₦airaland Forum

We Are Still On Course

1. Out of respect and as a loyal party man, I honored an innocent invitation from the Governor for a meeting this evening at the lodge;

2. At the meeting my brother from my local government and Federal Constituency, Pst Umo Eno was presented as the choice of the Governor for succession;

3. It was at the said meeting that I heard of the agenda and choice for the first time and no one held any discussion with me prior to the meeting;

4. I am not against the choice of the Governor coming from my local government, Federal Constituency nor the aspiration of my brother;

5.However, as a fellow aspirant from the same local government at the same advantage when successful, my aspiration to serve the state in the capacity of the Governor remains on course;

6. This statement would not have been necessary but not for the misrepresentation in media which may create a negative impression about my person and the reputation God has helped me to build these number of years in public service;

7. My supporters and those sympathetic to my cause should please note that we are as resolute as ever in our desire to give our people purposeful leadership in the office of the Governor come 2023.
God’s Amazing Grace has always seen us through and will always see us through.

Onofiok Akpan Luke

Pastor Umo Eno is Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Lands And Water Resources with a Master Degree in Political Science from the University of Uyo and currently on his Ph.D in Public Administration.

He is an alumnus of Pan African University’s Lagos Business School with 35 years of experience in banking, marketing, management and hospitality and a Fellow, Nigerian Catering and Hotel Institute.

Pastor Eno is the founder of Royalty Hotels and Recreation Limited, Eket, a group with diversified interest in beverages, industrial catering, apartments and coffee shop; creating direct employment for people across the country.

He is a pastor at All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, a nondenominational Church where he oversees the Bridge of Hope, an arm of the Ministry that offers free medical services to host community.

As one who is passionate about raising young entrepreneurs, he set up "The Gathering" a nonprofit making initiative that convenes IGNITE; a global platform for knowledge-based empowerment, training and entrepreneurial skills development of youths for entrepreneurship and self sufficiency.

Pastor Eno is the chairman, BOT, Akwa Ibom Business Community among other appointments including the Chairman, Akwa Ibom Hotels and Tourism Board from 2004 to 2007.

He is a two Star Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary Club of Eket, District 9140 and has received several awards for his public spirited life, among them the National Productivity Award, Icon of Hope Award by The Apostolic Church, Nigeria; Special Recognition Award by the Nigeria Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State.

In October 1, 2019 he resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Royalty Group with six subsidiaries, having put in place a seamless succession plan, to accept an appointment with the State Government as Executive Director, Agricultural Investment, AKICORP.

Eno, a good social mixer who believes in hard work, integrity and strong character, is the author of "Wealth Creation, God’s Way, Break Forth, Exercising Your Dominion Mandate, Dream Again" "The Legacy of a Father and True Friendship."

© Harrison Essien
January 2022

As the build up to the 2023 General Elections intensifies, Governor Udom Emmanuel has called for prayers for a peaceful transition and enthronement of a succeeding leadership that will sustain the trend of God's blessings in Akwa Ibom State.

The Governor, speaking during a Sunday worship service at God's House of Refuge, Uyo, thanked the Church for their sincere support and prayers for the state government and called for more of such prayers as the transition season draws closer.

These, he acknowledged, have accounted for his administration's success, stressing that it was God's command for the Church to acknowledge the Government as an institution of God and to uphold people in authority by their prayers.

He said, "today was not an outing, I just came here to worship and I needed where I can hear the word of God without political sentiments, because now people have left what they should teach to use the pulpit to predict 2023.

"What God has called us to do is to pray for leaders and I believe the church here does what God has asked us to do. It is not easy to lead, especially when you want to render selfless service"

According to the Governor, anxiety in times of transition of government has always been and is expected but expressed confidence that God always has a way of choosing according to his purpose and furnishing his chosen with what is required to fulfill the purpose, irrespective of man's spelt out credentials.

"This is a critical year. We need more prayers for peaceful transition; prayers for God to open the eyes of people to know that who God want may not be who man wants.

"Right from the days of King David, see 1st Kings, when it is time to handover, there will always be noise and some kind of commotion, even David's children rose against him, but that didn't change the will of God and I want to assure you such will not change the will of God especially for this state.

"So I pray that God will help us and we also need a lot of prayers from the church"

He however assured that despite the hassles and noise in the political atmosphere, his government will continue undistracted and undeterred in working for the people of the state in line with the mandate and trust of the people.

"I want to reassure you that we came to serve and we're serving with all amount of sincerity and selflessness to the best of our ability and what God wants us to do

In his sermon series on "Making the Best of 2022", the Senior Pastor of God's House of Refuge, Ezekiel Atang, dwelled on the subhead, "Go for the Blessing", culled from Genesis 14:18-23.

The man of God stressed that getting God's blessing outweighs material riches, as riches could just be an aspect of what the blessing conveys, coupled with the peace, favour and general wellness it offers.

He therefore outlined obedience to God, honour to parents, donating to the poor and God's priests as ways to attract the blessing.


Media Unit
Govt House, Uyo
30/01/22

Nigeria's Senate President Ahmad Lawan has again commended Governor Udom Emmanuel’s sterling leadership qualities which has brought massive developments in Akwa Ibom State.


The Senate President, spoke when he joined Governor Emmanuel and other dignitaries on Saturday to inaugurate a 1.3km Ifa Ikot Akpan Road, Etoi, and a Multipurpose Recreational Complex, initiated and completed by Senator Bassey Albert in Uyo.


Senator Lawan said despite belonging to different political platforms, he was happy to attest to the good leadership attributes of the state Governor.

"Governor Udom Emmanuel has placed the interest of the nation as a top priority, and he is a partner of development in the country."

The Senate President described the Multi-purpose Recreational Complex as a project with dual capacity that will provide physical fitness and mental development, and called on the people of the state to take advantage of it numerous advantages.

Senator Lawan also extolled the leadership qualities of Senator Bassey Albert as a pace setter, a man of vision and a patriotic leader who puts the interest of his constituents first.

He recalled a bill co-sponsored by Senator Bassey Albert to amend the deep offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract which became a law, adding that his performance in the senate demonstrates exemplary attributes of a passionate leader.

"I am pleased to be here, for me this is homecoming. We are here to thank God for what our colleague Senator Bassey Albert Akpan has achieved here for the people of his senatorial district.

"This multipurpose complex is not only for sports, but for education and learning as well, what we have here is both physical fitness and mental development.

"I want to add that the people of this senatorial district and the State should take advantage of it.

“For us in the senate it is our constituency first, because you voted for us, and you voted for Sen. Bassey Albert and I am so proud of him”.


Governor Udom Emmanuel in his remarks joined Senator Bassey Albert in thanking God for making the projects executed by Senator Bassey Albert come to fruition to the benefit of Akwa Ibom people, adding that the multipurpose Recreational Complex will serve as an alternative for tourists to relax in the state.

The governor who described the project as befitting the purpose prayed God for peace, tranquility and development and urged the people to take advantage of the project and also safeguard it for posterity.

“I want to thank God for the multipurpose recreational complex has been dedicated to God and I want to join my voice in saying that this place shall be for peace, tranquility and development of our people’’.

The Senator Representing Akwa Ibom North-East, Senator Bassey Albert, in his thanksgiving and appreciation to God reflected on God’s mercies upon his life, stating that he is a man God has shown mercy throughout his life.

Senator Albert stated that the project was designed to meet the needs of the people in the state, adding that 30 pioneer students will be presented certificates from the ICT center, among others benefits to be derived from the multi-purpose complex.

‘’There is nothing as good as thanking God in the presence of the congregation of believers, to thank the only God that has been there for you from the beginning and most especially if you find a man that God has helped.

"I am one man that God has helped. Where you are going to commission today seats on 3-hectares of land with a standard football field, ICT center to drill people on digital proficiency and we will present certificates to first 30 graduands who benefited from the International Certified Training’’, the Senator noted.


Media Unit
Govt House, Uyo
29/01/22

Member representing Etinan /Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency Mr Onofiok Luke has commended former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Arc Obong Victor Attah for laying the foundation for Akwa Ibom State for successive governors to build on when the nation returned to democratic rule. Luke stated this at the the second edition of Akwa Ibom Business and Leadership Summit organised by Community Stakeholders for Social Good held at the Ibom E-Library in Uyo on Friday.

Delivering a Keynote paper on the topic; RESTORING CITIZENS COURAGE IN A DEMOCRACY, Luke recounted the legacies of Obong Attah that had prepared Akwa Ibom State for what it has become today. He said former governor knew that to attract any investor or tourist to Akwa Ibom State, the three gateways( water, road and air) had to be developed and he laid the groundwork for the airport, Ibom Deep Seaport and road infrastructure.

"I commend our father Arc. Obong Victor Attah, for laying the foundation for the economic renaissance of Akwa Ibom State. He saw the vision that for our State situated on the periphery of the nation, people would not naturally come here except for strong business interests, so he conceived the Airport with a MRO, the seaport and the University of Science and Technology. I'm happy that the succeeding administration led by His Excellency Godswill Akpabio built on that foundation and we had the first flight land in Akwa Ibom State. Today, Governor Udom Emmanuel, has built on those legacies especially with our delight airline, The Ibom Air. We must continue to put in place leadership that will build on these legacies", Luke said.





However the lawmaker admitted that our democracy is experiencing a crisis of confidence from the citizenry as they only hear the sounds of democracy in every election cycle but feel let down immediately after the ballot is counted.

"The task of the restoration of the citizens courage is for all of us and we must understand that it will be impossible to deepen democracy or expect good governance if we give up on the important task of subjecting power wielders to scrutiny for those who expect to reap the blessings of a harvest must undergo the fatigues of planting and weeding",

"The challenges of today require young minds to provide the solutions. And of course the next Governor must be able to sustain the legacy of His Excellency just as he sustained those of his predecessors"



"Sometimes all it requires is a little clear thinking. Which is why must continue to gather like this to think out solutions to our socioeconomic challenges. It's a model close to my heart",

"To seek to restore trust and courage of the people in the power they wield, one who seeks to lead must be in touch with the people, live in their world, understand their dreams, hopes and aspirations in order to proffer solutions that will meet their needs", Luke said.


Luke concluded; "the public is entitled to expect from its servants a set of standards far above the morals of the marketplace as those who exercise public and political power are trustees of the hopes and aspirations of the citizens but while we acknowledge the difficulty in trusting the process, it would be morally unacceptable, however, to give up on the project of restoring trust on the grounds that its too hard but the difficult task of restoring political trust is inextricably entwined with the tasks of critically reflecting on our own behaviour as leaders in our communities, choosing the best of us to lead us and offering our support as community stakeholders towards significant reforms to our social and economic policies as well as electoral systems".

The event witnessed a panel discussion on the theme: Working Together, Restoring Trust, Rebuilding a Sustainable Community. The discussants were Justice Ifiok Ukannna, Mr Usoro Usoro, Mrs Queen-Esther Anyanwu, Mrs Claire Somiari Jaja, CSP Francis Osagie Erhabor and Mr Ahmed Mustapha .



Media Office
Etinan/ Nsit Ibom /Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency.

28/01/2022

Aspirants in the just concluded gubernatorial primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have been admonished to marry their differences and work together for the victory of the party in the state.

Akwa Ibom State Governor and head of the 5-man PDP primary election committee in Ekiti State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, gave the admonition while fielding questions with Government House correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, upon his return from the assignment.

He thanked the National Chairman and the National Working Committee of PDP for an opportunity to serve the party, describing it as a privilege he cannot take for granted.

Expressing satisfaction with the integrity and conduct of the primary election, Governor Emmanuel described the exercise as transparent, fair and credible.

He called on all participants in the contest to acknowledge the supremacy of the party and pull forces together to grab victory in the impending general election as one party.

"I think personally, I'm satisfied that the process was credible and I also believe almost 100% of the people that watched it will give us credit that it was a very credible, transparent, free and fair election. My advice is, let all of them go back and work together.

"We have only one seat and only one person can occupy that seat. If after all what the party did at the NWC to accommodate all aspirants, the people then spoke and said this is the person we want to bear the flag of the party, I think all others should just join hands and work together.

"Party is supreme, let the party win then they can all sit down and talk".

Mr. Emmanuel described as false and speculative, insinuations of unfair treatment and disenfranchisement of some aspirants, maintaining that the process was void of malpractices and created no room for expression of ill behaviours that would have given grounds to discredit the exercise.

According to him, such insinuations were indications of pre-perceived defeat. He maintained that the committee had an authentic list from the National Working Committee which it followed religiously, stressing that no single person voted wfen he was not accredited and that there was none accredited that was not allowed to vote.

"I've heard a whole lot; how some aspirants even before the process started, went to the press.

"I think they knew the outcome before we went into the election.

"Some of them came to make trouble but by the time they saw that there was no room for such trouble they knew there's no way they could have made it", Emmanuel stated.

"All the aspirants gave us a very excellent mark for all the processes, from accreditation to voting, to sorting, to counting, even to declaration of result. Even after that we gave them opportunity to speak of they were satisfied. We also had to make sure one of the international TV stations beamed it live so everybody could see the processes" he added.

The Akwa Ibom Governor therefore cautioned the public to be cautious of politicians who promote violence as means to grab power and sued for peaceful politicking towards the 2023 polls.

"As we go into 2023, people will give peace a chance. If you want to serve the people, you can't serve the people with a gun. Whoever carries a gun to serve is not going to serve the people but himself.

"If you want to serve the people and you don't want peace, there is an undertone we don't know. I think we need to unravel that and question your real intensions."

The Ekiti PDP Guber primaries which was keenly contested by twelve apirants had Hon. Bisi Kolawale emerging as winner with 671, edging out his immediate runner up, Segun Oni, who scored 330.

Bisi Kolawale is a former member of the National Assembly 2007-2011, and also served as Environment Commissioner in former Governor Ayo Fayose's administration.

Media Unit
Govt House, Uyo
28/01/22

...warns against blackmail, political thuggery, cultism

Personal Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Media, Rev. Richard Peters has tasked students in higher institutions of learning to get involved in macro politics as their participation can bring about governmental reforms and development in the State.


