP candidates come 2019".

Meanwhile, the Hon. commissioner also played host to a cross section of Ukanafun students who were on a courtesy call on him. He, however used the medium to assure them of his readiness to kick start the payment of grants from Friday, 28 December through Monday till all are paid.

The commissioner was accompanied on the occasion by the immediate past commissioner for Education, Hon. Elder Aniekan Akpan others were his aides: Hon. Barr Samuel Udokoh, former Ukanafun Transition Chairman, Godwin Inyieng as well as Councilors.

FLAGOFF OF APC CAMPAIGN IN UYO: WILL AKS BOO MR PRESIDENT?

President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President and CinC of the armed forces federal Republic of Nigeria visits Akwa Ibom State on 28th December 2018 to flagoff his campaign for second term in office. Ordinarily this should have been seen as an honor to the state but rather it seems curious.
To begin with no one I have interviewed could remember anytime Mr. President visited Akwa Ibom for any reason during his first 3 and half years in office. The only time the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo visited was to commission the Syringe Factory at Onna, an initiative of the Udom’s administration. No one could point at any item or developmental project or any structure for that matter in the state today which represents the President’s interest in the state. More curious is when you consider that both the Minister for Budget Sen Udo Udoma (who oversees every project budgeted for in the country), the SA to the President on NASS matters, Sen Ita Enang (with almost weekly access to the president), MD, NDDC Obong Nsima Ekere are all from Akwa Ibom. More disturbing is the fact that the NDDC MD is a governorship candidate. Apart from a handful of road rehabilitations under the One kilometer Road scheme, most of which are sub-optimally awarded for political reasons, there is nothingness from that otherwise rich source. However, then you consider other APC states Mr. President has been interested in before now like Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Zamfara and even Lagos where Mr. President flag-off his first ever successful election campaign has benefited virtually nothing you shrug your shoulders.

In Lagos for instance, apart from some routine rehabilitation works which included the Funsho Williams Avenue, replacement of one expansion joint on Eko Bridge, Costain Roundabout to Eko Bridge Ramp and the Costain to Iganmu Bridge (Orile-bound) and a few works along Outer Marina to Ahmadu Bellow Way (From Apongbon Bridge to Bonny Camp) Lagos remains the Cross of Lagos State Government as always. Nothing new from federal might.

It is however interesting that the government inherited standard rail gauge projects from the GEJ administration for which it is working tenaciously to complete and deliver. This is indeed to its credit. These include the Lagos Kano rail and Lagos Calabar rail projects. Curiously however the portion of the Lagos to Kano rail that covers Kaduna to Abuja (which is in the north) has been completed while the Lagos to Ibadan portion is still WIP. As for Calabar Lagos? Time will tell.

He should however avoid the pitfalls which led to his being booed at the National Assembly.

For instance, rehabilitations for the 150 km Bauchi-Gombe road, was awarded in 2016. As at the date the president presented his 2018 budget, only about 7 km was resurfaced, outside Alkaleri towards Gombe, a portion that was fairly smooth before work started leaving the 60 km where urgent rehabilitation was needed between Alkaleri and Bauchi unattended to. But Mr. President “mistakenly” claimed this gross inefficiency as one of his achievements; that the road has been fully rehabilitated and other not so factual claims, so he was booed. I am aware he has awarded contact for the rehabilitations of Calabar- Itu Road. So far nothing has happened there, he should avoid similar mistake of claiming any achievements there yet. In order words let him be truthful rather than political when he speaks on Friday.

The people are hungry, the economy is still in the woods. Families are hurting, standard of living is in limbo. NBS latest report put the number of Nigerians without employment at 21m. I understand he told governors to braze up for even harder times next year. This meant that he accepted the grave economic conditions under his watch in secret. He should do so with sincerity in the open. Mr. President has also insisted he should be given the almighty TIME to enable him fix it the economy. But curiously his economic-tool handling ability still leaves the populace with doubt. For instance 2018 budget seemed dead on arrival. The budget which is predicated on oil bench mark of $60 per barrel seemed faulty as oil prices have already crashed to $53 even before the budget is passed. But then this can be reviewed. However, a budget estimate of 8.8trillion naira with a deficit proposal of 1.8trilllion, the shortfall is likely to be financed by more borrowing. At present the nation’s debt servicing to revenue ratio (DSRR) is about 66%. Further borrowing will push DSRR beyond 70%. With dwindling oil prices it is a wonder how Mr. President will manage such pressure on the economy next year without parents eating babies. That is what he should tell Nigerians with vision and honesty on Friday.
If he is able to articulate this, Nigerians always have a listening ear for incumbents that have a good case, incumbents with reasonable Work In Progress. But where he deviates to the APC style of falsehood, lies and loud sounding nothings which Nigerians have become tired of, they will boo him, if not openly, in their hearts and eventually with their PVCs.

Although there is nothing to show or explain Mr. President’s interest in the state, Akwa Ibom people will receive him with their usual hospitality. It is also on records that Akwa Ibom is currently the most peaceful and one of the cleanest states in Nigeria. These may explain the choice of Mr. President for his presidential flag off which is hoped to be view internationally. It will be an opportunity to showcase serene and investors friendly Nigeria to the whole world using Akwa Abasi Ibom State under Gov Udom Emmanuel, a man of peace and vision.

James Abang R828
Atte-Okiuso Village
Urueoffong/Oruko LGA.

WHY AKPABIO CANNOT BLAME UDOM ON UYO - IKOT EKPENE ROAD DUALIZATION

Emmanuel Nicholas Okokon

The Uyo - Ikot Ekpene Road project has been the talking point of people who wish to use it in tarnishing the hard earned reputation of Governor Udom Emmanuel .

I’m writing on this in order to separate facts from lies without any prejudice.

It is on record that on the 19th December, 2011, the then Governor of Akwa Ibom State , Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio awarded a contract to Julius Berger(Nig.) PLC for the dualization of the 25 kilometres of Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road to the tune of N28,394,575,803,22k (Twenty Eight Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Three Naira Twenty Two Kobo) (Please find attach the document titled Dualization of Uyo – Ikot Ekpene Road Dated 19th December, 2011 with reference NO. GO/FGPC/S/6/VOL.XIX/1026 addressed to the Managing Director, Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc, Eastern Bye-Pass, Port Harcourt.)

Available document has it that the contract was to be completed within 24 month and 40% was paid . That is N 11, 357,830,321.29k (Eleven Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty One Naira, Twenty Nine Kobo) of the contract sum which was the mobilization was fully disbursed including the balance .

Records also have it that on the 12th September, 2013, the estimated cost of dualizing the said road was reviewed and N23,516,228,394.00 (Twenty Three Billion, Five Hundred and Sixteen Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Four Naira) was added which took the total contract sum to N51,910,804,197.22 (Fifty One Billion, Nine Hundred and Ten Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira Twenty Two Kobo) (on this, please find attach the document titled Dualization of Uyo – Ikot Ekpene Road: Revised Estimated Contract Sum Dated 12th September, 2013 with reference NO. GO/FGPC/S/6/VOL.XX/153 addressed to the Managing Director, Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc. Eastern Bye-Pass, Port Harcourt), the funds fully disbursed. Note that there was no additional Job or increment in exchange rate .

The reasons necessitating the review of the contract sum from the initial N28,394,575,803.22k (Twenty Eight Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Three Naira Twenty Two Kobo) to N51,910,804,197.22k (Fifty One Billion, Nine Hundred and Ten Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira Twenty Two Kobo) was not stated.

Similarly, on 25th July, 2014, the Akwa Ibom State Government approved additional work in respect of the dualization of the said road with the following description: (i) Section from Ch. 23+000 to city centre incl. Roundabout. (ii) flyover to the tune of N19,448,373,217.63k . (Nineteen Billion, Four Hundred and Forty Eight Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Tree Thousand Two Hundred and Seventeen Naira Sixty Three Kobo) (please find attached the document titled Dualization of Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road: (Phase111)Additional Work Dated 25th July, 2014 with reference NO. GO/FGPC/S/6/VOL.XX/234 addressed to The Managing Director, Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc. Eastern Bye-Pass, Port Harcourt. Although the sum of N71, 359, 177, 414.89 (Seventy One Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Fourteen Naira Eighty Nine Kobo) was released for the execution of the project. It is unfortunate to say that the contractor abandoned the project due to lack of funds which is to say that the funds did not get to the contractors.

During the tenure of Senator Godswill Akpabio, he hurriedly commissioned what he called the phase 1 , with 6km asphalted, 3 km with binder level , and the remaining 5 km was at earth works. Nothing was done on the other parts of the road, particularly in Ikot Ekpene LGA

From the records made available, the sum of N2.3 billion naira was set aside for the compensation of persons whose property were marked for demolition which was to begin from kilometer 4 to make way for the construction of the road down to Ikot Ekpene plaza but sadly, though the money was approved and disbursed, none of the affected persons got compensated and the construction of the said road was abandoned by the contractors because funds were not made available both for compensation and for the completion of the construction.

It is the present administration led by His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel that made funds available for compensation of those whose property were marked for demolition and who again made funds available to Julius Berger PLC for the completion of the project which is why the contractors are back on site.

