TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING BY AKWA IBOM LIBERATION MOVEMENT(AILM), ON SATURDAY 27TH APRIL, 2019 AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE MOVEMENT, UYO.
The Big Question in NBS Report
Gentlemen of the Press

Let me commend you all for standing by Akwa Ibom people and the Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement to ensure that the state is free from the shackles of individuals who almost succeeded in assuming the status of a god unto our people. We are indeed indebted to you.

Our major concern today is the recent claim by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, wherein he said that Akwa Ibom State was second on the list with the highest number of out-of-school children, after Kano . The Minister purportedly based his assertion on a
'Personnel Audit' of Public and Private schools.

Let me say here that the Minister's claim was misleading. The Minister failed to disclose the methodology used in the said audit and the indices which gave birth to the erroneous findings banied about in the report.

Malam Adamu's statement is at variance with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)report of 2018 which noted the alarming rate of out-of-school children across the country with huge chunk of them in northern Nigeria.

It is important to note that in the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (2016/2017), Akwa Ibom came last on the list of out -of- school children. The survey covered children of primary school age who are actually not in school.

It will interest you to know that on 5th December, 2008 Akwa Ibom State signed the child rights act into law to protect the growth of perceptual, emotional, intellectual, and behavioural capabilities and functioning during childhood of Akwa Ibom children under 16 years. The law protects the Akwa Ibom child from birth to adolescence and up to 16 years such that the child is afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community.

The Akwa Ibom State child rights law empowers children with capacity to enjoy physical, social, and psychological well-being to the enforcement of physical, mental and emotional freedom from abuse. The law also compels parents to send their children to school once they reach school age.

Complementary to this, the State government declared a free and compulsory education policy which has caused student's enrollment to soar to about one million in primary schools and more than 500,000 in secondary schools. To improve access to the free and compulsory education policy, the State government under Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has taken over about 20 community schools which were hitherto not captured under the programme. In the last four years, the administration has shown evidence of payment of at least N250million as WASSCE fees for Akwa Ibom children even when others States running similar programme could not pay during the recession.

In addition to these, different organs of government, NGOs, and individuals have over the years appreciated government's efforts on the free and compulsory education programme by donating writing materials, uniforms and desks to students. This support has been a huge motivation to parents send their children to school.
Akwa Ibom State currently has at least 276 public secondary schools and about 350 primary schools well spread across communities, covered by the free and compulsory education programme. There is also a proliferation of private schools in the State. With all of these, how would parents allow their children to stay out of school?

More so, the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education has school monitoring and enforcement team in each senatorial district that reports directly to the governor. The team's mandate is to monitor compliance of all stakeholders with the free and compulsory education programme and report same to the governor. There have been cases where children have been picked up on the streets during school hours and their parents arrested and tried for violation of the free and compulsory education policy.

Let us state here that without any equivocation, the only out -of- school children roaming the streets of Akwa Ibom are the almajari children who beg around with their mothers.

We will wish to in like manner respond to another rating wherein the National Bureau of Statistics,(NBS) reported that Akwa Ibom has the highest number of unemployed persons. May we state that since Mr. Udom Emmanuel took over as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, he has attracted numerous industries into the State which have created many employment opportunities for young school leavers resident in the State. Governor Emmanuel has also encouraged self employment through various empowerment schemes for the youth and women.

While probing the report released by NBS, it is safe to conclude that since the State has had about 12 industries between 2015 and today, there has been an influx of job seekers to the State. This can be seen in the number of non-indigenes who have stayed back in the State after their National Youth Service, seeing the opportunities created.

Consequently, we vehemently declare that the report is not a true reflection of the reality on ground; and we accordingly urge the public to disregard the report and the distracting political tinge that comes with it.

Signed:
Prince Emmanuel Sam
Leader, AILM

AFAHA-OBONG, OUR BROKEN JERUSALEM (SEASON TWO)

Itoro Udotim

"People without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots..." Marcus Garvey

Jerusalem is an ancient city located in the ancient Judah that is now the capital of Israel. The city has a history that goes back to the 4th Millennium BCE, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Cojoining the story together, Afaha-Obong shares a similar historical background like Jerusalem.

It may be considered concomitantly in order to recapitulate the tremendous evolutional process through which Afaha-Obong began, developed and thereby indicate the trends of its continuous progress and achievements without being unmindful of its failures in a changing world and circumstances.

Afaha-Obong has a unique petedunnite which periodically present Her as an antidote before Her contemporaries or perhaps, a centripetal force towards promoting the economic growth of any person or group of persons who wishes to pitch a tent in Afaha-Obong, symbiotically welcomes any stranger with an open arm freely without any atom of fear, intimidation or brutalisation. Afaha-Obong is indeed the land of peace and freedom, Afaha-Obong people are known to be men and women of integrity, bold and bravery.

May I use this medium to pay a special tribute to His Royal Highness, Late Chief Jackson Udo Akpan and Late Mr. Unwana Ben Imoh who conspicuously developed both the mind and character of every Afaha-Obong person doubtlessly redeeming the image and eradicating the act of contabescence amongst the teeming youths, tirelessly and relentlessly projected Afaha-Obong to an unimagined pedestal without asking for anything in return, collectively bequeathed positive landmarks that can never be forgotten.

Prior to this episode, many questions have been asked openly and convetionlly, cantankerously seeking a comprehensive answer for the choice of the heading "AFAHA-OBONG, OUR BROKEN JERUSALEM". Suffice it to say that the reason for the choice of the heading is not far-fetched, Afaha-Obong as a clan is as old as the nature itself, but rather sad that some group of persons misappropriate this fact, thereby subjecting Afaha-Obong to a mere peter pan syndrome without regards.

Afaha-Obong as our own Jerusalem has been perforated, infected and injected with immense hatred and sentimental segregation without second thought, making themselves emblematised, constantly sending powerful signals just like the Bermuda triangle, creating unnecessary tsunami which serves as an earthquake in the mind of the common man in the community. This actions kill faster than hurricane.

Afaha-Obong must rise again, She is our Jerusalem!
She needs redemption, if you and I can't help her, who will?

Season three is on the way, expect it soon!!!

BEING THE TEXT OF THE EASTER BROADCAST
BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. UDOM EMMANUEL,
GOVERNOR, AKWA IBOM STATE, GOVERNMENT
HOUSE, UYO - APRIL 18, 2019

My dear AkwaIbomites,

My wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, and I wish you a Happy Easter.

Easter is a season of sacrifice; of circumscribing one’s interest, desires and needs for causes that are greater than ours; it also symbolizes victory over the forces of hatred, betrayal, anger and vile temperaments. No one epitomises this selfless quality than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Our Saviour endured excruciating and harrowing pain; was put through the most dehumanizing treatment and torture ever meted out to man, was derided, taunted and abused. He had the power and the capacity to confound and defeat the evil plot of his traducers and tormentors, but because of the love He has for us, because of the need to fulfill the Scripture which is so eloquently expressed in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” our Saviour elected to sacrifice His life so we may have ours. Three days after making the ultimate sacrifice, He rose gallantly and triumphantly, cleansing us of our sins. Today, we are considered worthy inheritors of His grace, love, sacrifice and blessings.

Therefore, as we celebrate this great day of sacrifice and spiritual renewal, I want to enjoin you my dear brothers and sisters to follow the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour- Jesus Christ. I want you to make a solemn pledge that going forward, all ancient animosities, the anger and vile dispositions we may have exhibited against our brothers and sisters, all forces of disunity of division we may have entertained and helped push, all the ill-resort to malign, blackmail or the urge to pull your brother and sister down in order to advance your personal growth; the zero-sum tendencies, the galling feeling of betrayal and back-stabbing that have unfortunately defined our daily engagements with each other should give way to a season of love, of kindred spirit and a renewal of our soul and essence in line with what our Saviour did, at His death and Resurrection.

We have just concluded an election cycle where the chords of our brotherhood and amity were severely tested. Even though some of our political gladiators had likened the contest to going to war and had unfortunately invoked certain metaphors of war and violence, the battle has been fought and won to the glory of the ONLY GOD we worship and serve.

The time therefore, has come for us to close ranks and show love to one another. We went to the polls as sons and daughters of Akwa Abasi Ibom State joined together by shared hopes and aspirations for our State and our people. My opponent and I were both motivated by the need to serve our people and advance the cause of our development, but the people have spoken and made their choice. We must respect the will they expressed in my capacity to lead our people for the next four years.

Let me again use this opportunity to thank you, our great and wonderful people for reposing your trust in my humble capacity to continue to lead and move this State to an enviable height of peace, security, development and growth. I am truly humbled by the faith you have shown in me, and I promise you again, that I will not sacrifice the trust; neither will I treat this confidence with levity. I will continue to pursue the development of this State with renewed vigour, passion and faith in our common good and common essence.

In the spirit of Easter, I am again inviting my brothers and sisters on the opposite side of the political divide to join hands with me to build a prosperous, safe and secure State where our people will continue to rise and claim the faith of their greatness. This should be no time for mutual recriminations. Let us show that politics can and must be more ennobling than how certain people may make it appear. Let us begin to build a new vista of understanding of what political contest is all about: that a winner must emerge and the loser must not be treated with contempt or derision. I remain dedicated to promoting and projecting this beautiful virtue - politics that is played without bitterness as the Second Republic politician Late Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim had preached. Today, I urge you again to celebrate all that is good and ennobling in us. We are great people, of great heritage, and we must stand ready to work together to ensure and sustain a great future for ourselves and our children.

This broadcast is significant in many ways: it caps the last Easter of my First Term in office and the preparation for what will be my continuous impactful Second Term in office which you - my dear people had so enthusiastically given me on March 9th, 2019.

About four years ago when we came in, the economic horizon was darkened by the thick clouds of uncertainty. The price of oil, our mono- foreign exchange earner was at its all-time low.
In spite of the turbulence on the economic horizon, we went to work and armed with our Five Point Agenda of: Wealth Creation, Economic and Political Inclusion, Poverty Alleviation, Infrastructural consolidation and Expansion and Job Creation, we were able to fulfil against all odds, the cardinal electioneering campaign promises we made to you.

Today, AkwaIbom State remains the reference point in good governance, a State where accountability, probity and transparency remain the hallmarks of governance.

In almost all the areas we had highlighted in our Five Point Agenda, we have touched and impacted lives greatly. From healthcare delivery, to infrastructural consolidation and expansion, aviation development to education, to power sector, industrialization,wealth and job creations, we have raised the bar on how lean resources could be applied to get the most for the people.

I do not intend to go over our score-card in this broadcast, you have, already so kindly and against all the lies that were told, believed in what we have been able to use your resources to achieve for you my dear people. It was based on this conviction that you so massively returned us to continue the good works we started so well in our First Term. You know we don’t tell lies to achieve political mileage, you know we do what we say we will do, and not engage in a vain-glorious dance just to receive applause but rather are on the course for sustainable development.

In our Second Term which we are gearing to commence on May 29, this year, we will work twice as hard to sustain and expand the layers of good governance, touching lives, challenging our people to further rise to the faith of our greatness and show as I have always emphasized, that government can indeed be a force for good and not one for ill.

We will, as enunciated in our 2019 Manifesto, dedicate ourselves to the Completion Agenda predicated still on massive industrialization push, infrastructural expansion, more investments put into ensuring our children are prepared through quality education that will get them ready for the 21 Century, our health care delivery will continue to expand, agriculture and tourism will receive the necessary boost, we will work to provide power for all, build human capacity, expand our job opportunities and wealth creation mechanisms.