Peters stated this yesterday during the Students Summit and inauguration ceremony organized by the Uyo Students Association, Akwa Ibom State University(AKSU) at the Uyo Local Government Council Hall, Uyo.


Peters, who spoke on the theme: "The Role Of Students In Macro Politics", emphasized that from time immemorial till now, students have been at the forefront of the struggle for effective leadership in different climes and still play critical roles in the selection processes of leaders, who governed them.


He noted that participation in macro politics will go a long way to give them a broader view of life and happenings.

"By taking part in macro politics, student groups often mobilize to protest, petition, or lobby for political change. Students play a vital role in government reforms. By your participation in macro politics, you can drive governmental reforms and development in the State.

"Instead of developing a narrow outlook on life, participating in macro politics will give a student a broad view of life and happenings. This knowledge will help guide your decisions in politics.

The Governor's aide advised the students against to desist from indulging in blackmail, cultism, political thuggery during their involvement in macro politics.

"Students must avoid blackmail, insulting elders, involving in cultism and political thuggery to impress their preferred candidate for personal aggrandizement. Never risk your life in the name of being active in macro politics. Do not allow yourself to be used for destruction of lives and properties, the person using you will never use his child."

"Students must resist creating rivalry among themselves which will sow the seeds of unrest and discontent among them. Supporting a political ideology or candidate should not create unnecessary division among students. Student must strive for building unity and shaping their careers whether it is in politics or any other fields.


He urged the students to develop themselves, expose themselves to new ideas, develop positive and healthy attitudes, and build trust in public/private engagements if they are aspiring to lead the people in the future.

In his remarks, Elder Ndanti Ekuh, SA to the Governor Research and Documentation charged the Students to cultivate a right thinking attitide towards their educational pursuit and serve as mirrors to the society at large. "Students should be able to advocate for good governance, to inform the government on its bad policies and development deficit. Students in entirety should serves as a mirror to the society reflecting good governance in an effort to achieve an ideal Democratic setting that dwells within the periphery of Government of the People, by the People and for the People". Ekuh Stated.

In her inaugural speech, the newly sworn in president, Comrade Udeme Archibong enjoined Uyo Students in Akwa Ibom State University to come together in unison and build a formidable student community.

Other speakers at the event included: Vice chairman Uyo local government area, Hon. Pst. Sylvia Ekong FCAI; Leader Uyo 7th Legislative Council, Hon Ubong Effiong; Honourable councilor representing Etoi ward 5, Hon. Mkpoikanke Dominic; Immediate Past Special Assistant to the Former Chairman on Student Matters, Comr. Mike Ekott.

The Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga has commended the engineers of Nsik Engineering Company Limited, one of the contractors in charge of road construction projects in Oruk Anam Local Government Area for what he described as ‘commendable progress’ in the level of work done.

Professor Ibanga made the remark in Ikot Ibritam, Oruk Anam LGA on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, when he paid an unannounced inspection visit to the area.


Impressed by what he saw, the commissioner said “there is an obvious difference and commendable progress made between our last visits in September and November, and now”. Adding that there is hope that before the next rainy season, most parts of the road must have been asphalted and readied for road users.


Received by the Managing Director of Nsik Engineering Company Limited, Mr. Nsikan Effiong Johnny, the Commissioner and his entourage traversed the length and breadth of Oruk Anam Local Government Area to ascertain the level of adherence to instructions and orders issued during his earlier visits.

In his response to various questions and enquiries, the MD of Nsik Engineering Company, Mr. Nsikan Johnny told the commissioner that since the end of the rains, his company had fully mobilized both manpower and equipment to the sites, adding that he has the needed capacity to get the job completed.

He said “sir, we did not even know that you were coming today. As you can see all our attention is focused on delivering this job. We have different teams working at different sections of the road, and this place we are standing on will be asphalted in the next few days. Next time you come here you will again notice significant improvement”.

Mr. Johnny further seized the occasion to applaud Governor Udom Emmanuel for trusting local contractors in the state. He pledged that his company will deliver the jobs in his kitty to specifications and global standard.

The Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga has commended contractors handling road construction projects in Oruk Anam Local Government Area for what he described as ‘commendable progress’ made by the level of work done.

Professor Ibanga made the remark in Ikot Ibritam, Oruk Anam, yesterday, when he paid an unannounced inspection visit to the area.


Impressed by what he saw, the Commissioner said “there is an obvious difference and commendable progress made between our last visits in September and November, and now”. Adding that there is hope that before the next rainy season, most parts of the road must have been asphalted and readied for road users.


Received by the Managing Director of Nsik Engineering Company Limited, Mr. Nsikan Effiong Johnny and Engineers of Amitech Engineering Limited, the Commissioner and his entourage traversed the length and breadth of Oruk Anam Local Government Area to ascertain the level of adherence to instructions and orders issued during his earlier visits.

In his response to various questions and enquiries, the MD of Nsik Engineering Company told the commissioner that since the end of the rains, his company had fully mobilized both manpower and equipment to the sites.

In his words, “sir, we did not even know that you were coming today. As you can see all our attention is focused on delivering this job. We have different teams working at different sections of the road, and this place we are standing on will be asphalted in the next few days. Next time you come here you will again notice significant improvement”.


Professor Ibanga however urged the contractors in charge of constructing bridges in the area to double their efforts.

Today’s event being the 1st Inaugural ceremony /Award.

Grassroots Mass mobilizers (GMM) strategically important theme of “Youth and Governance Development”. I totally agree with the focus on the youth and their role in national development. Given the multiple leadership challenges that are currently overwhelming the managers of statecraft; challenges that are rapidly destabilizing and subverting the nation’s foundational political, economic, geopolitical and moral core let us, at least, prepare the upcoming ones for a better and more promising future. In this vein also to encourage them to make a concerted effort in avoiding facing to a future time whose zeitgeist is bound to be bleak unless they solemnly and determinedly rise to the occasion today.

Establishing a nexus between the Youth and the Imperatives of Good Governance and Sustainable National Development- my very modest refunctioning of the event’s thematic trajectory- and prescribing a pathway for the youth to better fulfill their role of taking over from a generation already embarrassed by its underwhelming encounter with history, is the simple task that I understand my assignment to be. I shall attempt to lare bare the facts of national circumstances as I see and know them; and to examine them with fidelity to truth and commonsense on the expectation and hope that both we and the Nigerian youth will find some of my postulations useful however impassioned they may appear.


The Akwa Ibom spheres are awash with visible and hidden intimations of generational leadership failings; facts and realities that bear no esoteric hue and that do not require the understanding and interpretation of experts and professionals of various callings. The failures of our time may translate into the complete failed status of the nation state if we fail to do the needful. The first malady describes the incompetence and indolence of a sizable proportion of the governing elite; the second, the confluence of expanding ungoverned spaces, multiplying levels of criminalities, new and old, dysfunctional and disarticulated economic sub-structures, mass poverty and youth unemployment as well as the unraveling of the nation’s fragile sectarian and ethno-cultural core, all tragically coming together in a historical time such as is heavily upon us now.

The fact remains: the nation handed over to us by the founding fathers has not fared any better; its historicist spirit is waning; the sense of nationness and national belonging are evaporating like as insolent mirage; while the vicious cycle of underdevelopment- across several frontiers- confronting us today derives essentially from bad governance and leadership deficits. In a sense therefore, while it was right for the radical Afrocentric scholar like Walter Rodney to declare with historical fidelity and moral authority about how Europe underdeveloped Africa, for me the testament of contemporary era is nothing but how poor, unaccountable and visionless leadership underdeveloped Nigeria.

GOOD GOVERNANCE


To me therefore Good governance, Leadership and National development are intertwined. To understand a nation’s underdevelopment, simply take a closer look at the level of good governance at play and the leadership driving it. Exceptional Leadership (positive leadership) and Toxic Leadership (negative leadership) account for development and underdevelopment of any nation. Histories of nations are essentially stories of men and women who have led them, how they led them, how the masses responded to them and the indelible positive and negative marks and imprints that they left as legacies.

Toxic leadership, which is the kind of leadership that leaves a place worse than it met it, for example, can only set a nation or an organization backward while exceptional leadership will do exactly the opposite. So, if our nation Nigeria has been retrogressing in quantum leaps and bounds to the point that all the basic justifications for the establishment of government have all been eroded and outsourced back to the citizens at their own peril and cost, it goes without saying that Nigeria has been saddled with toxic leadership more than exceptional leadership over time. That was exactly why the provisions of most basic social amenities, especially electricity, now appear more like rocket science to Nigerian governments.

Permit me delve into Good governance a bit, which I believe is key to unlocking the understanding of national development. Good governance results in national development, so to understand the latter, you need to take your bearing from the former. Good governance is the process while National development is the end product. Though subjective to a considerable extent, Good governance is not an abstract concept or construct. Good governance are the processes and interrelated procedures through which government institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.
The benefits of good governance are reflected in all institutions that demonstrate Integrity in appointments at all levels, both external and internal, and strong leadership and management skills in all of the places where they are needed. These institutional qualities are performance, adaptability, and stability while the principal governance principles are participation/inclusion, non-discrimination/equality and rule of law/accountability.

The indicators of good governance are basically:
• Voice, empowerment of civic spaces and accountability.
• Political stability and absence of violence.
• Government effectiveness.
• Regulatory quality.
• Rule of law.
• Control of corruption

I need to emphasize why government accountability is important and can only be ignored to the peril of any given polity. Accountability is important in evaluating the on-going effectiveness of public officials or bodies and ensures that they are performing to their full potential, providing value for money, instilling confidence in the governed, being responsive to the community and seen to be increasing citizens participation in fostering good governance processes. Good Governance and Democracy are interchangeable in mutual affinity.

Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and follows the rule of law. Good governance is responsive to the present and future needs of a country, exercises prudence in policy-setting and decision-making, and in the context in which the best interests of all citizens and critical stakeholders are taken into account.

Here are some of the elements of good governance in a democracy without which national development is not possible.

Number one factor is Rule of Law. Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced by an impartial regulatory body, for the full protection of citizens and stakeholders. The quintessence of the principle of separation of powers as advanced by the French philosopher Montesquieu, does not permit that the 3 arms of government on presidential democracy will be concentrated in an individual or in a single arm. Otherwise it becomes a dictatorship or fascism. Or, at best an oligarchy. Question is: can we say that rule of law obtains in today’s Nigeria? You know the answer better than I do. Let me warn that while a military dictatorship is deplorable and is constantly called out and resisted, an illiberal authoritarian order that masquerades as a democracy is as dangerous as it for the simple reason that the world would not hold it complicit in the erosion of civil liberties and human rights.


Responsiveness is yet another factor. Good governance requires that organizations and their processes are designed to serve the best interests of citizens within a reasonable timeframe. We can then ask: even with Servicom Act in operation, which government institutions are really working optimally for the satisfaction of citizens, ranging from the security agencies to the service sector?

Good governance also requires wide consultations to understand the different interests of stakeholders in order to reach a broad consensus of what is in the best interest of the entire stakeholders and citizens, and how this can be achieved in a sustainable and prudent manner. In a democracy, a responsive government does not draw up a programme such as RUGA and shove it down the throat of citizens without proper and intense broad based, all-stakeholders consultation. Such a programme, no matter how laudable the intent might be, will be resisted by broad segments of the population as is the case with the RUGA programme.





Building Akwa Ibom Youth Into National Development.

National development is profoundly intertwined with democracy and democracy is about participation. Participation by both men and women, young and old, either directly or through legitimate representatives, is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation needs to be informed and organized, including freedom of expression and assiduous concern for the best interests of the organization and society in general. In Nigeria free and fair election is still a forlorn dream and each successive election seems to be worse than the one preceding it rather than an improvement.

The 2019 General elections have not inspired confidence that Nigerian democracy is deepening organically and gaining root, from the messy, fraudulent primary elections in the major parties to the outright theft of people’s mandates in the charade that went by the name of general elections. The EU, IRI and NDI observation missions reports attest to this shabby reality.

From the gamut of factors, some issues stand out as the main yardsticks for measuring Good Governance and National development. To Improve Governance and enhance National development, we just have to work on those factors.

Basically and specifically, National development refers to the ability of the nation to improve the lives of its citizens. Some of the measures are increase in gross domestic product, improving literacy rates, improving medical facilities, etc. Development, on its own, is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change or the addition of physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic components to the positive transformation of society.

An economy in which jobs are not being created is not developing or growing. That is why the objectives of national development is economic development, which in essence is improving the material standards of living by raising the absolute level of per capita income. Raising per capita income is also a stated objective of policy of the governments of all developing countries, including Nigeria. Economist Michael Todaro specifies the critical objectives of development: Life sustaining goods and services; that is to increase the availability and widen the distribution of basic life-sustaining goods such as food, shelter, health and protection.

Let it also be known that the most important attribute of national development is Income per capita. The ultimate aim of development is not only to create more wealth or achieve higher economic growth, it is also to expand the range of choices for every human being. The extent to which a country has developed may be assessed by considering a range of narrow and broad indicators, including per capita income, life expectancy, education, and the extent of poverty.

With Nigeria today adjudged the poverty capital of the world, rightly or wrongly; with North East Nigeria adjudged by United Nations agency as the concentration of world’s most illiterate populations; and with Nigeria also adjudged to be hosting the highest number of out of school children in the world, national growth and development is still far from what we expect and what it ought to be!

Truly, if we consider Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI), which is the statistic composite indicator that is used to rank the levels of development among countries and its classifications into three components, namely, life expectancy at birth and throughout a lifetime life, and Standard of living (GDP/GNI per capita), you will agree that our rating may not be far from the truth. The term national development is therefore very comprehensive. It includes all aspects of the life of an individual and the nation. It is holistic in approach. It is a process of reconstruction and development in various dimensions of a nation and development of individuals.