A careful consideration of the facts and documents attached clearly reveal that someone embezzled over 42 billion during the administration of the then Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio. So those who are lying that they left the road 1km to Plaza , and they have paid all compensation , are the people who have forced me into this research as my office demands, hence present this fact to the public , so that the public can separate truth from lies .

Governor Udom Emmanuel is not playing politics with projects that is meant for the development of Akwa Ibom State. The seeming delay in the start of the project was due to litigations by property owners who got experte motion and stopped the State Government from taking right of way .

PROTOCOL OFFICERS BLOCK AKPABIO’S WIFE FROM RECEIVING FIRST LADY

Protocol officers attached to Aisha, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday blocked Unoma, Senator Godswill Akpabio’s wife from receiving the First Lady when she arrived the Victor Attah’s International Airport, Uyo Akwa Ibom state.

Mrs. Akpabio had attempted to breach the order of protocol by disallowing Martha, wife of the state governor, Udom Emmanuel from receiving the First Lady at the airport.

The incident occurred when the Mrs Akpabio’s attempted to assume the responsibility of the wife of the Governor.

It was gathered while the door of the aircraft opened and the First Lady Aisha Buhari made to start coming down, Mrs Akpabio suddenly sprang from her place to shove aside Mrs. Martha Emmanuel to receive the President’s wife to the state.

Mrs. Emmanuel had been positioned rightfully by the presidential protocol team as the first lady to receive the country’s First Lady formally into Akwa Ibom.

This led to the door of the aircraft being shut as the President’s wife retreated and waited for another 25 minutes before the senator’s wife was persuaded to stop further attempts to ridicule the state with her actions.

Once normalcy was restored, the aircraft doors were opened as Mrs Buhari stepped down to a warm embrace of Mrs. Emmanuel, who introduced her to other Akwa Ibom women at the airport to receive her.

Some women at the airport who spoke with our correspondent expressed displeasure at the show of shame by Mrs Akpabio.

They recounted no former first lady in the state came to embarrass her as as first lady from 2007 and 2015.

Over 11,000 women and youths drawn from the 31 local governments of Akwa Ibom received various forms of empowerment from Mrs. Aisha Buhari in furtherance of the FG social intervention programme.

-The Nation

RE: The Indictment of Governor Udom Emmanuel

The press statement on the above subject signed by the State Chairman of the APC acting as the Publicity Secretary, contains obvious falsehood, incoherent logic and has a thread of deep-seated hatred and vengeance running through it.

In reaction, may we respectfully state that Udom Emmanuel is not the first Governor in Nigeria to be indicted, some have even been charged. These facts are available at the most basic level of research, but because those in that political coven, seem to have sent their thinking faculty on vacation, we will take out time to outline few of those facts in detail.

Before I offer such free research and legal service, I however concede that the author of that hackneyed article is not learned and it would have been most unfair of me to expect anything "legally reasonable" from him. One would have however thought that he should at least have a basic understanding of the English language, which is the language of the court in Nigeria and with which the Supreme Court weaved her judgement in FRN v Joshua Dariye. The court in that case held inter alia, upholding the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal, that Learned Counsel to the state” ought to have seen the impracticability, futility and absurdity of instituting criminal proceedings against Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye either as Governor of plateau state or in his name since he is not a nominal party under section 308(2) of the constitution...”. Plenty Governors have been indicted by various agencies with prosecutorial vires.

Maybe the chairman/ acting publicity misconstrues indictment to mean conviction. Again, for his benefit and that of his co-travellers, the synonyms for indictment include accusation, allegation, summons etc. So with this can the APC say that Governor Udom Emmanuel is the first Governor to be accused by the EFCC? But come to think of it, our Governor is being accused by the EFCC on flimsy and baseless grounds, whereas the same EFCC is yet to utter a word on Babachir Lawal on the grass cutting saga or the Governor of Kano state who was caught on camera receiving dollars. We know that the discretion to prosecute lies absolutely with the state and we do not contend with that at all. The question is why resort to media trial?

Akwa Ibom people should know that the charge which has been circulating in the media has not yet been served on the accused persons. Isn’t that laughable? Beyond the amusement, such is a shouting evidence of the baselessness of the accusations as one cannot put a charge on nothing and expect same to stand. Until and when the cooked charge arrives, we are certain that those accused are able and ready to defend themselves.

We are well aware that this indictment, like others that are trailing is a ploy to keep some critical members of the ruling PDP distracted from the business of electioneering. We have it on good authority that many commissioners, the Speaker, party chairman and other influential members of our party will be served invitations to various security and anti-graft agencies in January 2019 and charged in February, in the ‘Adeleke’ style. This is in addition to the special squad of a security agency that had arrived Akwa Ibom last week and will stay till year end, undertaking a mapping of the homes of influential PDP members who have been marked for a lock down on Election Day. We know all of these schemes and have adequately prepared for them. We can assure that these plans will fail and their architects disgraced.

On the issue of the Governor building a house in his village, every reasonable Akwa Ibom person knows that Udom Emmanuel, unlike their tin-god was a man of means before arriving the political stage of our state. We will rather refer him to the residence of his party members, like Obong Umana Umana(bound by four streets), Obong Nsima Ekere and Senator Godswill Akpabio, all built during their service in public office. Some of these people had no house of their own, even in their villages before ascending the political throne. To the glory of God, there stands in Awa, a two-storey building, with a pent house(aged two decades plus), where even Senator Akpabio was received in 2013, when he attended the reception in honour of the then SSG. Even the accusers know that poverty had been excommunicated from the Emmanuel’s family(nuclear and extended),long before his foray into politics.

The accusation of becoming a major stakeholder of Zenith Bank by buying shares through the stock exchange shows the lack of common sense on the workings of the stock exchange and the effect of the absence of a second address by leaders of the APC. We challenge them to produce evidence to substantiate this inane claim.

Finally, the State Chairman of our party, the People’s Democratic Party, Obong Paul Ekpo has asked that I intimate you that he will be unavailable to reply to your statements, as he is busy campaigning and preparing our party for elections and that he is not surprised at the penchant of your party to pull down Akwa Ibom people who have attained great heights in life, but do not agree to partake in the execution of your party’s devilish schemes. Akwa Ibom state has not yet forgotten the witch-haunt against Hon. Justice Inyang Okoro and are therefore not perturbed by the latest agenda against Paul Usoro, SAN. Like the first failed, all other plots will.

Let it be known to you and all your cohorts, that throughout this period, our Governor, HE Udom Emmanuel will be guided by the scriptural pronouncement in 1Tim. 4:17. We will join him to sing the victory song, post elections.

Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary
People’s Democratic Party
Akwa Ibom State
13122018

AKPABIO, WIFE HUMILIATE METHODIST ARCHBISHOP OF IKOT EKPENE
...YOU CAN'T BRING YOUR APC CAMPAIGN TO CHURCH - ARCHBISHOP UKO
...YOU CAN'T STOP ME AND MY WIFE WHILE I'M ALIVE - AKPABIO FUMES

Condemnations have trailed the shabby behaviour of former governor Godswill Akpabio at a church function Sunday in Ukana, Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

At a service to present Sir Etekamba Umoren as the diocesan lay President of the Methodist Church Nigeria,Diocese of Essien Udim, Senator Akpabio and his wife Unoma threw caution to the wind, and turn the Church into an APC campaign arena to the utter disappointment of the Church leaders and worshippers.

It all began when the outgoing Lay President, Sir Sunyiekekere Inokon made his valedictory speech and failed to superlatively recognise the APC political class that included Mr Nsima Ekere, Amadu Attai, Mrs Unoma Akpabio, Mr. Bassey Etim, and other APC Chieftains in the state.

This infuriated the APC governorship candidate who stormed out of the meeting while Mr. Inokon, the PDP state deputy chairman was still on the floor.

However, when Mr. Etekamba Umoren, took over the microphone, he invited Mrs Unoma Akpabio to come and greet the church, and there, all hell was let loose.
Mrs Akpabio who quickly put on a political campaign fez cap on her head gear, started singing APC songs and chanted APC Slogans in the church to the consternation of the Church clerics who had expected the sanctity of the Church to be maintained.

Referring to Sir Emem Akpabio the archdiocesan Lay President, Mrs Akpabio said, "why not leave that sinking PDP, and join us in APC so we can make you happy. We need you and Prince Ukpong Akpabio so that our family will be complete in APC," she said.

When Archbishop Sunday Uko asked her to cease from campaigning in the church, Mrs Akpabio bluntly told him that he had no right to stop her as she was going to speak for as long as she wished.

