Atiku Accuses Buhari Of Constitutional Breaches In Letter To US, UK, Others

PRESS RELEASE

Constitutional Breaches Under The Watch Of President Muhammadu Buhari
Abuja, Nigeria, 29 Jan, 2019: Being a letter written by HE Atiku Abubakar to the Ambassadors of France, Germany, EU, Us and UK High Commissioner.

January 27, 2019
Dear Your Excellency,

CONSTITUTIONAL BREACHES UNDER THE WATCH OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

I have chosen to write this letter to Your Excellency for the enviable role that your country plays as champion of Democracy and the Rule of Law. I am also writing you as Nigeria’s international development partner working together to deepen and strengthen our democracy as well as to help in the transformation of our economies and societies for the better.

President Muhammadu Buhari is threatening our democracy by serially breaching the provisions of our constitution and undermining organs and institutions of State in order to advance his personal interest. While the President has ironically taken the oath to safeguard and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the reality of his selective and wanton violations of its provisions means that his oath is observed only in the breach.

And as Your Excellency very much knows, respect for the rule of law is integral to promoting and preserving the values and principles of democracy.

Sadly, however, by the actions of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, one is forced to think otherwise.

As a Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming General Elections that will be conducted and supervised by the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari, I feel the urgent need to share with you some of these key violations of the provisions of our constitution and to demand that you pile pressure on the Federal Government to desist from these violations and ensure a level playing field for the General Elections that are only a couple of weeks away. We acknowledge with profound appreciation the positions taken by some members of the International Community in Nigeria and urge Your Excellency to add your country’s very strong voice against these breaches of Nigeria’s constitution. Your Voice is very important to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.

Some of these constitutional infractions are highlighted below for your information and action as you may deem appropriate.

1. The Purported Suspension of CJN Onnoghen

On Friday, January 25, 2019, our nation woke up to the shocking news of the unilateral and extra-constitutional suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the immediate appointment and swearing in of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, as the new acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

This action of President Muhammadu Buhari, not only breaches the Nigerian Constitution, but has also managed to undermine Presidential democracy by assaulting one of its hallowed doctrines of separation of Powers. For the records, Justice Walter Onnoghen is the head of one of the Tripartite but mutually independent organs that form the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To attempt to muscle out the Chief Justice of Nigeria using phony charges at a time when His Lordship was primed to play a central role in the fast-approaching nationwide electoral process represents the boldest steps in the march to undermine our democracy.

This is undoubtedly an anti-democratic act which my political Party and I reject without reservation and for which I urge Your Excellency to condemn unequivocally.

Need I say, this brazen authoritarian and imperious stride of President Buhari is the latest action in a series of carefully planned onslaught on our nation’s hard earned democracy by an extremely power hungry and anxious President and the cabal that feeds fat around him as February 16, 2019, draws nearer.

The fact that the unlawful suspension of Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen was announced just as it became public knowledge that the CJN was constituting the election petition tribunals is not lost on discerning Nigerians and the international community. This act of desperation is geared towards affecting the outcome of the 2019 Presidential elections. Indeed, it is not just the CJN that has been “suspended”, it is the Nigerian Constitution that has been infracted and, in effect, suspended, under the guise of the suspension of the CJN.

The case involving the legality or otherwise of the charges against Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen is in court, as it should be. So far, the judiciary has ruled in Justice Onnoghen’s favour. So, why not allow the court to adjudicate on the matter? What is the pressing urgency about this matter?

Let me, therefore, take the opportunity of this letter to urge your country and all well-meaning members of the International community to mount pressure on this government and all its anti-democracy functionaries know that their actions will have consequences. Strong consequences.

2. The illegal purchase of the Tucano Aircrafts:

President Buhari sometime in April 2018 approved the purchase of Tucano Aircrafts for the Nigerian Military at the sum of $496 million (Four Hundred and Ninety-Six Million United States Dollars). This, he did, without seeking prior approval of the National Assembly contrary to Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which states very clearly, how the President can spend monies belonging to the Federation. It provides:

“(3) No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly.”

“(4) No monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly”

3. Disregard for Orders of Courts:

The Muhammadu Buhari administration has serially violated court orders, going against the rule of law especially in three known cases.

a. Col. Sambo Dasuki (Former National Security Adviser): Various courts have granted Col. Dasuki bail on at least six different occasions; the Buhari led government has persistently refused to comply with the court orders.

· Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Adeniyi Ademola in 2015 ordered the release of Col. Dasuki’s passport and granted him permission to travel abroad for three weeks on medical grounds. Despite the order made on November 3, the Department of State Security Services, SSS refused to release Col. Dasuki.

· Again, the former NSA and four others were granted bail on December 18, 2015, on a similar condition with a N250 million bond by Justice Hussein-Baba Yusuf.

· Similarly, the former NSA; a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; ‎and three others were granted bail by Justice Peter Affen on December 21, 2015 by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in the sum of N250 million each and two sureties in like sum. The Federal Government cherry-picked the order whilst disobeying the part that concerned the former NSA.

· The ECOWAS Court presided by Honorable Justice F.C. Nwoke on October 4, 2016, granted the former NSA bail and ordered the Nigerian Government to pay N15 Million to the defendant as damages for his “illegal and arbitrary detention”.

· On 17 January 2018, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja reaffirmed previous court orders granting Col. Dasuki bail.

· Also on April 6, 2018, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court affirmed, for the umpteenth time, its decision for the release of Col. Dasuki.

b. Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, Leader of a Shiite Group, IMN:

· Sheikh El-Zakzaky has been in detention without trial for over 3 years after his followers were massacred in broad daylight; his wife and family killed and his home burnt, in a gory and shameful show of brute force by the Nigerian Army. This particular state violence is nothing short of genocide.

· On December 2, 2016, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court Presided by Justice Kolawole ordered the release of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and berated the Nigerian government for violating his rights.

4. The approval of $1 billion for military expenditure before approaching the National Assembly:

The Nigerian government through the National Economic Council NEC, again in contravention of Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), granted approval for the release of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, for the procurement of military hardware and other equipment to fight insecurity in the country, ahead of the 2019 General Elections without recourse to the National Assembly. Mansur Dan-Ali, Nigeria’s Defense Minister disclosed this at the end of security chiefs meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. By this act, the Federal Government acted contrary to the provisions of Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution, which states:

“(3) No monies shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation unless the issue of those moneys has been authorized by an Act of the National Assembly.

5. Executive Order No. 006 (On Preservation of Suspicious Assets and Related Schedules):

The enactment of the controversial Executive Order No. 006 as an Executive legislation which permits security agencies to freeze the assets of persons standing trial or undergoing investigation without recourse to court orders. This is a usurpation of legislative and judicial powers of the National Assembly and the judiciary as enshrined respectively under sections 4 and 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and reminiscent of the military era of decrees.

The above and many more that did not make it into this very short letter are the unfortunate actions of the Government of a man who merely pays lip service to being a reformed Democrat.

General Elections are upon us yet again. I urge you to partner with Nigerians to defend our constitution and play an active role in building our country. The choices facing all of us is either to stand aside and watch Nigerians reelect a President who has been in constant violation of the laws of the land without remorse or to support them show him the way out and elect a true democrat. We must send a clear message that the Nigerian Nation is bigger than any individual.

Even if Nigerians opted not to elect me as President, the incumbent must go into the polls on his own record of lack of respect for the Rule of Law and not on the spurious perception of his “Integrity”. We need to set precedence for successive leaders not to take democratic mandate for granted.

Sincerely,

Atiku Abubakar, GCON
(Waziri Adamawa)
Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

UDOM’S AIDE LAUDS WORK ON OBOTME BRIDGE, ASSURES VICTORY FOR PDP

The Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Project Monitoring; Comrade Martin Inyangetoh, said he was satisfied with the quality of work on ongoing construction of 135m Obotme Bridge and the 3rd Phase of the Obotme- Arochukwu Road, assuring that such signature project will play a pivotal role in the reelection Victory of Gov Udom Emmanuel on 2nd March, 2019 and other PDP Candidates.

Comrade Inyangetoh made the remarks recently when he made an on-the-spot inspection of the project site where work at the Phase one&two was Completed(14.1km Odoro Ikpe – Ikpe Ikotnkon – Obotme – Arochukwu Road while the ongoing 135m Obotme Bridge and Phase three was at advance stage(80%) of completion.

The Special Assistant, who was conducted around the project site by the Project Manager, Elder Okonkwo, said he was impressed with the quality and length of work so far done, maintaining that such is Gov Udom's signature project which will have direct impact on the lives of the people from the area especially by way of easing their movement, conveyance of farm produce and other commodities to the nearby market for economic development.

He expressed the hope that the Bridge and the entire work handled by Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited would be durable, given the thorough job being done by the contractor, adding that “the project would be completed and delivered in time.”

Inyangetoh concluded; “With what I have seen on ground, I am very much satisfied with the quality of job done so far. I am certain that people in the area are grateful and will reciprocate such gesture by way of voting Gov Udom/PDP en masse in the forthcoming elections. I can see that the contractor is also keeping to the standard specifications provided.”

GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN NSIT UBIUM LGA

1. Construction of 9.76km Ancillary Roads in Nsit Ubium LGA

2. Construction of Ukat Aran-Obio Ubium - Ikot Ubo Road under APFA

3. Rice Farm/Mill, Nung Obong-Ubium

4. Cassava Plantation, Ikot Eyo

Inter-ministerial Projects:
5. Construction of 4 Classroom Block at P/S Ikot Akpafuk

6. Renovation of 3Classroom at Ikot Imo/ Ikot Edikpe

7. Reconstruction of Assembly Hall at Govt Sch. Ikot Eyo

8. Renovation of 10No. Market Stalls at Ndukpoise

9. Provision of Solar Powered Borehole at Ikot Asang

10.Provision of Solar Powered Borehole
at Obio Ekid

11.Production of 1000No. Dual Desk

January 28, 2019

Press Statement

PDP: Uyo Rally Shows Buhari Has Lost All Political Footholds

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) says the unprecedented crowd that received its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the State Presidential rally in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state on Monday, is a direct statement to President Muhammadu Buhari that he has come to the end of the road.

The PPCO recalls that the energetic crowd at the rally made mockery of the scanty attendance at President Buhari’s much hyped Presidential Flag-off rally at the same venue on December 28 last year, and further confirmed to Mr. President that he no longer commands the followership of Nigerians.

The fact that Atiku Abubakar’s state rallies had always had much more crowd than President Buhari’s campaign flag-off in Uyo, which has the attendance of his supporters from all the states of the federation, further confirms that Nigerians have decided on Atiku Abubakar as the next President of our country.

The deafening cheers, enthusiasm and passion with which the people received Atiku Abubakar in Uyo as against the cold response and sneers that greeted Mr. President at his campaign flag-off, also serves as an eye opener to him that he is only being deceived into thinking that he has any form of support in the Niger Delta region.

The PPCO further recalls the pitiable sight where President Buhari could only slur and failed to articulate any clear message as his rented crowd, which refused to carry APC brooms, abandoned him and started leaving the venue while he was still making his speech.