It includes full-growth and expansion of our industries, agriculture, education, social, religious and cultural institutions. Moreover, national development implies development of a nation as a whole. It can be best defined as the all-round and balanced development of different aspects and facets of the nation viz. political, economic, social, cultural, scientific and material. This is precisely why John Vaizey, a noted economist defines national development as the total effect of all citizen forces and addition to the stock of physical, human resources, knowledge and skill. United Nations Decade Report equally defines it as growth plus change which in turn is social and cultural as well as economic and qualitative as well as quantitative.

Broadly, development of the nation encapsulates the above functional parameters which Nigerian youths must understand, appreciate and apply in their individual and collective involvement in the life, times and destiny of the nation, both in this era they are currently marginalized and in a future time they are told they must lead:
(i) Development through a planned national economy,
(ii) Increase in agricultural production through application of modern technical know-how,
(iii) harnessing industrial production,
(iv) Development of human resource,
(v) Application of science and technology in production sector,
Provision of mass education and
(vii) Provision of various facilities to meet the needs and aspirations of disadvantaged, deprived and poorest of the poor segments of population.

These are the some of the problems of national development, which the Nigerian youth need to grapple with:.



There are significant points of intersections between the Nigerian youth and our prevailing discourse on good governance and the imperatives of national development. I will be examining them briefly now to properly contextualize the promise place and promise of the younger generation in a political geography significantly undermined

All my constructs above on good governance and national development will be meaningless unless the assets, endowments and environmental realities of the youth are factored in. The political and economic survival of any nation relies on its ability to cope with the challenges of the 21st century and these are to be seen in the areas of new media/ social media, artificial intelligence, robotics and ICT driven new knowledge systems. These are areas of endeavour the promise and possibility of the Generation X converge; that is a dynamic and increasingly complex youth generation with its technical acumen and technological savviness. To what extent, if I may ask, are the operators of the Nigerian political and corporate crafts aware of this reality and coherently planning for mainstreaming the youth into its challenging domain?

The Nigerian existing and exploding youth bulge is a paradox in pushing the contours of good governance and national development deep into the 21st century and beyond. The youth bulge is not only a Nigerian challenge but also an African reality. It can herald and channel the promise and possibility of the current and future times for greater positive national political and economic transformation or it may be the engine that will accelerate the dissolution of the nation if not well managed, and here I speak terms of youth unemployment, poor educational systems and curricular that adversely affect their employability apart from out of school and poorly educated youth, and acute lack of political and economic opportunities and social and cultural access

What are the drivers of youth restiveness, militancy, extremist agitation, political thuggery, organized criminalities and formation of criminal gangs, and cross border terrorism?- because if the truth must be told, over 90% of those involved in the above listed activities are Nigerian youth. Why are Nigerian and other youth easy recruits for the Boko Haram, violent cross border herdsmen, Niger Delta militants, IPOB, OPC, YOLICOM and other separatist agitational groups? And how far Nigerian youth help in further expanding, strengthening and consolidating the new frontiers of good governance and national development given the above negative societal headwinds and the generational headwinds

On the salutary side, I consider the Not Too Young To Run as a breakout legislative moment for the political empowerment of the Nigerian youth and the beginning of the long journey that will see Nigerian youth mainstreamed and strategically centered into the nation’s good governance and national development calculus. A strategic approach, all- stakeholder approach is thus required in building on that legislative accomplishment to create more youth access to political power, political inclusion, participation in a youth friendly operating political space, and the secure presence of youth in both political and corporate governance of the nation state

As a corollary of the above I want to underscore the fact that the youths of Akwa Ibom state has a huge role to play in growing the nation’s civic spaces and re drawing its corporate governance model to be more aligned to the complex knowledge formation and utilization systems of the 21st century which I pointed out above. They can do this through structures that help in empowering visions, deepening social and cultural dialogues, enabling inter-generational conversations, opposing oppressive conditions and bad governance, engaging in sustainable networking that grow businesses and start up industries, and of course participating in global citizenship enterprises from politics to economics and from culture to civic spaces responsibilities.

It is equally imperative for me to interrogate the prism through which the Nigerian youth is viewed going by my discourse on good governance and national development. Is it from the prism of moral decadence and multiplying layers of social and other vices, internet fraud which reflect the moral decrepitude of the elite, or from the prism of outstanding successes of Nigerian youth at home and abroad in fields as far flung as literature and creative writing where Nigeria is currently leading the entire globe, winning educational competitions, growing startup businesses into global brands and spectacular competences on education and corporate engineering. For the sake of the future survival of the nation, I want to use this forum to compel our national vision in the direction of the LATTER and not the FORMER prism, to impel ideas that incubate and affirm that vision and adopt uncommon creative approaches for the realization of the promise and possibility of the Nigerian youth, and through that to guarantee the survival and future viability of the Akwa Ibom state.

The Acting Rector of Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic, IBB Uyo, Dr. Victor Effiong Williams has posited that the institution which was then College of Petroleum Technology in the last couple of years has produced the largest number of skilled workers in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, through City and Guilds of London Institute, thereby adding value to the economic and technological sector of the country.

Dr. Williams said the College of Petroleum Technology was birthed to solve critical and major unemployment issues of the country, especially in Niger Delta region of then. It aimed at reducing the burden of youths queing up for white collar jobs even when such are not easy to come by and to meaningfully engage the teaming youths intellectually, technologically, technically and skillfully on what is productive in different fields of endeavours.

All this was revealed while interacting with news men in Uyo recently. He said that Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic formally established as College of Petroleum Technology, Uyo, was established in 2001 and it was the first academic based Petroleum College in Nigeria with the aim and purpose of being a quick response to the youth restiveness in Nigeria. He noted that youth unemployment used to cause road blocks, Pipeline vandalism, kidnapping of expertrates among other issues in the Niger Delta region where the youths stood up and revolted on the grounds that that they were not included in the employment quota of the oil and gas sector..

The Acting Rector pointed out that in recent times even the blind can see that the government cannot do everything for her people hence; the people should think of what to do for the government. He added that it's the responsibility of all and sundry country to join hands with the leaders to correct some inadequacies and proffer solutions to most of the lingering issues in the society most especially the issue of unemployment in Nigeria.

"This particular issue of non-inclusion of youths in the oil and gas sector by then was purely not a government problem, it was for people like us to critically look at it and come out with solutions. The core cause of the whole restiveness was because the aggrieved youths never had the kind of qualification that was needed in the oil and gas sector. Consequently we came up with a blueprint of that we could do to give the right training to our youths and ,of course , this was adopted by government.
In a sense, College of Petroleum Technology was birthed as a result of that."

Explaining and giving reasons why the College of Petroleum Technology was birthed, Dr. Victor Effiong Williams stated that the oil and gas companies in Nigeria were not looking for high profiled persons with weighty certificates in the industry, rather they were looking out for specialized skills that were relevant in the oil and gas industry which the youths did not acquire.

"We started the College because we looked at the fact that oil and gas industries were not looking for a academically high profiled men in the industry but they were looking for specialized skills that were relevant in the industry. As a matter of fact, our youths did not possess those skills. They had Doctorate degrees, Master degrees, BSc in diversed fields but they never had a skill that supported those qualifications which could give them employment in the oil and gas industry.

"Although College of Petroleum Technology has metamorphossed into a viable Polytechnic, we are happy to say that so far, that College had boosted indigenous participation in the oil industry, today, we proud to say that Akwa Ibom has the largest number of skilled workers in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria courtesy of College" He maintened

In another disclosure, he said:

"There was a gap we needed to f fill for people who couldn’t have access to oil and gas industries and that was why we went for a franchise with British Council in order to have City and Guilds of London Institute that does not certify our products only in oils and gas sector but engineering, healthcare, Petroleum ProcessTechnology and many others." He added.

"Today, we are now Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic; the goodnews is that we still carry along the oil and gas schools with us but we are looking at something greater than that. It is worrisome knowing that most institutions have produced graduates that are still jobless in the streets because of lack of specialized skills added to certificates."

"The government policy on Polytechnic education is supposed to be 60% practicals and 40% theory, while University are 60% theory and 40% practicals. But the Polytechnic today, I would not say that they have failed but I think we are bent on making Polytechnic education blend with what it should be. In order words, every graduate can come out to be self employed and employer of labour".

He affirmed that Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic is poised to award an academic diploma and a specialized skilled qualification to qualified students who are found competent in both character, learning and skill.

"This institution is known for breaking fresh grounds in Nigeria. We started the first private College of Petroleum in Akwa Ibom State and today we are the first institution to start awarding skilled based certification in specialized areas."

"We came on a mission not for monetary gain but to change the narrative of educational system in Nigeria and contribute to human development in the country." He maintained.

Dr. Victor Williams noted that Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic is currently running three Schools (Faculties), School of Engineering, School of Sciences and School of Management Sciences with five departments, Electrical Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Statistics, Accountancy and Computer Science which are approved and accredited by National Board For Technical Education (NBTE) adding that the institution is opened for multiple skill training beyond these five areas. In addition to existing skill departments like Fashion and Designs, Welding and Fabrication, Hairdressing and paint making, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with some skill based organisations to train our students on some other viable skills.

"The core values of Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic is to align with the guidelines of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to promote vocational education which they hold in high esteem.

"Entrepreneurship should be taught by entrepreneurs. Ibom Metropolitan Polytechnic conducted the first Induction for the first set of entrepreneurship students which was our commitment when a student had completed his/her education and acquire the National Diploma, he/she should also have a specialized skill certificate along with the National Diploma. This vocational skill certificate is a proof of what they can do with hands.

He however commended His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State for making the state education and industrial friendly through the peace and security enjoyed within the nooks and crannies of Akwa Ibom State which have given the institution a leveled ground to operate without any breach of peace..

Speaking further, Dr. Victor Williams hinted that the institution is very strict in making sure no form of unauthorized or cladestine group manifests within Polytechnic community. While stressing that any students found indulging in cult related activities shall not evade appropriate sanctioning within the armbit of law including arrest, detention and prosecution

In conclusion ,he expressed all amount of convictions that with the right education in place Nigeria would navigate from developing status to a developed one and therefore urge all facilitators of education to enter that entrepreneurship is being made concrete across different schools.

Theme: Building Bridges Across Generations Of Students Leaders.


The future of any country depends upon its students. A country’s name and fame rest on the educated youth. In other words, the students are the real treasure of any country. If the power of young men or students is directed to constructive purposes, the whole nation will move to all round development. This responsibility has increased immensely with the dawn of independence. An eminent educationist has rightly said, “Give me the children and I will change the nation.” A nation can make progress only when it gets the co-operation form all its citizens. So it is essential that students must know about their duties.


James Iniama further buttress the importance of building bridges across all our educational institutions in Akwa Ibom state.

Overcoming the divide will require collective accountability and a coordinated approach to achieving systemic change. To build a bridge that seamlessly supports student transfers, of knowledge where the institutions must think carefully about how they broker strategic discussions, nurture and explore new partnerships, and make changes that improve the University learning environment.

James Iniama stressed on the importance of giving Students the right mechanism that will effectively promotes and enhance building bridges.
The state of a nation is a reflection of its leadership. Leaders shape and mould their societies in the form they want, and determine the course of events in their countries. The height attained by a nation is determined by its leaders. Similarly, the depth to which a country sinks is a function of its leadership. The success recorded by any society or country is dependent on the kind of leadership it has at a point in time. Therefore, the fate of a nation hangs on its leadership. Great nations, just like great organizations, don’t just happen; they are made. Every great nation or organisation is a product of great leadership. Every thriving nation today has been led consistently over a period of time by a group of selfless leaders. So, the situation of Nigeria today is a pointer to the quality of leadership it has experienced.

...Shun cultism, imbibe good morals – Ime Bishop (Okon Lagos) to students

In a bid to ensure a more conducive and productive society, Dr. Abia Dan-Abia , a renowned medical doctor has commenced an ethical and attitudinal reorientation outreach across secondary schools in his home town, Esit Eket Local government Area. The outreach which began in Christian Secondary school, Akpautong, Esit Eket LGA has attracted applause from locals who described it as a timely step towards the right direction.

The Esit Eket born Medic who is the current Chief Medical Director, Dan Abia Specialist Hospital, in his opening remarks noted that the outreach was inspired by his love for the youth and humanity at large and also the need for proper sensitisation of the students who are the future leaders and it chiefly entails creation of awareness about issues  spanning across career choices , morals, ethics and self/talent discovery.

In an exhaustive health talk to the Students ,he lectured them on the need to maintain the necessary COVID protocols, noting that a new variant of COVID-19 known as the OMICRON has been discovered and it is a time for them to embrace safety measures and stay protected by the use of facemasks, washing of hands and social distancing even in an enclosed condition of learning.

He further advised the students to take their time and pay attention to their area of strength which will help them to make great career choices, as well as record success which will give them the opportunity to give back to the society and impact humanity just as he has.

Speaking on morals, ethics and self/talent discovery, the ace Nollywood star, Ime "Bishop" Umoh popularly known as Okon Lagos, talked about the importance of upholding a positive attitude and imbibing good morals in the society, pointing out that most students are dragged into undesirable situations through bad company which he advised them to keep away from and eschew cultism which will only create a negative stint and hinder them from pursuing and achieving a bright future.

Highlighting his rise to fame in the industry, he advised them to be open to the journey of self discovery which is the surest way of discovering their talents, while encouraging them to face the challenges of life just like he did and become successful future leaders to the benefit of their immediate society.  

The high point of the outreach was the distribution of writing materials which included pen, books, pencils and erasers  to the students. Also in the list of items given out were facemasks which were distributed to the staff of the school.

According to the Russian trained doctor, the writing materials distributed will accentuate massive participation in learning process which in turn will curtail the cases of students not partaking in active study with the excuse of lacking writing materials.

The students and staff who were super excited to benefit from such benevolence from Dr. Abia and his team, gave appreciation for the opportunity well utilised.

Speaking on behalf of the staff, the Principal of Christian Secondary School, Akpautong, Esit Eket LGA,Mr Ekong A. expressed overwhelming Joy that Dr. Dan Abia has held onto good legacies synonymous with true Esit Eket sons, describing him as a humanitarian who is worthy of emulation. He thanked Abia for his magnanimity towards his people , noting that, with one at a time, a lot can be achieved to improve the quality of education in the community.