We will continue to engender in our youths an entrepreneurial or ownership mind-set and ensure that our women are encouraged through soft loans to expand their businesses of trading and other small and medium scale businesses. In short, we will work to build a State whose economy will be the envy of all. I urge you as always to continue to pray for us and support our determined efforts to use our resources to build a solid economy for our people.

Let me end this broadcast by quoting the inspiring words of the 6th United States President, John Quincy Adams “if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, you are a leader”.

May our actions beginning from this Easter celebrations and beyond inspire us to love more, be more united and do more to advance the interest of the great and wonderful people of AkwaAbasiIbom State.

Happy Easter once again!
Akwa Ibom Edakkeda,
ami mmedakka-nda!

*Elections Tribunal: Akpabio in Fresh N500m INEC Bribery Scheme*


Fresh plans by former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio to compromise some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into replacing used ballot papers in the commission's custody with fake ones while also voiding some of the ballot papers, have been uncovered.

About 17 Local Government areas are targeted for this sinister plot regarding the governorship election while six council areas are targeted for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, where Akpabio lost to Chris Ekpenyong of the PDP.

Sources in the APC in Akwa Ibom state revealed that after substantial number of the used ballot papers must have been voided and others taken away from INEC custody, the party will seek an order of the tribunal for a recount of the ballot papers.

Apart from paying INEC staffs to tamper with used ballot papers, Forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8C are to be altered to give impression that entries on original copies of result sheets were different for the duplicate copies.

"They (APC) have concluded plans to infiltrate both the INEC Headquarters in Uyo and in the local government areas with fake materials during the inspection of the electoral materials.

"APC people are already boasting of getting the election results voided and their confidence is as a result of nothing other than the assurance that election materials in INEC custody will be tampered with.

“Senator Akpabio and the APC have been boasting that they have accomplices within the INEC offices that will help them replace the authentic election materials with fake ones.

"Loads of fake materials are already being transported from Essien Udim to Uyo. The plan is to begin the removal of the authentic materials today and continue the process throughout this week," the source said.

It should be recalled that in 2011, the APC (the Action Congress of Nigeria) in Ekiti State paid four INEC staff, Ajayi Gbenga, Ojo Oluwafemi, Oni Babajide and Olusola Oladapo, a sum of N180,000 to tamper with electoral materials used for the Ekiti East Constituency 2 House of Assembly election.

The four INEC staff were arrested in Ekiti State and subsequently arraigned in an Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court on eight count charge of alleged tampering with electoral materials used for the House of Assembly election in April, 2011.

A top APC leader, who spoke with our reporter under the condition of anonymity said; "Only an enemy of Akwa Ibom will be part of any plot to upturn the mandates freely given by the people.

" It is better for us to go back to the drawing board and begin to plan towards 2023 instead of engaging acts capable of throwing spanners into the wheel of peace being enjoyed in the state.

"Akpabio and those members of our party, APC that are spearheading this evil plot against Akwa Ibom state must be told that the good people of the State had made their choices and those choices must be respected.

" I'm therefore washing my hands off this evil plot and I am calling on security agents to keep their eyes on INEC officials," he said.

NIGERIA UNDER BUHARI, A MASSIVE GRAVEYARD:

Emmanuel Nicholas

In 2015, General Muhammadu Buhari, made the over 180million Nigerians to believe, he was the solution to the looming security challenges that confronted the nation, and that became the key factor for his massive acceptance and open support from the citizens, even up to the international community; especially the United State of America, under the then President Barack Obama.

On May 29, 2015, after an historic victory at the general elections, President Buhari took an oath of office as Nigeria’s fifth democratically elected Executive President. It was indeed historic. Not only did he win on his fourth attempt, but his doggedness was uncommon in these shores, dislodging an incumbent from the largest party in sub-Saharan Africa. This accorded a general accolades and unwavering support. In him, many Nigerians ululated they had found the messiah, envisioning the Nigeria of their dream under his watch. His ascendancy was acclaimed in some quarters as the much-awaited answer to the country’s leadership challenge.

But four years after, this euphoria has waned significantly. This inspired this diligent assessment of Buhari’s performance, taking cognizance of his promise as a candidate.
During his campaigns in 2015, President Buhari publicly Nigerians to expertly, address the impeding security challenge that was confronting the country within his first 3 months in office, while emphatically promising to secure the safe release/return of the 274 abducted Chibok Girls within his first 100 days in office. Two years later, nothing positive happened, rather at his third year, a set of girls were presented to Nigerians as the purported abducted Chibok Girls, which got a reprove comment from international media especially the CNN, that the purported girls were rather healthier than girls who were supposed to be under captive, with grave condition of rape, and malnutrition due to poor dieting.

To many, this was a deliberate act by the Buhari's Government, to shroud the sham and failure of his administration to achieve his campaign assurance.

Emphatically, this confirmed the suspicion that the Chibok Girls abduction was a scam, perpetrated to blackmail the then Administration of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. As no sane person could ever imagine such a number of girls (about two hundred seventy six) would be abducted and ferry in a single truck within such a distance, without apprehension as claimed by the security agencies.

Consequently, another testament which is an exposure to this tandem who fabricated this fluke adoption is the immediate appointment of the Principal of the affected Chibok School as the State Commissioner of Education, shortly after the impending incident is yet resolved.

If truly there was such an atrocious incident of kidnapping in an institution she headed and also considering the security reports that she was earlier instructed to vacate the students from the school premises, a week before the supposed heinous crime. This shows, she lacks good administration prowess, and then, how come a woman with such incompetence, who mismanaged a circumference institution be given an entire educational sector of Borno State to manage?

A question no APC leader can answer.
In 2015, Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan during the UN Security Council in New York asserted the total number of death rate by the Boko Haram violent campaign against the Nigerian state under his administration to be at about 13,000 people.
While according to the United Nations Humanitarian Agency (OCHA), between May and December 2013, the Boko Haram violent related death rate was at about 1,224 people. While the Amnesty International reported the civilian and militants death rate by the Armed Forces to be at about 950 people, claiming it source, as credible information from a senior officer of the Nigeria Army, who confirms that the afore number of people died in the military custody between the first six months of 2013.

Adding this to the 4,000 fatalities reported in 2014, and the widely-held estimates of 3,000 to 4,000 deaths between 2009 and mid-2013, the total number of people killed by Boko Haram and the Nigerian military would be, conservatively speaking, at about 9,000 to 10,000.

Accordingly, higher figures are reported by the Nigeria Security Tracker, a project run by Africa programme of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). It estimated the death toll from May 2011 (when it began it work) to August 2015 at about 17,500. This included 6,742 deaths linked directly to Boko Haram, and a further 10,806 killings involving “Boko Haram and state perpetrators”. The latter category covers instances in which Armed Forces and insurgents have directly engaged each other, which the victims are never ascertained.

CFR measures extra-judicial killings by state forces separately. This available data suggests that as few as 9,000 and as many as 17,500 people died out of insurgency. Which the latter figure includes killings by both Boko Haram and the Nigerian military.
This clarifies that President Jonathan’s claim of 13,000 deaths referred to those by insurgents or general conflict may be correct.
However, the statement appears to be broadly accurate if the killing by the military is considered.

African crime tracker report also shows that between 2015 and 2019 Fulani Herdsmen have killed over 27,761 Nigerians across the country, with Benue State alone recording a death rate of over 8000 locals.
4 years later the President Buhari administration, Boko Haram insurgency instead of reducing it activities considering over 4trillion Naira that have been invested in the military as claimed by the Government have continued to expand their territory, killing both Military and Civilians.

United Nation Crime Tracker in Africa reports the number of people killed by the deadly insurgent in Nigeria between 2015 and 2019 to be about 39,243 people. There remained at least 1.7 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-Eastern States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa; with 39% living in camps or similar settings and 61% in host communities.

The UN further revealed that 5.2 million people in the North-East remained in urgent need of food assistance; 450,000 children under five in urgent need of nutrition. While Doctors without Borders in July, reported that 240 children died as a result of malnutrition in Borno State.
While the South-East Biafra agitation has recorded over 234 dead between 2015 and 2019 according to Amnesty International report. Also in the last general election, over 155 people lost their lives either by the Military or Police bullet or the sledgehammer of political thuggery.

Some protesters from Zamfara yesterday says that 30 to 50 people are murdered everyday in Zamfara and a catholic bishop who resides in Kaduna accuses the Government of sponsoring the Kaduna State killings, as 100 to 140 Christian are murdered everyday in the State.

Truth be told, four years after promising that Boko Haram would be decimated in three months, the terrorists have not been defeated, technically or otherwise. Instead, Nigeria has become a huge killing field with Fulani herdsmen, which Global Terrorism Index named the fourth deadliest terror group in the world, wreaking havoc.

Everyhere in Nigeria today is grave and the Government are busy playing politics with this carnage and this have made many to believe that this killing is either ethnic cleansing; a bid to eradicate Christianity from Nigeria because most people who are victims of this genocide are massively Christians.

The Government is so silent, President Buhari as commander in-chief have not visited any incident site nor condemn the killing of Christians and farmers alike by men of his tribe, the "Fulani Herdsmen".

In Nigeria today, if one cow is killed, hundred innocent Nigerians will die and over two hundred houses and farms burnt down, and if one Fulani Herdsman is killed over ten thousand Christians will perish.
Nigeria under you is fast becoming a huge mass grave.

President Buhari told the world during his inaugural speech in 2015 that he belonged to no one but the entire Nigerians. Today, not a few would disagree with the President on this, not for any other reason than the fact that he (President) has carried on, both by his appointments and body language as a sectional leader

Mr President, it is time you rose up to the endless killing spree before the whole country becomes one massive graveyard

The Legend of APC's Laughable Defeat in Akwa Ibom State - 1

...How Senator Akpabio Made Nsima Ekere lose Elections: The Abuja Conspiracy

Tony Chukwudi, Political Correspondent, Abuja

Indications have emerged that the defeat of Obong Nsima Ekere of the APC in the just concluded Governorship election in Akwa Ibom State was orchestrated by the Political miscalculations or bragadociousness of some top members of the APC. Fresh insights reveal that there was a grand conspiracy plotted against him by some actors within the Presidency owing to his association with Senator Godswill Akpabio, the APC's new but destructive bride in the state.

A source from the presidential villa who pleaded anonymity hinted that Obong Nsima Ekere became a victim of his close association with Senator Godswill Akpabio who was seen in the villa as an interloper.

The source said, "In the villa, officials see Akpabio as a busy body. Nobody took him serious and he was busy going about the villa as the best thing that happened to PMB. He failed to recognise that Amaechi and Abba kyari were major actors in Abuja"

The source also said that Nsima Ekere's relationship with Amaechi started falling apart when Akpabio defected to the APC.

Other actors at the Abuja front who worked against Mr Ekere because of his association with Akpabio included, Alhaji Isa Funtua and the National leader of the APC, Asiwaju "Jagaban" Tinubu, the source revealed;

"Nsima did not give Amaechi his due again as the South South leader of the APC after senator Akpabio defected to their fold. He also was not relating well with Abba Kyari even as MD of the NDDC. Alhaji Isa Funtua also had issues with Akpabio and did everything to ensure he didn't see the politics light in the APC in Abuja... Even Tinubu who wants his wife to be the Deputy Senate President did not want Akpabio in Abuja at all to forestall the lingering thoughts of his emergence as the Senate president... All these men worked against Akpabio and when Nsima Bec unnecessarily close to Akpabio and seemed to be paying loyalty to him, he became a child of circumstance and suffered from the conspiracy that led to his eventual defeat".