Twenty minutes later, Senator Godswill Akpabio arrived and was ushered to the lectern by his wife, and he took out time to lampoon the archbishop for supporting PDP.
He sa
Frantic efforts by the two archbishops, including the archbishop of Okigwe, Most Rev. Ene Koko Bassey fell on deaf ears as Akpabio and his wife took time to cast aspersions on Governor Udom Emmanuel while supporting Nsima Ekere.
Akpabio said it was wrong for the Archbishop to stop his wife from talking politics in church, saying that the reason why the clergy embarrassed his wife was because he was supporting Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“Not while I am alive, you can’t embarrass my wife for talking politics in church because of your support for Governor Udom Emmanuel. I brought Udom and made him governor so nobody can claim to love the son more than the father, the Senator warned.
“Let the church and its members steer clear from dirty politics. Our APC governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere came here, yet the church did not recognize him. I want to tell you that he is the next governor of this state.”
This infuriated the diocesan Archbishop Uko, who stormed out of the Church, apparently disappointed with the former Governor’s disrespect and open attack on his person.
But Akpabio remained unshaken, “How can you ask my wife not to talk about APC, and politics. Let me tell you there is no church without politics. Without politics this church will not be the way it is now.”
“When I was governor, I help to ensure that Methodist Church established more dioceses in the State, and I gave each diocese N5m.
“Without politics, there would be no road to this church. Where we are sitting was produced by politics. My late uncle used to worship in this church but since the advent of politics, this area and even the church has witnessed a lot of transformation.”
The Senator who returned to his seat after an initial announcement of One million naira to the church, returned to the drag the microphone from the Church pastor who was on the verge of saying the last prayers to end a dramatic day.
“I know One million is not like me, but I am not very happy that is why. You see today is my birthday and from 12 midnight many Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors and chieftains had sent me birthday messages, I have gone through all the national and local newspapers, yet Akwa Ibom government has not wished me a happy birthday as a one-time governor of Akwa Ibom,” Senator Godswill Akpabio cried.
He increased his donation to N5m, telling the church, “I brought Udom and made him governor so nobody can claim to love the son more than the father.”

Many people who took to the social media condemned the former minority leader for his irate behaviour, describing it as a transfer of 'Warsaw' his favourite war cry to church.

2019: REAL REASON AKPABIO, OBANIKORO DUMPED PDP — LAMIDO

A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said Nigeria’s political system is going through strange and challenging times, and has claimed those in power are using poverty to intimidate and woo opposition members to their fold.

The former governor said the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, and former defence minister, Musiliu Obanikoro, were “victims” of the menace, as both men defected from PDP because APC planned to arraign them before a court of law, after revealing their bank account balances to them.

Mr Lamido was speaking on Thursday while inaugurating the election campaign committee in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, in an arena filled with people.

His claims were massively acknowledged by the crowd.

“Now in this current political dispensation, if you steal public funds and ‘stash’ them in the bank and you are a member of opposition, they will tell you to come back to APC. They will forgive you, but if you refuse, they will prosecute you. That is how Messrs Akpabio and Obanikoro were forced to leave PDP for APC,” Mr Lamido said.

Messrs Akpabio and Obanikoro could not be immediately reached for comments.

Mr Lamido said the ruling party, APC, was using poverty as a weapon to weaken the opposition.

“Nigerians are suffering. For three years, they did not do anything. Now that they sense defeat, they have started giving out money.

“This is not the type of politics we learnt. Previously, it is the people who financed their own cause and if a leader disagrees with the people, they will call him to order. Now, politics has become a business venture for politicians to make money,” Mr Lamido said.

He also broke his silence over the defection of the aggrieved members of the party to APC, in Jigawa State.

Mr Lamido urged PDP defectors to return to the party.

He said the aggrieved members of the PDP should remember what the party has done for them, reconsider their decision, and return to the party in order to rescue the state.

“Go and meet them, notify them that power, wealth and authority comes from God Almighty. Remind them of the position they held during PDP’s reign. Ask them to refresh their faith. It is not by their power that makes them what they are, but the will of God.

“Let them know that the young ones are learning from their actions and words. Let us not teach the next generation the habit of betrayal and disrespect, but love, trust and respect,” Mr Lamido said.

He said the aggrieved members should know that they have been together for long.

“We are one people, with one historical background, in the same state. Let us work once again to rescue Jigawa,” he said.

Mr Lamido also urged PDP members in the state to desist from campaigns of thuggery and violence, but rather, engage their opponents in an issue based campaign.

“Show them what PDP has done in the state. Let them know we are all one family, irrespective of political affiliation.”

Mr Lamido charged the members of the committee to work for the success of PDP in the state and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“Also it is your responsibility to go and woo Governor Muhammad Badaru to PDP because he will not survive the task ahead,” he said.

Eight election campaign committees were inaugurated at the event.

They are expected to work under the apex committee chaired by Ahmad Algazali while Sule Lamido, Aminu Ringim, Salisu Mahmuda among others, will serve as members.

Premium times

B-O-M-B-S-H-E-L-L!!!

Summary of Buhari’s APC Government. An excellent article by Dr Iyabo Obasanjo.

I am a terminal optimist; ‘a believer’ in Nigeria’s future greatness, that is why three years ago, I would not have believed a bag of rice could be sold for the national minimum wage.

With 87million extremely poor people and 13million children out of school in 2018, the mighty has indeed fallen and change has come. Now I know ‘all things’ are possible in a country ruled by incompetent ‘saints’. We have mass starvation in the North East, yet a clan of ‘Grass cutters’ are making their billions and smiling to the bank with the blood of hungry, homeless children, and internally displaced people in their hands. We hear rumors of ‘Bama Initiatives’ yet the fraternity in power manufactures internal solutions and our conniving cabinet of ‘saints’ watch in silence.

They seek another term for their inaction, they call out the nation to pray for God to bless their cluelessness while we wait forever, for just anyone to answer the ‘grass cutter’s’ question; ‘who is the presidency?’

There are few things as nauseating as watching your favorite dog lick up its vomit. That is how sick this government of clowns make me feel. For three years Nigerians have been immersed in a disgusting circus show; the high point of our week is the next ‘tall tale’ from the spin doctor; Mr. Lie Mohammed. The man has shown great dexterity in fabricating bogus stories and making excuses for the pathetic ineptitude of our government.

From his bedtime fairy tales about our ‘hale and hearty’ president waiting in the UK for 50days to have the Presidential jet serviced, to the one that won the tales by moonlight award of the year; the story of the ‘Great Rodents of Aso rock’. Governance by propaganda and lies has been institutionalized by ‘saints’. That is how we became a nation addicted to tall tales, a place where the rest of the world can look to, for comic relief.
Every new day we shake our heads or bite our nails, and wonder why ‘our dear leader’ and his team are taking us for fools.
Three years crawl like eternity, every day with its pangs, and our people beg God to take us back to 2015. Just three years ago in January 2015, President Jonathan reduced the price of fuel from N97 to N86.5 per litre. Babatunde Fashola; Buhari’s super minister, responded by saying the price was not low enough. He promised the nation a better deal under the APC government of ‘saints’. He bragged that a ‘serious’ government would solve the power problem of the country in six months. Today, he is the Power, Works and Housing Minister and his silence is as deafening as it is shameful. Corruption in the power sector under the nostrils of our ‘saint’ stinks to the high heavens as ordinary citizens groan under the burden of ‘estimated bills’ and other sundry deceits.

Tam David West, a military era ally of General Buhari went further to promise his friend will bring the pump price of petrol down to N40 per litre. Then the price of crude came tumbling down to the ground, making the pump price of N40 per liter even more feasible but our government of ‘victims’ doubled the pump price of petrol.
They went ahead and increased the price of Diesel by 400% without a reason, crushing the productive sector of the economy where everyone uses diesel to generate their electricity. We are told to blame Jonathan for three years of ineptitude, mediocrity and unbridled nepotism.

We thank our God who in his faithfulness has given Professor Tam David West long life to watch ‘crocodile smile, python dance’ and to eat his empty words.
Did our President really promise to make the naira equal to the dollar at the APC South East rally at Owerri in 2015? Some think he did, but we will never know. To comment further may be labelled ‘hate speech’. We hear rumors of the possible reincarnation of decree 2, 4 of 1984. Those who are old enough will understand. The silence of our usually vibrant ‘Yoruba’ media speak volumes for their independence and the state of our democratic evolution. I am however sure our ‘saints’ promised to create 740,000 new jobs in one year.

They promised to revamp the coal industry in Enugu. They promised change and changed everything. Since then the National office of Statistics reported job losses of 1.5million in the first quarter of 2016. Now they say we are crawling out of recession but in the words of Bob Marley, ‘he who feels it, knows it’.
Nigeria; the famed land of ‘Hailers, Wailers and Lazy Youths’ has never had it so bad, yet apologists of this administration of ‘saints’ will hastily tell you to continue to believe, to celebrate the ‘incorruptibility of our pious ‘dear leader’ and his ‘lopsided’ war against corruption, to jump on the broomstick and believe their voodoo economics. I have difficulty believing that a man in his 4th attempt at the presidency, after 14 years of scheming and plotting will turn out so lame and bereft of ideas.

The President of a 21st Century Democracy cannot afford to be this clueless and hands-off-ish. He has watched in near silence the worst form of savagery and bloodletting in our modern history. To give him another term, would be unfair to the old man, like whipping a tired horse.
When Lai Mohammed promised that the 1.4 trillion naira from the TSA will be used as ‘Father Christmas’ handouts to ‘20million’ of the poorest amongst us, many thought it was a joke, vintage Lai, another blatant ‘hot air’ the type for which even within APC, only Lai holds the patent. But alas, it is true, if your state is a ‘political battleground’ state, or depending on which side of the 97.5% versus 5% divide you fit in, you may even get ‘Market Moni’. I will never understand the economic sense in doling out monthly stipends to plan less youths in certain places, sharing out ‘Abacha loot’ while we borrow the same amount from China to support our budget. The revelations from the World Bank President that they were instructed to respect the 97.5% versus 5% formula trounces everything this government has ever done.