Present at the outreach was the immediate past Leader of Esit Eket Legislative Council, Hon. Dan Akpe, members of the outreach team , friends and well wishers.

Governor Udom Emmanuel has said that understanding the role of a wife as a helper in marriage accounts for a harmonious relationship and success of every couple.

A woman who neglects her primary role of being a helpmate to the husband, can never be appreciated and celebrated.

Governor Emmanuel made these known, Sunday evening, at the 50th birthday celebration of Mrs. Anne Enoidem, wife of Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP and National Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement (MPM), at their Shelter Afrique residence in Uyo.

The governor who acknowledged God's faithfulness in the family of Barr. and Mrs. Enoidem, noted that for a couple to succeed the wife must understand her role as a supportive partner who will complement her husband in order to achieve fulfilment.

Describing Mrs. Anne Enoidem as a virtuous woman and a dependable partner, the governor pointed out that Mrs. Enoidem has been a stabilizer in her marriage especially the support she has given her husband through thick and thin.

"I want to appreciate all those who turned up for this event and also thank Mrs. Enoidem, I have listened so well, if a woman is not a good woman, the husband won’t call us to gather no matter what.

"For him to call us it means that she has been a good woman and I pray that she will continue to be a good woman.

"If you are a man and you must have someone who can pull the back of your shirt when you are in trouble, there must be somebody to pull the back of your shirt without attracting any legal consequence. At times as a man you can overreact, and that person must be there to pull you back.

"If you see a couple succeeding it means a woman also understands her role, a lot of women don’t know that you are first a helper before a wife, God first of all made for a man a helper before she became a wife as recorded in the Bible.

"What will make a good wife like this for us to celebrate is for that wife to know that it is not every aspect in a man’s life that he needs help, so don’t help him when he does not need help because that is where there is always a problem help him at the point he needs help”.

In his remarks, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, described his wife Anne Enoidem as a major inspiration, source of joy, adviser and a dependable woman he married in 1994.

Barr. Enoidem thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel and his wife Mrs. Martha Emmanuel for joining them in their celebration, pledging to continue to support and identify with the governor in his succession plan.

Celebrating her golden age, Mrs. Anne Enoidem, thanked God for sustaining her family through 23 years of marriage and her 50th birthday in good health.

“I want to thank God for my life, like I wrote earlier God parts the sea that I might walk in it, what I meant there is, upon what we have been through especially when issues of life seem like swallowing us up God, parts the sea and we pass through it.

"I have come to say God thank you for keeping me and my family, my husband, my lovely children”.

High point of the event was cutting of the 50th Birthday cake which was anchored, by Member Representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika, in the House of Representatives Mr. Aniekan Umanah, followed by presentation of gifts to the celebrator by friends of the celebrator under the aegis of Sisters for Life, while the celebrator and husband led dignitaries to the dance floor.


MEDIA UNIT
GOVT HOUSE,UYO
AKWA IBOM STATE
29/11/21

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has been honoured at the 2021 African Regional Awards in Rwanda as one of the Inspiring Individuals in Africa in 2021.

The colourful award ceremony which took place at the Radiddon Blu Hotel and Convention Center, Kigali in Rwanda on Saturday was part of the 3rd edition of The Africa Regional Journal (TARJ) Forum and Trade Fair which seeks to promote made in Africa products and services and honour distinguished achievers and personalities in Africa.


In their messages at the occasion, title sponsors for the event, the African Regional Journal and second title sponsors, M&C Global said the African Regional Awards seeks to recognize exceptional individuals who have considerably contributed, through business development and investment, to development in Africa.

They maintained that Governor Emmanuel and other selected African leaders have used their positions and power to impact positive change on the continent.

It would be recalled that Governor Emmanuel few days ago facilitated a deal which will land an additional ten A220 Airbus to the fleet of Ibom Air to raise the total number of the aircrafts to 17.

Udom’s aviation industry revolution, which comes with an ongoing new smart terminal building project, completion of the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul facility at the airport has complemented the 20 new industries that envelop the landscape of the state since the advent of his administration in 2015.


Governor Emmanuel's people centered leadership model has accounted for the critical infrastructural expansion programme, industrialization, health, agriculture and education sectors' reforms, which are gaining the attention of the global community.

The Akwa Ibom Governor is also credited with charting a course for peace in the Southern oil rich state of Nigeria, making it very a smooth investment hub and an emerging destination in the Gulf of Guinea.

Other awardees at the event included Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, DG World Trade Center, Mr Andriy Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, Prof PLO Lumumba renowned as Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission as well as Egyptian football star Mohammed Salah and others.


Media Unit
Govt House, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State
28/11/21

... As Contractors Commend Governor Udom Emmanuel on Adequate Funding of Projects

Aniedi Ukoenang

Worried by the inability of contractors handling various road projects across the state to work at an expected pace commensurate with the level of funding at their disposal, the commissioner for works and fire service, Professor Eno Ibanga has urged road project contractors to device means of continuing their projects despite the protracted downpour that has obstructed construction work across the state for many months now.

This was the outcome of a meeting between the contractors and management staff of the ministry of works and fire service which took place at the Secretariat Annex, otherwise known as Dakkada Secretariat, Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo.

In his address at the meeting with the contractors, Professor Eno Ibanga said that the meeting was convened due to his observations during his recent visit to project sites across the state. He remarked that some of the contractors have shown commitment, ingenuity, and strict adherence to professional ethos in handling the projects, while others were not doing well at all.

"Since the last release of funds that we released to over 90% of contractors across the state, I have visited a number of project sites, most of you have done well while some of you are not trying at all. I know that most of you still have a lot of money left, I doubt if there is any contractor in this state that has not been well mobilized as of today, if there is anyone, it means you have issues with your IPC.
“So we called this meeting to see if there are issues you have that the ministry can help you solve those issues, either concerning your project sites or funding or any matter at all that has an impact on your project, that is why we are here".

Speaking further, Professor Eno Ibanga who is the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University told the contractors that the billions of naira released to them recently cannot be allowed to lay idle because of their complaints about perennial rains that have obstructed the progress of work across the state, he charged the contractors to device some means and good work plan that could enable them to continue with their work on-site despite the unfavorable weather.

In his words, "The State Government is in high spirit to deliver projects and give succor to the people of the state, that is why funds were massively released, personally, I want us to exit a lot of the project sites, so we must devise a means to ensure that work goes on despite the rains that have refused to stop. We cannot keep waiting for the rain. Some of you have more than one project site, if you have done some work at a particular site to a level that you cannot continue because of the rains, move to another site that you can do things that you can do despite rainfall as against waiting for when there will be dryness for weeks before you can work. I do not want a situation that the funds we released are not well utilized because of rains, arrange a project management system that will enhance you to function optimally despite the weather".

Earlier in his opening remarks at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry of works and fire service, Engr. John Itiat welcomed the attendees to the meeting, he said that the meeting was convened due to the need to ensure that both the contractors and the Ministry are on the same page concerning various ongoing projects across the state. He encouraged attendees at the meeting to be open and ready to interact with the Commissioner and his team for the best interest of the people of the state.

Also speaking on some technical issues, the Director of Civil Engineering, Engr. Akaninyene Henry expressed his concern over the conduct of some contractors. He reminded the attendees of some standard technical practice and urged them to adhere strictly to procedures of work.

Engr. Henry warned the contractors against progressing to the different levels of works without applying for and receiving written approval from the ministry after inspection. "A situation that you progress from one stage of the work to another without writing to use to come and inspect and give approval is not acceptable. All of us know that the standard practice is that when you finish a particular stage of the work, you must invite the client to come and inspect then give approval before you proceed to another level of work. Please let us work according to world best practices.

“Another issue is that of testing. Always ensure that you carry out the various tests and provide us with the results so that we insert them into your file in the ministry. This is very important because if anything happens to that project tomorrow, the test can be referred to and the cause of the problem can be detected" he said.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, Senator Ibok Essien thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for his commitment to the funding of projects across the state, he pledged on behalf of the contractors that they will redouble their effort at the project site as instructed by the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service.

Speaking further Ibok Essien thanked the Commissioner for his leadership at the ministry of works, he said “the fact that this meeting lasted for as brief as only one hour is an indication that the government and the ministry is doing well, as the commissioner rightly noted, the first meeting we had lasted over three hours because there were so many issues that the contractors raised as a result of the challenges that the contractors were facing, but today, no one even complained not even about funding because all that had been done. Let us just pray for favourable weather.

“I want to send a very big thank you to the Governor on behalf of the contractors; he has done very well for the contractors in terms of facilitating funds to execute the project. In fact someone like me I had given up that I will not go back to that site. But with the special intervention of the new leadership in this ministry, I am very glad to go back to the site and I know, that is what is happening to many of these contractors, and I give special thanks to the government and by extension the leadership of this ministry including the permanent secretary and directors”.

Speaking further, Engr. Ibok Essien encouraged his colleagues to ensure quality in their project execution. “Someone like me I take pleasure to drive around the state because I have no other state to go, we must build roads in such a way that we do not go back to those roads for maintenance or reconstruction so soon. Like the director had said, testing is very important to the work we do. There are some jobs I did for this state in 1988 and 1989, each time I drive past those places I feel glad that my work is still very useful. That is my appeal to all of us that we do projects that years to come we shall be proud of those projects”.

Other contractors that spoke applauded the Governor and commissioner for their commitments to the funding of projects, they vowed to deliver quality jobs immediately the weather becomes favourable to road construction.

by Ubong S.

Agriculture is at the center of the Nigerian economy, providing the main source of livelihood for many of her citizens. Agriculture, before the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria, was the mainstay of the country's economy. Sadly, the presence of oil and the wealth it brought, largely distracted the attention of government from this sector, and despite the rising need and urges for government to return its attention to agriculture by way of diversifying the economy, very little has been done in this regard.

Research claims Nigeria’s small farms produce about 80 percent of its total food, and 33 percent of the country's land space is under cultivation for this purpose. Despite leading Africa in farming, owing to its highest levels of productivity and profitability in this sector, the country has failed to utilise its potentials in Agriculture towards achieving maximum economic advantage.

Somehow, however, this sector, at present, is mostly invested into by private individuals, most of whom are doing so at the subsistence level. The few investments at the commercial level are in the northern region of the country. Agreed, this region is naturally favoured by its large land mass. But be that as it may, the southern part of the country is not entirely underfavoured by nature as regards the availability of land space for large scale farming, as recent engagements by the GOAL Project with some consultants who are professionals in the economic and agricultural fields have revealed that the problem with southern Nigeria and agriculture is more of lack of investors than availablity of land space.

With a near future interest in leading Akwa Ibom– one of the southern states, the GOAL Project had set out on a research towards possibly finding out why the southern region is not competing (at least [near]) equally with the northern side in agriculture, and this led the Project to interfacing with a few renowned professionals and stakeholders in the sector. And while the subsistence and commercial levels were used to separate both regions, it was explained further that the southern region lacks high stake investors to boost its agricultural sector.

A simple analysis led to the understanding that not much of the land spaces in the southern region are being utilised for farming purpose, as the occupational farmers only make use of personal lands which are owned in-between in smaller partitions, and not enough to accommodate mechanization. Besides, the cost of mechanized farming would not be profitable for a farmer whose land space is not large enough to yield such harvests that will cover such cost. Also, accessing funds such as loans, is more of an onerous task for such small scale farmers.

In one of its moments of brainstorming on these challenges and ways to tackle same in Akwa Ibom, the GOAL Project came to the thought that leading the next administration, agriculture can be made the next focus area for government in the state. Commendably, the present administration had come to take a focus in industrialisation. This has led the state to a certain level of progress that the GOAL Project thinks is light years ahead of majority of the citizens, and hopefully, as these industries thrive, investing towards a revolution in agriculture, the Project believes, is one of the easiest way towards bridging this conspicuous gap, as it will build the citizens into owning investments that will becoming direct feeders of the industries. Let's get deeper.

Few years back, while shoprite was rumoured to be concluding plans to set up an outlet in the state, Onofiok Luke— carrier of the GOAL vision had feared for the capital flight this development will spell for the state. His point was simply that the state did not have the SMEs to feed this famously large outlet— a sad reality that will force the outlet to the option of exporting its feeds, while the state will remain its market.

A little later, there was news from the present administration on efforts to attract a tomato processing industry to the state. This was another fear for capital flight, as the state, even presently, does not have enough tomato farms to feed such an industry. While praying the government of the day succeeds in attracting the tomato interest investment to the state before exiting the stage, the GOAL Project thinks the presence of the aforementioned investment in the state would raise the need to encourage committed farmers with provision of land space and funds to try tomato farming in the large scale, so as to ensure no part of the raw feeds for the expected industry is imported.

For a little practical analysis... the Project has noted the consistency and steady progress made by some indigenous investors in this sector, namely, Ime Uwah's Eni Farms, Ubokutom Nya led AKFIPCA farms, among others. These indigenous hands, the GOAL Project thinks, its administration can partner by collapsing the larger land spaces in the interiors of the state for them, and getting them into the commitment of not just growing such cash crops like cassava, rice, etc., but also attaching interest farmers to them for more practical knowledge and experience, and by way of building a succession chain. While awaiting this to yield, private investors can be drawn in to set up commercial large processing plants for these crops. For instance, having modern rice mills in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket for commercial purpose will in the long term serve rice farmers in the areas and others nearby. Having more rice farmers and actively operational mills that can process large quantities per time, can guarantee availability of rice in the market, hence reducing importation and the cost implications of same on the final consumers.

Enter cassava. The cassava flakes commonly known as garri is gradually becoming an expensive food and beyond the affordability of the common man. GOAL thinks its administration can crash the price of this staple food if its plan towards agricultural revolution as illustrated above yields in terms of causing excess supply of cassava in the market, while encouraging other sets of investors into large scale garri production.