From the rousing reception being accorded to Atiku Abubakar in all our rallies in the various geo-political zones and states he has so far visited, it is clear that Nigerians, irrespective of states, ethnicity, sectional and political affiliations have attained a consensus on Atiku Abubakar as our next President.

The PPCO therefore counsels President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to note the tide and end their desperate shenanigans including the assault on the opposition and our democratic institutions, as such will never change the determination by Nigerians to vote them out of office come, February 16, 2019.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary,
and
Director, Media & Publicity
PDP Presidential Campaign Organization

COMMISSIONING !

COMMISSIONING OF GREEN HOUSE FARM PROJECT BY FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AND PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PDP, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, HIS EXCELLENCY ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR (GCON) IN COMPANY OF AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNOR HIS EXCELLENCY MR UDOM EMMANUEL ALONG VICTOR ATTAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ROAD TODAY MONDAY 28TH JANUARY 2019.

PDP IS ALIVE, HEALTH AND HEARTY

...as Elder Aniekan Umanah sets to mend Abak federal constituency from perforation...

ITORO UDOTIM

Democracy according to Abraham Lincoln, is defined thus; the government of the people, by the people and for the people. But in Abak Federal Constituency democracy was narrowly puckered, monopolised, or perhaps, perforated by some unrepented fearmongers.

But It was indeed a joyous moment for the people of Midim ward1, Otoro ward 2, 3 and Abak Urban Ward 4, as the PDP family visited and got the whole story re-written for good.
Elder Aniekan Umanah, PDP National Legal Adviser, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, member Representing Abak in the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Iwok, the Executive Chairman of Abak, Barr. Imoh Williams, Special Adviser to the Governor on bureau of cooperatives, Mrs. Ekemini Umoh, PDP candidate for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, Obong Chris Ekpenyong, PDP candidate for Abak State constituency, Elder Udeme Otong amongst other PDP stalwarts took the message of redemption to the grassroots, a visit in which the people couldn't hide their felicity, rather roled out their drums in celebration, drastically turned it to a triumphant entry, chanting Udom Emmanuel as a love song.

Elder Aniekan Umanah who is the PDP standard bearer for Abak, Etim-Ekpo, Ika Federal constituency, is loved, cherished and valued by his people.
Elder Aniekan Umanah presented himself as a servant leader, promising to devote all his time to the services of the people when elected by the grace of God. speaking further, Elder Aniekan Umanah vowed to give Abak federal constituency an effective representation.

Conclusively; He beseeched everyone to go out en masse with their PVCs on February 16, 2019 to vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the next president of Nigeria, Obong Chris Ekpenyong as the senator for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, himself for Federal House of Representatives, and march 2, 2019 to return Governor Udom Emmanuel to the hilltop mansion and Elder Udeme Otong to the House of Assembly respectively.

In his goodwill message, Barr. Patrick Udomfang sent a special appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel for sustaining the peace and safety of the people. He pledged to personally mobilise and sensitise his people in order to ensure a resounding victory for Elder Aniekan Umanah, Governor Udom Emmanuel and PDP in general, so as to prove to some selves acclaimed political talibans and emperors that power comes from God alone.

Simmilarly; the PDP youth leader, Midim ward1, comrade Imoh Iwok, assured Elder Aniekan Umanah, Governor Udom Emmanuel and PDP that there is no other political party that can defeat PDP in any election contest as far as Midim ward1 is concerned, and that no amount of intimidation, blackmail or character assassination that can stop them from delivering PDP massively in the forthcoming general elections.

On his part, the political leader of Otoro clan, Rt. Hon. Friday Iwok enumerated the achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel in just three (3) and a half years in office. juxtaposing politics with development, Hon. Iwok emphasized that the construction of Abak 10 miles by Udom Emmanuel led administration is an evident that Udom Emmanuel cares about our well-being, this is a road that was a much talked about during the last administration, but nothing was done except only on the pages of newspapers. Hon. Iwok urged everyone to vote for Elder Aniekan Umanah, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and PDP unconditionally.

Speaking unbehalf of the youths, comrade Itai James, spoke expressly without any atom of fear or favour that there is nothing like APC in Otoro ward 2, stressing emphatically that those parading themselves as APC members are considered to be astomatous absurdity from the cocoon of darkness, which do not have the necessary aptitude to reduce their chances from winning massively in this year's general elections.

The ward Chairman, Otoro ward 2 Mr. Solomon Ben stated categorically that the people of Otoro ward 2 are so addicted to PDP such that no Jupiter can cut them off from the love of PDP, he, however, vowed to work tirelessly and unrelentlessly to ensure an overwhelming victory for Elder Aniekan Umanah, Governor Udom Emmanuel and all other PDP candidates.

In her usual way of showing love to the needy and less privileged, the Special Adviser ( S. A) to the Governor on bureau of cooperatives, Mrs. Ekemini Umoh presented some good number of english wrappers to the women across the four wards during the PDP ward tour and admonished them to vote Governor Udom Emmanuel, Elder Aniekan Umanah, and all PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections.

The Executive Chairman of Abak Local Government Council, Barr. Imoh Williams appreciated the people for their steadfastness towards the success of the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite some sporadic distractions from some quarters.
The Abak council boss noted that with Elder Aniekan Umanah in the National Assembly, Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the Governor, Obong Chris Ekpenyong in Senate, Elder Udeme Otong in the House of Assembly, Abak shall always be the reference point in every sphere of governance.

The senatorial candidate, Obong Chris Ekpenyong acknowledged the fact that Abak federal constituency is long overdue for the senatorial seat, therefore vowed never to abuse this great privilege done him, that he will always consider Abak federal constituency the first in everything during his stay in the Senate. He exhorted the people to vote for Governor Udom Emmanuel if not for any other reason, but for the fact that he's an in-law in Abak 5.

Nailing on the head, PDP National Legal Adviser, Hon. Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem particularly appealed to the youths not to listen to any confusionist who claimed to be political war-horse, but couldn't withstand a mere drum of war, woefully surrendering the peoples' mandate without consulting the owners, but rather came back home to disintegrate the bond of love and unity of the people without contemplation. He further pledged to attempt any length to make sure Governor Udom Emmanuel returns to the hilltop mansion for the sake of posterity.

AKPABIO, JUDAS ISCARIOT AND PLOT TO ERASE THE SOUTH SOUTH

Aniekeme Finbarr

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF INFRASTRUCTURAL CONSOLIDATION/EXPANSION

Aniekeme Finbarr

"We are building a state where posterity will look back to this time and say this was the golden era of our history"

-Udom Emmanuel

In less than four years, Akwa Ibom State has experienced its fastest multi-sectoral boost in infrastructure. From health, education, sports, power , transport among other sectors in the state, there has been tremendous improvements in infrastructure.

Roads have been strategically networked to provide efficient movement of goods and services around the state and to accommodate the looming influx of vehicular traffic in the state. So far, government has constructed and is constructing over 1700 kilometers of roads, and 15 bridges across the three senatorial districts.

Communities that were once cut off have been opened up. As part of the activities to mark Governor Udom Emmanuel's first year in office, he commissioned some of the shorter roads, a couple of them like Efiat, Mary Hanney, Anwana Esin were some of the over 6.6km internal roads with outfall drains in Oron where the entire terrain was taken out by flood as at the middle of 2015. The Information Drive In Uyo, the Ikot Udom road in Ibiono Ibom local government area, Mkpok Okat and Awa Iman roads in Onna, including the internal roads at the Cornelia Cornelly College, Uyo are some the roads we commissioned in our first year in office.

Apart from the aforementioned, the governor has also inaugurated the Eket-Ibeno road, the Nto Edino-Ekwere Azu road, with bridges in Obot Akara Local Government Area, the Ikot Usop- Ikot Edeghe – Ikot Ekpuk Road in Mkpat Enin with a 30m bridge, the Idiaba- Nda Nsit – Ikot Abasi –Nung Udoe in Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Eket - Ibeno road in Eket and Ibeno LGAs and several others. The second taxiway is nearing completion at the Ibom International Airport to support the industrialization drive of the current administraation.

The roads the government has so far constructed or intervened, cuts across the state. This is not done to massage anybody’s ego, but strictly, according to the industrial road map of the state in order to create a sustainable industrial culture. Gov. Emmanuel, has therefore, devoted a large chunk of the state’s resources to strengthen road infrastructure for a smooth industrial take off of projects in his agenda.

Such roads are littered throughout the state, all leading to proposed industrial zones. They are the 5 km Mkpok- Ukat Road and the 3.5 km Awa Ikot Nkan Road with a 15m bridge, both in Onna. The Nto Edino-Ekwereazu Road in Obot Akara Local Government Area, empties into Abia state for the evacuation of finished agricultural produce. In Ikono/ Ini Federal Constituency, the governor has also constructed the road leading to the College of Science Arts and Science in Nung Ukim.
There is also the construction of a dual carriageway from Uyo to Etinan and from Etinan to Onna and the Ikot Ebidang Road Onna LGA, which will serve the rice farming community. The Anua – Mbak –Issiet Beach Road in Uruan Local Government Area is another case of taking infrastructure to where it is needed most. The Beach Market in Adiadia, also in Uruan, is an income spinner to the people and government of the state.
The volume of trade on that route is bound to increase in leaps with the completion of the road as traders and other users of the market will be able to ferry their goods with ease in and out of the area. Another road under construction is the Idiaba- Nda Nsit – Ikot Abasi –Nung Udoe in Nsit Atai Local Government Area. It is another milestone in the road infrastructure development policy of the Gov. Emmanuel administration. It will serve as a quicker route for travellers from the Ibom International Airport to Eket and Ikot Abasi axis of the state, who now have to come to Uyo from the airport before going back to their bases. Oron Federal Constituency is grateful to the governor for his bold attempt to fix the road infrastructural deficiency in the area through the provision of underground drainage along Effiat lane to arrest the devastating flood that was about submerging the area.

The Ibom Super highway, 55.1kms has innumerable benefits. Apart from serving as the gateway for the movement of cargos from the Ibom Seaport to the state and other parts of the country, it will also serve as an evacuation corridor for goods and services from the coastal industrial city to other parts of Africa, especially landlocked West African countries like Mali, Chad and Benin Republic.
Other road projects include: the 9.1km road along Ikot Ebekpo-Ikot Ebidang road, Onna LGA, Ikot Ekaide-Ikot Okoro-Ikot Ibritam-Ekeffe-Ikot Akpan road, the dualization of 28km Uyo- Oron road down to the East West road, and several others. Udung Uko Local Governemnt Area which did not have a major road since creation now has a 9km Secretariat-Uliong Edikor-Udueta road to which an additional 3.1km is being linked to Oron Local Government Area. Construction is on-going on the 3.5km Ring Road II from the dead end of Udo Udoma avenue through Atan Offot to link up Abak road. In other areas, there are about four direct interventions in Abak, 16 in Eket and about 32 between Uyo and Ibesikpo Asutan , amongst numerous others.

To further expand infrastructure, Mr Udom Emmanuel has commissioned a 40 apartment residential estate for the expatriates that are manning the key aspects of the Ibom Specialist Hospital ‘s operations. That is in addition to constructing a brand new 300 bed capacity block the Dr Ann Ward Gynecology block at the St Luke’s Hospital Anua including the rehabilitation of the Pediatric and male blocks of the hospital.