I knew the second coming of GMB will not be different from the firsts. I did warn in my blog but Nigerians were past caring. They just wanted a change in the saddle; anything but GEJ. By February 2015 millions of my countrymen were sick of the impunity and kleptocracy of the PDP clan of predators; they were ready to replace them with anyone or anything, even a retired and tired Military Dictator whose High School leaving examination nobody ever saw the certificate. But whatever hope he held out was drowned when he recruited the same old tainted clan of politicians, recycled into the 2015 cabal nay ‘cabinet of saint’. All of them unimpressive without a single exception. Their inability to take responsibility for their failures will always stand them out as a pitiable class of ‘victims’ which we should all quickly forget.

The APC claim of superior morality and credibility was always deeply flawed. An amalgam of the vilest tribalists, the most sordid political capitalist, discredited PDP dropouts, all desperate for power and vengeance, could amount to nothing but the poisonous stew it is. The simpletons who were sold to their cynical manipulations and sloganeering, who voted in droves have been betrayed.
Today we have gone full circle, we are back at that same point, where just anything goes. We are back to where we were in February 2015. Budgets after padded budgets, the empty promises of Lai Mohammed will always resonate as great lines of deceitful poetry. The saintly grandfather who came to rid Nigeria of its army of predators and leeches has shown a complete lack of aptitude, indeed his coming has become a hoax. His abysmal failure is a lesson to the next generation of Nigerians, never to worship idols.

I remain an unrepentant optimist; ‘a believer’ in Nigeria’s future greatness. We are yet to live the dreams of our founding fathers. Though we are close to the bottom, Nigeria shall rise again, because we still have the most capable and smartest people on earth. Today they prostrate before imbeciles, tomorrow they will b find their livers and use their brains.

Iyabo Obasanjo DVM, PhD.

GOV UDOM'S AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN AKS

By Borono Bassey

Culled from Nation Newspaper, Page 30 December 7, 2018

Sometime in September this year, I had visited the Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company in Onna, Akwa Ibom State for the purpose of seeing how I could strike a business deal for the Consulting Firm I work with. In the course of the visit, I got to learn that the Syringe Factory is set to expand its production capacity from the current volume of 350 to 400 million syringes annually to an impressive annual production volume of 1 billion syringes, by the first quarter of 2019.

The Managing Director of the Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company Mr Zubeyu Gulabi, while reechoing this, said the expansion, which has already been preceded by strategic actions, is to help the company launch into markets outside Nigeria, especially into countries within the Subsaharan African region.

Now, here is the thing; a company does not propose this kind of ambitious growth and expansion plan without taking the security situation in the environment they operate into serious consideration. The reason is simple, a little hostility in an operating environment can stand in the way of a company’s profits, prevent them from making plans for expansion and in extreme situations, force them to move their business elsewhere.

If the Management of the Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company succeeds with the planned expansion of their production capacity, it will birth more opportunities for the people in terms of new jobs and the will trigger the emergence or development of other economic enterprises. For instance, the influx of people into Onna, the environment where the factory is located, will promote real estate business and trigger patronage for goods and services in that locality. New firms will get distributorship deals in that planned expansion. The benefits will be far-reaching for Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians.

Other factories attracted to Akwa Ibom State by the Emmanuel adminstration in the last three years may also be considering or have already attempted different levels of expansion. For instance, the AKEES Factory which was known for just two products, Pencils and toothpicks, have morphed into a fullfledged industrial park that now houses additional factories like the fully automated plastic factory and an hydro form blocks moulding factory as well as an artisan training centre.

The backstory on the major factor that has allowed for the contemplation of, and will possibly drive the realisation of the ambitious growth plans in these companies is the atmosphere of peace that Akwa Ibom has enjoyed under Governor Emmanuel’s watch as Governor of the State.

But, what strategic moves did Emmanuel make in the pursuits for the peace currently enjoyed in Akwa Ibom State?

As part of his remarks shortly after taking the oath of office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel had declared that his administration will maintain zero tolerance against all forms of criminality in the state. By way of walking the talk, Governor Emmanuel with folded sleeves, immediately begun the process of restoring peace to Etim Ekpo, and Ukanafun Local Government Areas as well as other parts of the state which he came to meet in crisis.

Prior to Governor Emmanuel strategic intervention, Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State had been two most terrorised areas in the state for more than a period of two years. Militants, cultists and kidnappers had unleashed unimaginable terror in almost all the villages making up the two Local Governments. Those residing in these villages and communities were forced to flee to neigbouring towns and Local Governments as sleep was becoming an expensive luxury to afford for the inhabitants.

Local administration in these areas was almost grounded and schools were abruptly shut down even as the hoodlums stole food crops, livestock and other items from their owners at will. Sadly, some people were reportedly killed, several abducted, properties including vehicles and houses were burnt in that reign of terror.

But, in keeping with his resolve to restore peace to these areas at all costs, Governor Udom Emmanuel extended an olive branch to the militants and cultists. As at the last count, the hoodlums numbering more than 420 had embraced the amnesty deal and surrendered their cache of ammunition to the then State Commissioner of Police, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, who coordinated the amnesty committee with all the heads of various security operatives as members. Ogunjemilusi has since been posted and promoted as AIG Zone 6 Calabar, Cross River State.

Driven by the motive to uproot a major tree through which many forms of criminality tend to manifest, Governor Emmanuel had also gone ahead to proscribe no fewer than 32 cult groups in the state.

Today, economic and social activites are picking up again in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo Local Government area, even as plans had already been put in motion to rehabilitate the repentant militant by giving them a legal and sustainable source of livelihood. As you read this, the moving train of infrastructure expansion and consolidation of the Governor Emmanuel-led administration had already made a stopover at Ukanafun. This stopover has led to the flag off of a 15.0km Ikot Akpan Afaha-Ikot Oku Usung road project with spurs in various parts.

Impressively, these audacious moves by the Governor Emmanuel-led administration to enthrone an atmosphere of peace in Akwa Ibom has attracted a lot of positive ratings of the state by various non-government and government agencies and organisations.

An organisation, the Foundation for Peace Professionals (FPP) had in their 37-page maiden report presented to newsmen in Abuja earlier this year, rated Akwa Ibom as the most peaceful state in South South. The executive director of the Foundation, Ambassador Abdulrazaq Hamzat during the presentation said the data used for the analysis and ratings were obtained from the Police, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other local and international governmental and non-governmental organisations.

According to him “Akwa Ibom is most peaceful state in South-South, Kaduna in North West, Kogi in North Central, Osun in South West, Imo in South East and Taraba State in North East, Kogi State is second most peaceful state in Nigeria and most peaceful in the North. Imo state is the most peaceful state in South East and 5th most peaceful in Nigeria. “ Hamzat said

In another testimonial, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj Gen Jamil Sarham, had adjudged Akwa Ibom as the state with the lowest crime rate amongst the 36 states of federation.

But, Emmanuel’s efforts in sustaining an atmosphere of peace in Akwa Ibom state is not just limited to the fight against criminality. In actions and utterances, Governor Udom Emmanuel has not left anyone in doubt as to his burning desire to bequeath a peaceful state to Akwa Ibom people.

In a legendary manner, Emmanuel has maintained an applaudable level of maturity and calmness in the face of provocation from the opposition who swear to deploy all forms of Federal Might in disturbing the peace of the state and consequently eroding the high level of investors’ confidence in Akwa Ibom state. These provocations cast in the form of outright intimidation from agencies of the APC-led Federal Government, scathing insults on the person and office of the Governor, open threats and even the use of security agencies to intimidate state government officials and loyalists of the Governor have not caused Governor Emmanuel to abandon his commitment to sustaining peace in the state.

But, one thing is clear. The 2019 governorship election will be a referendum on whether Akwa Ibomites will prefer returning to the dark days where citizens lived in fear of politically-motivated killings and abduction and other vices or if the enjoy the journey of peace and prosperity they have already begun under Governor’s watch. That election will be a choice between Emmanuel whose visionary and pragmatic leadership has lifted several Akwa Ibom sons and daughters from poverty by way of job and wealth creation through the over seven industries he has attracted to the state, and a man who was part of an administration that promised 31 industries and never built, revamped or attracted a single to the state for 8 solid years.

It is imperative to note that events and credible opinion polls are constantly revealing one truth; that Akwa Ibom people will prefer to keep traveling the road of peace and prosperity with Governor Emmanuel till 2023.

The future of Akwa Ibom sure looks brighter.

Press Statement

*Eseme Eyiboh, APC and the EFCC Conspiracy: the grasping at straws continues*

Eseme Eyibo, the Spokesperson of the APC Campaign Organization again displayed a familiar tendency that has characterized their public engagements : weaving lies and vile propaganda, turning facts on the head and creating a bogeyman all in a futile attempt to gain sympathy and traction as the peace -loving people of Akwa Ibom State have massively rejected their vision of violence, kidnapping, politically motivated murders and have decided to pitch their tent with a man of virtues and character, man of integrity and deep Christian faith-Mr. Udom Emmanuel as their Governor until 2023.