With a population of over seven million, Akwa Ibom state can in a few years afford to produce up to 500 farmers whose commitment would see them growing in the longer term into large scale and economy feeding commercial farmers and consequently becoming high stake holders in the agric sector. And the number can only be on the increase, as the attractive nature of success will likely motivate more interests.

Driving through the interiors of the state, one would easily notice the abundance of oil palm trees. Most of these plants have been left untapped for years and the lands underutilised, while the price of palm oil in the market has almost trippled within the last few years. If Liberia as a nation can run an economy largely funded by oil palm, producing over 42,000 tons annually for its export trade, the GOAL Project believes Akwa Ibom as a state can, at least, use same to improve its human capital development. Aside Liberia, other countries have developed their agric sector to such progress level of having it largely fund their annual budgets. Somalia for instance, has been feeding through large scale banana and sugarcane cultivation. Brazil on its part, is the largest exporter of coffee, sugarcane, soybeans, vegetables, among others. China has fifty percent of its workforce depending on agriculture, and records large turnovers from such farm crops as rice, wheat, millets, potatoes, cotton, etc. The country is even predicted to be a top exporter of farm products in the next decade. Also, with a 20,000-hectare pineapple plantation in the Philippines and 700,000-ton processing capacity, the Philippine Packing Corporation (PHILPACK) operates the world’s largest fully-integrated pineapple operation, with a turnover that largely funds the country's annual budgets. The company still takes pride in its long heritage of 90 years of pineapple growing and processing, while boasting of a workforce that enjoys one of the most attractive compensation and benefit packages granted to agro-industrial workers in the country. For instance, plantation regular workers live with their families in company-provided houses with free electricity and 24-hour running supply of potable water

Ending. Figuring and committing to a future that spells gloom for crude oil, Akwa Ibom can develop its natural resources and potentials in this sector to its economic advantage. And while this writer longs to share more and more insights on this, the fear of entirely exposing the plans of man who seeks the mandate, sadly, would not permit. So while waiting for the vision career to make his choice of time to mount the stage and lead Akwa Ibom people into his vision in details, this piece was just to appetize your minds in expectation for the next man equipped with workable plans, waiting to hit the ground running when the leadership mantle eventually falls on him.


*Ubong Sampson* _(08021419939) writes from Isoko South, Delta State._

....advocates bringing justice closer to the people

.... reiterates the establishment of Court of Appeal

The Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Mr Onofiok Luke has restated the commitment of the 9th House of Representatives to reforms in the nation's judiciary during the 2022 budget defence held at the National Assembly complex today.

Luke, in his opening address, said that the Committee is taking some legislative actions that will foster the development and independence of the judiciary. He added that House is considering reviewing the salaries and wages of judicial officers for better performance. He called for the cooperation of stakeholders involved in this regard.

The lawmaker also appealed for justice to be brought closer to the people through establishment of courts. According to him; 'There is need to establish courts in places that have none so as to bring justice closer to the people'. He insisted that Akwa Ibom State deserves Court of Appeal, Uyo Judicial Division, given the volume of cases that emanate from the court.



'The Judiciary functions as a refuge for all and sundry. It is incumbent on all of us to work to protect its independence and sanctity. The fact that one is in power today should not make the person forget that he or she will need the Judiciary for protection especially when out of power. Everyone has a day in court', Luke said.


The Executive Secretary National Judicial Council (NJC), Ahmed Gambo Saleh, thanked the Committee for its continued support to the Judiciary. He stated that the judiciary has accessed over 80% of the funds allocated to it. He however stated that the exchange rate has impacted on the performance of Judiciary.

The committee was appreciated for the cooperation with the judiciary and how constant advocacy for better welfare for judicial officers and increase in statutory transfer to NJC.

Present to defend their budgets were all judicial institutions under the jurisdictional competence of the Committee including the National Judicial Council, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court, the National Industrial Court, and the National Judicial Institute.


Media Office
Etinan /Nsit Ibom /Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency.

17/11/2021

By Ubong S.

Every government goes into power with a minus...so because it would have to make policies, take decisions and actions that will likely open up rooms for criticisms. As natural as this appears, the level of minus a government goes to power with, however, depends on how much it was prepared for the task of governance before taking up same.

Good leadership does not happen by accident. There must be a trace of preparation somewhere which the leader had consciously and unconsciously been through, in line with the demands of the times their reign is to last. These preparatory experiences help the leader set and achieve those desired goals, and with ease.

For a young law undergraduate who had felt hurrying into wealth at the expense of students he was elected to lead and serve, was not a right path to thread, that may have been an unconscious preparatory leadership test, especially considering that the ordinary eyes could not have pictured him in any future in leadership. That masterclass trial, today, stands as why this (now grown) man habitually and characteristically finds himself always on the side of the people, even in a present position of supposed comfort.

While I can bet that he had no pre-idea about what eventually came to confront him then as a student union leader and may not have been prepared for it, this man within the period I have known him, has always taken the business of preparation very seriously, especially where and when there is a public office in sight. Deeply soaked in the stress of campaigns to win elections, yet, never forgets to prepare himself for the office he seeks. His reason? He would rather lose the chance to serve than get to disappoint the expectations of the electorates when given one. Hence, while the admiring public might, today, be seeing a man who is delivering in his national assembly mandate, this writer is rather seeing one who may not have been able to deliver as good as he is doing, if he did not make some of the preparations the writer knows him to have made, even in the heat of campaigning to win the mandate.

As he— Onofiok Luke is being seen today, just like the rest of his co-contenders, consulting and making convincing statements to serve the state as governor from 2023, the concern of this writer is more on how much he, as usual, is preparing for the office ahead. And this piece seeks to analyse his GOALs in the light of the education sector.

First, the GOAL Project, having served under and/or understudied previous administrations in the state, is well equipped with a clear picture of every plan each of them had for the sector, as well as the ones they were able and not able to achieve. And as much as its creative mind and ability to conceive fresh ideas are very active, the Project understands that being a continuum, consolidation remains a more effective approach to achieving sustainable goals in governance.

The GOAL Project is aware of efforts by past and present administrations in keeping the 1401 public primary, technical and secondary schools in the state afloat in the right academic standard required to equip every Akwa Ibom child passing through them with the right foundational knowledge to compete with contemporaries from the over 895 privately owned ones and even others outside the state, when advancing into respective professional fields. At the point of assuming office, the Project would have understood the level to which the present administration has been able to progress the efforts, as well as how best to take off in progressing it further.

Also, recent research by the GOAL Project has shown that the enrollment of Akwa Ibom children in public schools has tripled to a million and a half, since the introduction of the free and compulsory education by the immediate past administration. This has created extra funding burden for government and with this knowledge, the Project is already aware of the possibility of more increase. Hence, the future of this initiative cannot be seen at risk under the GOAL administration because it would have already been prepared for the challenge, and cannot be overwhelmed by such burden to the point of discontinuing the programme.

Also, one of the notable achievements of the present administration is the setting up of ICT laboratories in public secondary schools. This is more commendable when considering the rapidity of the speed at which technology is revolving and driving the world. GOAL understands that the need to have our children earlier exposed to technology cannot be overstressed. This informs the Project's plan to consolidate on this and ensure this early exposure spreads to schools in the deepest of interiors in the state, so as to bridge the knowledge and exposure gap between Akwa Ibom students in the urban and rural settings.

The GOAL Project also notes in commendation, efforts of the present administration in encouraging the teachers of these children through at least, prompt payment of salaries. Having in past and recent times, expressed that his passion and sentiments for teachers are rooted in the fact that he was conceived, birthed and raised by one, Onofiok Luke has over the years been caught in advocacies for improved welfare for teachers through better packages and incentives to boost their passion in the business of imparting knowledge. This apparently informs why intermittent training programmes for teachers to upgrade and update their skills will top the list of the Project's GOALs for the sector.

Also driven by this sentiment, GOAL had, on a few occasions, suggested that the state's institution for training teachers— Akwa Ibom State College of Education, should be affiliated to conventional degree awarding institutions such as the state owned university, AKSU, for trained teachers to be awarded with degrees upon graduation, rather than the outdating NCE. This is so to tackle the discrimination the college graduates face when having to contend with education graduates from universities for job roles.

Again, the education sector in the state seems to have been running in some kind of consolidation since the advent of democracy in 1999. First, it was Obong Victor Attah despising the way Akwa Ibom children were being sent out to offer maid services. Well, whatever were his solution plans may have been challenged by the lean resources. He had shoved them aside and by the time he was done fighting the resource battles, his time was up. Good enough, the next man, miraculously, bought into same vision. With resources available, he initiated and effected the free education and as well, made same compulsory, so as to leave parents with no excuses to prefer their wards as maids, rather than in school. The present administration, here and so far run, has done its part in consolidating, spitting the economic challenges that accompanied him into office. Noting this strong consolidation, the 2023 Project is emerging with GOALs to advance this course. GOAL is of the belief that to make the products of this free and compulsory education initiative competent contenders in the wider world, moreso a rapidly changing one influenced by technological innovations, they should be encouraged and funded to undertake target studies in their pursuit for tertiary education.

Take this for instance. While the state has been hoping and praying for the full actualisation of the deep seaport, GOAL had long been drumming on the need to have Akwa Ibom indigenes not relegated to the background of opportunities the seaport is expected to present. The drummings, for example, have been, among other suggestions, asking Akwa Ibom law graduates and undergraduates to seek specialty in maritime law. This writer understands the goldmine lawyers, notably in Lagos state, have made and still making out of this, and he hopes the reader does too.

Ending, while the GOAL Project is still observing for its adjudged right time to step forth and lead Akwa Ibomites into more details of its preparatory plans for the leadership phase ahead, the people can, by this piece, have a glimpse of it, and also the freedom to feel satisfied that there is at least one among the contenders, preparing to assume power with a lesser minus.



Ubong Sampson (08021419939) writes from Atabarikang, in Akwa Ibom state.

By David David

Dr. Uduak Onofiok Luke, wife of the Member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency Rt. Hon.(Barr.) Onofiok Luke may not have gone the pop way to celebrate her 40th birthday in Uyo, rather she chose to give back to members of the society by awarding scholarship to the best graduating student of her almamater-Union Secondary School as well as give financial support to FIDA, NAWOJ and NSE.

At De Angelo hotel in Uyo, Uduak Luke, in an emotion-laden voice recalled how God has been good to her and her family members, and attributed her achievements in life to God's mercy.

The University lecturer hailed her husband Barr. Onofiok Luke for being her unshakable pillar of support and a good adviser.

She also commended the first lady, Dr. Martha Emmanuel for living by example and assisting the less privileged in the society.

Speaking, the celebrant's friend Mrs. Inemesit Enobong Uwah described Dr. Uduak Luke as a friend in need and indeed.

Mrs. Uwah confirmed that Uduak Luke has been inspiration to many women in the society, and urged others to join the celebrant contribute to their different almamaters.

“Uduak Luke is a friend in need and indeed. She understands me very well. She has been an inspiration to many. She goes all out to assist ladies. We have a lot to do for our Almamata.” Inemesit Uwah said.

Reacting to the gesture, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Mrs. Uduak Ekong applauded Dr. Uduak Luke for the support, adding that the assistance will go a long way to further the planned training for female journalists.

In her words, the chairman, International Federation of Women Lawyers in Nigeria (FIDA) Akwa Ibom chapter, Barr. Emem Ette, appreciated the celebrant for choosing to support FIDA.

She revealed that the support will go a long way to feed children within their care.

“FIDA is not an association but God's heart. We are not talking about women but our children on the streets. We must work together to protect them.”

The State Secretary, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Godwin Evans Udofia thanked Mrs. Uduak Luke for the support.

He explained that Dr. Uduak Luke is the first individual to assist NES in Akwa Ibom State.

The highpoint of the brief ceremony was cutting of cake donated to the celebrant by NAWOJ.

By Edidiong Udobia

For Walter Pitkin and a legion of his like-minds, life begins at forty - a time, presumably, when life becomes better, maybe because of acquisition of skills, experiences, and means necessary for an enjoyable life. But this can be argued. In fact, another perception has been formed about becoming 40. This time, 40 is when you look back to imagine how far you have gone just because you had the benefit of learning from other people's experiences. Going through the process of life can be less trying and more exciting if you're diligent and humble enough to leverage the wisdom of others who have gone far ahead.

Dr Uduak Luke, the wife of the member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Onofiok Luke, is 40 today. Born on November 9, 1981, Mrs Uduak is the eldest from a family of four children. Her story of becoming 40 is laced with humour and lifelong lessons, with tints of courage and self-determination but wrapped in humility and absolute faith in God. When Mrs Luke got admission into the University of Uyo, to study Biochemistry for her first degree, her late mum, Mrs Cecelia Akpan Udo Akpan also got admission into the same university to study Law. “It might interest you to know that when I started year one, my mother also started year one,” she revealed. Watching her mum (who already had other degrees in the bag) fulfil a lifelong long dream of having a law degree, despite her age, was a huge inspiration for Uduak.

“She didn't know what she was doing to me at the time, but my mum happened to be one woman who showed me tenacity. In the face of everything, if she had to accomplish a goal, she would go for it. She unconsciously instilled that belief in me that there is nothing I set my mind on, that I wouldn't achieve,” the soft-speaking mother of four recalled. “She finally graduated, but unfortunately, she didn't get to practice the Law before she passed away.”

Being born into a Godly family where she was introduced to God early, counts as one of the most exciting things about Mrs Luke's growing up. That experience has been helpful all through her journey in life, especially when she has had to face really challenging situations and circumstances. She is a woman whose faith is deeply rooted in God. “40 years ago, was when God chose to bring me into the world to fulfil purpose, and that I am still here today by the grace of God means that He still has purpose for me.”

Going through the process, a major turning point for Dr Uduak, was getting married to her husband, Onofiok Luke in 2008. A lot changed. While the new chapter accelerated her growth in life in one hand, it ushered in new challenges. On one hand, her husband's leadership gifting rubbed off on her, which among other things, helped her in discovering her own leadership purpose. On the other hand, it was a clash of character traits for her. Coming from a very reserved background to sharing the life of a public-oriented man like Onofiok Luke, came with its unique challenges. As she jokingly said, “I used to think that I'm an introvert until I married my husband”.