Also, old structures and out-dated equipment have been replaced with new state of the arts ones. Secondary health facilities like the General Hospitals in Etinan, Ikono, Ituk Mbang, Ikot Okoro, Eket and other locations across the state are today wearing a massive facelift at various stages of completed and on going work. The physical structure aside, supply of equipment to the hospitals has been another area of government emphasis. 25 of the 100 containers of medical equipment procured from the United States of America have been supplied and disbursed in the state to hospitals. Consequently, functional theatres in the state as well as the newly constructed ones now have modern theatres better than most in the country

A modern state secretariat complex to supplement the existing state secretariat has been built to improve working conditions of the state’s workforce. It comes with a four storey office edifice with 600 m floor area and three access lifts, mechanical workshop and staff clinic. Governor Udom Emmanuel has also provided enabling environment for development of residential estates for prospective investors.

The governor in his wisdom has also opened up some areas in the State for industrial and commercial growth, thus, constructing a good number of roads in such areas. The 5 km Mkpok- Okat Road and the 3.5 km Awa Ikot Nkan Road with a 15m bridge, both in ONNA Local Government Area, takes any visitor to the world-class Syringe Manufacturing Company and Metering Factory. The Ikot Usop- Ikot Edeghe – Ikot Ekpuk Road in Mkpat Enin with a 30m bridge will serve the proposed Coconut Plantation and Refinery in Mkpat Enin, while the Odoro Ikpe – Itu Mbonuso Road will not only open up Ini Local Government Area, but will also serve as the evacuation route for the rice farm and rice processing industry in the area. Still in Ikono/ Ini Federal Constituency, the governor has also inaugurated the road leading to the school of Arts and Science in Nung Ukim, a 4.6Km road.

There is also the construction of a dual carriageway from Uyo to Etinan and the Ikot Ebidang Road Onna LGA, which will serve the rice farming community. The Anua – Mbak –Issiet Beach Road in Uruan Local Government Area is another case of taking infrastructure to where it is needed most. The Beach Market in Adiadia, in Uruan, is an income spinner to the people and government of the state.

Oron Federal Constituency is grateful to the governor for his bold attempt to fix the road infrastructural deficiencies in Oron, Okobo, Mbo and Udung Uko as the areas are witnessing on-going construction of roads and highways.

As a mark of sincerity of purpose and commitment to the realization of the Ibaka Deep Seaport and Industrial City project, work is on-going 36.7km super highway that will traverse communities in Upenekang, Ibeno –Esit Eket to Mbo Local Government Areas. The proposed highway, handled by Ebla Construction Company, will be a 12-lane road of six lanes on each side. Four of the lanes will be medial speed lanes with a toll gate, while the other two, on either side will serve as service and exit lanes into the surrounding communities.

Other road projects include: the 9.1km road along Ikot Ebekpo-Ikot Ebidang road, Onna LGA, Ikot Ekaide- Ikot Ibritam-Ekeffe-Ikot Akpan road, the dualization of 28km Uyo- Oron road down to the East West road, 6.6km road in Atan Offot, Uyo,
Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan Rd (opposite Mboho) Uyo. Roads in Uyo village that have been commissioned by the governor include: Asutan Street, Bassey Attah Street, Mbiakong Street, Ebong Street, Ebong Lane, Effiong Udo Akpan. Others include: Secretariat Annex/ Believers Assembly Road, 8.5Km Nduetong Oku-Ibiaku Uruan-Ekit Itam Road with 40m span bridge and a spur in Itu/Uruan LGA, 9km Mbiaya Uruan –Ita Uruan- Mbiakong Uruan Road with 60m span bridge and a 14.83Km road in Esit Eket, as well as several others.

There is also the Obio Akpa campus of the Akwa Ibom State University, in Oruk Anam, where six major projects commissioned by the governor include: a Digital Language Library, a commercial farm palm oil mill, a commercial farm feeds mill, vegetable screen house, Ultra Modern Mass Communication Studios and a magnificent Arts Theatre. The entire stretch of internal and access roads in the Obio Akpa campus are under construction complete with side drains.

The College of Education, Afaha Nsit, Nsit Ibom Local Government is recording a massive face lift, as access and internal roads are in advanced stages of construction. Governor Emmanuel is committed to creating a conducive atmosphere for learning by boosting infrastructure in the tertiary institutions.

The ultra modern Administrative Block in Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden was commissioned by Governor Udom Emmanuel and the construction of internal and access Roads have commenced in the Permanent site of AKSU in Mkpat Enin. The University of Uyo just got her first Arts Gallery building courtesy of the first family to honour the memory of Late Prince Bernard Sampson Idiong and Professor Stella Idiong, parents of Her Excellency, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel.

All these fine achievements have come in 4 years. It is a signpost to what Akwa Ibom State would be in 8 years of superior performance. It is trite to say that indeed Governor Udom Emmanuel is working.

#VotePDP

ESSIEN UDIM STAKEHOLDERS CONDEMN MISLEADING ONLINE MEDIA REPORT


Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Essien Udim Local Government Area have condemned in strong terms the misleading information which should at best pass for a beer parlour conversation, but caption "Essien Udim Councillors Beat Prince Ukpong Akpabio", describing the act as the most crude form of spewing falsehood as the writer and posters who are agents of disunity and fifth columnists were on the course of enjoying a mud bath.

Briefing the Newsmen after the Stakeholders meeting at Chief Afangideh's Office, Ikot Ekpene, the Honourable Commissioner for Investment, commerce and Industry, Barrister Prince Ukpong Akpabio, said “ Our attention have been drawn to a news item peddled around social media even before the end of our meeting that I was beaten and our Political Leader fainted. Although it is not in my character to join issues with ignoble people who are bent on dragging our hard earned image to the mud, but for purposes of emphasis, clarity and to put the record straight, I, Barrister Prince Akpabio was never beaten and Chief Afangideh never fainted during the meeting and at no point did the councillors declare support for APC or any of its Candidates, instead we unanimously agreed to plan together in order to give the leader of our Party; Mr Udom Emmanuel and the Divine Mandate Campaign Team a rousing welcome on the 11th February, 2019 when the team will visit the area for campaign flagship”.

Explaining further, he said “today Thursday, the 24th Day of January, 2019, we, the entire stakeholders of Essien Udim came together at the instance of the political leader, Chief Michael Afangideh, to deliberate on the way forward regarding the forthcoming Divine Mandate Campaign visit in Essien Udim. The proposed visit, as we all know, will signpost Governor Udom Emmanuel’s reelection campaign in the area. At the meeting, positive plans were made, Committees and Sub-Committees were formed to aid the successful hosting of the team on the slated date".

“I wish to state unequivocally that those peddling such ignoble and misleading information, with the aim of putting the PDP family in disarray, are agents of the broom party and they have failed woefully. We know them and we want to let them know that we are not perturbed by their evil antics, and we will neither be nor relent on our effort to unite as one big family. It is instructive to note that, PDP is waxing strong in unity and prosperity in Essien Udim, that is why they are jittery about our successes recorded and more to be recorded ".

“We advice the perpetrators and purveyors of evil news to try something else because PDP remains stronger and we are ready to receive Governor Udom Emmanuel, his team and the entire Divine Mandate Campaign Organization in Essien Udim and their campaign of calumny against us shall never stop us from mobilizing our people to vote en masse for PDP and Gov Udom Emmanuel to return for a second term"...he added.

"Finally, we urge Essien Udim people and Akwa Ibomites at large to discountenance the concoctions against me and our Political Leader, as we have forgiven the ignorant and insolent rumormongers who churned such garbage against us. Indeed, this is one of the many signs of desperation exhibited by this group of drowning people".

2019: GOV'S AIDE COMMENDS UDOM FOR MAKING AGRICULTURE A CULTURE IN A’IBOM

Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Project Monitoring, Comrade Martins Inyangetoh, has commended the present administration for making agriculture a culture in Akwa Ibom, saying its “passion and commitment through the Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES) is unparalleled.”

Comrade Inyangetoh stated this on Monday during an inspection of the AKEES 32-Hectares Farm in Obot Inwang, Ekeya, Okobo Local Government Area, where he said agriculture remains a major way to create employment and wealth creation, therefore applauded Governor Emmanuel and his various agricultural initiatives including AKEES.

He said he was impressed to know that the AKEES’ Cucumber Farm has become the largest farm in the South-South region, adding that “there has been a tremendous achievement in the area of agriculture under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel. Today, Akwa Ibom can boast of its own rice, cucumbers, tomatoes among other farm produce.”

Received at the facility by the Farm consultant and one of the Managers, Mr. Langwa Brezhwa, and Mr. Christopher Odiong, Comrade Inyangetoh said “Agriculture has gainfully employed youths of Akwa Ibom and generated more income for the state. Through the Governor’s benevolence, agricultural activities have tremendously increased which has also brought about food security.”

“It is now clear that everywhere in Akwa Ibom, one can see visible increase in agricultural produce ranging from garri to rice, from tomatoes to cucumbers. Yields are going up; production and productivity are going up; more people are investing in agriculture. This has also gone to show that the Udom Emmanuel administration a strong focus on agriculture and its determined to move from over reliance on oil to agriculture,” he added.

The Special Assistant, while expressing confidence that Governor Emmanuel will be reelected as Governor of Akwa Ibom State judging by his exemplary performance and contribution to agriculture, urged youths of the state to go all out and vote “more development, progress, peace, prosperity and a secured future for Akwa Ibom people.”

Responding, the Farm consultant, Mr. Brezhwa informed the Governor’s aide that the facility, which is running on a drip-tape technology, has over 21 permanent personnel and lots of daily hired workers within the community.

He said, with the modern technology employed at the farm, it takes 37 days to plant and harvest cucumber, stressing with the size of this farm, the biggest in South-South Nigeria, we still have difficulty in meeting demands. We have harvest minimum of 4,000 bags a month against a daily demand of 170 bags.”

GOVERNOR EMMANUEL BAGS INDEPENDENT BEST GOVERNOR AWARD


Mr Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State was on Thursday night honoured as the Best Governor in Nigeria in Industrialization and Foreign Direct Investments 2018 by Independent Newspapers in Lagos.


The award ceremony which took place at the Eko Hotels, Lagos also had other prominent Nigerians like Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, the Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as well as the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi conferred with awards in several categories.

Emmanuel who was represented at the award ceremony by his commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Charles Udoh said the honour was dedicated to Akwa Ibom people who cooperated with him to ensure the state is safe and conducive for Investments to thrive.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2017 and 2018 listed Akwa Ibom as one of the five states and the Federal Capital Territory being the most investor-friendly in the country.

The NBS also said during the period, the state attracted capital importation of $18.361 million, a 27.75 per cent improvement over the previous year’s figure, noting that it was experiencing rapid economic transformation, much faster than the Nigerian average, with quality of life index growing more than 300 per cent.

Governor Emmanuel within 4 years attracted and facilitated big factories and industries to his state, including the Syringe Manufacturing Factory (largest in Africa), PencilProduction Factory, ToothpickProduction Factory, Electric Digital Metering Solutions Manufacturing Factory, Peacock Paint Factory, Fertilizer Blending Factory, Plastic Manufacturing Factory, Rice Mill and several others.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Udom Emmanuel's second term campaign trail will land in Ikot Abasi and Eket Local Government areas tomorrow Friday, January 18,2019.