Parroting the laughable line that “the government has continued to live in denial of the serial malfeasance that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has been unravelling in the past three years” Eseme Eyiboh showed here how vacuous and empty his thoughts and those of his sponsors are. We wish to let Mr. Eyiboh know that Akwa Ibom State runs the most transparent Government and this is an unvarnished and verifiable fact.
Here are the facts that Eseme Eyiboh and his gang of truth- twisters should know: Chief Paul Usoro (SAN) has been on retainership with Akwa Ibom State Government dating back to 2003, spanning the administrations of Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah and Senator Godswill Akpabio and has been receiving payments for services rendered. As a matter of fact, the outstanding invoice the State owes him as at today is in excess of 5 billion Naira.


Chief Paul Usoro performed a service for the Government of Akwa Ibom State, the same services he provided to Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio and the EFCC did not cry wolf that Senator Akpabio had laundered money. It is therefore, ludicrous and insanely obtuse for Eseme Eyiboh to assert that “Udom Emmanuel’s legal fees” came from the public coffers. The EFCC is on a witch-hunt because the State Government took the agency to court when it illegally blocked the accounts of the State Government last August and this again, is a verifiable fact. It is very sad that the agency would allow itself to be used by certain individuals who have openly boasted that the agency is in their pockets and they would use the agency to smear and besmirch the character and integrity of their political enemies. Thank God, the good people of Akwa Ibom State know the truth.


It is worth repeating here that one of the defining qualities of Governor Udom Emmanuel is his national and internationally celebrated deep sense of probity, transparency, integrity and his Christian values. In February this year, the Nigerian Television Authority, (NTA) which is the political mouthpiece of the APC run Federal Government, gave Governor Udom Emmanuel the National Service and Integrity Award. It is worth noting here that this award was presented to the Governor by the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and the award took place right inside Aso Rock.

Because of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s unassailable integrity and rigorous devotion to the principles of due process in his governance style, foreign investors are trooping to the State as can be seen in the numerous industries that are springing up everywhere in the State; he is changing the mental and attitudinal mindset of the people of the State especially the youths and today, Akwa Ibom State is the most peaceful State in the nation and the youths are using the works of their hands to earn a living as opposed to begging for a living.

The APC on the other hand, has turned Nigeria into the poverty capital of the world. Today, Nigeria is the third most terrorised nation on the face of earth as reported by several international news organizations yesterday. This is the record of the APC and the good people of Akwa Ibom State have told the world they have chosen peace and prosperity over violence and poverty. They have chosen Udom Emmanuel’s vision of hope, industrialization and peace over the return to the dark days when insecurity walked on four legs in this State. Akwa Ibom is rising because the Right man is on the saddle. Forward ever, backward never!


Signed:
Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok
Spokesperson, Divine Mandate (ONLYGOD) Campaign Organization
7/12/18

*NSIMA'S LG AUTONOMY : A SYNERGY OF IGNORANCE AND DECEIT*

by Essien Ndueso

In Akwa Ibom State, a crass desperation has led the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr. Nsima Ekere, into the assumption that the people of the state are gullible to empty lies and gross fake promises.

Mr Ekere whose desperation to be governor has seen him embark on campaign of calumny, wild accusations and outright resort to cheap blackmail, took his jaundiced worldview to shocking heights when he told a bewildered public that he'll provide local government autonomy if elected governor.

Since the NDDC man made the promise, not a few people have alluded to what has been widely known before now to the effect that the APC gubernatorial candidate and his party have no cogent plans for the state nor the people except the wild goose chase of political power in order to put the state on a reverse gear.

As a man who claims to know a lot, it is preposterous and beffudling that Nsima Ekere could, before the public, make such a bizarre promise.
For one, it shows clearly that the man is simply out of sync with reality and the law, so much that he can spew anything as campaign promise just to sway the people.

But Akwa Ibomites know better. They have seen through these 21st century deception, the fake and vague promises hence are better positioned to choose between moving forward and plunging the state into the abyss of confusion with a band of desperate hawks whose plan is to return our state to the dark age of politically motivated assassinations, kidnappings and other sundry but despicable vices, which walked on all fours on our streets.

If this is not their plan, it's difficult to come to grasp with Mr Ekere's pledge that he'll restore local government autonomy as soon as he becomes governor. Does he not know that this issue is a constitutional matter and is not within the powers of a governor to determine?

Why should the APC standard bearer stoop so low to utter such embarrassing and unpardonable statement? It points to one fact: these people do not mean well for our state. Such empty, warped and patently misguided promise brings back memories of 2011, when 31 industries were once promised the people of Akwa Abasi Ibom State.

Today, the people can judge for themselves how many of the 31 industries are cited in their domains as was promised. Curiously, it is the same people that have formed a desperate alliance to once again churn out unrealistic promises in order to hoodwink the people again. But the people are now wiser and will vehemently and unanimously reject these men whose voices drip with deception upon a body language that reeks of war.

It's the same Nsima Ekere that had the false stamina to say he'll build real industries in the state. And one is led to wonder, does APC and its governorship candidate think Akwa Ibomites are so poorly lettered? The man has not told Akwa Ibom people what and how real industries look like. Apparently out to promise anything to earn votes, he steps on the soapbox and says just anything as if he's addressing toddlers. He forgets that his ability to create industries, can be measured by the number of factories and job opportunities brought about when he served as the Chairman of the state investment and industrial clearing house, the Akwa Ibom State Investment and Industrial Promotion Council, AKIIPOC and later as deputy governor during the 8 years reign of Governor Akpabio. There were none of course.

One had thought that the tomfoolery of the APC and its candidate will have some level of restraint, but Nsima Ekere has given the clearest indication yet that he has neither vision nor mission for the state. And he can't even pretend otherwise. Sad!

Nsima goofed big time when he said he'll grant autonomy to local governments. How can a gubernatorial candidate not understand the workings of Nigerian constitution? Autonomy for LG is a constitutional issue and only amendment can effect that.

Nsima Ekere cannot claim ignorance of this reality, but he had little or no choice than to say what he said just to deceive the people into believing he means well and will effect what he promised in public glare if he fulfils his lifetime ambition of becoming governor.

It is obvious that the season of politics and promises of heaven on earth by politicians is here. But while some promises made by politicians have raised hopes of the masses that they are in for better times, some, like Mr Ekere's, have clearly stood out as vague, empty and misleading promises. It is sad and rather unfortunate that desperation could cause someone who should know to embark on spewing lies to the people.


Akwa Ibom people now under the able leadership of Mr. Udom Emmanuel will never succumb to these tissues of falsehood and grand deceit. They are now wiser, more circumspect and highly discerning, hence will not fall for empty and unrealistic promises from desperate men.

NERG BOSS LOUD METERING SOLUTION COMPANY IN AKWA IBOM

Prepaid meters to be available to all Nigeria homes in 2020 – NERC boss

By Dennis Erezi

06 December 2018   |   4:01 pm

Nigeria’s National Electricity Commission (NERC) on Thursday disclosed that all Nigerian homes will have access to prepaid meters by 2020.

NERC chairman James Momoh made the disclosure on Channels Television ‘Sunrise Daily’ show.

“With all the mechanisms we have put in place, I am certain that every Nigerian home that wishes to have prepaid meter can have it by 2020,” And Metering Solution comoany in Akwa Ibom State is doing very well in ensuring we achieve our target . Momoh said.

Current Nigeria government claim it is supplying 7000 megawatts of electricity generation, having improved it from 3000 where it was in 2015.

However, other African countries boast of better electricity supply than Nigeria. South Africa, which has 56 million population compared to Nigeria’s 180 million has a total domestic electricity generation capacity of 51,309 megawatts.

Momoh stated that the current Muhammadu Buhari led government since 2015 had been working on providing Nigerians with stable and affordable electricity.

“Thanks to president Buhari who has worked to make a big change in Nigeria to improve our quality of service, because money is now being invested rightly to make sure power is available,”

He also stated that other African countries had become envious of Nigeria due to monetary investments by the Buhari government.

“We want to ensure that the customers have the power supply that is affordable, accessible to them and available at all times.”

He, however, called for patience from Nigerians on the delivery of the prepaid meter as “This is not trivial, this is not easy in a growing economy like Nigeria, but we have to provide power to Nigerians.”

Although, some members of the Nigerian public had blamed the government for instability in the electric power supply, but the NERC boss said the responsibility of circulating power lies in the hands of distribution companies.

He said, “The reliability and affordability of power have been paid for. Supply is done through a designed chain through the distribution company.”

Momoh assured Nigerians that the government have placed guidelines to ensure supply of quality electricity irrespective of social status.

“We at NERC enforce rules and regulations to ensure that the power you receive is of high quality and it is available to all customers whether you are rich or you are poor. We are doing all things necessary for power to be available,” Momoh said.

WHEN AKPABIO CRIES LIKE A WITCH


BY UBONG SAMPSON

Recent events in the state remind me of this boy in my nursery school class who was always quick to break into tears whenever he did something wrong and was caught or when fingers pointed at him as the prime suspect. There was this day he got everyone laughing when he met a little boy in the back of his class having snacks for lunch during break. He had snatched the little boy's refreshments and ran away, not knowing he was the headmistress' nephew who cried to the woman's office to report to her.