Speaking on why "Federal might" was not utilized in Mr Ekere's favour the source said that Amaechi controlled the military apparentus in the south south and gave final orders at his discretion;

"We are told Amaechi was the one who made the call to General Buratai, the Chief of Army staff, to order troops not to work for Obong Nsima Ekere on the election day....though Nsima had soldiers with him, they obeyed the last instructions from Abuja and you know the army does not toy with hierarchy".

The plans to redeploy Mr Mike Igini also suffered a set-back in the hands of this same players, the source added. "None of the major players in the Abuja front was willing to lend a voice in the calls for the redeployment of Igini from the state, Abba Kyari's call to the INEC chairman would have done that effortlessly but he did not call. He did not want Akpabio who neither acknowledged his political role in the country nor paid loyalty to him to take the glory for his (Kyari's) Political wit".

When one considers the events around the 2019 elections in Akwa Ibom state, Akpabio's defection to the APC was more of a curse than a blessing to the APC in Akwa Ibom State. "Akpabio's defection to the APC and Mr Ekere's sudden alignment to him was his (Mr Ekere's) greatest undoing in the March 9 elections", the source said.

"Do not Relocate Governorship election tribunal or any election tribunal in Akwa Ibom State to Abuja"-Coalition of Young Lawyers appeal.

Akin Oluwadayisi, Abuja


The Coalition of Young Lawyers in Akwa Ibom State, an Umbrella body of young lawyers practising in the state, urge the Court of Appeal not to relocate the governorship election tribunals or any election tribunals to Abuja.

On Monday, March 25th 2019, the coalition in their letter to the President of the Court of Appeal pointed out that the sitting of Election Tribunals in Uyo will afford her members and other young lawyers, the opportunity to see and watch firsthand, the way and manner proceedings are conducted in election tribunals; thereby arming themselves with the requisite knowledge and experience of electoral matters, as this will in turn have positive bearing on the economic state of young lawyers in Akwa Ibom State.

The Coalition noted that the relocation of election tribunals to Abuja or any other jurisdiction will deny young lawyers in the state the golden opportunity of learning and earning a reasonable living since it's believed that senior lawyers conducting matters in the tribunals will definitely engage the services of young lawyers resident within jurisdiction and will in turn pay them for their services.

They stressed that there is no basis for the request that Election Tribunals be relocated to Abuja as Akwa Ibom State is very peaceful and has recorded no incident of security breach, which will necessitate the relocation of tribunals to Abuja. They further stressed that relocating the Tribunals to Abuja will mean denying young lawyers in the state the opportunity of participating in electoral proceedings for ( eight years; recalling that in 2015, election tribunals were relocated to Abuja.

While urging the President of the Court of Appeal to honour the wishes and yearnings of young lawyers in Akwa Ibom State and not relocate Election Tribunals to Abuja or any other jurisdiction, especially as there is no reason to do so, The Coalition used the medium to commend the efficient administration of the PCA over the affairs of the appellate court.

The plea was signed by about 45 young lawyers in Akwa Ibom State.

ATTA IKIDEH, A BEWILDERED PERSONALITY

~Umoh Cosmas



It can be very ridiculous when a full grown man attempts to hide behind a finger. For sure, right thinking members of the public will never take such a personality serious, no matter how much he tries to get attention, especially when his unstable antecedents are well known.
Hiding behind a finger is what Atta Ikideh has been doing ever since his failed attempt to swindle the Akwa Ibom State government through 419 proposals. He has over time latched on frivolous statistics and concocted ‘failings’ in his attempt to ridicule and downplay the achievements of the state government.
Rather than activate a self-destruct mode through blackmail and deceitful publications, Ikideh may do well for himself by utilizing his resources to resuscitate his stranded law career, which he abandoned here in Nigeria, having failed to make it to the Nigerian Law School. Since he made a fortune from the last administration as a willing tool of blackmail, he should make his late father and indeed the larger Ikideh family proud by investing in meaningful ventures.
Ikideh’s latest opinion piece where he asked “why is it all bad news about Akwa Ibom State from the National Bureau of Statistics?” exposes him as one with a warped imagination who eagerly awaits bad news about his native land, Akwa Ibom. He should be aware that his recent ignoble undertakings against the state government has kept right-thinking Akwa Ibom people at home and in the diaspora wondering if he does not need a mental check. They might just be right!
It is a sad commentary that one who claims to be a patriot would go in deliberate search of bad news about his state and would go further to give vigorous publicity to dubious and politically motivated negative statistics. The question is, where was Attah Ikideh when the same NBI rated Akwa Ibom state, under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel as the second best destination for Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria? How much publicity did he give to that rating?  
The antics of Ikideh’s ilk are well known to those of us who have consistently follow developments in Akwa Ibom state. Once they fail to get what they want, they resort to blackmail and lend themselves to spent paymasters and drowning godfathers, whose trade in stock is to whip undue sentiments against a focused administration like we presently have in Akwa Ibom State.
It is public knowledge that Akwa Ibom government, through its Health Commissioner, has satisfactorily addressed the NBS rating of Akwa Ibom as the state with the highest prevalence rate in the 2018 national survey. In case Ikideh is not aware, HIV prevalence has been on the decline since Governor Udom came on board. While the state’s prevalence was 10.8% in the 2014 national survey, it dropped to 5.5% in the 2018 survey.
On the latest rating of the State as having the highest cost of living, the likes of Ikideh should be informed that it is not every statistics reeled out by agencies that should be taken hook, line and sinker. While an agency like the NBS may have done well in time past, it is not unlikely that its recent activities may have been politically motivated.
Dazed by the outcome of the last general elections in Akwa Ibom State, especially the sweet victory of Governor Udom Emmanuel, it is pitiful that Ikideh and his co-travellers are still befuddled, and therefore, have continued their search for anything that will keep them on the payroll of their equally stunned paymasters.
The pains of the resounding loss by Ikideh’s masters is understandable. Nevertheless, it is high time he turned a new leaf and team up with the rest of us Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who have vowed to stop at nothing is supporting Governor Emmanuel to realize the dream of a greater state, where peace, progress and development stand in bold relief.
A word is enough for the wise!
 
Cosmas is a public affairs commentator.

UDOM'S SWEEPING VICTORY IN ORO: THE ROLE EKUWEM PLAYED

BY Raymond Ita

MARCH 21, 2019

The news that greeted the appointment of Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem as Secretary to the Akwa Ibom state government, was one that generated mixed feelings. Not least from his own tribe of Oro, where many of his kinsmen felt his unbridled reputation for utmost sanity and decorum, was not cut out for the nitty gritty nature his new office would demand.

Here, was a man well established in his chosen field as an ICT guru, well grounded on international business and speaks several foreign languages fluently. Surely, his appointment was to be celebrated, not scoffed at.

Stepping into the shoes of his usually "larger than life" predecessors is one thing, fitting in seamlessly was another, as he faced the daunting tasks of spearheading the developmental goals of the Udom administration, as well as provide the needed leadership to a people yearning for one, who had come to recognize him, and rightfully so, as their political leader.

The situation was made even more precarious, dicey, given that his first year in the saddle was a make or mar - an election year.

And so, when the results of the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom state started trickling in, right up to the eventual announcement that declared Governor Udom returned for a second term and a perfect sweep for the contesting state house-hopefuls, something unprecedented was on the cards: Oro was 100% PDP!

This piece serves to portray the undisputed role Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem played in ensuring that the "Avang Ki" theorem was effected to the letter. Oro was unified in it's decision to reelect Governor Udom and ensure the PDP produced the lawmakers for her state constituencies. The success was phenomenal and Ekuwem's role cannot be quantified.

So what were the key factors deployed by the Uda-born ICT magnate turned politician?

• THE BATTLE FOR MBO

Suffice it to say that the initial appointment of Ekuwem was not without internal grumbling, especially from the four other LGAs that make up Oro nation. Eventually, all had come to see it as a plus to Oro and celebrated it wholeheartedly. His reception was a fitting testimony.

But in Mbo, an already brewing battle was gathering pace and unholy momentum.

Prior to Ekuwem's appointment, this was a local government blessed with a serving Commissioner and a sitting House of Representatives member. It is fair to note, that neither could truly lay claims to being the power broker in Mbo (either reluctantly or otherwise), an impasse that was readily addressed with Ekuwem's arrival.

Rt. Hon. Victor Antai's defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) swelled the ranks of the main opposition party in the state, not just in Mbo, but in Oro nation as a whole.
This was not unsurprising considering they already had a serving Senator.
Victor, spurred by his ambition to go to the National Assembly, attempted in no small measure to dent the image of Dr. Ekuwem and dismantle a grip he had already held firm since coming into office as SSG.

He had a mandate of his own: to defeat Rt. Hon. Nse Ekpenyong of the PDP at the polls, having secured the APC's ticket to run for House of Representatives, and his futile campaign to sell Nsima Ekere to Oro people.

It seemed Victor would have his way in the struggle for Mbo and eventually Oro. But in his meticulous ways, Ekuwem was silently stealing the hearts of his people by displaying unparalleled leadership qualities that endeared him to his people.

The PDP primaries was a perfect scenario to describe the astuteness of this elder statesman.

His disposition towards ensuring that a credible candidate "of the people" emerged as the PDP flagbearer, rather than imposition, turned the tide in his favour, and would eventually prove pivotal to the PDP at the main polls.
This singular deed cost a sitting State House member Hon. Samuel Ufuo, a second stint in the legislature, a development that unmasked the true nature of one initially portrayed as a political ally, but wasn't (his defection to APC later confirmed).

This was in sharp contrast to the APC were imposition of candidates were the order of the day and so, when the chips were down, it was easy for Mbo People to decide who and where they want to be identified with, going into the future. And PDP held sway.

Mbo delivered PDP at the state House of Assembly Level, returned Udom Emmanuel for a second term and gave Nse Ekpenyong massive support in his bid for a second stint at the green Chambers.

Without a shrewd of doubt, Ekuwem won the battle for the soul of Mbo, single-handedly out of Goodwill.

• THE REST OF ORO

Victor Antai is by no means a push-over, but even that was made possible by his rise and rise in the PDP. His defection to the APC was a terrible miscalculation he himself has come to rue. Whether he will publicly admit that is a gist for another day, but when the chips are fully down, we will have stories to tell.

It is no longer news that the past administration in the state (whose kingpins had long defected to the APC) put paid to Dr. Ekuwem's Senatorial ambition. In 2015, Oro and indeed Eket Senatorial District, were denied credible representation at the Red Chambers by the unholy alliance that meant no good for us.
A rusty, stoned lawmker was unearthed from political oblivion to take the exalted role of Senate, and for more than three years, the Nigerian Senate were "a man less" and that's literally speaking.

Ekuwem would not seek another shot at the Senate, though I say and with good authority, that had he ran for the office this year, he would have won without any doubt. So the onus was on him to give massive support to the candidate the PDP would eventually back, in the mould of Senator-elect, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi.