13 years on, Mrs Uduak looks back with gratitude to her husband for being her biggest supporter and inspiration. She is grateful for the opportunity of once being the president, Legislators' Wives Association (LEWA), Akwa Ibom State, as wife of the Speaker. A privilege, she said, broadened her scope of leadership. As LEWA President, Mrs Luke had over three years experience in women leadership, but most memorably for her, was closely learning the art of humility, and patience from Her Excellency, Martha Udom Emmanuel. Again, being married to Mr Luke, inspired Uduak to become a leadership expert, and among accomplishments, she is a proud member of John Maxwell School of Leadership.

“I'm married to a husband, who, even if he didn't have a basic education, naturally has a very high intelligence quotient. Woe betide you if you're married to a man like that you feel that you can just sitdown, fold your hands and look at him. He will outgrow you,” she revealed.

As an environmental toxicologist, Mrs Luke is an ardent advocate for a safe and healthy environment. For her, the fight against climate change begins with individuals being deliberate about protecting the environment. From calculating the carbon credits in our individual homes, to taking steps to reduce carbon emissions, she believes that a safe environment begins with individual efforts. “Consciously or unconsciously, you and I are contributing to degrading the environment and we think that there are no negative effects, there are. Take for instance, there are too many diseases that doctors are diagnosing these days, that sometimes, they run out names to give them. It's because of the activities we are all carrying out,” she said. “So, as environmental biochemists, we create the awareness for people to do the little they can to ensure that we have an earth that we can continue to inhabit.”

At 40, Dr Udauk Luke has reached a remarkable educational attainment. Presently, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry (University of Uyo), Masters degree in Clinical Biochemistry (University of Calabar) and Doctorate in Environmental Toxicology Biochemistry ( University of Calabar). She is a member of several professional bodies such as the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NSBMB); Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD); Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ); American Chemical Society (ACS), etc.

She is an ardent believer in mentorship, and for her, it is one of the surest ways of propelling one's journey in life. “If you have the opportunity of learning from other people's experiences, you will not have to go through the same experience yourself, and that can help you go faster in life,” she noted. “I have had the privilege of learning from the experience of others and it has helped me go through the process”. But she's looking forward to more years of The Process.

Happy 40th birthday, Ma'am!

By Edidiong Udobia

Between February 2016 and April 2018, I had the privilege of serving as Press Secretary to the then Member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency in Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Hon Otobong Ndem. The job had its highs and lows. There were the “wow’’, the “awwn’’ and the “hian’’ moments. There were times the job would want to make me feel like the world was my footstool, and there were other times I felt like the beast of burden. After more than two years on the job, I had seen enough that there is hardly anything strange to me about image making as far as Akwa Ibom State is concerned. However, as a professional, there are lines I could not and would never cross. I had shared a little of that experience in my memoir, “A Tougher Test: Juggling Politics, Media and Character’’.

About a week ago, I shared a link of my report on the current Mkpat Enin debacle in a WhatsApp group, and a certain individual made a profane comment to the story. To paraphrase his words: “Now that the Chairman has won, all these sponsored journalists will hide their face in shame’’. I made findings and I discovered that the individual is a keen loyalist of the chairman. I can only recall having such adrenaline rush twice in my career. The first was in the build-up to the 2019 NUJ election, when a supporter of the then Commissioner for Information told me that I was too insignificant in journalism to say that “a whole commissioner’’ will not produce the state chairman of NUJ. I simply told him to go and wait for my response after the election. The second time was when a Joseph Okon, an SA to the Governor, tried to drag me into the silly infighting in the government. I responded accordingly in both instances.

That comment by a loyalist of the chairman changed the scope of my involvement in the case. It is preposterous to trash-talk anybody with such audacity when you're defending criminality. We might not be an ideal politically upright society, but our situation has not gotten so hopeless that evil should dare to stampede goodwill with such effrontery. Nobody can genuinely contest the fact that the chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Mr Aniekpon Ekpo is culpable in the allegations leveled against him. The evidence are indisputable. However, if for any reason, the powers that be decide to give the embattled chairman a “soft pedal’’ (whatever it means), Mr Ekpo's legion of calamitous loyalists must be made to understand that it is not a triumph of evil over good, or a victory for corruption against agitation for transparency and good governance, but only a temporary relief for impunity.

It is crystal clear that the common definition of image management in Akwa Ibom is “massive attack...massive defence’’. But herds-media will not always win. It will never take the place of strategic engagement in perception management. The overreliance on mob media in the name of showing loyalty is detrimental to the dynamism of image making. The hallelujah boys who had trumpeted the chairman into many of the problems he is facing today, later resorted to slandering those who demanded for transparency and accountability in the council, but now that the curtain is up, a mere humming of truth has disharmonized the symphony of Aniekpon's orchestra. Parading a cult of ragtag internet supporters does not translate to having the intellectual powerhouse needed to manage a political crisis like this.

It's okay to support and defend one's boss, principal or political benefactor with zeal, but being overzealous will almost always backfire. On Wednesday, September 29, 2021, the member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Ekwere held his mid-term constituency briefing where the who's who in the state politics attended. However, the chairman of Mkpat Enin, Mr Aniekpon Ekpo did not attend the event, which prompted the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aniekan Bassey to politely express his displeasure. Barely days after, an aide to the local government chairman came online to tell the Speaker to apologize to the chairman over his remarks at the constituency briefing. Clearly, the boys perfectly learnt the art of arrogance and insolence from their oga.

At a meeting last week, hosted by the state commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof Eno Ibanga with Aniekpon Ekpo and the 10 councillors who initiated the petition in attendance, Mr Ibanga kept hammering on the damages that Aniekpon's overzealous supporters have caused to the case with their inciting, provoking and boastful remarks in public space. In very plain terms, he was asked to tell his supporters and loyalists to refrain from making unguarded utterances on the case because they were doing him (Aniekpon) more harm than good. If he acted on the advice or not, is yet unknown. What is public knowledge is that the revelations from the ongoing investigation by the House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are too appalling for any logical defence to be made on Aniekpon's behalf. So whether his loyalists choose to continue in their massive attack or switch to massive defence, it will all amount to complete foolishness.

True loyalty is founded on principles and rooted in good conscience. It is not a melody from a choir so a million gram of praise singing cannot equate to an ounce of true loyalty. It is unfortunate that Aniekpon had to learn his lesson the hard way. But it would even be more unfortunate if public office holders in the State fail to see the Aniekpon experience as a wake up call. There is a thick line between citizens expressing their honest opinions on public matters and loyalists deliberately making injurious, defamatory, or disrespectful comments against others in the name of proving loyalty to their “leader’’. Once that line is crossed, the unwritten law of politics permits the sins of the followers to be visited on the leader.

By the way, this is just a side comment on loyalists and trash-talking. The conversation on #MkpatEninPeopleVsThePeopleOfMkpatEnin will continue after this brief time-out: Dori me, Interimo ayapare, dorime. Ameno, ameno. Latire, latiremo. Dori me.

…Condemns raid on residence of Justice Mary Peter-Odili

…Advocate abolition of parading of suspects in media by security agencies

Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Mr Onofiok Luke has commended the Center for Socio-Legal Studies( CSLS) for spearheading the amendments to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 (ACJA). Delivering his remark as the Chairman at the opening ceremony of the Expert Review Meeting on the proposed amendment to ACJA organised by CSLS in Abuja, Luke said the passion and interest in finding lasting solutions to the perennial problems facing criminal justice system 2015 was laudable.

He stated that the goals of the meeting are in line with the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila who is committed to justice sector reform through strategic legislative exercises including bills, motions and stakeholders engagements.

"We consider the Centre and other stakeholders with genuine interest in the betterment of our justice system as partners and co-travellers"

"On our part, the Committee on Judiciary has worked towards the goals of improving our justice system, ensuring speedy dispensation of justice, giving Nigerian citizens and residents greater access to justice, protecting the integrity of our court, canvassing for reasonable funding of the judiciary and better welfare for judicial officers", Luke said.

In a related development, the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, condemned the siege by security agents on the resident of Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. According him, “very troubling about the incident is the fact that the major law enforcement agencies including the Office of the Attorney General have all denied having a hand in the siege. Further adding insult to the injury is the flimsy grounds of ‘illegal activities’ which the application for the warrant was founded on"

"The unfortunate incident makes our today’s meeting more timeous and telling because it provides us with the opportunity of reforming the process of application and issuance of search warrant in order to weed out abuse in the process", he added.

Also the lawmaker advocated the abolition of parading of suspects in media by security agencies. He said it will go in sync with judicial thinking that the exercise is unlawful.

The expert review meeting had in attendance Hon. Justice A. J. Kutigi, Hon. Justice O. A. Adeniyi both of the FCT High Court, Prof. Yemi Akinseye- George, SAN , President of CSLS, Dr A. F. Afolayan of the Nigerian Law School, Mrs Bamidele Akinseye-George, Executive Director of CSLS, A. T. Kehinde, SAN and others.

Media Office
Etina /Nsit Ibom /Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency.

01/11/2021

Akwa Ibom State Government has expressed its readiness to partner an American-based Company, Hucha Technologies Incorporated to Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) businesses in areas of Fabrication Technology, Mining and Wealth creation in the State. 


The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel made this known, when he played host to a delegation of Hucha Technologies Company during a courtesy visit on him at Government House, Uyo.


The Governor who stated that the One-stop Shop Committee for investment of the State Government would facilitate the ease of doing business in the State, assured Hucha Technologies of a conducive business environment, maintaining that his administration is poised to creating wealth and engaging youths through meaningful entrepreneurial ventures as a way of curtailing restiveness and other vices in the State.


Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Governor Emmanuel hinted that with the approval from the Federal Government to operate the Ibom Deep Seaport project, Hucha Technologies will be accommodated at the Ibom Industrial City to partner in the development of the State through the BOT arrangement.


“…You can go and tell Hucha Technologies that Akwa Ibom State is ready to partner with you in the development of the State, when your leader arrives the country, the Governor of the State will host him alongside full-fledge technical presentation incorporating all the questions that have been raised, starting from an executive summary of the totality of what you do, the antecedents, footprints and projects of this nature that falls into the three areas of Financial Technology, Fabrication Technology, Mining and Mineral Exploration.


“Be rest assured here we don’t tolerate corruption, we want you to ensure that you will develop the state and develop the people, because once the State is developed the insecurity which has to do with unhappiness of people will be checked and the people will have what to give back to the society rather than hit back at the society. So we are ready, the Sea port project which is about to be developed is part of the industrial City, you are already in good hands and safe location,so be rest- assured that this location will meet your requirements”, he assured.


Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation and President, Hucha Technologies, Guy Djoken, thanked Akwa Ibom State Government for accepting to partner the company to bring innovations in the areas of Financial Technology, Fabrication Technology and Mining into the State.


Djoken said Hucha Technologies seeks to partner the state by harnessing  the rich potentials which Governor Emmanuel has already began to tap through his industrialization projects.


He pointed out that the fabrication laboratory investment worth $10 Million will be based on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement to generate employment to Akwa Ibom people, especially the fabrication laboratory which will produce robotics, renewable energy such as lithium battery and others.


‘’…I am very confident that there is transparency here, there is no corruption and my mission here is to bring financial technology, build a fabrication laboratory and assist the Mining sector to be more productive and also create wealth for the people. 


"The  cost of a fabrication lab is  $10 Million and we are coming here with full financing because we are looking for partners in Africa that really care about the development of Africa. When we bring the fabrication lab, we are going to transform our products locally we are going to provide people with jobs and we believe Akwa Ibom State government is prepared for the partnership”, Djoken stated.
In attendance at the Courtesy visit were members of One-Stop Shop for Investment.

MEDIA UNIT
OFFICE OF THE SSG
28/10/2021.

Member representing Etinan/ Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, Mr Onofiok Luke has warned about the increasing indulgence of the populace in hard drugs consumption in Nigeria.

Delivering his remarks as Chairman at the 5th National Symposium on Drugs and Drug Policy in Nigeria to mark the 30th Anniversary of Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) held in Abuja, Luke said; 'The situation should raise concerns among policy makers and among parents, most of whose children are vulnerable, and could slip into the unhealthy drug consumption vortex'.

Citing statistics to back up his position, the lawmaker said that the situation is worrisome and needs to be urgently addressed. According to him 'the statistics are scary, to say the least, considering the impact of drug use on the economy, productivity, the gross domestic product (GDP), crime, law enforcement and governance'.

Luke attributed several crimes committed in the country to hard drugs. 'Of course there is a broad consensus that many crimes committed in our society involve individuals who are under the influences of either alcohol or drugs. In other words, there is a nexus between both drugs/alcohol and crime'.

'The above situation should impel government and policy makers to make available funding to establish treatment facilities and to support and expand existing ones like the Drop-in-centres, which were earlier initiated and supported by the European Union/United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (EU/UNODC)' , Luke added.

He commended the Executive Director of CRISA, Prof. Isidore Obot for the great work his organisation has been doing in this regard. 'We wish to use this platform to commend the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA), for its commitments of time, material resources, intellectual resources and energies to finding solutions to these social problems over the past thirty years'.

'We are hopeful that the outcomes of recent research around this subject will point us to the way forward', Luke said.

He also thanked the organisers for availing them this platform to learn from very distinguished scholars, policy makers and experts on very delicate issues that are fast gaining attention within the populace.

The event had in attendance the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gen. Muhammad Buba Marwa(Rtd) Former Military governor of Lagos State and other dignitaries.


Media Office,
Etinan/Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency.

27/10/2021

The Akwa Ibom State Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC, Dr. Ita Udosen says former Governor of the State, and Minister of Nigeria-Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio is not the leader of the party in the state.

He also said that the recalcitrance of APC leaders led to the party's failure to reach a consensus arrangement.

Udosen said it was very wrong for Akpabio to be used as the indices to measure the legitimacy of APC activities in Akwa Ibom.