Madam headmistress took her nephew from class to class, hoping the little boy would be able to identify his oppressor. Getting to my class, my classmate had no vestige of luck left on his side that day, as the boy identified him and quickly too. But in his usual manner, while denying ever encountering the boy, he broke into tears, such that even madam headmistress was confused and ceded to a second thought of questioning her little nephew again. Well, how the truth came out, you are at liberty to imagine for yourself.

Another short one. My friend, Barr. Ewa Okpo once said that witches suffer a lot of blames even on deaths resulting from one's carelessness. He added that most of these blames might be happening when the witches are experiencing serious blood scarcity, and went further to imagine how sobber the witches would be in such situations, taking blames with blood-thirsty throats. How he got to know this, and why he was that sympathetic to the witches, I do not know. Maybe his human rights activism extends to the witches. You can contact him for further questions.

You see, one will see the "tears" of Godswill Akpabio in response to the pointed fingers at him as being the chief masterminder of recent political events threatening peace in the state, and might be forced to be sympathetic towards him. Earlier in the day, I read a piece on the recent crisis in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, where the writer apparently sought knowledge on what has become of Akpabio's earlier denial of his indirect involvement in the crisis, when unfolded events have proven otherwise.

Surprisingly, he has not denied the latest of his nationalist achievements, when all fingers had long started pointing at him as the hand behind the arrest of Utitofon Morgan, Publisher of popular SitippeKeAkwaIbom blog. However, even if he had suffered poor Anietie Ekong (his media aide) with the pains of scribbling the usual witchy "tears" in the name of a press statement, any rational mind who has good knowledge of Akpabio's days as head of government in the state, will not need any political analysis to know the former governor's political approach and use of power.

Facts reveal that it was the inability to use power, owing to his former party's loss of control at the centre, that partly contributed to his defection to the party in government at the centre, where he could, at least, have the favour of security agencies to aid his well known oppressive tendencies. And he had barely settled in his new party, when he reactivated his oppressive devices against even the preexisting members of the party who struggled to keep the party alive, while he held sway in power. Some of these people had left the ruling party in the state because of his overbearing and uncivil attitude and power abuse, and just when they thought solace had come to stay, the emperor found his way to their land of refuge. What a double tragedy!

On the Assembly crisis, the first call for suspicion came when the five sacked lawmakers chose Nse Ntuen, Akpabio's former representative in the state assembly to lead their revolt. Knowing Nse Ntuen the much I do, I could tell that the shoes he attempted to step into is one he would never have contemplated if circumstances were normal. At least, not for the present times. Hence, I could perceive that within a few seconds, an emperor from behind the cameras must have thought over and seen him to be a better stooge to be used in getting back at Onofiok Luke who has overtime been his nightmare and a deflating pin to his demigod ego.

Having tried severally, since his reign as first citizen in the state, to tie the speaker to his apron strings without success, he had long taken a B-plan of hampering his political rise, and possibly force it to total destruction. We may begin a trace from 2013 when the speaker refused to take his oath of loyalty (mbiam), which has been his practice and strategy to forcefully commit people to his dirty political artifice and chicanery even against the rationality of their minds and good conscience. Also in the same 2013, Onofiok Luke was openly attacked in Ika by Akpabio's core allies at the funeral ceremony of the parents in-law of his fifth assembly colleague, Hon. Gabriel Toby. As a reporter, then with the Community (now Nigerian) Pulse Newspaper, I witnessed the event and was first to report same exactly as it happened because my paper was on production same day.

Worried by my report, and the way the media (local and national) was feasting on the news, Akpabio immediately held a press conference, where he shamelessly denied an incident I, as well as other journalists witnessed live. Unknown to us, he had before the conference, held a peace meeting with Onofiok Luke and his eye-service attackers, and not only did he beg Onofiok to help control the news spread (as if Onofiok owns or controls any media house), he had also asked Luke to address the press and deny being attacked in Ika as reported. Well, always being conscious of himself and his actions, Onofiok, the same way he turned down the mbiam (traditional oath) offer, dismissed such idea and told him that doing such will turn the media against him, as it would amount to gathering members of the press community, among whom will be journalists who reported the incident, and telling them to their faces that they lied about an event they witnessed with their own eyes. Personally, I would have started looking at him and his much preached integrity with a second eye, had he tried such.

One would describe as unfortunate, the fact that, in the father and son relationship of Godswill Akpabio and Onofiok Luke, while the son studied and understood the father so well, the father could not study the son. Had he, his knowledge of who the son truly is would be cautioning him against making some of the moves and offers he deloes. Such moves as the N2bn defection offer and a deputy governorship slot, claiming to be from the presidency. And since the son rejected the offer without a second thought, father resorted to mobilizing some of his slaves who have unrepentantly subjected themselves to his demigod status, to run an emotional blackmail campaign against son, making him appear like a once-upon-a-time destitute who had no hope in life outside the confines of the destitute home, until god-Akpabio appeared and turned his life around. And when it appeared that was failing, boom! The assembly crisis erupted and presented father emperor with another opportunity to get back at his "stubborn" son.

Now that the last gambit has fallen like a pack of cards, father, I believe, will come to understand that though son may have learnt certain things from him, cowardice was never part of them. And son has consciously kept his hands clean and will never start trembling in trepidation or be running helter skelter into emergency nationalism upon sighting the past. Not that I am accusing anyone of having unclean hands, but we all know that in recent times, nationalism has been redefined, and the factors that cause its rise now, is different from what it was in the days of Kwameh Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, etc, when America began directing her foreign policies concerning Africa towards the decolonization of European territories in the African continent.

Ubong Sampson is a commentator on nationalistic affairs.

A’Ibom 2019: Udom, PDP move to Strengthen Support Base


Amid the growing political tension in Akwa Ibom state, arising from the lingering battle between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) over who controls the state, Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP have stepped up moves to strengthen their support base and galvanize their people with the ongoing peace-building process in the party.

Akwa Ibom state has been in the “eye of political storm” in recent weeks following the crisis in the state House of Assembly which led to a face-off between the state government and the police authority and led to heated altercations between the PDP and APC in the state.

Apparently to aid this galvanization process and also help in dousing the palpable apprehension in the state, the PDP Integration and Harmonisation Committee, in a statement Wednesday, December 5 2018, announced the commencement of the second phase of interactions with aggrieved stakeholders and other members of the party who have concerns over diverse issues in the party, which include what they refer to as “poor reward mechanism”.

According to the statement in Uyo the state capital, signed by the Committee secretary, Barrister Goddy Umoh, who is also the legal adviser to the party in the state, this second phase will “entertain complaints from individuals who have sent private petitions to the Committee through its dedicated phone numbers, email and website.”

The Committee, headed by His Excellency, Engineer Patrick Ekpotu, former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state, was inaugurated by Governor Udom Emmanuel, in October and charged with the responsibility of bringing together every aggrieved parties in the recently concluded primary election exercise of the PDP in the state, with the aim of addressing their grouses, in order to present a united front in the coming 2019 governorship election.

Barrister Umoh revealed that the “Integration and Harmonisation Committee started interactions with stakeholders of the first sets of local government areas on October 26. In that first phase the Committee hosted and received complaints from people from eight local government areas, which included, Ikono, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Itu, Nsot Ibom, Nsit Atai, Mkpat Enin and Urue Offong/ Oruko.”

Different interests within the party in the local government areas that have met with the committee were said to have unburdened their grievances to the committee. Issues ranging from people who felt shortchanged by the system at the party primaries after working hard for the party or communities/wards that raised concerns over seeming neglect by successive governments in the state in the areas of either projects or political appointments were presented to the committee.

The committee, working closely with the governor on the Integration and Harmonisation process has assured that a “mechanism is in place with the full backing of the governor to address these concerns in order to assuage the apprehension of the people, because the spirit of setting up the committee is not only to help our party put its house in order, in this peculiar challenging period in the state, but essentially to heal wounds and encourage inclusiveness by integrating every interest for peace, progress and unity of our dear state.

“So far the response by the people has been very impressive. As should be expected in this kind of setting, we have been having explosive but very frank sessions with participants from different local government areas, as people are encouraged by the committee to air their views with sincere openness, aimed at a dispassionate resolution. The beautiful aspect of our often heated sessions is that sometimes people came with palpable apprehension, but often would live with smiles and genuine convivial embrace and handshake.”

Umoh disclosed that after attending to these individual complainants, the Committee, would then resume its interactions with the remaining local government as according the statement, “the objective is to achieve equity, fairness and justice in the party, which will ultimately lead to peace and harmony in the PDP family, and essentially more electoral success by the party in the state.”


Source: The Nation

*AKPABIO LIED, NO ILLEGAL DEDUCTIONS FROM WORKERS’ SALARIES – HOCS, LABOUR LEADER*
*… 8 YEARS 7.5% CONTRIBUTORY PENSION REFUND UNDERWAY*

The Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Ekereobong Akpan, says there is no iota of truth in the claim that Akwa Ibom State Government deducts any amount from the salary of workers in the state to host government events.

She has also warned politicians to desist from making baseless and misleading comments that can attract the wrath of God upon them.