While the APC and their candidates were relying on the manna from Federal might, Dr. Ekuwem carried out extensive Campaigning across the five local governments in Oro, championing the cause of the PDP and spreading the gospel of Divine Mandate.

His message has always been clear: "Oro has never had it better than with Udom Emmanuel", and the chances of drawing more projects and government presence was higher under Udom.

Getting quality representation at the N.A was sustainable by retaining Nse Ekpenyong and sending Nelson Effiong to a final political resting place.

He promised Udung Uko people, that the roads, which previous administrations had denied them, but the Udom government has started constructing, is just a starting point. The governor surely has more plans.
He galvanized Oron and Udung Uko to collectively support the re-election of Hon. Effiong Bassey for another term in the State House of Assembly.

Little wonder when the decisive moment came for Udung Uko to decide the fate of Oro Federal Constituency, they defied political grandstanding of "power supply by crook" to keep with the tradition of old - PDP.
Udung Uko voted Nse and it boiled down to those encouraging words from Dr. Ekuwem just days before the election.

He reminded Okobo that as the gateway to Oro nation, they could not afford to stay out of the umbrella, and a vote for Udom would translate to a vote for a sitting Deputy Speaker.

Urue Offong Oruko had an age-long tradition of not giving second chances to political, elected office holders. "One One Water" as the jinx is called was a living political myth.

Hon. Asuquo Archibong's victory at the 2015 polls under the platform of the APC, was a testimony to that.

Ekuwem broke that jinx!

He ceaselessly impressed on the people of Urue Offong Oruko the need to ensure 'Poison' was returned for another term.
So much as little faith was attached to these sayings, it eventually paid off with a resounding victory for the PDP and for governor Udom.

• THE REST OF THE STATE

From day one, Dr. Ekuwem has commanded the respect of the political circle in the state, owing to his dexterity and diplomacy in handling the most delicate of issues as it concerns government.
Little wonder the governor delegates basically almost every Grade A responsibility he cannot attend to, to his office.
He has dutifully represented the governor at events where he has struck a cord with the people of the state, who have come to see governance in a different way, with these two professionals at the helm.
Through Ekuwem, they see a SSG who is committed to making the system work and not the type that fosters or ferments trouble within the polity that would lead to instability.

The cohesion between the governor and the SSG is growth-inducive and these are factors the electorates look out for.

So much is his personality overwhelming, that when a governorship aspirant from the APC, Engr. Dr. Edet Efretui, defected to the PDP, he cited the glowing leadership attributes of Ekuwem as a determining factor in his decision to ditch the opposition for the ruling party in the state.
Surely, that quantified to block defections from the other divide, which arguably translated to votes for Udom and the PDP. The reasons are endless.

For a man once ridiculed for being a political underachiever and a political lightweight, the success of PDP in Oro at the just concluded elections, is a big reward for hardwork, dedication to duty and focused leadership where it was required on the part of Dr. Ekuwem.

He came, he saw and he conquered.

He has undisputedly placed himself above his peers in the art of leadership and looking beyond 2019, this will be a time to forever reckon w Iith.

I doff hat for Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.

EMMANUEL EKON & THE MANY LIES OF A FAILED INORDINATE AMBITION

We are concerned about the face-saving release issued by the outgoing Two – term National Assembly Member, Representing Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekon, where he attempted to twist the narrative of the true verdict he was served at the just concluded National Assembly elections, with the aim of deceiving innocent members of the public.

While it is necessary to overlook claims of the teeming support base he alluded to in his first paragraph, we are taken aback by the inanity in his assertion that the non-existing support base also orchestrated his foray into the lonely path of election petition, not minding that he was roundly defeated at the February 23, 2019 polls.

For the avoidance of doubt, Emmanuel Ekon’s inordinate and lonely third term bid to the national assembly was lost, long before the elections; when stakeholders of the constituency on August 25, 2017, unanimously agreed in a Stakeholders’ meeting that the seat be zoned to Abak LGA; a decision that drove the final nail into the coffin of the inordinate third term ambition.

On the above stated date and meeting held at the Independence Hall, Abak, stakeholders, including the few he procured to the APC, when it was obvious that the PDP’s firm stand on zoning was not allowing him any chance, acknowledged the beauty of peaceful co-existence by rotating the federal constituency seat among the three sister Local Government Areas, which Ekon benefitted from, to emerge as the Constituency’s first two term representative. It is also worthy of note that he exported his ignominy to the All Progressive Congress on his defection, when he arm-twisted the party to substitute the winner of the party primaries, Hon. Uwem Udoma. Nothing could agree more as stolen mandate than what he dealt his party on his entry.

The result of the just concluded elections could not have come as a surprise to people, who other than his dismal legislative performance, were already aligned with the popular choice of sending him home, as evidenced in the massive rejection he suffered, securing a paltry 13,635 votes against PDP’s 31,455 votes, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The margin he lost at the elections cannot pass for “a stolen mandate” he couldn’t have done any better with such level of rejection even
with tons of ‘Local Content’ cash and Armour of Flesh” which all failed him.

The result notwithstanding, we are armed with detailed videos, pictorial and voice evidences of APC’s brigand onslaught against the people during the elections. It is public knowledge that he led thugs, armed militia and security operatives to disturb the process, including criminal abduction of INEC Adhoc Staff and elction materials in some wards that led to the few cancellations the exercise recorded which would have further sunk his feeble electoral fortunes.

Despite his right to a judicial journey, we also wish to state that we are ready to follow through every stage of jurisprudence to bring him and his cohorts to account for the numerous violent crimes they committed during the election, which amounted to gross electoral crimes as well as other life threatening attacks he dealt the people. With confessional statements, official review and other evidences at our disposal, our conviction to strengthen our people’s faith in the letters and tenets of credible polls, to boost their confidence in future elections will soon be established through the judiciary.

We respect his right to fully explore the option of legal redress as a citizen, since we are convinced these legal rounds will add to broadening knowledge, provide resource to scholars and an adequate lesson to Ekon and his co-travelers on how not to go to justice with unclean hands. Conscious that his appeal will not change the mandate the people willingly gave us in a free, fair and credible process.

In conclusion, we seek to reaffirm our unflinching commitment to raising the bar of leadership, which will provide the people oriented leadership, quality representation, robust legislative engagements and massive empowerment we promised when we traversed the 31 political Wards of our Federal Constituency in quest for your mandate, emphasizing that no post election litigations will distract our resolve.

We call on our teeming supporters to remain calm, law-abiding, peaceful and magnanimous in victory; certain that their mandate is not only intact, but God that brought us this far is faithful to take us further.

Once again, thank you for your support.

God bless Abak Federal Constituency.

Signed

Media Office
Divine Restoration Campaign Organization

WHEN LOSERS TELL LIES
BEING THE TEXT OF THE PRESS BRIEFING BY THE PUBLICITY SECRETARY OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY AKWA IBOM STATE CHAPTER, COMRADE INI EMEMOBONG IN REACTION TO THE ACCUSATION OF MANDATE THEFT BY THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS AND THEIR STAKEHOLDERS

Gentlemen of the press,

The entire world, we are sure, was shocked yesterday by the press statement issued by the State Chairman of the broom wielding party, Ini Okopido and the subsequent press conference hosted by the duo of Obong Nsima Ekere and Chief Godswill Akpabio alleging that they won in 26 local government areas of the state. This is surely the best example of living in fool’s paradise.

For the avoidance of doubt, we must state that the APC lost in all the local government areas including Essien Udim and Ikot Abasi local Government areas. In Essien Udim, materials in Ekpeyong ward were hijacked by APC agents. at the voting units in independence high school, thugs and policemen sympathetic to Senator Akpabio mounted the gates and prevented PDP supporters from gaining access to the venue. The thugs further unleashed unmitigated physical attack on journalists and observers, Demola, the TVC correspondent who was there to cover the elections was severely beaten up and chased away. In Ukana East, the Personal Assistant to Senator Akpabio, Emmanuel Inyangetoh accompanied by over 49 police officers and 60 thugs, went unit to unit packing electoral materials which were taken to independence high school,where thumb printing was recklessly done. As if that was not enough, the INEC office in the LGA was kept under siege by Chief Godswill Akpabio, who physically assaulted the Electoral Officer and threatened the collation officer to do his bidding. He filled the result sheets with his hand and forced the presiding officers to sign. These facts are alive and at the tribunal, we will avail the court. The entire world noted the delay with which it took for Essien Udim to collate and transmit results, all because of Senator Akpabio’s unwholesome interference.

In Ikot Abasi local Government Area, APC thugs were on rampage carting away electoral materials and personnel and taking them to Ekere’s residence, where thumb printing was done. Even in Nsima Ekere’s Unit, pictorial evidence abound to show armed soldiers arranging the voting queue to ensure that PDP supporters did not vote. In units 2,6 and other units in ward 7 thugs led by Ernest Ntuk hijacked ballot boxes and electoral personnel, delivering them at the residence of Ekere.

In Ikono local Government Area, Edidiong Idiong, who was the Federal Constituency candidate of the APC, went in company of armed policemen and thugs to shoot and hijack ballot boxes and result sheets. Senator Aloysuis Etok took some thugs to his village to harass voters, but met a stiff resistance from the villagers.

In Uruan, the duo of Hon. Bassey Etim and Hon. Kufre Etuk unleashed mayhem on anybody opposing their possession of electoral materials. Barr. Raymond Umoiyak is currently hospitalized because of wounds sustained from shooting done by thugs brought by Kufre Etuk.

In Ini, an APC chieftain, Goddy Udoudo aka mentor, accompanied by thugs hijacked and destroyed electoral materials. He was arrested with a pistol and taken to the Police headquarters at odoro Ikpe.

In Uyo, Prof. Chris Ekong, Perry Ntuk and other APC chieftains either disrupted elections, carried away materials or chased away members of other parties from the polling units.

In Mbo, Victor Antia is reported to have cruised around the entire Oro nation with soldiers and policemen, hijacking materials.

In Etim Ekpo local government area, evidence abound to the fact Rt. Hon.Emmanuel Ekon and DIG Ekpoudom were in a competition for the best material hijacker and rigger. While Ekpoudom took materials for ward 5,Ekon took materials for wards 9,10 and 11 to his house in Iwukem, thereby claiming the price.
These are just few of the places where APC orchestrated electoral fraud of unimaginable proportions.

It can be recalled that the APC was not preparing for elections, they were preparing for Federal might backed rigging, where thugs will be clothed in military uniforms and posted to local government areas to hijack materials and rig for them. As a part of the plan, the APC had printed ballot papers which they gave to Bishop Samuel Akpan to organize the thumb printing session. Bishop Akpan ferried the materials to a location in calabar, cross River state, where he employed people to do the thumb printing. To clear the issue of card readers, Obong Nsima Ekere held a meeting with RATECHs and paid them 1,000 USD each at a location in D Line Ewet Housing Estate beside Tender Heart schools. At the payment point were Kufre Etuk, Idongesit Ituen and Uyo Nathaniel. On Wednesday night, Obong Nsima Ekere met with Returning and collation officers coordinated by Associate Professor Valerie Solomon of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo.At the meeting, held at the residence of Obong Umana Okon Umana, Nsima Ekere promised to pay all ward collation officers 1 million naira each, while local government collation and returning officers were to collect 3 million naira each. He completely monitised the entire process, thinking in like manner like his boss, who thinks that what money cannot do, more money can do. The news of this uncommon bribery filtered out and may have been the reason why the collation and returning officers were changed. That is the one of the new reasons why Senator Akpabio and Nsima Ekere are angry with Igini for changing collation and returning officers.