Accordingly, the Director General of the Campaigns invites all party stakeholders and supporters to the campaigns as follows:

1. Ikot Abasi Local Government Area
Time: 10am
Venue: Ikot Abasi local government council Secretariat

2. Eket Local Government Area
Time: 2pm
Venue: QIC School, Usung Inyang Eket.

Everyone is welcomed.

Signed
Publicity and Image Management Committee
Divine Mandate Campaign Committee
17/1/19

IF NOT UDOM EMMANUEL, WHO ELSE?

...The choice between peace and war!

BY ITORO UDOTIM



A people without knowledge of their ancestry deserve no place in the cosmos ~IBIBIO BOOK OF WISDOM

At this juncture where Akwa Ibom State is yet to witness another democratic election, it may be considered in order to recapitulate the collosal evolution process through which the state (AKWA IBOM) began, developed and thereby to indicate the trends of its continuous progress and achievements without being unmindful of its failures in a changing world and circumstances.

After many decades of perforations in our democracy; It is as certain as a fact that democracy was returned to take its full course in 1999, where both the majority and minority tribes have so far been offorded the lacuna to have a faire share in the scheme of things in the state without sentiment.

Prior to the 1999 general elections, a political status quo was adopted through a high powered memorandum of understanding which offered Obong Victor Attah from Uyo senatorial district to preside over the State as Governor for eight ( years and senator Godswill Akpabio from Ikot Ekpene senatorial district for eight ( years respectively without any enteruption, even when the haters of peace agitated so hard to truncate the free rotation of power in 2003 and 2011, Akwa Ibom people stood together to defend the unity our forebears handed over to us as heritage. For the sake of posterity and continuity, Udom Emmanuel must be voted again to complete the years (, spiritually and traditionally meant for Eket senatorial district, for it was widely agreed in 2011 that there must always be the same governor for years.

It is so epileptic and lugubrious that those who have conventionally benefited from this rotation of power in the state directly or indirectly are now churning for a tribal war, acting Oliver-Twist, asking for more, perhaps, working tremendously to destroy the ladder they once used to get to where they are today, unknown to them that they are armless war generals, because it is believed that "anyone who feels he is leading when no one is following him is just taking a walk " just like the Biblical Saul.


Akwa Ibom people are wise enough to know that, without Udom Emmanuel their lives and properties at risk, comparing the state of security in this few years of Udom Emmanuel's administration and those ugly dark years of the self acclaimed emperor, where our dear state was engulfed with assassinations and killings.

Governor Udom Emmanuel is working tirelessly to ensure food sufficiency in the years ahead, he is currently laying concrete foundations for the teeming youths, with sumptuous functional industries across the state.
#VOTEUDOM
#FUTUREASSURED
#ONLYGOD

'Come out and engage Nigerians' Secondus challenges Buhari,

......says thieves in Lagos should explain source of Wealth.

As Atiku, Obi, Saraki, Dogara others speak on why Buhari must go



The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to come out and engage the people with his record of performance if any and stop hiding in the Villa.



Prince Secondus said that Nigerians must elect a President they can see, feel, a President that can act like the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP flag bearer Atiku Abubakar.



The National Chairman who was addressing a mammoth crowd of party supporters in Lafai Square in Nasarawa state on Thursday in continuation of the party's nationwide campaign said that President Buhari is hiding in the Villa while college of Presidents operating as cabals mess the country up.



According to a statement from the media office signed by Ike Abonyi, Secondus said that Nigeria can no longer afford analogue leaders in digital era pointing out that PDP flag bearer Atiku is bringing his digital approach to leadership to rescue Nigeria.



He said that while PdP candidates and leaders are engaging the people for votes, President Buhari and APC leaders are hiding in the Villa planning how to rig election.



"But let me reiterate this warning to them including the Independent National Eceltoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies, that any attempt to manipulate the election would be an invitation to a national crisis.



"If they love this county, they must not attempt to thwart the will of the people because it would be a recipe for crisis.



Prince Secondus said that the President's wife confirmed that the Presidency under her husband has been hijacked and wondered what other prove we need to show that Nigeria is in a wrong hand.



The National Chairman also made some scorching remarks on some politicians in Lagos who talk about corruption when they are thieves who have milked the state dry.



"Some thieves from Lagos are also talking about corruption, some of them had nothing before they became governor but today they are stinking in stolen wealth and talking of corruption.



Prince Secondus said that APC has already collapsed with some of their state governors talking with the PDP.



He assured the jubilant crowd of mostly youths that PDP candidate Atiku believes in the vibrancy of the youths, and his administration will be for them because they are the future.



"Your gubernatorial candidate Hon. David Ombadugu is a youth and that shows you PDP's believe in youths, so caste your votes for him and all other PDP candidates.

The Presidential candidate Atiku, his running mate Peter Obi, the campaign Director General and Senate President Bukola SAraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara all in their speeches underscored the importance of voting President Buhari and the APC.



Signed

Ike Abonyi

SA Media.

2019: WHY UDOM EMMANUEL WILL WIN 

Emmanuel Nicholas


In Akwa Ibom State the much awaited March 3rd governorship polls will be decided by many dynamics.


These dynamics will be productivity based and most importantly it will revolve around where mandate lies; the people.


 Facts on ground makes it very clear even to anyone with eye defect that certainly the elections will be won by Governor Udom Emmanuel and lost by Obong Nsima Ekere. This prediction has been acknowledged widely even by political pundits. Below are few facts to buttress these points:


PDP, A RELIGION IN AKWA IBOM STATE

 

There is no gain saying that Akwa Ibom State is a stronghold of the PDP and clearly, it will remain so for the foreseeable future. Since the return of democracy on 29th, May 1999, today in the State, PDP has 31 Chairmen of Council, 329 councilors , 22 House of Assembly members out of 26, 8 Federal House of Representative members, 1 Senator, all the  Commissioners  and over 200 Aides of the Governor. Clearly, PDP lives in the very fabric of politics; the grassroots. 


Judging from the last election in 2015, the electorate in the State gave over 95% of its votes at every election to the PDP. 


In the March 28 Presidential polls 2015, the same feat was replicated as the PDP scored over 953, 304 to a miserly 57,000 for the APC Presidential candidate and eventual winner, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. 


PDP is so entrenched across the 329 wards, State constituencies, Federal and Senatorial districts of the state and  to be uprooted so easily by  so called federal might will momentarily put APC in speculative advantage and  the result of  the election will ultimately prove  it  to be a mere wishful thinking and fluke political masturbation. 


PEACE AND PROSPERITY 


One major factor that will make both indigenes  and none indigenes alike  in Akwa Ibom State to vote for Governor Udom Emmanuel is the peace enjoyed today within the State. Before May 29th 2015, there were cases of wanton armed robbery attacks , kidnappings, political and economic motivated assassinations, ethnic violence -promoted through political interest, cult wars among other unprecedented social vices.


Today, Governor Udom Emmanuel have proscribed all the cult groups, there are no more killings, no kidnappings, no cult war and  zero communal crises. 


Consequently, security agencies  in Nigeria now evaluate Akwa Ibom State as  the most peaceful State in Nigeria, with 0.5 crime rate. How thankful we are for the peaceful administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.


It is a known norm that wherever you have peace and security, the accompaniment is prosperity, and today the State have witnessed drastic rise in foreign  investment. This is  why the National Bureau of Statistics rated Lagos as the first State, followed by  Akwa Ibom, Ogun as the most investors-friendly destinations in the country in 2017 / 2018 . The report also showed that while Akwa Ibom, which is a major tourism hub of the country, attracted $18.361m capital importation. The Bureau noted that the year’s record showed a 27.75 percent improvement over the country’s achievements of previous years. Akwa Ibom State is presently experiencing rapid economic transformation, much faster than the Nigerian average. The quality of life index has grown to more than 300% in only few years now.


UYO SENATORIAL DISTRICT: AGENDA 2023 

Another reason Udom Emmanuel will win is the strong morality and adherence to zoning in the State. Since zoning has come to stay, Uyo Senatorial District will not want to mortgage their turn in 2023. They will not want to gamble their turn by mere political mantra of one term. Who has ever kept such promise?


 So, choosing Nsima Ekere will mean another eight years of waiting instead of four years with Udom. Uyo Senatorial District has the highest voting strength, more than one million voters as indicated by indices from the last voter’s registration, higher than the two other Senatorial Districts put together. 


So whoever the people of Uyo Senatorial District will support, becomes  the winner of the poll in Akwa Ibom State, in this case the people of Uyo Senatorial District both in PDP and APC are in support of Governor Udom Emmanuel to ensure USD secure their  turn in 2023. 


ORO NATION POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION 

Oro nation will be no go Area for APC as successive Government have abandoned the area  both with development and political inclusion but Governor Udom Emmanuel is committed to ensure that the entire State benefit from the developments  promoted by his Government. He has put words to action.


Udung Uko Local Government Area for the first time since its creation have seen 14.7 kilometer road, linking the locality to both Oron and Urueoffong–Oruku Local Government Areas, the construction of the Secretariat road in Udung Uko is the maiden Government presence  in that riverine community . 


It is on record that Oron Local Government in the Immediate past Administration had nineteen roads awarded but sadly only witnessed the construction of only three in the eight years tenure of then Governor Akpabio. 


Conversely, Governor Udom Emmanuel in his first year constructed and commissioned six roads.  The roads are Bassey Lane, Bassey Street, Awana Esin, Efiat Lane, Efiat Street, Maryanne  and Post Office Street. And right now another five roads are currently under construction and at different stages of completion; these are Abastonite, Muritala, Old Oron Road, Beach Street and Udesi Street. 


Apart from the Oron town, Governor Udom Emmanuel is constructing a dual carriageway from Airport Road to Okopedi and from Okopedi  to East West Road in Oron town, while constructing  55.5  kilometer Ibaka Superhighway which starts from Ukpenekang  Junction and will terminates at East West Road in Oron too. The superhighway will connect Mbo, Udung Uko and Oron through a 12 Lanes carriageway with provision for rail lines . 


In Mbo, Governor Udom Emmanuel have intensified work on the completion  of Etebi-Ewang Bridge, the road section  have been completed, while  work on the  bridge have gone above 75 percent, the  Governor  had constructed and commissioned  access road to the tank farm in Mbo. 


In Okobo, apart from the dual carriageway, the State Government have awarded the construction of Atabong Road,   while a brand new General Hospital have been initiated  by Governor Emmanuel’s Government to further avail the locals access to qualitative healthcare. 


On economic inclusion, Governor Udom Emmanuel will soon commence work on the construction of Ibaka Deep SeaPort as an International seaport construction company and Seaport managers from China have won the bid to construct the deep seaport. 


On political inclusion, this is the first time Oro Nation have witnessed the massive amount of appointments of their Sons and daughters into Government, Oro nation is today blessed with the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, the first in the history of Oro nation, over 23 Board Appointment, 34 Aides to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and three Commissioners.

With infrastructural development, economic empowerment and political inclusion.