Addressing newsmen in her office Tuesday, Mrs. Akpan described the claim of deductions in workers’ salaries, attributed to Senator Godswill Akpabio as fictitious, noting that on the contrary, government is not only paying complete salaries to workers, but doing so on time.

Former Senate minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during the Campaign Church service by the APC in Akwa Ibom State, Sunday made claims that the state government is involved in the act of deducting a N1,300 from the salary of civil servants to host government events.

But the sharp reaction by the Number One civil servant in the state indicated that the statement as a desperate ploy by the opposition to taint the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Mrs. Akpan explained that it was impossible for any amount of money to be deducted from the salary of civil servants without the knowledge and agreement of the labour unions, saying, “You don’t take one naira from workers without the labour union agreeing; they would have been here in protest if such stories were to be true."

She described Governor Udom Emmanuel as a problem solver who is not moved by cheap political propaganda but focused on the welfare of civil servants.

“Tell our politicians that for every careless word they utter, they will give account. This is as recorded in the Holy Bible.”

She made reference to the cleared 10 years backlog of salaries which she said the previous administration had long abandoned, adding that the currently the 7.5% deductions for contributory pension scheme will be paid by the end of the week.
Mrs Akpan said the deductions took place between February 2005 and December 2013, and the Governor has decided to intervene by refunding the money to the affected workers.

“As you can see, I am sorting out the list by myself because we are going to pay the 7.5% contributory pension money. When the money was deducted, His Excellency was not there, this is something he inherited, but now he has taken the load because of his commitment to the welfare of the workers. So the 7.5 for those that were not paid their refunds, we are trying to do it.

“We all remember that his Excellency cleared 10 years backlog of pensions and gratuities shortly on assumption and if the recession didn’t hit like it did, he would have paid everything."

Shedding light on the payment of arrears and gratuities, the Head of Service said that the backlog of pensions have been cleared, adding that adequate provisions has been made for the 3000 teachers recruited to receive salaries this month.

“You remember those newly employed 3000 teachers, we have finished processing their data and they will be paid all their outstanding allowances shortly.

This was corroborated by the state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Akamba Awah, who carpeted such resort to the use of civil servant as political capital by politicians.

“Anybody who is coming to say that Government is deducting money from the salaries of workers is telling lies from the pit of hell.

“In my thirty years in service, we have always made a particular contribution to government, which is development levy, and that has not changed.

Comrade Awah said that labour was not ready to be dragged into unnecessary political blackmail by political jobbers, and will continue to support the government of Mr Udom Emmanuel which has shown great interest in the welfare and wellbeing of workers.

The Consistent Coward, Godswill Akpabio

"You remain the father of the nation, our father and political father to all. Just like i told Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Osinbanjo yesterday in Nigeria… Those who think that they have politically grown to insult you will all regret it before month end sir. I am here (London) to register my undiluted love and unalloyed support to you. I was involved in all their meetings and I know what their plans are. The long recess of NASS is going to be your advantage and not theirs like they thought and planned”- Senator Godswill Akpabio to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Those that do not have the courage of their convictions and that do not have the guts to stand against tyranny when under fire are not worthy of being called men: they are little better than beasts.

The fact that the former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio, is a coward and a traitor is no longer in dispute. The fact that his brazen treachery knows no bounds is what can best be described as “settled law”.

A leader must be ready to sacrifice his liberty and life in defence of truth, justice and righteousness and he must be prepared to defend his nation, faith, people and loved ones no matter the price he may have to pay.

Sadly such noble virtues and high standards are lost on men like Akpabio. To them such matters and sentiments are like Greek or Latin: they can neither understand their meaning or grasp their import.

They fail to appreciate the fact that fear is not a virtue but a vice. They refuse to acknowledge the fact that to blink the eye, bat the eyelid, surrender, compromise, buckle, capitulate and bend the knee to the tyrant and his minions in a futile and last minute attempt to preserve your life and liberty is utterly shameful.

Akpabio‘s desire to defect to the APC due to his trepidation and fear of the EFCC and Buhari’s regime is pitiful. If he has done nothing wrong then why the fear and why the trepidation? Where is his faith in God?

And if he has done something wrong, given the fact that he has opposed them virulently for the last three years, does he honestly believe that the Buhari regime will not punish him by using it against him if they manage to get back to power next year, no matter how much he helps them today?

If he believes that then he is not half as intelligent as I once thought. Buhari is not a man of honor, he is not a worthy ally, he does not keep to his promises and he does not have friends. The only friend he has is his insatiable lust for power which he feeds on a daily basis.

Aside from that the following questions come to mind. Does Akpabio honestly see any good in Buhari and his government? Is that what he thinks that Nigerians deserve to suffer for the next few years and if so what is their crime?

ng but contempt and disdain for those that come from the Middle Belt and the south and those that do not share his religious faith?

Has he forgotten the insults the Buhari government heaped on southerners, Middle Belters, Afenifere, Ohaeneze, the Niger Delta Elders, the Middle Belt Forum and every single elder statesman and leader that has called for the restructuring of our country.

Has he forgotten about the division, strife, disgrace, penury, corruption, poverty and despair that they have subjected the Nigerian people to over the last three years.

Has he forgotten what Christians have been subjected to by these demons from hell? Has he forgotten their hatred for the Church? Has he forgotten the division, strife, turmoil, bloodshed, torment and havoc that they have inflicted on our nation?

Has Akpabio forgotten about all these things or is that he is so tormented by the fear of his own shadow, the EFCC and Buhari’s ghost that he has capitulated like a fatherless peasant that lacks nobility, class, dignity, self-respect, good-breeding and honor?

On a general note one is constrained to ask: why are most Nigerian leaders plagued with such a cowardly disposition and servile spirit? Why do they compromise so often and why do they tremble before power?

If Akpabio had issues with PDP that is fair enough. We all have issues with the party in varying degrees.

Yet if he felt constrained to leave why can’t he join any of the other numerous opposition parties? Why does he have to sell his soul to the devil and enter a Faustian pact with Buhari and the APC.

Why should he join the birds of prey to feed on the blood, flesh and guts of the Nigerian people?

The truth is that he has betrayed his people and joined forces with those that seek to enslave them simply in an attempt to secure freedom and goodwill for himself.

Is that what leaders are meant to do? Are they meant to give in to their most morbid and irrational fears and collaborate with those that seek to destroy their nation, their people and their future?

Akpabio reminds me of the old African chiefs and traditional rulers that sold their own people into slavery to the white slave dealers in return for tiny crumbs and protection.

He reminds me of the black slaves that fought on the side of the southern secessionist forces in the American civil war who attempted to preserve the institution of slavery.

He reminds me of the inglorious Scottish clans that turned their backs on Scotland’s heroic Bonny Prince Charlie and instead betrayed their people and fought on the side of the English oppressors to oppose Scottish emancipation and liberation.

He reminds me of everything that is unpleasant, servile, weak, ugly, uncouth, cowardly and dishonorable.

© Barr. Femi Fani Kayode

EXCLUSIVE!

AKPABIO’S WARSAW ONSLAUGHT ON JOURNALISTS CLAIMS ANOTHER CASUALTY 

…AS POLICE REMANDS UTITOFON MORGAN ON FALSE CHARGES, TARGETS MORE JOURNALISTS

MEDIA COMMUNITY, COMMUNICATION LECTURER SPIT ON AKPABIO OVER ARREST

 

By Victoria Ekere, Uyo | December 3, 2018

 

A seething anger is growing by the second within the media community in Akwa Ibom State following the arrest and detention of popular blogger Utitofon Morgan of the Sittipe fame on the orders of the Senator representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Mr Godswill Akpabio as part of his continuous onslaught on media practitioners in the state.

Investigations by DailyMail Newspaper reveal that Akpabio’s order for the arrest and detention of Mr Utitofon Morgan is misdirected as the story which the popular blogger is persecuted for captioned “CBN probes Akpabio’s N865b unrecorded deposits in 3 banks” was published by a certain online Newspaper known as “The Fact Reporters”.

Angered by the revelations made in  the story,  the Senator is said to have asked his Media Aide Anietie Ekong to guess who owns the Facts Reporters and the Media aide who apparently had some scores to settle Mr Utitofon Morgan dropped the bloggers name.

It was gathered that Akpabio immediately ordered one of the lawyers in his chambers, a certain Patrick Umoh, esq.  to forward a petition to the Police demanding for the immediate arrest and detention of Mr Utitofon Morgan, who, our credible checks has shown does not have any link with the Facts Reporters.

At the moment, Utitofon Morgan is being held at the State Police Headquarters Ikot Akpan Abia on the orders of Mr Akpabio on the false charge of defamation to Akpabio’s character.

In the meantime, members of the Akwa Ibom Media community have reacted to the arrest and detention of a Utitofon Morgan calling it a clear decision by Mr Godswill Akpabio to draw a battle line with journalists and other media practitioners in Akwa Ibom State insisting that the Senator by this latest onslaught on the media community was forcefully reminding them of the reign of terror and intimidation which media practitioners operated in during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

“You can recall that during Akpabio’s tenure, those of us who were vocal critics of his administration and policies were marked for assassination. Our colleagues in the Global Concord Newspaper had to print their Newspapers at night. Have you even forgotten that a Communication Professor, Des Wilson recently narrated how Akpabio almost succeeded in assassinating him?
Or have you also forgotten the harassment and detention Akpabio unleashed on fresh facts newspaper and Imeime Jerome for publishing a story about his government. The National body of NUJ had revolted and wanted to declare Akpabio a persona non grata, save for the intervention of notable journalists like ray Ekpu? No, you should not forget. Well, tell him and Anietie Ekong that they have failed. The same Anietie Ekong who is on the side of Akpabio and encouraging him to mow down journalists was a practicing journalist in this country. Tell him to be prepared to kill us” Akaninyene Udo, a journalist told the Daily Mail Newspaper.