We had notified the world that Nsima Ekere was in talks with militants in a bid to terrorize the elections. Evidence surfaced days ago in the leaked audio tape where he is heard negotiation with militants to secure their services for the elections. He offered 25m for 20 hilux vehicles, men and tools which were referred to as walking sticks and GP meaning AK 47 riffles and General Purpose Machine Guns. In that conversation, they were heard plotting to bomb the vehicle of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, in a bid to scare him. Nsima cannot deny that he had this discussion, deep in his heart, he knows the identity of the people he had the conversation with, he knows the calls he made intermittently, he knows the calls he made after and those who came to join that meeting, particularly DIG Ekpoudom and Uyo Nathaniel. He can deny before man, can he also deny to himself and God? Can he deny knowledge of the deployment of thugs from Edo State to our state? Those thugs arrived in their hundreds in more than 52 buses. Their presence in our state was seen and felt. Or can he deny that he did not have a meeting with the leader of the Edo boys, Kabaka at Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort?

Senator Akpabio requested for many units of army personnel to be given him and his wishes were granted. What did he need the soldiers for ? Oh, to use and conclude elections in three hours? Which election can be done in three hours?

The result of this election is a reply by Akwa Ibom people to the senseless boastings of Akpabio, Nsima and co who claimed that God had no business in politics. The people have spoken and loudly too, rejecting the political mortgage that the APC sought to place the state on. The fact that even Nsima Ekere lost in Ikot Abasi should humble the APC and cause them to seek the face of the Lord. The people in Akwa Ibom have announced to the world that they do not need godfathers when they have God the father. Their reply is a testimony that the populace prefer the peace that they are currently enjoying and do not wish to go back to the evil days of political assassinations and oppression.

The breath of fresh political air currently blowing through the state is divinely orchestrated and cannot be truncated by the conspiracies of men, no matter how highly placed and connected. Let us therefore remind Chief Akpabio, Obong Ekere and their ilk,that self deceit is the worst form of deceit. They should wake to the sad reality of the massive rejection that the voting populace have served on them. They should adopt the posture of Nebuchadnezzar, who like them derided God and assumed his role in the affairs of men. When humiliated by God, he was sober and broken hearted, before God caused his redemption. These present day Nebuchadnezzars would rather commit suicide, than turn to the Lord for salvation.

Let us use this opportunity again, to dedicate this victory won for us by only God Almighty, to the Akwa Ibom people who braved all odds to vote for us and defend the votes to the point of final announcement. Our government will continually work for the benefit of Akwa Ibom people and not few self seeking persons.

We reiterate the call for the arrest of Chief Godswill Akpabio and Obong Nsima Ekere for the numerous electoral and criminal offenses committed by them in the course of these elections . The rule of law makes all men equal before the law.

Finally, we are grateful to God, who’s faithfulness to his promises never weavers. We will continue to trust in Him, conscious that those who put their trust in him do not see shame.

NSIMA EKERE: DO YOU PLAN TO GOVERN CORPSES?

Uduak Akpan

The Major attribute of the APC in Akwa Ibom state has been violence and threats of violence; by violence Nsima Ekere emerged as their Gubernatorial candidate and through violence all their Candidates hoped to win the National Assembly elections.

Recent happenings in the state however confirms that Akwa Ibom people have underestimated the extent to which Mr Ekere and the APC are prepared to go just to gain access to the hilltop mansion come May 29, 2019.

The people are aware of the over 400 thugs in the aggregate that have arrived the state from Edo state to play the script of the APC on March 9, the people are aware of the fake Military, Police and DSS personnel who are now clad in fake Uniforms and are armed to cause violence to ensure his emergence at the polls, the people are even aware that some genuine security operatives in the state had long obtained the APC party cards and are now dancing to the drums as beaten by the APC in the state, but these are only but icings on the violence strategy orchestrated and funded by the Mr Ekere and the APC against the Gubernatorial elections.

A fresh audio reveal that Mr Ekere has entered into an "investment" with militants from Port Harcourt to the tune of Twenty-five Million Naira (the advance of fifeen million has already been paid) to perpetuate the highest degree of violence on the election day. In the specifics, about 80 of them have been mobilised and are currently combat ready in the state. The Militants who are all to appear in army Uniforms have the script to patrol the entire length and breadth of the state in 20 Hilux vans, monitoring each polling unit. They have the orders by Mr Ekere to shoot, kill and disrupt elections at any polling unit where the APC is not leading in the state. Already, they have been introduced to the Police and other Security operatives that will be on duty on the election day and they have agreed to give them a free hand to operate.

Again, in their agenda is the plot to blow up Mr Mike Igini's vehicle to intimidate and cow him to compromise with them as they plan to manipulate their way to victory.

As the statistics stand today in Akwa Ibom, the PDP will lead in all polling units. Remember that during the Presidential elections, the APC could not boast of a win in more than 5 polling units in the entire state. If this is the case and these Militants have been instructed to shoot, kill and disrupt elections at any polling unit where the APC is not leading, the only logical conclusion is that Mr Ekere is planning to shoot and kill all Akwa Ibomites, hence the question; NSIMA EKERE, DO YOU PLAN TO GOVERN CORPSES?

*****************
Attached for your verification is an audio clip of the contract conversation between Mr Ekere and the Militant Leaders, General Ben and another. Again, Mr Ekere's verified phone number which he gave to them is 07034111711, this the world can confirm.

ONLY TRIBUNAL CAN STOP US FROM ISSUING CERTIFICATE OF RETURN TO ELECTED OFFICIAL ~ INEC TELLS AKPABIO

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has said it will study the court order restraining it from issuing the certificate of return to winner of the senatorial election for Akwa Ibom North-west senatorial district, Mr. Chris Ekpenyong.

The commission also said as it understands, all post-elections matters can only be determined by an election petition tribunal.

The electoral commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, made these clarifications in Abuja while responding to enquiries from THISDAY over the suspension and possible expulsion of the governors by their party as well as the court order former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, secured, restraining INEC from issuing certificate of return to his opponent that defeated him in the Akwa Ibom North-west senatorial district, Mr. Chris Ekpenyong.

He said it was a common knowledge that whenever the country was within the orbit of post-election challenges and litigation, no new matter could be filed or adjudicated upon by the various courts arising from the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Justice Valentine Ashi of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, had on Friday restrained INEC from issuing certificate of return to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Ekpeyong. Justice Ashi gave the restraining order in a short ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Akpabio.

Akpabio in the suit No: FCT/HC/M/2680/19 and filed on February 28 prayed the court for, “an order granting leave to him to apply for a judicial review for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declarative reliefs sought against the respondent (INEC).” He also prayed the court to direct the respondent to “particularly stay further action in respect of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat of senator representing Akwa Ibom North-west senatorial district on the account of election held on February 23, 2019.”

tribuneonlineng.com
But in a short ruling, Justice Ashi held that the case of Akpabio is meritorious and that there is need to keep things in status quo.

“Leave is hereby granted to the applicant to apply for judicial review for the issuance of a writ of mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declaratory reliefs against the respondent. Leave granted shall operate as stay of further action of the respondent and particularly in respect of issuance of Certificate of Return to any candidate in respect of the seat as sought by the applicant,” Justice Ashi held.

However, Okoye said he was not aware the commission has been restrained from issuing certificate of return to any candidate.

He stated: “I am not aware that the commission has been served with any order relating to the issuance of certificate of return to any of the candidates returned as duly elected and arising from the conduct of the February 23, 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections. I am also not aware that the commission has been restrained from issuing certificate of return to any of the candidates returned as having been elected during the February 23 elections.”

Okoye explained that the commission is not a court of law or election tribunal, adding that the electoral body was only empowered to issue a certificate of return to candidates that were validly elected in the presidential and National Assembly Elections.

He explained further that when the commission is served with a court order, it will deliberate on it as a commission, satisfy itself that the order is from a properly constituted court of law and relates to the issues within its statutory and constitutional mandate. According to him, the commission does not sit on appeal over orders from the various courts and does not pick and choose which order to obey and which one not to obey.

Okoye added, “However, it is a matter of common knowledge that the country is now within the orbit of post-election challenges and litigation and no new matter can be filed or adjudicated upon by the various courts arising from the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.”

The national commissioner stressed that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration, No. 21) Act, 2017 gives the High Courts of the states, the Federal High Court and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja the exclusive right and jurisdiction to hear and determine matter with pre-election flavour.

He noted that the courts named are in the Alteration Act and empowered to handle matters relating to the conduct of party primaries, suits challenging the actions, decisions or activities of the commission in respect of the participation of political parties in elections or complaints in relation to the nomination or selection of candidates to participate in elections or actions or decisions of the commission disqualifying the candidates of a party.

Okoye stated: “The moment elections are conducted, all matters relating to whether anyone has been validly elected as a member of the National Assembly or whether a certificate of return was validly issued to a candidate reverts to the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Tribunals established pursuant to section 285 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The tribunals so established shall to the exclusion of any other court or tribunal have original and exclusive jurisdiction to determine matters and issues arising from the conduct of elections. These tribunals have been established and inaugurated and the registries of the tribunals are in place.

“Furthermore, section 75(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) provides that a sealed Certificate of Return at an election in the prescribed form shall be issued within seven days to every candidate who has won an election under the Act.

“The proviso to the said section further provides that where the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court being the final Appellate Court in any election petition nullifies the Certificate of Return of any candidate, the commission shall within 48 hours after the receipt of the order of such court issue the successful candidate with a valid Certificate of Return.

“The operation word in the said proviso is that the appeal relating to the issuance of a Certificate of Return must emanate from an election petitions tribunal.”

BUSTED!

INI APC HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY candidate PARADING
FAKE DEGREE - UNICAL

...May be charged to court, risks jail term.

By Sampson Etuk


Credible facts have emerged that the APC candidate for Ini State Constituency in the forthcoming House of Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State is parading a fake degree.

The revelation is contained In a letter addressed to U. D. Itiat Esq of U. David Itiat & Associates, Uyo and dated January 28, 2019, wherein the Registrar stated that the signatures of the scheduled officers, that is the Vice - Chancellor and the Registrar, on the certificate presented by Mr Isong Nya John are forged and consequently that the certificate presented by him is not authentic.

Mr Moses O Abang, the Registrar of the University of Calabar, Calabar in the letter revealed that Mr Isong Nya John, the APC candidate for the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Ini State Constituency has no certificate whatsoever from the University of Calabar.



Mr John had presented the said certificate as part of requirements to contest for a seat at the House of Assembly, Akwa Ibom state. In the certificate, now revealed to be a miserable product of poor forgery, Mr John had claimed to posses a B.SC in microbiology with a Second Class Upper Division, from the University of calabar, bagged in the year 2000.

Commenting on the development, a constitutional lawyer, Barr Uwem Jonah has explained that the candidate of the APC risk going to jail as forgery is a felony punishable under the laws of Nigeria.

He explained further that the submission of false details in the course of elections by a candidate is ground for the disqualification of the said candidate pursuant to section 31 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2010 and a grounds for election petition by section 138 (1)(a) of the same legislation.

Efforts to reach Mr John has been unsuccessful as he is neither picking his calls nor responding to text messages.

A HARVEST OF ARRESTS: HOW MUCH MORE DO WE EXPECT?