Understanding that Oro nation have a better deal understand Governor Udom Emmanuel come 2023 must have made a reputable son of Oro nation and a former gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Larry Esin to state that the scheme by some persons to replace Governor Udom Emmanuel  Obong Nsima Ekere in the forthcoming gubernatorial election is an insult on the people of Oron Nation.


Esin who said this on his verified Facebook page recently clearly maintained that the plan orchestrated by former governor Akpabio is not in the interest of Oron people and will be resisted.


He stated " To want to replace Udom Emmanuel with Nsima Ekere from Eket Senatorial district is an insult on the Oron Nation. The Oron people will not allow such insult. Any Oro son or daughter that supports Akpabio and Nsima is a betrayer of the Oro cause. Oro will support Udom Emmanuel."


Yes, Governor Udom Emmanuel will win Oro nation come March 2019 and Nsima Ekere does not stand any chance of having up to 20 percent of votes from Oro nation, as he has deceived the leaders of Oro nation with fake contract papers and he has not used his office as the MD of NDDC to develop Oro nation in any part nor appoint any son or daughter of the area as his Aide or consultant.   



IKOT SENATORIAL DISTRICT – ABAK FIVE AND MARGINALIZED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS     

In Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District as a whole, Nsima Ekere stands no chance. The Annang Nation as a whole will support their son In-law, really Abak five will be votes basket for Governor Udom Emmanuel, whose wife is from Oruk Anam and Deputy from Abak.


Obot Akara, Ini and Ikono Local Government Areas will be another basket full of votes for Governor Udom Emmanuel as their localities were once marginalized by all previous Government and Governor Udom Emmanuel have constructed Nto-Edino –Ekwarasu Road with two nos of Bridges and Ikot Ekpene–Obot Akara Road in Obot Akara  Local Government , linking the two Local Government through the hinterlands. Ini Local Government is one locality that never witnessed the presence of Government since the creation of Akwa Ibom State.


But Governor Udom Emmanuel who is out to ensure he spread development to all the nook and crannies of the State without any iota of political or economic motivated marginalization, he has constructed the Obotme –Aruchukwu Road which was cut into two by gully erosion and also constructed a brand new 115m dual bridge to replace the old one which had collapse long ago and made the road impassable.   

Apart from the Obotme Road, Governor Udom Emmanuel has also constructed the road leading to the rice Mill, and has also built for Ini Local Government the first functional  Rice Mill in Akwa Ibom State in his fulfillment of his vision to industrialize the State. 


IBIBIO RACE AND AKPABIO AFRONT 

Ibibio control about 23 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State out of the 31 Local Government Areas in the State, the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria sees the Candidature of Nsima Ekere, though an Ibibio son as confrontation by Godswill Obot Akpabio to ridicule them and cause division among the ethnic group, while installing himself as the leader of Akwa Ibom State politically.


The assessment was confirmed when both Chief Godswill Akpabio and Nsima Ekere snubbed the coronation of Oku Ibom Ibibio, the king of Ibibio land, an action many Ibibio Elders sees as an open affront and open slur on a well-respected tribe in Nigeria. To this end the entire Ibibio race have resolved to support Governor Udom Emmanuel in rejection of Sen Akpabio evil imposition, this conviction is also borne from the fact that so many times people have recorded Akpabio in his private Annang meetings that he wants to use Nsima Ekere and scatter the Ibibios, and teach them the harsh political lesson of the power of minority over majority.


INDUSTRALIZATION AND JOB CREATION 


This is another major aspect that will make Governor Udom Emmanuel emerge the winner is his Superior Performance and fulfillment of election promises in all sectors. In industrialization sub-sector, Governor Udom Emmanuel has shown truly that he has international exposure to attract foreign investment to the State. 


He has attracted fifteen industries so far, these are Jubilee Syringe, Meter Solution Manufacturing Company, Lion Plywood Limited, Kings flour Mill, St. Gabriel Coconut Refinery, Fertilizer Blending Plant , Tooth Pick and Pencil industries, Plastic factory, Rice Mill, Construction of 33 Cassava Micro-processing mills are all ongoing projects in the economic diversification agenda of the Governor. Lastly, the resuscitation of Peacock Paint Industry and refurbishing of Cassava Processing Factories located at Ikot Okudom, Eket Local Government Area; Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo/Asutan Local Government Area and Ikot Ekang in Abak LGA which was leased to private operators for the production of High Quality Garri, Odourless foofoo and Cassava flour are examples of revived factories which were once in a comatose state and made operational. 


HIS PERFORMANCE 


Governor Udom Emmanuel has performed better than any Government in Akwa Ibom State , in their first term. He has constructed over 1700km of roads  and 43 bridges , Uyo metropolis alone has benefited  massively ,as over 74 roads have been constructed . As at today there is almost no local Government Area without one road construction project.  


 In health sector, Governor Udom Emmanuel has revived the Etinan General Hospital, Ikot Okoro General Hospital, Ikono General Hospital, Ituk Mbang General Hospital and currently building brand new General Hospital in Onna and Okobo. The reconstruction of this hospitals does not end with buildings but he has reequiped the health institution with modern healthcare equipment and above all the Elderly, children under five and pregnant women are receiving free healthcare services.


In education , Governor Udom Emmanuel has constructed over 3500 class room blocks across the State ,reequipped  them with modern desks and new  laboratory apparatus  to the schools. His administration has also carried out payment of  WACE and NECO  fees to all  students in public secondary schools. This initiative has cost the State over 600 million naira yearly.


Governor Udom Emmanuel has attracted Air Force School , Police School , Navy School  and Military schools to Akwa Ibom State in the last three years.  In his mission to give prominent to girl Child education , Governor Udom has commissioned Modern Model Girls school in Abak to improve the Girl Child education .  He has assisted the Akwa Ibom State University to get full accreditation for 33 courses  ,while building Tv /Radio Studios , Administration block, Computer laboratory , and also construct all internal roads. 


On Agriculture , Governor Udom Emmanuel Government is the reason there is food sufficiency in the State , as garri now is 12 cups for two hundred naira against three cups for the same amount when he assumed office . The State Government has planted over 5000 acres of cassava , 10,000  hectares of cocoa , 56 acres of rice and today Akwa Ibom State has a rice mill and family rice is sold in the market .


In the State today, there is hatchery that produces over 200,000 chic every month. There are green houses for cultivation of vegetables  and mushrooms  and AKEES initiative   are planting vegetables farms all over the State . Our people no more depend solely on the northern State for Tomatoes ,Onions , garrotes, cucumber  and watermelon .


As regards Power sub-sector, most places in Akwa Ibom State now enjoy over 20 hours of power courtesy Governor Udom Emmanuel Government who has provided power sub-station at Airport, four lane in Uyo and Ekim in Mkpat Enin . His Government has connected to national grid over 400 communities, improve the generation of Ibom power plant to 167 megawatts  , while receiving license for additional 450 megawatts. 


 Governor Udom Emmanuel Success at the poll is very certain as the entire State is rooting for him, the State is made up of 99 percent Christians and the entire Christians in the State sees Udom as their candidate because of his Christ-like manners coupled with the fact that he is a man of peace.


So come 2nd of March 2019, the electorate will joyously return Governor Udom Emmanuel as their Governor till 2023.

2019 POLL: CAN DECLARES 10th JANUARY AS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER



The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of the National President, His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle has declared 10th January, 2019 as a National Day of Prayer for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections and freedom for Leah Sharibu and others in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists.


The prayer meeting is to be organized in Abuja and all the State capitals nationwide between 11:00am and 2:00pm prompt in order to ask God to prevent violence, manipulation, intimidation of voters and other electoral crimes for credible elections to be achieved in the country.



Christian politicians especially those contesting for any position , all Christian groups, organisations and stakeholders are invited to participate in the programme.
CAN urges all Christian Groups, denominations, church and bloc leaders of CAN or their representatives to assemble at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on 10th January for this all important prayer meeting.

All Christian candidates for all the elective offices or their representatives are also invited as they will be prayer for them to be good Ambassadors of Christ before, during and after the election.


CAN also ask all State Chairmen and leaders in various denominations to organize similar programme and Christian candidates who are contesting for State Assembly or governorship position to attend the event at the State level.

Accordingly, the Chairman of CAN, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Rev Dr Ndueso Ekwere has respectfully invited all Politicians contesting for any post at the State and National levels to this all important, all inclusive and very unique epochal event.


The event will hold at United Evangelical Church (Qua Iboe Church), Itam 11(along Calabar-Itam rd. by Nelson Mandela Street by 11am prompt on 10th January, 2019.

All Heads of blocs of CAN, denominational heads, State CAN officers and LGA coordinators are invited to this prayer meeting which will hold simultaneously with those at the national level.


CAN will pray for all Christians contesting for one post or the other for the will of God to be done concerning their ambitions.
CAN will also pray for the following:
1. That all captives in the den of the terrorists like Leah Sharibu, the Chibok girls should be set free immediately.
2. That the general election should be free, fair and credible.
3. That it should be violence - free and without any bloodshed.
4. That God should use the process to give the country good and godly leaders at all levels.
5. That every evil plan against Nigeria be frustrated.
6. That 2019 should be a New Dawn for Nigeria
7. That God should stop all groups behind the killings in Nigeria and their financiers.

All churches and Christians in the country are urged to participate in the programme to usher in the country into a new era of peace, unity, safety and all round prosperity.

The State chairman of CAN, Rev Ekwere urge all to attach utmost importance to this prayer program for 2019 elections.

Thank You and Happy new year.

Rev Dr Ndueso Ekwere JP,
Chairman, CAN, Akwa Ibom State.

Elder Aniekan Umanah is the best thing that will ever happen to Abak, Etim-Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency- Akan Nelson assures


The renoun that riches or beauty is confer is fleeting and frail; mental excellence is a splendid and lasting possession: ~Sallust

The people of Ikot Etukudo village, (unit 001) in Abak Urban Ward 3, yesterday, January 7, 2019, described Elder Aniekan Umanah as a compendium of many leadership hypothesis whose past antecedents has given him an edge over any of his contemporaries.

Juxtaposing politics with development, The convener Mr. Akaninyene Nelson carefully enumerated the giant strides and positive contributions Elder Aniekan Umanah and PDP has offorded the people of the Area in recent time. Speaking further, Akaninyene Nelson pleaded with the people not to waste their votes on any other political parties for the sake of posterity.

Similarly, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Project monitoring, Hon. Abasiono Udodung, apparently appreciated the convener, Mr. Nelson for coming up with such a lofty idea despites the political exodus that has taken the minds of the people to the junction of confusion.

Hon. Udodung enjoined the people of Ikot Etukudo to consider Aniekan Umanah's aspiration as their collective project owing to the fact that Abak Urban ward 3 is the home town of the incoming member of the House of Representatives, Elder Aniekan Umanah and urged the people to take the gospel of Goverver Udom Emmanuel and all the PDP candidates to every family in the ward and beyond to ensure a resounding victory in the forthcoming general elections, warning them not to be intimidated by the lousy nature of the opposition who will only come during the electioneering like the Philistines and after the election you hear them no more.