Featuring on a live radio programme on Planet FM, Dr. Udosen who was speaking on the outcome of the just concluded state Congress of the party, said Akpabio came into the party and became a Minister through the platform of the APC.

"His Excellency, Godswill Obot Akpabio should not be the yardstick for APC in Akwa Ibom. No body should use the Minister to establish the validity of APC in Akwa Ibom. He became a Minister at the instance of the of the APC. We should not use him as a yardstick".

Dr. Ita Udosen who listed former Minister of Petroleum, Atuekong Don Etiebet as Chairman of APC Caucus in the State, described the just concluded State congress of party as peaceful.

He however disclosed that the party had almost resorted to the consensus approach, but regretted that some leaders of the party in the state became recalcitrant when he tried to talk to them to see reason for a consensus agreement.



"We didn't take the consensus approach. Our leaders were very recalcitrant when we tried to talk to them about taking that approach of a consensus".


The Caretaker Party Chairman dismissed claims that he was doing the biddings of the National Secretary of the Party, Senator John James Udoedehe, saying he has been running affairs of the party without any interference from any quarters.

Defending the National Scribe of the party, Dr. Udosen explained that rather than manipulating the process as he's being accused, the Senator remained neutral through out ward and State congress exercise, noting; "Senator Udoedehe had the right if he had wanted to sit back at Abuja and write the list, but he remained very neural up to ward and State congress. He never interfered in what the state Chairman is doing".

On why the National Secretary of the party, Senator Udoedehe could not attend the congress in the state, Udosen said he could not make it, since he had to take care of NationaI issues concerning the party in Abuja.

Global Pilot Newspaper learnt the outcome of the congress in the state clearly shows that the APC headquarters may have ignored Akpabio, Ita Enang's faction of the party which allegedly held parallel Congress.

The party is insisting that there was no parallel Congress in Akwa Ibom as being reported in some quarters. The party has recognized Austin Ekanem as the duly elected state Chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom.

The party maintains that there was no parallel Congress of the party in Akwa Ibom State in particular and Nigeria generally.

The clarification was made by the National Organising Secretary of the party, Prof Ussiju Medana, while fielding questions on Channels Television early morning show, Politics Today in Abuja.

The party described those claiming that there were parallel congress in the state as rumour mongers raising false alarm with intent of causing confusion in the party, urging members of the public to ignore them.

Also, the National Secretary of the party, Senator John James Udoedehe has dismissed claims of Parallel Congresses across the country vowing that the party will not hesitate to deal with imposters accordingly.

Recall that the recently concluded Congresses of the opposition Party in the state produced 3 factions laying claim to the state exco of the party.

It was learnt that the three factional exco include those loyal to former Governor of the state and Minister of Nigeria-Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the one loyal to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang and Udoedehe faction.

Akpabio's faction has Mr. Stephen Ntukekpo as State Chairman , with Iniobong John as Publicity Secretary, while Ita Enang's faction produced, Douglas Pepple as State Chairman and Uduakabasi Ikpatt as Publicity Secretary.

The faction believed to be loyal to the National Caretaker Secretary of the party, Senator Udoedehe, has Austin Ekanem as State Chairman, while Solomon Johnny is the Publicity Secretary.

Reacting to the outcome of the congress, the State Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Dr. Ita Udosen dismissed parallel congresses held by some elements as “mere naming ceremonies”, and called on security agencies to deal with any party member circulating fake names.

"The party therefore warns, that members who attempt to circulate forged list of party organs and those found impersonating to confuse the public will find it hot in the hands of security agents this time. The party directs all members to accord the newly elected State officers the due respect."

"I wish to bring to the notice of all APC members and the general public the official results of state congress Elections conducted through open secret balloting on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Sheergrace Arena, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State as announced by the 7-man State Congress Committee from Abuja who conducted the exercise".

Dr. Udosen added that "the attendance cuts across all the major shades of opinion in our party and there was no one left in doubt as regard the authenticity of the congress which was very peaceful".

He further expressed gratitude and commended the conduct of party members during the exercise, urging contestants with complaints to approach the appeal panel that will be delegated by the national secretariat. "The party is deeply grateful to the 7-man State Congress Committee led by Yusuf Sheriff Banki, the INEC, the Security Agencies, Media, APC stakeholders and the delegates for such huge successes. The party implores any member who has anything against the conduct of the Party Congresse to get ready to present it before the 5-man State Congress Appeal Committee that will be set up very soon".

However, the Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio, attended factional congresses of APC in the State, held at different venues, where he preached peace and unity among party members. He had stressed the need for the party to the united in order to wrestle power from the PDP.

Notable APC stalwarts at the congress included Atuekong Don Etiebet, Minister of Nier Delta Affairs, HE Godswill Akpabio, HE Group Captain Sam Ewang, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, Senator Ita Enang, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, Archbishop Samuel Akpan, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekon, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Akpan, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ukoette, Otuekong Sunny Jackson Udoh, DIG Udom Ekpoudom, Chief Godwin Afangideh, Chief Engr. Benedict Ukpong, Dr. Bassey Antai, Dr. Edet Atti, Rt. Hon Nse Ntuen, Barr. Ibanga Akpabio, Hon. Engr. Akanimo Edet, Dr. Amadu Attai, Hon. Loveday Ekuyok, Rt. Hon. Bassey Etim, Prof. Etok Ekanem, Prince Mandu Ekpo, Engr Mfon Akpan Eyen, Dr. Ndem Andem, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong, Barr. Edet Eyo Bassey, Hon Inibehe Otoho, Prof Ibia Ibia, Justice Andrew Okon, Justice Ekerette Ebieye among other important party dignitaries that participated in the congress.

For there to be a Parallel Congress known to the party,the National Organising Secretary, Professor Ussiju Medaner explained that the Seven-Man Committee sent by the National office of the party to conduct congress in a state must be divided holding congresses at different locations. He said that is the only time one can say there was a parallel Congress in the state which has such scenario. He said that "...if all the seven man committee were in the same venue conducting party congress, any other function outside the venue has nothing to do with APC congress".

Recall that Alhaji Banki Sheriff was dispatched by the party headquarters in Abuja to conduct State congress in Akwa Ibom State to elect new State officers of the party. He led other members of the seven man Congress Committee recieved by Caretaker Chairman Dr Ita Udosen and held a pre congress briefing at the party secretariat on Friday detailing how the congress will be conducted assuring stakeholders the exercise will be free and fair. The committee held the Congress at Sheer Grace Event Centre, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital the following day, Saturday, 16th October 2021.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom state Mr. Udom Emmanuel has proposed a total budgetary estimate of N582.115 billion for the 2022 fiscal year.

Presenting the estimates before the House of Assembly in Uyo, Governor Emmanuel explained that the 2022 Budget is prepared in accordance with International Public Accounting standard (IPSAS) Accrual template, and is intended to roll out a manageable budget size that will help in closing the gap between the budgeted figures and the actual figures.

He noted that the N582.115 billion 2022 budget is made up of a
Recurrent Expenditure of N260.151 billion, Capital Expenditure of ₦321.964 billion and Recurrent Expenditure of ₦260.151 billion.

The 2022 Budget which is predicated on an oil benchmark of $57 per barrel at a production rate of 1.88 million barrels per day with an estimated exchange rate of ₦410.15/US$.

This, the governor said was in line with the National Budget benchmark projections.

He stated further that the focal point would be on the implementation of his 8-Point Completion Agenda of Industrialization, Education, Aviation Development, Rural and Riverine Area Development, Agriculture, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Infrastructural Expansion and Consolidation, Security and Human Capacity Development.

“The 2022 Budget is christened the “Budget of Re-defining Standards”. Our intention here is to take stock of our achievements in the past six and half years and consolidate the gains of our achievements thus far, for sustainable expansion and growth,” he stated.

Gov. Emmanuel who listed achievements of his administration such as the
establishment of more than 20 viable industries in the State, Completion and successful commissioning of the 21-Storey Dakkada Tower, inauguration of Ikot Oku Ikono one-kilometer flyover, completion and successful commissioning of the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road, among others.


He re-emphasized that the Policy Objectives of the 2022 Budget includes; stimulation of the state's economy with a view to creating more opportunities for gainful employment of our citizens through Industrialization and Agriculture, Economic growth and job-generating.

The Governor also said that the budget shall focus on infrastructural investments in roads, bridges, Renewable Energy and communication technologies, Promotion of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as well as enhancement of local capacities in manufacturing and use of "made in Akwa Ibom” goods and services to create jobs and achieve self-sufficiency in critical sectors of the State's economy, among others.

“Other specific objectives include; to employ ICT, Science and Technology as a tool for employment generation and wealth creation, to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State by expanding and diversifying the State’s resource base, to aggressively pursue the development of other internal revenue generating sources in the State, in Maritime, Coastal and Inland Water Ways, harnessing revenue on landed properties and others, to commence the construction of Ibom Deep Seaport and development of the Ibom Industrial City to complement Government efforts in the creation of enduring structures for employment generation, among others.

The State Chief Executive explained that the 2022 Budget which is prepared in accordance with International Public Accounting standard (IPSAS) Accrual template seeks to roll out a manageable budget size that will help in closing the gap between the budgeted figures and the actual figures.


The Governor explained that the Budget was christened the “Budget of Re-defining Standards” as it aims at taking stock of achievements in the past six and half years and consolidate the gains of achievements, for sustainable expansion and growth of the state.

Governor Emmanuel during his speech said that in the course of preparing the year 2022 budget efficient costing tools such as Cost Benefit analysis, Cost effectiveness analysis and elasticity methods including moving averages were deployed.
"Government has proposed a total budgetary outlay of N582.115 billion for the 2022 Financial Year as against the approved revised provision of N598.975 of 2021 representing a decrease from the 2021 revised budget.

"The total projected Recurrent Revenue for 2022 estimated at ₦273.854 billion as against the approved revised provision of ₦260.003 billion representing 5% increase in revenue projection for the year 2022.
"The total Capital Receipts and Expenditure for the year 2022 is estimated at N321.964 billion as against the approved revised provision of N344.873 billion for 2021. A total projected Capital Receipts shows that N13.703 billion will be transferred from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, while the balance of N308.261 billion.
"A sectoral allocation of the total budget outlay of N582.115 billion for the year 2022 shows that, administration gets N132.565Bn( 22.8%), Economic sector is to get N347.349BN (59.7%), Law and Justice- N10.378BN,(1.8%), Regional Sector to N1.991BN (0.3%), Social Sector for N89.832BN(15.4%).

The Governor noted that the main policy thrust of the budget is to create more job opportunities with a focus on the 8-Point Completion Agenda and these include, industrialization, Education, Aviation Development, Rural and Riverine Area Development, Agriculture, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Infrastructure Expansion and Consolidation, Security and Human Capacity Development.

He lauded the lawmakers, Rt Hon. Aniekan Bassey for his commitment and tireless efforts in approving the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) and the passage of the 2021 Revised (Supplementary) Appropriation Bill in response to the exigencies arising from commitment to further change the narratives and trajectories of our growth and development.
"You have proven yourselves as dependable partners in the Boardroom of the Akwa Ibom Enterprise.
"You have also worked collaboratively with the Executive Arm and infact, the Judiciary too, putting aside personal or group interest for the common good of our people.

"We have enjoyed robust working relationships, while respecting the Constitutional boundaries as enshrined in the Principle of Separation of Power. "

"We, in the Executive Arm can always count on you to rise gallantly in defense of the larger Akwa Ibom interest and do all that is proper and necessary to advance our growth and development. I want to thank you for this show of amity and concord." He added

The Governor noted that despite the gloomy economic outlook, his administration has been able to achieve a lot across sectors in line with the completion agenda.

By Kufre Etuk

Few months from now Nigerians will once again march to the polls to elect new set of leadership at the national and sub-national levels. At the State level, some people who are vast on the needs of the next generation have set templates on who should be their next Governor. In Akwa Ibom State, different strata of stakeholders are speaking passionately about what should be the the kind, made, comportment and focus of the next Governor of the State.

The political transition in 2023 in Akwa Ibom State will come with its peculiarities. Of the four civilian Governors who have led the State, Obong Akpan Isemin and Obong Victor Attah emerged Governors from home, while Chief Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Udom Emmanuel, were creation of the State Executive Council. No one is sure yet what will happen in 2023. However, Mr. Akan Okon, in the State Exco, Barr. Onofiok Luke, a federal parliamentarian, Engr. Mike Enyong, Senator Bassey Albert, are already consulting for the governorship in 2023.

Akwa Ibom people have tasted self-bred leadership in Obong Akpan Isemin and Obong Victor Attah. They have also tasted Exco-bred Governors in Chief Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Udom Emmanuel, isn't it time to taste a legislature-bred leadership?

The legislature is the fulcrum of democracy loosely defined as 'government of the people, for the people and by the people.' The legislators more than members of any other arm of government understand the needs, wants, anxieties, aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, and hopes; this is because they have a direct inter-personal communication with them and understand how they are affected and impacted by each policy, programme, and actions of government. 'When you speak to the persons directly involved [in a case] that is when you complete understanding of the problem', says Becky Anderson. The executive arm of government works with 'executive brief', usually the summary of the opinion of majority, organised interest groups. Such briefs leave out the salient opinions and positions of the minority. More often than not, minority opinion does not mean they are less important, often it is the position that makes the difference. By the nature of their existence, the legislator has the opportunity to talk with and listen to the purveyors of this salient opinion, frame their opinion and give it a context. This is important in peace-building. This is what makes the legislator the man of the people.

Two factors, capacity and institutionalism, enhance the ability of a legislator to perform well in leadership positions than others. Legislative arm of government is the training ground for capacity development. Diverse perspectives and positions on issues from both organised groups and unorganised individuals provide opportunity for legislators to learn and have first hand information from the masses.

Deliberation is an important feature of the legislative process. It necessitates a give-and-take and an exchange of information and ideas which build capacity. Frequent and unstructured exchanges in members' offices, leadership conferences, at lunch, and in the corridors of the legislative office building enhance knowledge and capacity of legislators to stand well in leadership positions. Institutionalism borders on building existing institutions to perform their various functions and this has been the hallmark of oversight function of the legislators.