More than 184 Political thugs brought into Akwa Ibom state from Edo state by the APC have been arrested this morning and are currently being interrogated at the Godswill Akpabio Hall, Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia. This comes after over 15 buses loaded with the same specie of hoodlums numbering over 400 were intercepted at Obot Akara yesterday, March 5, 2019.

We regret the sad news making rounds this morning that the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State command has given orders for the release of the over 400 thugs arrested yesterday. This suggests the lack of resolve by the Police to ensure the absence of violence in the March 9 elections.

We urge the Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom command to rise above all doubts and ensure that these newly arrested thugs are made to face the full consequences of the law. Akwa Ibom people do not want to hear a repeat of the sad story of their release without due process.


A M Ekanem
Media Relations Officer
People's Democratic Party
Akwa Ibom State
06032019

BREAKING!


Court STOPS INEC from Redeploying AKS REC


Samuel Ignatius

A High Court Sitting in Abuja has refused an application to order the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove Mr Mike Igini as the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Akwa Ibom State. The Claimant, one Mr Stanley Okpara who filed the application, ex parte through his counsel C. F. Odiniru had prayed the Court for an order directing the INEC, the first defendant in the suit, to remove Mr Mike Igini, the second defendant from his current station as INEC REC, Akwa Ibom State and redeploy him to another state.

Justice O. A. Musa delivering his ruling on February 28 refused the prayers of the Applicant stating in his considered reasoning that such an order may disrupt INEC's plan to conduct a free and credible elections in the concerned state. The court held that:

"Parties should maintain the status quo as of today, to this end, the 1st Defendant either by themselves or Chairman shall not take any step to either remove the 2nd Defendant as the REC as his current station pending the hearing of the motion on notice".

The court consequently adjourned the matter to March 21, 2019 for the Applicant to address it on jurisdiction. It further ordered the applicant to ensure service of the processes on all parties in the suit.

Dissatisfied APC youths leak Planned Protest Against Mr Mike Igini, INEC REC.

~ Timitope Ekundayo

Ahead of the planned visit by President Mohammadu Buhari to Akwa Ibom state, some dissatisfied youths of the APC have leaked a sinister plan by the APC to present falsehood, through their local agents to the President on his visit, in their efforts to lure the President into believing the lies told him by their National representatives, Senator Ita Enang and Senator Godswill Akpabio that the INEC REC is compromised and works in favour of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State.

Instead of mobilising to receive President Mohammadu Buhari, the APC have rather planned to stage a protest against Mr Igine, at his reception at the airport, the source said. The protest is planned to commence at the airport, with placards bearing notes of blackmail and allegations against Mr Igini and on such premises calling for his removal. Other credible source have added that the President's visit is anchored principally on the need to see to the redployment of Me Igini.

The youths have also revealed a plan to cause violence in the state if the President fails to align with their agitations to call for and ensure that Mr Igini is redeployed from the state before the March 9 elections. Recall that a source from the presidency as reported by Nairaland and other media platform had already hinted on the reason for the President's Proposed visit to Akwa Ibom state on March 9, 2019.

Speaking on the cause of their grievances, the youths stated that the Elders in the party are selfish and have employed all the funds released by the party and candidates of the Party in the state for their personal enrichment. This they say was the principal reason for their loss in the February 23 elections as there were no funds for campaigns and may also be their albatross in the March 9 elections.

Meanwhile, Citizens of Akwa Ibom state have taken to various social media platforms to question the justifications behind President Buhari's proposed visit describing it as a miscalculated adventure that will yield no gain for the APC in the March 9 elections. Speaking against the explanation by the Presidency that the visit is a thank you visit to the people of the state, the people have wondered why the president will decide to pay a thank you visit to a state where he lost elections instead of visiting Kano where he got his jumbo votes or Borno where victims of Boko Haram attacks defied the odds to turn out to vote him to victory or even Katsina his home town, where charity should begin.

As We we get ready to vote on Saturday, let us not lose sight as to why we are going back for Udom Emmanuel for second term--Speaker Onofiok Luke in this address on August 23, 2018, touched on those issues and more. Please read:

That We May Consolidate Our Gains

BEING THE TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT BY RT. HON. BARR ONOFIOK LUKE, CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL DECLARATION PLANNING COMMITTEE PRESENTED TODAY, THURSDAY 23 AUGUST, 2018 IN THE NUJ PRESS CENTRE, UYO

Gentlemen of the Press,

I consider it a privilege and an honour to have all of you in this room this morning despite the short notice that was extended to you. I am even more humbled by your continued expression of goodwill to the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel of our state through your commitment to remain socially responsible. This commitment, I must say, has given verve to governance in our state and has strengthened our political institution in a time like this. The political class in our state will be counting on your bold patriotic support as we ready ourselves to further the cause of quality leadership and superior governance.

Distinguished gentlemen, as many of you already know, I am the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly, but I am addressing you on this occasion not in my capacity as Speaker but as the Chairman of the Declaration Planning Committee for the 2nd term of Governor Udom Emmanuel. By implication, His Excellency Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is set to respond positively to the clarion call by Akwa Ibom people of different economic and social class that he remain in office as governor till the year of our Lord, 2023. It is my privilege and honour therefore to announce to you that tomorrow Friday, August 24th 2018, 10am at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Governor Udom Emmanuel will be answering the call to run for a second term; he will be seeking the votes of Akwa Ibom people to lead them for another four years from 2019 to 2023, in order to concretize the Industrialization Agenda for our dear state.

It is by now an incontrovertible fact that since the return of democracy, Akwa Ibom state has prominently featured in the small league of states in Nigeria which has had the benefit of development-driven leadership.

We have been fortunate to have been led by people who envisioned, inspired, and worked assiduously towards the actualization of our collective greatness, and the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel is not an exception in this regard.
Because of the people’s trust in his capabilities and patriotism, three years ago, Akwa Ibom gave Deacon Udom Emmanuel a mandate to steer the ship of the State. Three years ago they massively voted for good governance and people-friendly and inclusive leadership.

Three years ago they voted for even distribution of our commonwealth across the nooks and crannies of the State. And three years ago, they enthroned Justice, Fairness, Equity and Peace when they voted a candidate from Eket Senatorial District as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. They refused all insinuations to the contrary and unanimously endorsed that a template of each elected Governor completing two terms of eight years be maintained without any selfish alteration.

Gentlemen, the Udom Emmanuel era has come with a rare definition of quality leadership. Recall that this administration was birthed on a 5-point pillar of wealth creation, poverty alleviation, economic and political inclusion, infrastructural consolidation and expansion. It promised to signal the beginning of a new hope and unity in the state. Indeed, most of these promises have been fulfilled in spite of the obvious challenges that we have faced as a federating state, and there is still a commitment to fulfill others in the days to come. The achievements in the aspect of job creation are evident in the many industries attracted through efforts in attracting foreign direct investments. We have witnessed infrastructural renaissance and political/ economic inclusion. This is not the occasion to list the numerous achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel, most of which many of you already know.

My responsibility at this moment is to intimate you on the declaration event of tomorrow and to invite you to listen to the governor for yourself, so you could tell the good news to our people that we are set to press our collective progress forward.

Let me emphasize at this juncture that the re-election ambition has been fuelled by the massive support of the people across the different local governments and senatorial districts of our state. As I have said before, no one part of our state, no one senatorial district, not even the political class alone can produce a governor single-handedly. This is why we have asked the media to partner with us, you must please help to propagate a message of unity and the single destiny of every one of us. Your profound role as the fourth estate in the business of good governance remains indisputable. It is this task that has inspired this meeting and many others that we will be having in the coming days.

Permit me to state categorically that by the grace of God, with Governor Udom Emmanuel as the Governor of Akwa Ibom, with the people’s votes till 2023, our future is assured.
I thank you immensely for your time as I invite your questions in line with the declaration ceremony of tomorrow.

#UdomDeclares
#DivineMandate2019

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

Segun Akintola

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESS RELEASE

*MY RESPONSE TO A MISCHIEVOUS DISCLAIMER BY APC STATE CHAIRMAN INI OKOPIDO*

I have just come across a spurious publication perpetrated by Mr. Ini Okopido, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State with the titled " THERE IS NO ELDER EKEFRE OR UDOM EMMANUEL SUPPORT GROUP IN AKWA IBOM APC"

Ordinarily, I would have ignored this attempt by the mischief maker to score cheap political points in his perilous voyage, because I am confident this falsehood like many others would collapse on its own accord. But I am impelled by necessity to react to issues raised in the frivolous publications thus:

That I am Enefiok Ekefre, a bonafide citizen of the Federal Republic with an address and also a native of Anua Offot in Uyo local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

That I am a caucus member of the All Progressive Congress, APC in the state with a letter of appointment dated 4th November 2016 and a caucus membership tag with copies attached. These afford me license and authority to attend all caucus meetings of the APC in the state.

That denying my existence as an APC party chieftain is baseless because as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, my freedom of association and assembly is guaranteed by the statutes of the constitution which is the supreme document of the country.

That Mr Okopido, probably, needs to be re-enlightened by party administrators and experts that a support group in any political setting does not need an approval or license from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to operate if it believes in a certain principle.


For that reason, I don’t think it is appropriate to confer legitimacy on an uninformed party chairman and his position because, I Enefiok Ekefre has been in party politics for a very long time not as a supporter. I was the Director General, Obong Victor Attah Campaign Committee for the 1994 constitutional conference, Chairman of various defunct political parties like the National Centre Party of Nigeria, Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), state Chairman contact and Mobilization Committee ANPP and the founding chairman of PDP Uyo Local Government Area including chairmen of various campaign committee to various senators and governors . With my experience and exposure, I am conversant with party administrations and I know the difference between a support group and party structure.

A Support group, for the enlightenment and information of the state chairman of APC, Mr Ini Okopido is a pressure group and a group of like minds on ad hoc basis with no permanent structure. It does not need constitutional approval or backing of the state party structure to advocate or campaign for a candidate of its choice. This aspect will serve as a lesson to Ini Okopido who has never head a party or elective position until now.

For that I don’t want to dignify his position, after all, he was not a popular choice of APC members. He was drafted into that position by the so-called consensus arrangement which is not recognized by international best practices after stepping down a day before his appointment. For this reason, I am in sympathy with his ignorance because he is not conversant with party administration.

That I am a member of APC as stated, since he is not conversant with party administration, that the process of expelling a member originates from the ward and the accused must be put on notice and a panel constituted to look into the allegation and after that the recommendation has to be forwarded to the chapter, state, zonal and national level for ratification.

That I have never for one day been found wanting and unfaithful by the APC at all levels. The issue of expulsion smacks of ignorance on the part of the state chairman.

The allegation that I was entrusted with the party funds to finance certain campaign activities which I did not perform at the end is a clear case of character assassination and gutter politics which I have decided that I will never be part of since leadership is supposed to be a noble profession. I have instructed my attorney to put him on notice that politics has nothing to do with character assassination and insult and also to enlighten him on record that my birth date is in the public domain and that I was born on 21st March, 1956. For that reason, he has no right to falsify my age since I am not a fraud. The public should discountenance this.