Furthermore, the youth president of the village, comrade Aniedi Ezekiel, thanked the convener, Akaninyene Nelson for convening a meeting of such magnitude without waiting until the election day, and promised working tirelessly to ensure an overwhelming victory for Governor Udom Emmanuel, Dr. Chris Ekpenyong who is an In-law in Abak, Elder Aniekan Umanah whom he considered as the son of the soil and Elder Udeme Otong in the forthcoming general elections. He further pleaded that the Governor, Elder Aniekan Umanah and other candidates should look into the plight of the village after the victory, and to always consider the village in the scheme of things in the government.

Consequently; a motion of massive votes for Elder Aniekan Umanah, Governor Udom Emmanuel and all PDP candidates was carefully moved by Mr. Ekerette Bassey and seconded by comrade Ubokmfon Iwok.

APC AND THEIR DECCEIFUL TENDENCIES
...end time Political Party


By Itoro Udotim


According to the Holy book "At that time many shall turn away from the truth and shall betray and hate each other... many false prophets shall appear and shall deceive many".

Now to further convince you that the APC as a Party is seriously raising people who think and conclude that the world is a treacherous globe, about this time 2014, presented Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to Akwa Ibom people by one man as an eight ( year successor with a very saleable slogan "UDOM IS RIGHT" compelling the people to believe in Mr. Udom Emmanuel as a compendium of a unique petedunnite, capable of delivering to us, cottage industries, engaging the teeming youths with skill acquisitions and enhancements, sustaining the free and compulsory education policy.

But rather sad and disheartening that upon defecting to the APC, same mouth who carefully polished Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the best, is now prevaricated from the truth and suddenly chosen to become a twin metal gong, talking from both sides of his mouth, thereby leading millions of Akwa Ibomites astray, causing disunity amongst tribes and territories, creating factions everywhere just to be accentuated, ready and prepared to send many of our innocent youths to their respective tombstones.

And I attempted to ask, is our God an author of confusion? but the answer is no, therefore, God will surely arise to prove Himself as God of justice, equity and fairness, perhaps, Akwa Ibom State does not belong to ONE person,
However, No one can force us to agree that "MR. RIGHT" has drastically became Mr. Wrong without a convincing fact to back up such a selfish claim.

Moreover; Contually threatening the lives of Akwa Ibom people with a stupendous rumours of war is highly condemnable, and has narrowly driven our collective memories back to the prophesy of a scholar, ROBERT GREENE "...consider the hidden costs of war: time lost, political goodwill squandered, an embittered enemy bent on revenge... "


Having assessed that they are not coming together because they love Akwa Ibom, but are coming back to form a conglomeration in order to empty the treasury if given the opportunity once again, but surprisingly for them, it's all an illusional game.

I urge Akwa Ibom people to ignore their empty threats and concentrate on supporting Governor Udom Emmanuel to complete his tenure in 2023.

We can never return to the dark days where crimes were legalised, our rights as citizens were politically defeated and every tribe was always at war with one another.

The peace so enjoyed is enough to rate Governor Udom Emmanuel the best.
Akwa Ibom people be wise.
Vote Governor Udom Emmanuel!
Vote peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
#ONLYGOD

Akwa Ibomites Let's Collectively Reject Nsima Ekere, APC And The Antics Of Warsaw

Eket Senatorial District listen to me, they might make promises to excite you but let me tell you that scam and them is like 5 and 6 in the field of football. APC has failed us at the national and even at the state level, the thinking and mindset of their candidates can be summarized in that trending new year message, imagine a Governorship candidate talking about iPhone, handbags and small girls in a new year message instead of telling us why he should be voted for. With this I can tell you in good authority that he has nothing to offer to you, his thinking is so outdated, he is thinking more than 20 years backward and that's not good for our dear State.

Look closely at the DAKKADA GREED, you will see that it reflect the mindset of a man thinking more than 30 years ahead and a people who have been "MORE" more than 30 years ago, it reflect a mindset of a man who is not only interested in preparing us for the future but also preparing the future for us..

Eket Senatorial District let me shock you, Nsima Ekere claims to be from your Senatorial District, ask him what he did as a Deputy Governor during his time at the Hilltop Mansion.

The International market that is currently under construction � can only be completed under Governor Udom Emmanuel because he knows the economic value of the market, the Ultra Modern Stadium � under construction � can only be completed by Governor Udom Emmanuel because he is interested in youth development and capacity building which can be seen at the just concluded National Sport Festival, where a 14 year old girl picked up a Gold � Medal, remember she was discovered during the state sport festival.

Eket Senatorial District, I am forced to believe that you all waited patiently for your son to be the governor of Akwa Ibom State and I think it's time for you to defend him with your votes. It has never been a time in Eket Senatorial District that a sitting Governor has done what Governor Udom Emmanuel has done for you, the level of road constructions, industrialization, etc and I'm made to understand that you all what this to continue.

Eket Senatorial District, let me remind you that this was the same strategy they brought when you lost your chance of producing a second term Governor, if you don't vote Governor Udom Emmanuel then be ready to stay longer than necessary to get power back because their plan is for Nsima Ekere to win election and go for 8 years and handover to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and that will automatically truncated your tenure.

Akwa Ibomites are wise, so on this note I want to urge all of you to cue behind Governor Udom Emmanuel and give him all your vote and support, let's not mortgage the future of our dear State, so #LetsKeepRight Till 2023

I'm Edikan David and I endorse this message.

#LetsKeepRight Till 2023

UDOM'S PRACTICAL APPROACH AND THE WANING DRUMS OF WAR

I'm very happy with the approach that Governor Emmanuel is using to silence his critics and detractors. While they are busy raving and ranting, our dear Governor is busy setting up viable economic structures for posterity. I bet, their tails are between their legs and they are now running blindly around like a Christmas fowl whose head has just been cut off and left to oscillate aimlessly and blindly around the floor! Our Governor has completed the Lagos lodge, now he is floating an airline. Boy! Udom has thrown a bunch of sucker punches to their faces and they have fallen face down, kissing the canvass.

But Alas! The governor has not lifted a finger! He has thrown them into a state of despair by shocking them on daily basis. And all they do is sulk and whimper. Frustration has set in in their respective camps and I hear they are treading blames and desperately searching for moles amongst them. Hahahahaha. I just dey laugh.

Truth is, Udom has performed beyond imagination and there's absolutely nothing the warmongers can do to stop this moving train, destined to gracefully land in 2023. Oh Federal might abi? Is that not defeatist and stupid? You are not working, not mobilising, not setting up strong political structures for the coming elections, you are lazing away at palm wine joints relying on beer parlour talks for federal might.

We are talking about the collective will of Akwa Ibom people here. They've seen what Udom has done, with lean resources and they're all ready to return him to the Hilltop Mansion for a second term. When your Federal might comes and meets the people's resolve to support their leader, nobody will tell them to drop their MIGHT and let the will of the people prevail !!!!

(C) Onibaba

"House of Representatives seat in Abak Federal Constituency is the turn of Abak LGA. I am not supporting Elder Aniekan Umanah because he's from Abak LGA alone, I am supporting him because he has the capacity to deliver.

National Assembly needs someone with capacity, experience and exposure to deliver. Aniekan Umanah is that man that is why we are all saying carry go our House of Representatives Member".

Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, PDP National Legal Adviser at the ongoing Abak Youths Rally in support of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Elder Aniekan Umanah and PDP.

ELDER ANIEKAN UMANAH, THE BEST OPTION FOR ABAK FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

Once the passion is right, nothing is impossible, the Holy book opines that "whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might".

Elder Aniekan Umanah is celebrated globally today because of his unchallenged positive landmarks bequeathed by him in the state ministry of information and communications, where he served as a commissioner.

Great men and opinion leaders across Abak Federal Constituency and beyond have openly endorsed his candidacy having considered his vision to salvage Abak Federal constituency from the poor reprentation syndrome that has narrowly placed the Federal constituency in the constant State of quarkonium beneaths other federal constituencies.

Consequently; Elder Aniekan Umanah's magnimous character has dexteriously winning the race for him, his wealth of experience when put it a motion will rapidly accelerate to massive empowerment, Healthcare delivery, wealth creation, effective representation, constituency projects and more as enshrined in his manifesto.

Come out from the dark, Elder Aniekan Umanah means well for you, the time is now and the future starts here.

Vote Elder Aniekan Umanah for House of Representatives.
Vote Deacon Udom Emmanuel for Governor.
Vote Dr. Christopher Ekpenyong for senate.
Vote peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Happy new year!

I guess we should see this......

HEADS UP!


▪ A'IBOM APC IN-FIGHTING ESCALATES



▪ AKPABIO'S BLOC DRAWS BATTLE LINE WITH NSIMA EKERE'S BONEMAN



▪ AS ETIDO IBEKWE URGES PRESIDENCY TO SACK BUDGET'S MINISTER



▪ "SHUT UP, APC HAS NO ROOT IN A'IBOM" UDOMA REPLIES IBEKWE



❌❌❌❌Attention! Attention! Attention!❌❌❌❌❌❌❌


Hon. Etido Ibekwe (one of APC local leaders) wrote on an APC CORE STAKEHOLDERS WhatsApp group:



This has worried me for long, and it is time that we seek to address it this new year.



The attitude of this our so called minister of budget, Sen.Udo Udoma. I can not comprehend how the President of Nigeria will visit the home state of a minister in his cabinet, and the said minister is conspicuously absent and not even giving a damn as other ministers from other States will be falling head-overhills to participate & attend.




Could someone pls tell the president that Aks is fed up with this so called minister! Just thinking aloud my people.



I know that I speak the minds of overwhelming majority of Akwaibom people, even across party affiliations. Something is very wrong here, and I humbly appeal that it be corrected in the build-up to the elections!!!!





❌❌❌❌❌Arc. Ralphael Udoudoma, an alleged cousin to the minister replied thus:❌❌❌❌



Imagine who is laying complaint to the presidency about a seasoned professional whose mien, antecedence are adding colour to the FG administration



Do you think Sen. Udoma UDO Udoma is a bloody sycophant like Ita ENANG, Godswill Akpabio who follow Mr. President like zombie?



What did you expect the minister to do in Uyo during the rally when PMB hasn't executed a single project in A'IBOM for the past 3 years plus?



Do you think Udoma is bereaved of conscience like your Akpabio whose tenure as governor witnessed highest number of kidnapping and assassination cases yet he has the effontery of insulting GOV. Udom Emmanuel who has brought relatively peace and security to the State in addition to industries, human capital development among others?



Or you feel, you ranting could make Mr. President to sack Udoma? Truth be told, the presidency has neglected Akwa Ibom for so long, the minister knows that and as someone with conscience he didn't want to identify himself with political scavengers like you, Don Etiebet, Akpabio and other so-called food-is-ready stakeholders in this platform hence the reason he boycotted the rally.



How does APC FG intends to win a state without a signature project? How on earth will APC win in a state where PDP is planted as a religion?



Do you even see Nsima Ekere as someone who could win governorship candidates of other political parties such as; Nature Udoh or my noble colleague Arc. Nyaetok in a keenly contested election talkless of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel whose past records are unprecedented?



Do you see Nsima Ekere as someone who has any good idea to offer the state? Look, Akwa Ibom State is not a BANANA republic.



Obviously, A'IBOM is PDP dominated enclave, therefore APC and PMB has no root in the State. Sen. Udoma has been reiterating this on several fora even before the President.