Because the legislature is people-centric and most of the Bills they passed into law but denied assent by the Governor, are people-centre. For instance, the School of Health Technology which supposed to train primary healthcare personnel to man primary heath care institutions, is not known by any law of the state. As such, certifications from this institution can be challenged. In spite the fact the Bill establishing the school as a college was passed, assent was denied. The Youth Development Fund Bill aimed at creating jobs and evolving opportunities for youths in Akwa Ibom State was also passed into law by the State House of Assembly but denied assent.

Among those seeking to be Governor in 2023, Barr. Onofiok Luke, sits pretty with a broad knowledge and understanding of the needs of Akwa Ibom people. A former two term member representing Nsit Ubium State constituency, he was able to assess the needs of his people and as former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, he is fully abreast of the needs of the people including minority groups in the State.

As Speaker of the 6th Assembly which was code-named 'the people’s Assembly', Onofiok Luke devoted his time and resources to meeting people's needs. He was not a sedentary lawmaker. He sponsored Bills which had direct significant bearing on the needs of the majority and others which protected special groups like PWDs, students and youths. In his days in the House of Assembly, Luke was famous for holding frequent, no-holds-barred interactions with his people and spent quality time mentoring youths through the Onofiok Luke Mentorship Hub. His mentorship programme, The Onofiok Luke Legislative Internship Programme (TOLIP) which later metamorphosed into Akwa Ibom Legislative Internship Programme- AKILIP, trained youths on legislative processes, leadership and entrepreneurship.

Now as member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium in the House of Representatives, Luke is still committed to projecting interest of Akwa Ibom State at different fora, through advocacies, lobbying and representations. The recent is call for the revitalization of Aluminium Smelter Company in Ikot Abasi, and demand for more allocation for the construction of Calabar/Itu road by the Federal Government are testimonials of his efforts.

Onofiok Luke is a man of many faces. To the poor, he is their pathfinder; to the youth, he is their model; to the elderly, he is their delight-some son and to the women, Onofiok is their hope. As Governor, Onofiok Luke will flip open his diary, and bring to work his experiences.

Members of Nigerian Guild of Editors based in Akwa Ibom State today paid a courtesy visit to the member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, Mr Onofiok Luke in his office in Abuja.

Speaking, the state co-ordinator, Mr. Ikpong Essien-Udom said the group decided to visit the member to interact with him given his effective representation of the people in the green chamber.
 
In his response, Mr Luke thanked the group for finding time to visit him and for also projecting his work and activities in the House. He also thanked the members for the support they have been giving to Governor Udom Emmanuel. ‘Thank you for what you are doing to support Governor Udom Emmanuel. Thank you for doing everything to sustain the legacies of the Governor', Luke said.

The lawmaker further informed the group of his purpose in the lower House. ‘I came to the House with key legislative areas – Healthcare, Education, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Community Development - in mind, and I have been working to meet these objectives for the greater benefits of the people of my Constituency.’

According to Luke; ‘The pen profession has an important role to play in governance, so I charge you to set narrative and standards as basis to assess governance and leadership recruitment in the state'.
 
The members of the group thanked the Luke for making out time to see them and commended him for being outstanding in the House. 

The state co-ordinator of the group was joined in the visit by Samuel Etuk, Fortune Archibong, Samuel Akpan, Cornel Esen and Oto Ikpe.

Collaborative efforts beyond the boundaries of ethnicity, race, socio-cultural construct, religious affiliation, and doctrinal differences by faith leaders with moral authority is needed at this crucial
moment to advance sustainable peace, social cohesion and hope in Nigeria

This is because the current reality in Nigeria is heartrending, and one that urgently seeks leadership with the moral authority to navigate the country out of the muddy waters of self-destruction and disintegration.


The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel asserted this at the Inclusive Security Dialogue Retreat at the Airlie Conference Center, Warrenton, Virginia,United States of America earlier this week.

At the Inclusive Security Retreat held from October 18th -20th by the Global Peace Foundation in collaboration with Vision Africa; key leaders unbundled the barriers to peace and security in Nigeria.

Governor Emmanuel was one of the few key influencers selected for the strategy meeting.

Speaking on INCLUSIVE SECURITY DIALOGUE - UNBUNDLING THE BARRIERS, Governor Emmanuel posited that "to stem the tide of extremists in Nigeria, whether religious fundamentalists, dissident Islamists, or militia groups, will ultimately mean addressing the conditions that foster radicalism - poverty,
unemployment, social dislocation, cultural polarization, and a large demographic of disaffected young people."

He said since government has been variously accused of politics of parochial interest and tyrannical agenda, it becomes difficult for it to adequately act as an arbiter for conflict resolution and genuine peace.

Mr Emmanuel, was worried that "Nigeria is facing an existential challenge nurtured by the narrow identities of politics, ethnicity,
wrong interpretation of religion, and corruption, exacerbated by economic deprivations, violent
extremism, and the rise of ethnic militia groups.

"In the last few months, the country has
witnessed a surge in protests such as the ENDSARS with accompanying destruction of lives and
property.

"Kidnapping and abductions have dramatically increased, with more than seven hundred students taken since the beginning of this year.

"We have witnessed the death of police and
military officers in different parts of the country at the hands of a new group called the "Unknown Gunmen," who have also burnt various police facilities. The rampaging of herdsmen and bandits is practically uncontrollable as they kill, maim and chase people out of their
communities."

These, he said, have led the multiple regions of the country to resorted to establishing their own security
units, arguing that the central government is either unwilling or unable to protect its citizens.


Mr Emmanuel maintained that the retreat was going to afford stakeholders opportunity to meet and transparently address
"critical issues and seek lasting solutions to the grave challenges facing Nigeria, beginning from an affirmation of transcendent truths that define our common humanity."

Mr Emmanuel said the discussions would outline and examine the root causes of agitations and violences in the country, provide a safe environment for stakeholders and key actors to open dialogue and chart a
path forward and also bridge gaps across ethnic, religious, cultural, and ideological divides to better understand
the conflict dynamics and provide a platform for reconciliation.


The outcome of this, according to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, would be an increased understanding of the root causes of conflict and violence affecting the
country, de-escalation of conflict and violence across the nation, an increase in the positive relationship between the Nigerian government and various
agitating groups across the country,

He hoped the retreat could foster effective crafting and implementation of policies for the human flourishing of peoples across the identity fault lines of the country, as well as reposition the importance of universal principles and shared values as the glue for social cohesion and sustainable peace.


Among others in attendance at the conference where the GPF President, James Flynn, who gave the introductory remarks, the facilitator Bishop Sunday Onuoha, the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Dr. Sampson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle, Lanre Banjo who represented the coordinator of Oodua People's Congress,Ganiyu Adams, Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, Islamic cleric, as well as Dr. Mohammad Camara who moderated the retreat.

In the Governor's delegation to the retreat, was the Commissioner for Special Duties, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh.

Founded in 2009, Global Peace Foundation (GPF) is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peace building.



Media Unit
Govt House,Uyo
Akwa Ibom State

By Edidiong Udobia

The unprecedented springing up of eateries, bars, lounges, night clubs, and parks in Akwa Ibom, has made the State a beehive of recreational activities. On daily basis, residents across age groups, social status and gender, cluster at their favourite hangouts to while away time.

When Kubiat Akpan, a 28-year old fresh graduate of Architecture from the University of Uyo, visited Eni Stores, a popular hangout in Uyo, on Sunday, 29 August, it was nothing unusual - not the day, the time or intention, was wrong. He was hale and hearty as confirmed by his relatives, friends and neighbours. Around 7pm on the said day, he was arrested by a team of police officers at the hangout, and by the evening of the next day, Monday, Kubiat was reported dead. His body was deposited in a mortuary as “unknown corpse’’ by the Police. [https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/483064-police-order-arrest-of-officer-over-torture-death-of-university-student.html]

An autopsy later confirmed that Kubiat died of torture. [https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/483404-nigerian-student-who-died-in-police-custody-was-tortured-autopsy-reveals.html] As I spent over six hours painfully watching the autopsy, I imagined the kind of torture that would have killed a sturdy young man within 24 hours in custody. Till today, the Police have not given a concrete reason why Kubiat was arrested in the first place. All the time I was on Kubiat's story, not a day passed that I didn't think of his aged sick parents - losing their only son in their frail old age. There is no solace to such grief, and no fortitude to bear the loss.

Emmanuel Dickson, a 26-year old artisan, was allegedly shot and killed point blank by a police officer in their family compound, Edoho Ukpong Street, Idua Road, Eket, on Sunday, 10 October. Emmanuel was returning home from an event where his parents were also in attendance, when he was accosted by some police officers just outside his home. Out of fear, he ran to his aunty's house for help, but one of the officers chased him to the house and allegedly shot him dead. I had a long discussion with Emmanuel's elder sister, Nelly Dickson and other residents of the area. The pain, anger and grief are real. [https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/490023-it-was-accidental-discharge-says-police-officer-who-allegedly-shot-dead-akwa-ibom-man.html] Like Kubiat, the Police are yet to tell the public what Emmanuel's offence was.

In the last three months, I have been on the trail of over six cases of police brutality within Akwa Ibom State. Unfortunately, Kubiat and Emmanuel were not lucky enough to survive their ordeals. Yesterday made it one year since the #EndSARS protest - an historic revolution where young people across the country protested against police brutality and demanded reforms within the Police Force. One year after, almost all the issues that led to the protest are still prevalent in the country. From the ceaseless abuse of human rights to the reckless killing of innocent citizens by the Police, nothing has changed for the better, not even in the slightest degree.

I spent the most part of yesterday reading stuff on social media. I saw people criticising the idea of a memorial protest, especially in Akwa Ibom. Basing their arguments on the casualties of the October 20 event, many of them insinuated that the a memorial protest was senseless. I've been curious. There is no general election in this State without scores of violence and deaths, how come people have never been told not to go out and vote again? Or could it be that the memorial protest was needless and senseless because it was about #EndSARS? So, for instance, ahead of 2023, if the APC should adopt a few strategies from their 2019 playbook like using the Police and other security agencies to lay siege on the State, will it be okay and sensible for the youths of Akwa Ibom to go out and protest like they did in 2019? Will it be an act of bravery if young people should go up against gun-wielding security officers and aggressively push through Police barricades just because the protest is about election and not #EndSARS?

The memorial protest was more than just a remembrance event for the Lekki Tollgate massacre. It was a further reminder to the country that the critical issues that led to the protest are still unaddressed. SARS may have been disbanded as a Unit, but the reckless officers and killer cops are still in the Force, so brutality is no longer a problem of a particular Unit, but now the de facto modus operandi of the Police. Within the last one year, Akwa Ibom has recorded many cases of Police brutality with some of them leaving the victims or their families permanently shattered, so it is sheer hypocrisy to criticize the #EndSARS memorial protest under the pretext of preaching safety. What is safety if a young man can be picked up in a public place by Police officers and tortured to death within 24 hours? Where is safety if a Police officer can chase an innocent citizen into his home and shoot him dead?

For whatever reason, people might feel convenient to sit and criticize or make mockery of other people's efforts just to take the wind out of their sails. The sad truth is, as the people's freedom shrinks, it squeezes everybody (regardless of current class and social status) into the same box. Somehow, somewhere, or sometime, everyone will have a feel of that inconvenience. Years ago, a certain man was the speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Years after, he became a senator of the Federal Republic. Today, nobody knows his whereabout weeks after he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, and nobody seems to genuinely care. As a journalist, I have followed too many blood trails and written enough death stories to fully understand the emotions behind the agitation against Police brutality.

From the horrific images of Kubiat's battered body in the mortuary and Emmanuel's lifeless body in the pool of his own blood at a corner of their family compound, to the heart-wrecking stories by their relatives, I have every genuine reason to support the memorial demonstration. Rather than try to guilty trip people with the sad events of last year, give them hope-inspiring reasons not to protest. Tell us how much has the government done within the last one year to end police brutality and human rights abuses. Tell us how many times the government has waded into the reported cases of police brutality with the intention of giving justice to the victims.

It is not just enough to be condemning IPOB's extreme approach and at the same time also criticize the peaceful approach by law-abiding citizens. Nigerians cannot to just stay at home and wait to take their turns to die in the hands of the Police. So, for me, the #EndSARS memorial protest was necessary yesterday in Akwa Ibom, like every other state in Nigeria. It will be necessary next year, and the year after, until the issue of police brutality and human rights become as important as power to the government, and as delicate as law and order to the society.

Sòrò sókè

..Says It Will Ease Spread of Peace Message to the Grassroots

The ongoing inauguration of ward coordinators of the Maintain Peace Movement, across the 31 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State has been described as "a Politically reasonable move capable of spreading the message of peace to the people at the grassroots"

The immediate past Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Hon. Ekanem Brown made the assertion while speaking in Mkpat Enin at the MPM ward inauguration tour.

He described Peace as a major factor in the preparation of investment friendly communities, adding that the inauguration of ward coordinators of MPM is one of the smartest Political initiative of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

In his words, "as an investor and a business man, I know the value of peace so taking steps that are aimed at ensuring that the current statusquo of peace and absolute tranquility enjoyed by Akwa Ibom people is sustained beyond 2023 is most commendable.

"When I was informed about this inauguration I said I must come around to ensure that it goes well especially in my clan and my ward. Because as far as I am concerned, decentralizing this MPM to wards and clans is one of the smartest Political initiatives of the current administration. I am saying so because I know that it will enhance easy spread of the message of peace to the Grassroots even to the riverine areas".

He charged those inaugurated into the ward teams to lead by example and see their appointments as opportunity to be instruments of peace in their respective wards.

Hon. Brown, during his reign as a council chairman was highly celebrated for his empowerment programmes and his uncommon capacity to maintain peace and unity in the hitertho volatile Mkpat Enin LGA. He was popular for his 'Putting the People First' mantra.