That I remain a member of APC but anytime the party’s directive is in conflict with the constitution of Nigeria, I will take side with the constitution because it is the constitution that legalizes the existence of the party and my loyalty is primarily to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

That I and the support group owe nobody any apology for the community interest of Akwa Ibom state is superior to any party inclination because we cannot practice politics without peace. We as a group refuse to aid or abide by the decision of a selected few that feel that leadership must not have a social content through popular participation. As human beings we are entitled to associate with any idea and aspiration that will take Akwa Ibom to greater heights devoid of party coloration because community interest comes first before party affiliation. That is why we are supporting Udom Emmanuel for a second term.

Finally, we appeal to well meaning people of Akwa Ibom State across all political parties to come out en masse on the 9th of March. 2019 to re -confirm the social contact between Governor Udom Emmanuel and Akwa Ibom people.
Long Live Akwa Ibom State
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Signed

Elder Enefiok Ekefre
APC Caucus Member, Akwa Ibom State
2/3/19

Press release

Free All Political Detainees

Before the elections, we had notified the whole world of plans to harass, arrest and incarcerate high ranking members of the People’s Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom state, on the instigation of the All Progressives Congress.

As we had predicted, hundreds of our people were arrested and detained and till date are yet to be released. These arrests were made without lawful justification and for the most flimsy reasons, like wearing a PDP cap. Most of the detainees have been denied access to their family and friends.

With the first leg of elections over, it is pertinent to demand:
1. That all security agencies should immediately and unconditionally release all those who were arrested for political reasons.
2. Where there is any strand of evidence of wrongdoing against them, they should be prosecuted.
3. That all security agencies should act lawfully and within the bounds of the law.

Signed:

Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary
People’s Democratic Party
27022019
#freeikwafang
#freeiniobongekong

GOV UDOM EMMANUEL'S PLANS FOR THE AVIATION SECTOR

Aviation development cannot be underemphasized if my vision for an industrialized State must be
actualized.

Having turned the State to an Investors’ haven in less than four years of my administration,
there is, therefore, a strong need to improve infrastructure and facilities in our airport, and get the facility
ready for the influx of investors that are trouping in and out of the State on a daily basis.

Already, my three and a half year administration has recorded remarkable achievements in the aviation sector, some nd of which include, construction of a 2 Airport Runway, upgrade of Airport main runway to category 2 (CAT 2 Certification), construction of new Commercial Building Terminal at Ibom International Airport
and installation of full runway lighting.

In my completion agenda, top on the blueprint for aviation are the completion of the MRO, expansion of Ibom Airline operation and building of a main terminal at the Victor Attah International Airport.

Other plans captured in my completion agenda which I intend to actualize before the end of my
administration in 2023 are:

● Establishment of Search and Rescue Center

● Establishment of Flight Training School

● Construction of Power Station to supply electricity to the airport


© Aniekeme Finbarr

THE INEC OFFICE HAD NO VOTE: THE PEOPLE MADE THEIR CHOICE

We are in receipt of credible information that the former Senate minority leader who recently lost a re-election bid into the Senate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio has given directives to some hoodlums to burn down the INEC office in Uyo and Ikot Ekpene. The information further confirms that he has enlisted the support of Some senior police officers to undertake the evil plan.

We are unable to fathom why Senator Akpabio would resort to destruction as reaction to his loss at the saturday, February 23 polls. We wish to remind the Senator that at every contest, a winner must emerge and as such he should be brave enough to embrace his defeat as the natural outcome of the expressed sovereignty of the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

We hereby call on the security agencies to distance themselves from all acts or lawlessness and avoid an attempt by any man to use them as a seal for the perpetuation of lawlessness in Akwa Ibom state.

INEC does not vote, the people do


Signed

A M Ekanem
Media Relations Officer
Publicity Secretariat, PDP

Press statement by the Peoples Democratic Party Akwa Ibom state on the state of affairs in ikot Ekpene Senatorial District


We are in receipt of impeccable intelligence indicating a plan to attack and burn INEC offices in ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and the headquarters in Uyo . This plan we learnt is hatched and sponsored by the out-going senator for ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Sen. Godswil Akpabio who is hell bent on frustrating the announcement of the collated result of Essien Udim local government area and the final result of the Senatorial District . Before the elections, Senator Akpabio, Obong Nsima Ekere, Ini Okopido and other APC chieftains undertook the regular submission of frivolous petitions against top PDP members to necessitate their arrest by the police. To give fillip to their plan, they facilitated the relocation of AIG Musa Kimo from zone 6 to Uyo, so that immediately any petition from the APC is brought, he will instruct the CP to enforce the arrest of the PDP stalwart accused. Last week, scores of PDP faithfuls were arrested and detained for no justifiable reason, even those with valid injunctions from the court were not spared. Captain Iniobong Ekong, Barr. Akan Affia, Godson Uwah and many other strong PDP members were arrested. Many others who were targeted for arrest few hours to the election escaped by God’s grace, people like Senator Bassey Albert, Obong Paul Ekpo, Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke, Engr. Uwem Okoko were on that long list. Having seen the resounding rejection served him by his Senatorial District on the Election Day, Senator Akpabio in company of police and military men stormed INEC offices in the federal constituencies of his Senatorial District in an attempt to bribe the Electoral officers to change results in his favour. Having failed to succeed in that respect, he detained the Electoral Officer for Essien Udim(His LGA) and commenced the falsification of results. When accosted by foreign observers who sought to monitor the collation, his thugs harassed the observers and chased them away.

In the last 24hours, Sen. Akpabio has tried different tricks ranging from calling the PDP collation agents and promising them huge financial inducement, offering bribes to Electoral officers, abduction and detention of electoral officials, use of military intervention and many other conceivable means of defeating the will of the people expressed freely cast through the ballot. Last night, he held a victory party at his residence in Ukana, Essien Udim, where he declared himself the winner of the elections, against the provision of Section 27(2)(e) of the Electoral Act which provides that the Returning officer shall announce the result and declare the winner at the Senatorial Collation center. It is therefore unlawful and illegal for Senator Akpabio to announce himself as the winner. The truth is that collation of results have been done in 9 out of 10 local government areas areas in ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and three out of four of the House of Representatives seats declared by INEC as having been won by the PDP with a wide margin of more that 60,000 votes. The only LGA left is Essien Idim, which INEC is currently working on.

We are hereby appealing that the security operatives should provide adequate security for all the offices, officers and infrastructure of INEC to prevent agents of the Senator Akpabio from making good their threat of destroying lives and property.
We appeal to INEC to remain firm, resolute and unbending in the discharge of their duties. Illegitimate requests must never be acceded to.

Additionally, we call on the Inspector General of police to immediately arrest Senator Godswill Akpabio for conduct likely to breach public peace and violation of section 27(2)(e) of the electoral act. He should be prosecuted immediately so that upon conviction,the provision of Section 123(4) of the electoral act will be activated.

The Inspector General of Police and the entire security apparatuses of government must engender public confidence about their neutrality and must show that no one is above the law. All institutions of state must depart from partisan tendencies as it is a great threat to the sustainability and growth of our democracy.

Thank you all.


Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary
Peoples Democratic Party,
Akwa Ibom State
25022019

Dayo Akintola Wrote;


Akpabio: An Emerging Tinubu?

Political observers in Nigeria will not have any difficulty in noticing the similarities between former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and former Senate minority Leader, Chief Godswill Akpabio and the former Governor of Lagos State , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Both politicians have governed their states, though some people have argued that they do not biologically hail from the states they governed. Tinubu is said to hail from Osun, while Akpabio is alleged by some of his ‘relatives’ to hail from the eastern part of Nigeria. They led their states at different times with the same strategy of emasculating the opposition and the employment of heavy propaganda. Anybody who enjoys any close relationship with the duo will readily notice the penchant of both men for hero worship. They live to be adored and worshipped by their supporters.

Another striking similarity is their inability to manage their deputy Governors; recall that Bola Tinunbu engineered the removal of his deputy Governor, while he was Governor. Akpabio had three deputy governors in 8 years and also engineered the removal of his deputy Nsima Ekere although on the commendable premise of allegations of fraud and grave security infractions.

Manifest among other similarities of these two political Titans is their manifest support for their wive's actions however excessive. They have turned previously very quiet women to political tigers, whose influence in the polity cannot be ignored. Remi Tinubu, even as First Lady was a very quiet and unassuming Lady. But when the husband put her out for the Senate, changed all of that, as she began to speak and act as a person of power. Recall how she got into a fight with Dino Melaye and also ignored the outstretched hand of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, after her swearing in. When Godswill Akpabio put forward his wife Unoma, she was meek, respectful and graceful but soon after, she became a tiger, locking out the sacked SSG Umana Umana and preventing him from having access to his office; abusing traditional rulers and elders and very recently, insulting an Archbishop of the Methodist Church.

These men like to be godfathers in their respective domains. They do not care about how the public will perceive their action. They just act, then allow society to react however. Recall when Tinubu instigated the Lagos state House of Assembly to attempt impeachment on Babatunde Fashola, Lagosians kicked and objected but Tinubu was adamant until he realized that if he pressed on, Fashola May defect to the PDP and go on to win the elections. He undercut fashola to bring Ambode and now, has single handedly prevented Governor Ambode from seeking a constitutionally permissible second term chance. Akpabio in trying to follow Tinubu’s foot step is trying to prevent his successor from attaining his second term.

The aspect that these two match like Siamese twins is their taste for and ownership of choice property. Tinubu is famed to own plenty assets like the oriental hotel, intercontinental hotel, TVC, max, Nation Newspaper among other choice properties. Chief Godswill Akpabio is alleged to own several properties including Neetoil building Victoria Island, his billion naira bunker home on TY Danjuma street, Awolowo, Abuja, a posh estate in Ewet Housing, a house on Colorado street, maitama, a bunker mansion at shelter afrique, Uyo, sprawling mansion in his hometown, Ukana. He is also alleged to own different businesses in Uyo, Lagos, Abuja and Enugu. The properties are St. John Paul school, shelter afrique, the Dome event center in new heaven, the psalms hotel, Independence layout, a Palatial Residence at Bent lane, Enugu GRA with 16 rooms, Cinema, Swimming pools etc,UG Wills Hotel, Calabar among others.

As events unfold, Nigerians will continue to watch the duo to see how far they can go; especially whether Godswill Akpabio will become another Bola Ahmed Tinunbu.

Oshiomole’s Ignorant Outburst: A Demand For Mental Examination

Recently, the world has witnessed a series of uncoordinated outbursts from members of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Members of the hierarchy of that broom wielding coven have been falling over themselves to accuse INEC of partisanship with the opposition. Some of these accusations have been absolutely baseless and most embarrassing , exposing the emptiness of the thought faculty employed by the APC.

The most recent of these rants emanated from the crises causing, jumpy and irascible Adams Oshiomhole at the last emergency national caucus meeting of their party. He accused the electoral umpire of bias. Specifically, he alleged that the REC in Akwa Ibom state allowed the training and recruitment of ad hoc staff meant for the election to a special assistant to the Governor. Nothing can be more false. We state as a fact That, there has never been any recruitment or training programme of INEC that was handled or supervised by any member of the Akwa Ibom state Government. We challenge him to bring any proof of a training or recruitment process of INEC ad hoc staff that was undertaken by an aide to the Akwa Ibom state government. As a man who has been a Governor for eight years, it is ordinarily expected that his words should be seasoned with wisdom and maturity, but his utterances are far from this expectation. This falsehood recklessly proclaimed by Adams Oshiomole is very unfortunate and demands a holistic assessment of his mental health. In the recent past, Adams has in his speeches, actions and posture acted in a manner unbecoming of a person holding the high office of the chairman of a ruling political party.