[Leaked from APC private WhatsApp group]


Me: I don't know why the admin of that WhatsApp group removed Architect Raphael Udoma out of the forum immediately after the comment.


However, I still feel we should
continually read, meditate on Psalm 62v11 and lamentation 3 verses 22-23.



(C)Prophet T. Founder/Chairman ZABA ZABA Zee Assembly worldwide

APC, Buhari And The Harvest Of Deceits
By Etebong Akpan
The Nigerian electorates could be regarded as the most gullible in the world because they are open to be fed lies that cannot churn the stomach of reasonable people. And reasonable people are few in Nigeria They are worst than the legendary plebeians in William Shakespeare’s, Julius Caesar who chose to be swayed by each speaker as they mounted the rostrum to speak for or against the murder of Caesar. When Brutus talked they nearly rose against Caesar but when Mark Anthony mounted the rostrum later, the same plebeians moved against Brutus and his co conspirators.
During the build up to the last presidential election in the country, the then president, Dr, Goodluck Jonathan warned Nigerians against voting for the rival All Progressive Congress, APC not for any other thing but that they may continue to enjoy the freedom that characterised his administration. The electorates, having being fed basins of lies mostly from the elites and the opposition propaganda machineries chose to ignore the warning from their humane leader. After countless betrayals, deceit and barefaced lies, the Nigerian electorates just like their Jewish counterparts in the days of Jesus Christ preferred Bannabas, a thief to Jesus and God like Pontius Pilate gave them Buhari instead of Jonathan and washed His hands off their plights thereafter.
General Mohammed Buhari now President Mohammed Buhari assumed power on the pretext of lies and myths woven around him like most despots tending towards an apotheosis. Buhari’s mythopoeia preceded him into office and the fantasies of a no nonsense military general who abhors corruption and will perform magic with the economy immediately he gets into office was effectively employed by the then opposition party to rail road him into Aso Rock. His adoring followers have long believed in him with faith akin to religion which is one of the best tools in binding hopeless people together. His image handlers did a perfect job to the extent of robbing reality as they knitted fantasies and myths about him like pink pills which when swallowed regularly eases the reality of the demystification that inevitably occurs when real governance takes place during the PDP era.
Parts of the many lies APC through its apologists like Babatunde Fashola was that immediately PDP is kicked out of Aso Rock, Nigerians will begin to enjoy 24 hours of steady power supply. The gullible masses like most mob never asked how that was feasible neither did they the then ruling PDP bother to tell them that those gist like many others were nothing but mere propaganda. As God will have it, Fashola became the APC and Buhari’s minister for power and more than one year after the inauguration of their government, Nigeria has not added a single mega watt of electricity to its grid. Rather APC is still blaming Jonathan and the past government for not getting Nigeria to the needed ten thousand megawatts of electricity after sixteen years in power. Not only has the APC federal government not been able to provide electricity to Nigerians as promised, they have increased the tariff on the little PDP gave Nigerians almost for free. Fashola and the APC are not done yet with the blame game even after one year of their directionless government. After the blame the Jonatha for our failure policy seems to be out of fashion they have now resorted to blaming the Niger Delta Avengers as the reason why APC cannot cure simple headache. The activity of the militant group is now the excuse for the non performance of Fashola and the power ministry. It is either the Avengers have caused gas shortage that could have powered the generation plants or water has dropped at the various dams used for power generation. The simple truth is that the present government has not added a single megawatt of electricity to the national grid since it assumed power more than a year ago and it does not know how to go about doing that.
Another lie that was woven around the campaign of President Buhari by the APC spin doctors was his promise to make the dollar at parity with the naira. Either Buhari was and is still a complete fool with no capacity to follow modern economic trends or it was raw mischief for a leader in the 21st century Nigeria to hood winked the citizenry into believing that can ever happen. The value of any currency in the international market is solely determined by market forces rather than any voodoo manipulation. My high school economics teacher, the late Mr. E J Etim , an American trained economists taught us far back then in Lutheran High School, Obot Idim that ‘money is what money does’. Instead of the naira exchanging as APC promised, one dollar was exchanging for about four hundred naira to a dollar at the parallel market.
The president had to swallow his pride and reconsider his stance on the devaluation of the naira when it dawned on him that the issue of the naira is not about the ghost of Goodluck Jonathan but a reality he has to accept that Nigeria is a mono economy that depends on oil exports for her foreign currency. With the global drop in oil prices one wonders how the APC voodoo economists headed by Buhari, a man who knows next to nothing about the economy would have stayed in the back desert of Daura to fix the value of the dollar against the naira.
But once he encountered the country’s dire economic problems and saw and also felt its magnitude, his voice began to weaken and his steps falter. From bemoaning his advanced age and the inevitable weakness it brought with it, to accusing the immediate past president in particular of completely wrecking the economy, the president slowly moved away from talk of parity to sustaining the status quo. Finally, after loathing any talk of devaluation consequent upon the fall in national revenue, and describing the naira as the proud symbol of the country’s patriotic and nationalistic outlook, which everyone must embrace, the president has consented to market forces determining the naira’s realistic exchange rate or value. President Buhari and APC have finally met their change, and change has worked its wonders on them.
If anyone was astonished by that clear volte face, it was because they were yet to hear him speak candidly and honestly about the economy and the modern principles that undergird it. In his numerous interviews with the Nigerian media to mark his one year in office, the president responded to a question on the kind of economic advice he was receiving by declaring that most of the time, the economists spoke above his head when they explained why the economy was experiencing turbulence. He would submit to their advice, he said plaintively, because both the problem and the economists had overwhelmed him and he was wary of being seen as the obstacle to the country’s economic revival and transformation. Surely change is working.
One of those who spurned the Buhari can do all myth was Professor Tam David West. West was Buhari’s petroleum minister when the man who presented a Government College, Katsina O’ Level statement of result with a kaftan school uniform was a military head of state . He boasted that the retired general will give Nigerians petrol at forty naira a litre. Today, one year after APC entered Aso Rock, petrol is selling for one hundred and forty five naira per litre against the eighty seven naira it inherited from the alleged clueless Jonathan administration. David West, a professor of virology who claimed to be incorruptible but accepted flashy gifts like rolex wrist watch from big friends is no where around to help his former boss give Nigerians fuel at forty naira per litre. Instead it is the subsidy removal regime he campaign against that he has implemented to save his face. Real change indeed.
In addition, during his campaigns, the president ridiculed Nigerian leaders for allowing the refineries to run down. Once elected, he would look into the matter of the refineries and wave his magic wand yet again. He had done it before, he said exuberantly, and could do it again. To prove he was serious, the president in interviews within and outside the country suggested he knew so much about the refineries and was a leading participant in building one or two of them. He gave the impression it was a cakewalk to build refineries. But after one such interview, and without directly referring to the president, an incensed ex-president Olusgeun Obasanjo roared that anyone who said he could rehabilitate the refineries was merely engaging in wishful thinking. On his own, the rather burdened Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, has vacillated on the topic in a manner that sees him torn between the president’s fantasy and the economic reality and nuisance of decrepit, money gobbling machinery.
To escape from these blushes, the president has to eat his words and sought out his brother, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote to come to his rescue. Dangote is set to commence work on a multi billion naira refinery in Lagos. The idea was mooted by the PDP led Goodluck Jonathan administration but Buhari then and his APC co travellers were busy condemning the then president for running an economy that produces the richest man in Africa but Nigerians were the poorest people in the continent.
As recently as his last media chat and thereafter, the president had promised to make the Niger Delta a living hell for pipeline vandals and regional activists and militants interrupting the flow of crude oil sales. He would treat them the same way he was treating Boko Haram insurgents and achieving results, he fumed. A few weeks after the last of such threats against the militants, especially against the Niger Delta Avengers who had brought crude oil export down by more than 700,000 barrels per day, his government opened negotiations with the militants, and even appeared desperate to get every miscreant in the region involved. This is a clear departure from the rigid I know all Fulani Muslim fundamentalist who feels Nigeria is a gift given by Allah to them through the British. His seeming show of remorse forced the militants to agree to a ceasefire announced by the federal government. One wonders why the APC government who feed gullible Nigerians with having the solution to the economy has to call for cease fire with a group his loquacious transport minister, Rotimi Amaechi alleged are criminals and should be treated as such.
Opinions were divided in the Niger Delta on the propriety of negotiation, but a significant part of the country and the rest of the world thought the government could not win the creek battles it appeared eager to court and wage. And so to peace talk, which he had forsworn, went the president, a changed and considerably chastened man. As the Avengers were about to listen to their elders, the Department of State Services, DSS flew a kite to test the waters on the strength of the group. They claimed to have arrested some members of the group who were trying to bomb gas pipelines in Delta state. The group distanced itself from those arrested and described them as ‘sleeper agents’; miscreants used by security agents to penetrate organisations they claimed are hostile to the interest of the nation. These people the group alleges are those the security have presented as their members to rubbish them and the peace talk. As prove of their potency and capacity to inflict injury on Nigeria’s crude facility at will, the group bombed chevron Facility in Delta state last Sunday. The government is yet to respond to that. This is the same Buhari and APC then as the opposition party that condemned the PDP for its weakness in offering to negotiate with the Boko Haram insurgents. This is the real paradox of change and who will be surprised if Buhari and APC will not be completely changed by their change before 2019
The enduring paradox of the Buhari presidency is that he came into office on the altar of deceit; but he is fast becoming the deceit he and APC manufactured. President Buhari is still holding out in many ideational redoubts, but if that paradox is real, and if the observations of many analysts are not far-fetched, he will be unrecognisable by 2019 because before then he will be consumed by the reality of the modern complexity called Nigeria. Only last week, he still spoke intransigently of the Biafra agitation that has resurfaced in the Southeast. Its campaigners, he sneered, were not born when the civil war raged and so did not experience the privations many victims had to endure. Agitation is cheap; the president seems to conclude, when you campaign from the comfort of your rooms. It remains to be seen whether he will enter into discussions with pro-Biafra agitators or not if the agitators up the ante somewhat disconcertingly.
The problem with Buhari is that he is still living in the fantasy of the pre and post civil war era. Nigeria defeating the Igbos in the civil war then does not mean that it has the capacity to do it today. The indices have changed. Then the coastal states never supported the Biafra cause and oil was not produced in commercial quantity in the country. Today with the Avengers and other militants in the creeks and a Biafra uprising, Nigeria is in for a rough ride coupled with the facts that the arms market in the international community is far liberal than what it was years ago. At the moment, the kind of weapons displayed by militants is alarming and in the case of a civil war, there is the capacity that the war could be taken to Nigeria instead of the reverse as it was then. After all , the saying that those who defeated my father cannot do same to me. The Igbos from my analysis are better prepared and are prepared to sacrificed once and for all to regain their manhood except there is an urgent restructuring in the polity. A position some northern politicians like former vice president Atiku Abubakar are canvassing.
Finally, during his first anniversary media interviews, the president responded to a question on ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s national conference and the imperative of restructuring. He barely concealed his disgust, not to say his fury. He had not looked at it, he said dismissively, promising it would end in the archives where it truly belonged. Like his other viewpoints on key national economic and political matters, the president is fairly anachronistic. While it is true Dr Jonathan used the national conference issue as a red herring, the structural problems the country faces have defied solution outside the framework of political reengineering. Dr Jonathan reluctantly, and perhaps mischievously, yielded to the convocation of a national conference. There is nothing to show that President Buhari would not reluctantly also yield to a national conference or its variants. Once he does, his change, begun with floating the naira, would become complete, making him the putative master of change transformed by policy summersaults into the servant of change.
But what is truly worrisome about the president’s change induced wavy thought pattern is not his seemingly easy surrender to his deceits, the subsumption of his old and unworkable ideas under the modern and practical imperatives of new economics and new politics, but the subliminal spin off. The problem is that he appears to be ruling the country by yielding very reluctantly and immethodically to ideas that war against his instincts and constricted experience rather than ruling by a careful and structured architecture of modern ideas designed for today and the day after tomorrow. The country would profit from robust and well-grounded ideas of how to govern a modern state. Instead, the president has instituted ad holism on such a horrifying scale that he has no impression he should be laying the foundation for Nigeria’s future and democracy. Surrounding himself with crude and illiterate relatives from Daura for fear of a repeat of 1985 is nothing but a pointer to the picture of a recluse who still lives in the past.