Reacting to the development, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at the Akwa Ibom State University who spoke to the Daily Mail Newspaper on conditions of strict anonymity said it was worrisome that politicians would signal out journalists and media practitioners for outright intimidation and attack, saying this was a bad signal for democracy and free society.

“Everywhere around the world, journalism has continued to remain as the conscience of the society and in cases where people feel offended or angered by publications in the media, there are extant procedures for the ventilation of this sort of grievances. Giving orders and using the apparatus of the police to intimidate and harass journalists by people who have been conferred with statuses through the work of journalists and media practitioners is a bad omen for the society. People who do this should be seen as enemies of the media community”

LG Commissioner Charges Traditional Rulers To Be Agents Of Peace

***Issues Certificates of Recognition to Six Clan Heads.

By: Oku Udoetor, Kendi Jumbo & Endurance Johnson

Earlier today, the government of Akwa Ibom State through the office of the honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Udo Ekpenyong issued Certificates of Recognition to six newly coronated Clan Heads at the State Council of Chiefs auditorium, Uyo.

The certification, according to the Hon commissioner was in pursuant of section 15 of the The Traditional Rulers Law, CAP 134, Law of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.

Speaking, the two term commissioner who was flanked by the Commissioner for Works, Obong Ephraim Inyang-Eyen congratulated them for making it through the rigorous processes - from village headship to clan headship, adding that they owe God many thanks and the Governor for endorsing/signing their certification, as God alone, according to him, chooses a Leader.

Obong Udo Ekpenyong who also charged them to be agents of peace in their respective clans, said traditional rulers across the state owe government of the day a duty to protect, promote and project government's policies, programmes and projects in their respective domains.

He urged them to partner with their respective paramount rulers as they are now automatic members of traditional rulers' council of their respective local government areas.

Responding, one of the newly certified clan heads who spoke on their behalf, HH Etubom (Barr.) Maxwell Benjamin Umoren expressed gratitude for the Governor particularly the honorable commissioner for what he described as "the timeous issuance of certificates of recognition to them", stressing that, that is a step to becoming a paramount Ruler someday by God's grace.

The erudite clan head while commending the State Government through the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs ministry for being fair and transparent in the selection processes, vowed to discharge their duties in line with the extant laws of the land as agents of peace and orderliness in their respective domains.

The following Clan Heads were issued Certificates of Recognition: HH Etubom (Barr.) Maxwell Benjamin, HH Samuel Johnson, HH Moses Udosen Ukpong, HH Otuekong Peter Jerome Effiong, HH Udoette Edon, and HH Onwong Edakekong.

In attendance were paramount rulers of Onna, HRM Edidem Raymond Inyang and that of Ikono, HRM Edet Okokon, amongst others.

Akwa Ibom New CP: His level of partisanship you must know.

After the illegal invasion of the State House of Assembly by some hired killing machineries of the APC on Monday, 19th November 2018, the former Akwa Ibom CP, Mr. Abang was redeployed. One would want to ask for possible reasons why Mr. Abang was suddenly transferred, but I believe the right answer to the question is nothing but a mystery.

To my level of understanding, Mr. Abang placed his duty as a security agent above personal interest which is romancing with government officials or party in-order to attract financial benefits. To him, his duty was to protect the rule of law, lives and properties of the citizens and not to be partisan at any point, hence strived so hard in making sure the unlawful invasion of the State House of Assembly by the APC and its counterparts(hired killers) was unsuccessful. The inability of the APC cabal to invade the place is the sole reason why Mr. Abang was transferred from the State within 10hours of the occurrence of the above event.

Announcing Mr. Musa Kimo as the new CP of the State, is nothing but a plan to accomplish their initial plan of successfully invading the State House Complex, and this could be seen in his first point of call upon his assumption into office. Musa Kimo has strived effortlessly within these hours of his deployment into the State, to support the APC's sole agenda of unleashing confusion and mayhem in the form of warsaw saw war on the State. This was seen by that singular act of Mr. Kimo successfully guiding and guarding the five sacked APC Lawmakers into the legislative chambers of the State House of Assembly for a faction plenary, thereby locking out all authentic members of the legislative House, workers of the State House of Assembly and journalists who came to cover the plenary.

Let's look at the rerun election in Rivers State under the watch of our dear Musa Kimo.

During the run-up to the Rivers rerun election, there were speculations that Mr. Musa Kimo at the initial stage wasn't ready to compromise his integrity by succumbing to the wishes of the APC power mongers, but everything changed the moment he was cautioned by the Nigerian Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

" I've told the IG that I cannot work with Kimo and we will not work with him. He's not ready to dance to our tune, so I wonder if there will be victory on our side if we let him stay. If he wants to stay, he should agree that's he's going to do the bidding of the Presidency. In April, they were in power, hence used the power to do the elections magic we saw in April 2015, now is our turn and we will make them cry with our magic." Amaechi to some police officials.

Aftermath of Kimo's cautioning by the IGP was great disasters witnessed during the Rivers rerun; Security agents were retrieved from all serving political office holders of the PDP, including the governor, Nyesom Wike. Two Senatorial Districts were captured by the APC through a die-hard rigging system of the APC, many lives were destroyed by the APC hired thugs, and Rivers people were just helpless under this kind of conditions.

This is to say that Musa Kimo is nothing but a wolf in a sheep's garment; all he does is pretend to be a security agent who strives to protect the rule of law, lives and properties, but the reverse are his actions. With all these attributes of Musa Kimo and other of his like, we wonder if consistent occurrence of this misdemeanor would not at a certain point in time crumble our democracy.

Musa Kimo is not acting in isolation, there's an encrypted voice he's following, and in the case of Akwa Ibom State, there's nothing anyone would say to disapprove the fact that Kimo is taking directives from Sen. Akpabio who's the instigator of the warsaw saw war in Akwa Ibom State.

The primary assignment of Musa Kimo in Akwa Ibom State is to help the APC in constituting problems, thereby posing great security threats to the PDP supporters ahead of the 2019 general elections. This to them would be a major advantage of rigging the 2019 general elections to their favor, but Nigeria presently has passed that level where one would stay at the comfort of his home, using the country's resources to deprive the citizens of their mandate.

AKHA Crisis: Akpabio is to blame

The attempt by Anietie Ekong to extricate Senator Godswill Akpabio from the creation of an Akwa Ibom state House of Comedy led by Former Honourable Nse Ntuen arrived the news stands completely impotent.

The good people of Akwa Ibom state being well aware of the strategic and logistics support provided by the Hitler-admiring senator have risen to condemn the act and the seen and unseen actors. A cross section of Akwa Ibom people are questioning what the Senator’s personal photographer was doing in the chambers with the ousted lawmakers?

Additionally, it can be recalled that during the nominations of our party in 2014, Senator Akpabio, then Governor of our state, foisted the candidature of Nse Ntuen (who then was serving as the chairman of council for Essien Udom local government area) on the delegates who protested strenuously. Recall further that when the delegates agreed to do the Senator’s bidding, he still was afraid that his puppet will lose to Tony Etim. He instructed the returning officer to conduct the election using option A4(delegates queuing behind the aspirant of their choice), just to be sure that the delegates do not execute their plan of rejecting Nse Ntuen. Their grouse then which is manifesting now, is that the Peter principle in management(promotion beyond competence level) will catch up with Nse. They further opined that Nse will be completely lost in the assembly and his people will suffer misrepresentation. I doubt the fact that those who protested Nse’s candidature, had telepathic capacities, they simply used their assessment of him in the past to predict the future.

If Senator Akpabio had allowed the people’s choice to prevail, Akwa Ibom would have been saved the global embarrassment attracted by the intellectually lazy, egoistical and classless ‘Loud Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Comedy’ Nse Ntuen. The quality of those he(Sen. Akpabio)handpicked to represent him and his constituency in the legislature gives the world a peep into his mind. Senator Akpabio can therefore not wash his hands off the current embarrassment occurring in the state legislature by Nse Ntuen and his gang of ignorant former legislators.
I am sure that Anietie Ekong did not see the less than two minutes skit showing their ‘loudspeaker’ marching into the chambers when he released that statement. If he did, then we’ll just conclude that the camp of sub-national comedians has increased. So make no mistake, Senator Godswill Akpabio will continue to be counted in on this shameful issue until, he himself counts himself out.

As usual, we will continually remind those who beat the drums of war using the platform of politics to refrain as the outcome of violence is always undesirable to all the parties. Election is not war and should not be conducted as war, for any reason.

We are well aware that power belongs to God and HE gives it to whomsoever he chooses. 2019 will come and go but Akwa Ibom will remain.

Signed:

Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary
People’s Democratic Party
28112018