For the avoidance of doubt, this false claim by Adam Oshiomhole is the last card in his party’s unrelenting desire to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom state in order to pave way for the Warsaw General and National Comedian, Godswill Akpabio to finish the elections in three hours in favour of their party. It will be recalled that Senator Akpabio had promised at an APC rally that he will finish elections and produce a result favourable to the APC in 3 hours. Having met a roadblock in Igini’s forthrightness and penchant for truth, they have resorted to telling outright lies against the man. Recall further that it was the same trick that Godswill Akpabio used to remove the commissioner of police, Joe Abang. Akpabio whispered to Oshiomole who cried out on television at night and in the morning, the former Inspector General of Police redeployed the gentleman officer and brought CP Musa Kimo who threw caution to the winds and handed the entire police command in Akwa Ibom to Godswill Akpabio, posting his cousin, Idorenyin Akpabio and his other cronies to strategic posts and redeploying those unsympathetic to their cause. With the change of guard in the police, Akpabio’s CP became AIG, but has been unrelenting in his quest to deliver Akwa Ibom to the APC. The AIG has practically relocated to Akwa Ibom State for the elections.

We must state that the electoral process must not be subjected to the whims and caprices of the ruling APC. The umpire must be allowed to be independent in all ramifications. The fact that the electoral umpire has refused to bend to the ruling party’s scheme, should be commended not vilified.

We advise Oshiomole, Godswill Akpabio and their crying partymen to return to the drawing board and seek votes from the people and not to try to arm twist the umpire. We know that this pre-loss cry is a test run of the post-loss cry that awaits them after the elections.

Signed:

Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary

*PRESS RELEASE*

*RE: ATTACK ON INEC BUSES IN OBOT AKARA LGA BY SUSPECTED APC HOODLUMS*

We wish to draw the attention of the international community, civil right agencies and the general public to the continuous resort to violence by the All Progressives Congress, APC in an apparent attempt to paint a crisis scenario in Akwa Ibom State.

Specifically, we condemn in strong terms, the attack carried out on buses hired by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for electoral duties, and on some persons in Obot Akara local government area. According to our findings, the ridiculous action was allegedly carried out by suspected APC thugs who wanted to truncate the smooth conduct of the election in the area. This, action corroborates our earlier disclosure that the APC plans to sponsor violent criminal operations that could enable its poorly orchestrated script for postponing the elections in Akwa Ibom State.

Let us sound it loud and clear that Obot Akara a PDP enclave, is home of the former deputy Governor and senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Chris Ekpenyong, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko as well as the Dean of the College of Personal Aides of the Governor, Elder Ufot Ebong, among others. This, in addition to the new roads and bridges built by the current administration of His Excellency Mr. Udom Emmanuel to reconnect the area with other parts of the state, cement the area as a stronghold of the PDP.

It is unfortunate that despite the repeated outcry against the threats to violence by leaders of the state’s opposition party, no significant action has been seen to be taken against such threats.

For example, the Caucus leader of the APC in Akwa Ibom on three different occasions in between August and September last year, threatened to unleash Warsaw in Akwa Ibom in a manner akin to the invasion of Poland by notorious German despot, Adolf Hitler. He made those boasts in a church, the town square and in his residence respectively, and the video clips are still available. As if not satisfied with that, Senator Godswill Akpabio went ahead to threaten that he will capture the state under three hours.

The Divine Mandate Campaign Organization wishes to echo for the umpteenth time that election is not war, and as such every attempt by the All Progressives Congress and its so-called Warsaw agents to instigate crises in the state, is hereby hugely condemned. We therefore call on security agents to fish out perpetrators of the dastardly act, and ensure that justice is not only done, but seen as being done.
We wish to conclude by reiterating the call by our leader and Governor, His Excellency Udom Emmanuel, that election will come and go, but the bond of unity in the state, should not be severed on the altar of politics.

Signed,
Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok
Director, Public Communications
Divine Mandate Campaign Organization
16/02/19

FEBRUARY 7, 2019

PROTEST LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (IGP), FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA

SIR,
PETITION AGAINST THE DEPLOYMENT OF CSP JOHN INYANG ABIA AS ESIT EKET DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER (DPO): A THREAT TO PEACE, SECURITY, AND OBVIOUS PLOT BY APC AND POLICE TO TRUNCATE DEMOCRACY IN ESIT EKET LGA.


It is obvious that your resounding track record and distinguished characteristic as a top brass officer of the Nigeria police have hitherto remain the bedrock of your elevation to highest echelon in the the Nigeria police.


Sir, over the years, the people of Esit Eket have uninterruptedly experienced harmonious and peaceful co-existence amongst selves, not until when the news of the deployment of CSP John Inyang Abia; as the new DPO in charge of the area.

Sir, it is glaring that CSP John Inyang Abia whose last posting was the DPO of Uruan LGA is the biological brother to Hon. Eyo Inyang Abia; the APC flag-bearer for Esit-Eket /Ibeno state constituency in the forthcoming elections.

Sir, we are also informed that (CSP John Inyang Abia) will officially resume in office as the new DPO from Monday 11th 2019.
Nevertheless, we acknowledge his dedication to duty and professionalism as a senior police officer.

Sir, for the overall interest of the people of Esit Eket, we demand for immediate reversal of CSP John Abia's deployment to Esit Eket by the state police boss considering his biological relationship with (Eyo Inyang Abia), who is equally contesting for the state house seat under the APC platform can possibly marred the entire process.

Howbeit, the people of Esit Eket unequivocally wish to state here that the sudden transfer of CSP John Abia, the (blood brother to the APC candidate) vis-a-vis forthcoming general elections substantially portrays APCs tyrannic and clandestine plot to intimidate, harrass and disenfranchise the electorates in other to rig the forthcoming elections to their favour with the help of the police.

Having viewed critically the detrimental effect of the police and APCs alliance and its imminent danger as it relates to the existing peace and unity enjoyed by the people of Esit Eket, we make bold to submit that we will within the confines of the law resist every illegal attempts by the APC to use the police as their election rigging mechineries.

Sir, our appeal to you as the Inspector General of Police for immediate reversal of CSP John Abia's deployment is to enable the enthronement of justice, fairness and equity through out the entire electioneering process.

We wish to use this medium to announce to the world that the evil plot by APC to truncate the existence of democracy in Nigeria and Esit Eket following the deployment of a chief supretendent of police who is the biological brother to the APC candidate for Esit Eket / Ibeno State constituency; Hon. Eyo Inyang Abia, as the new DPO in Esit Eket tantamount to threat to democracy, peaceful coexistence and fair elections.

Upon the above, the people of Esit-Eket in strong terms are opposed to the deployment of CSP John Inyang Abia as the DPO prior to the general elections.

We are by this petition calling on you, the Inspector General of Police to immediately intervene towards ensuring the immediate transfer of CSP John Inyang Abia to any other LGA else the people of Esit Eket will massively protest to defend their right against the police and APC's gang-up to truncate democracy and to victimise the people of Esit Eket LGA.



We are:

•Progressive Advocacy Group

•Esit Eket Democrats

•Concern Youths Of Esit Eket

NDIANA-ABASI NANA UDOM WROTE;

The highpoint of my day happened to be when i spotted this lady today in my Ukanafun Local Government while on stage with the Honourable Commissioner for Works Akparawa Ephraim Inyang and Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Udoh, she stood still in the crowd and was enjoying the many campaign speeches.

We called her and had a chat with her and afterwards drew the attention of His Excellency to her condition, guess what guys, he gave express approval for her treatment and instructed Dr Ukpong, the Commissioner for Health to ensure that the lady is operated upon immediately, as we speak, she is parking her bags and will be admited into Government House clinic tomorrow morning.

A Further conversation with this lady had her telling me that “Her faith moved her to this campaign ground today”

How else can i say Thank you to this great Boss of mine?

Once again, May God bless Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Believe me when i say that the success of today’s rally did not make my day the way God’s visitation to this lady made my day.

May God also bless the Honourable Commissioners.

To God be the glory.

#OnlyGod

Methodist Youths Endorse Governor Udom Emmanuel for Second Term

Aniefiok Morgan Ekanem

Today, the youths of Methodist church from the 12 dioceses and the Archdiocese in Akwa Ibom state gathered at Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio hall for their 1st ever statewide fellowship. During the fellowship which was attended by thousands of youths from the entire state, All the diocesan youth presidents endorsed Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term. They anchored their decision on the Governor’s superlative performance in governance and his sincere love for the Church of God.
Speaking on their behalf, the Archdiocesan youth president, Annie Nkanang said that the Governor has made the church proud in his style of governance, especially the peace that he has brought to the state.

The Governor in his response, thanked the youths for their support and promised to continue to lead a God-directed and people-centric government. He promised to continue to lift the name of Jesus and live by His dictates, in and out of government. He assured the youths that his government will continue to churn out policies and projects that will be beneficial to the youths.

Prelate Emeritus Sunday Mbang, Apostle Achudume, Apostle Nyenime Andy,pastor Umo Eno,Prof. Robert Dode were in attendance .

ESSIEN UDIM: GROUP COMMENDS PDP ACTION ON ERRING MEMBERS, PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN

Reformation Agenda, a Socio-Political and Socio-Cultural Group that projects the interest of Essien Udim Local Government Area, has commended the action of the Essien Udim Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on six erring members of Essien Udim Legislative Council, saying it will serve as a deterrent to others.

Speaking with journalists through its Coordinator, Comrade Martins Inyangetoh, on Friday, the group said the party’s action was “In line with section 58 (1) and 59 (1)(G) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Constitution (as amended in 2017) and by the resolution of the Ward executive committee meeting held on the 30th of January, 2019.”

The expelled members are Hon. Innocent Raymond Udoutin (Leader – Ikpe Annang Ward),Hon. Ekaette Edet Akpakpan (Deputy Leader – Afaha Ward), Hon. Edemeka Udo Ekpe (Ukana West Ward 2), Hon. Eseme Augustine Akpan (Odoro Ikot Ward 2), Hon. Okokon Udo Uwak (Odoro Ikot Ward 1), and Hon. Uduak Bernard Afangideh (Ukana West Ward 1).

Expulsion letters signed by their respective Ward Chairmen, stated thus: “In line with section 58 (1) and 59 (1)(G) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Constitution (as amended in 2017) and by the resolution of the Ward executive committee meeting held on the 30th of January, 2019. You are hereby expelled from the party with effect from January 31, 2019. The reason for the expulsion is that you have continuously disobeyed or neglected to carry out the lawful directives of the party in addition to engaging yourself in anti-party activities.”

Meanwhile, the group has also commended the peaceful conduct of Ward tour embarked upon by the party’s candidates for Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong, Atuekong Nsikak Ekong and Hon. Esse Umoh.

The Coordinator of the group, who was part of the campaign team, said “The campaign witnessed a very massive turnout which also indicates victory for PDP. The candidates are in to restore hope for the People and together they will restore Essien Udim. There will be empowerment for elders, women and youths.”

Comrade Inyangetoh lauded the political leader of the area, Chief Michael Afangideh, whom, according to him, nurtured the best out of the candidates, stressing that their emergence were “in tandem with the zoning processes.”
He further tasked the people of the area to “vote for PDP, vote for development and empowerments, vote for justice and equity.”