This article first appeared on 12 August 2016 in the Pioneer newspaper

BEING THE SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY,MR. UDOM EMMANUEL, GOVERNOR, AKWA IBOM
STATE DURING THE SOLEMN ASSEMBLY, 2019
IBOM HALL GROUNDS, UYO
JANUARY 2ND, 2019

PROTOCOL

YOU ARE GOD, YOU ALONE

Akwa Ibom people, praise the Lord!

1.​Let me on behalf of the Government and the good people of Akwa Ibom State wish you all, a Happy New Year! This year will be one of continuous prosperity, of peace, of unity, of oneness and of rejection of every known instrument of division in our Land. It will be a year of wholesome repudiation of violence and of the plans of those who want to sell our commonwealth to the highest bidders without regards to our collective welfare or those of our children. This year will be one where Akwa Ibom interest will, and MUST supersede the interest of an individual or groups.

2.​I love the theme of this year’s Solemn Assembly: You are God, You Alone, derived from II Kings, Chapter 19 verse 19. This land is named after God, Akwa Abasi Ibom State and He alone dictates, arranges, manages, defines and shapes what happens here. No instrument of man can change the course of God’s plans for our State and our people, no devices of man or the naysayers, their lies, their much vaunted Warsaw saw war battle cry, their promise to deploy Federal might to forcefully take over our State, will stand. My dear Akwaibomites, it is shameful that our so-called leaders can sit and cut deals to mortgage the future of Akwa Ibom State and imperil the future of our children just to gain power and they have the audacity to come and tell you they are working to protect your interest.

3.​For some time now, men, I mean mere mortals have told you they alone can determine the course of your destiny, they have told you they alone have the answers to your problems; they have told you that if you fail to follow their laid down rules or travel the path they have charted for you, that they will visit violence on you and your children.

4.​Let me pause and ask you a few questions: Do they know that the children they want to use to unleash their planned violence on you are your children? Do you know that their children are all living in the best parts of the world, attending the best schools, living in the choicest parts of major cities in the world, yet they want to use your children to unleash violence on you?

5.​As we usher in this New Year, when they tell you of their evil and devilish plans, inform them that what Udom Emmanuel has been doing for the past three and half years is to secure the future of our children, so they too, can aspire to go to the best schools as their children, that they too, can have a safe and secure future as their children, tell them that you desire to live in a safe, secure and violence - free environment and that their selfish desires and ambitions will not push you to sacrifice the collective good over their selfish interest. Tell them that the proud sons and daughters of Akwa Abasi Ibom State have never been led by nose by one person; no single person can play God in this State, that what we have achieved so far has been because of ONLY GOD, and He Alone will allow the Right man to continue his good works.
6.​Fellow Akwaibomites, this is a critically important year, a year you will make consequential decisions; a year that will determine if you will continue to live in peace and prosperity or return to the dark and scary years of kidnapping, of violence, of politically motivated killings, the era when men played God and you were too scared to lift your voices or raise your hands to complain without being murdered or kidnapped. This year is a critical year, an election year that will determine if the Akwa Ibom story will continue to be written in glowingly terms or a return to the ugly and dark chapters when the resources of this land were used to build monuments of little consequence to your everyday lives, when applause meant more to them than a careful application of the enormous resources available then to secure the future of our children. This is the stark choice you have to make.

7.​When I was inaugurated three and half years ago, you will recall the first assignment I had performed was to raise my hands in supplications to the Lord and asked Him to sanitize this land and forgive us of all transgressions we may have committed in the past. The clear and immediate signal of what I did that day, was to let you my dear people know that as the Land of Promise, the Land that is named after God, my Administration will be Christ-centric, people-centric and morally just and defined.

8.​That has been the centre of everything we have done, and you can see the reflection of that key value in the way we have run our Government. That is the reason why on the Second Day of January every year, we come together in a Solemn Assembly to give thanks to God for His love during the preceding year and to turn over the affairs of this State in the New Year to Him. Three and half years later, He has not disappointed us.
9.​That is the reason why our State is moving forward, attracting investors across the globe, enjoying peace and progress; Uyo becoming one of the fastest growing cities in the world according to the influential publication, The Economist. That is the reason why we are able to embark on numerous capital projects when others can’t even pay the salaries of their workers; the reason why we are expanding and consolidating our infrastructural amenities such as the construction and commissioning or on-going works on over 1700 kilometres of roads, remodelling of numerous secondary health facilities such as Etinan, Ikot Okoro, Ituk Mbang, Iquita, Ikono, Emmanuel Hospitals, Eket, ONLY GOD made this possible.

10.​Let me reiterate this point: I didn’t come here to build monuments or white elephant projects so you may celebrate me on the pages of newspapers, the television channels or the social media platforms. I did not come here to seek applause or to create a cult of personality. I did not come here to play God or act as the only person with the wisdom or the solutions to all our problems; I came here to serve you as your Servant-Leader, to feel your pulse, your anxieties and, to work hard to solve our problems based on the resources we have been availed. That is what I have done in the past three and half years, and I intend to continue doing so, from May 29, this year, after you would have sent me back to the Hilltop Mansion to continue as your Servant-Leader.

11.​The resources available to our people have been used to take care of our people. Soon, Akwa Ibom State will blaze the trail as the only State in the nation if not the entire Africa to have a wholly owned and run Airline - The Ibom Air. This should be something that brings joy to our people, but some mischief makers who once had the opportunity to embark on projects that directly affect our lives, but instead chose to indulge in monuments that today stand as shameful relics of an era of megalomania, would come and try to play God and think our people are so gullible to be sold loads of lies again. Everything we have done has been to improve the standard of living of our people; from our investments in agriculture, to the empowerment of our youths and women, to education, these are needed values in our lives, yet the opposition will tell you these great achievements do not exist.

12.​In the next one and half months, my dear people, we will go to the polls to elect our leaders, and as the theme of this event so eloquently states, it is God alone that will determine who governs us; it is He alone who will determine the course of our growth and development, it is He alone who will guarantee us a violence-free elections; it is He alone who will shame the plans and the machinations of mere mortals.

13.​I therefore, urge you our dear Akwaibomites, not to give in to lies of certain individuals who when they had the opportunity to establish industries in this State did nothing, but to erect white elephant projects and monuments. The same people who had promised you 31 industries in 31 local government areas but could not establish even a pure water making factory are back together, promising you heaven on earth. Do not believe them!

14.​We came here and promised you industrialization, we have fulfilled that promise. We have as of today, 15 industries, verifiable industries in this State, we promised you quality education for our children, we have fulfilled that promise, we promised you quality healthcare, we have done exactly that, we promised you an improvement in our agricultural output so we can feed our people, we have done that, we promised you improved electricity, you are all witnesses to this undeniable fact that our electricity has improved significantly. We promised our youths, our women and our elders, traders empowerment, we have done just that. As they say, a good job executed demands more job to be done. That is what I am committed to doing when you return me to the Hilltop Mansion.

15.​Let us therefore, say no to agents of blackmail and lies. Let us reject those who have refused to see the good things we are doling to take our State to a higher level of development. The Nation is celebrating us, from the Ooni of Ife - His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi who two days ago at Asan Ibibio, went further to eulogize our achievements, to the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi 11 who brought investors here and told the world, our State is so peaceful and welcoming to foreign investors, which had prompted him to bring those investors here, the World Bank Country Director, Rachid Benmessaoud who said in 2017 that Akwa Ibom State is the best place to do business, to the inspiring and ringing endorsement of our former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR). These are men of stature and credibility, yet the opposition elements here will tell you the roads we have built do not exist, the industries we have attracted do not exist, the hospitals we have remodelled do not exist, the electricity they are enjoying do not exist, the quality public schools and teachers we have recruited are non-existence or the affordable food items they now enjoy do not exist. Soon, they will tell you the IBOM AIR does not exist. It is sad to see a political party adopting lies as a campaign strategy and they expect the people to take then serious?

16.​My dear Akwa Ibomites, let me end this speech by thanking God for all that He has done for our State and what He has used me to do in the past three and half years. Let me again pledge to you that I will continue to lead you according to the plans of the Almighty. I will continue to ensure you live in peace, our environment is safe and secure, you will not be killed, kidnapped, or intimidated or go to bed with one eye open because of fear of insecurity. I came here to serve you, and I will never sacrifice the collective interest of our people for selfish gains. Power flows from God and HE ALONE gives power to which He wants. ONLY GOD is the source of our power, and to Him alone we submit ourselves as we seek your support to continue the good works we stated together three and half years ago. Happy New Year again my dear brothers and sisters. Akwa Ibom Edakadda, ami mme dakkdada!

*“Caution: Men at work”*

By Edidiong Udobia

Ordinarily, Uyo to Ikot Ekpene should be about a 20 minutes drive or so, but currently, the road, which is a major highway, is under construction with lots of diversions and rough paths, and this means it will take a pretty longer time to cover the distance. To help alert drivers and other road users on the impending dangers on the road while the construction is ongoing, different caution signage are strategically placed all through the road. The good thing is, none of the signage signals a total closure of the road, so drivers have the liberty to meander through the diversions. Like Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road, cautions like, “Slow down. Men at work”, “Diversion ahead”, etc give drivers the confidence that there's a way through. But the case is always different when the signage is “Road Closed”. The caution simply means the road is not open for use and the only option for the user is to turnaround and find an alternative route.

I'm sure we must have heard a thousand and one times before that life is a journey. And so is everything in life, including politics. Politics, like a road, we are gradually approaching that point where all the signage were cautioning us about. That point of major construction. Take Akwa Ibom state for in stance. Politically, the state is itching close to a very defining point. A point where both individual and collective efforts of Akwa Ibom people will all be determining factors. The much anticipated 2019 is finally here, and in few weeks, the fate of the state will be decided by what signage we collectively erect. Since assuming office in 2015, Governor Udom Emmanuel, with our collective support, has been building the state brick by brick, and block by block. Like Rome, Akwa Ibom was never going to be built in a day, and the governor is neither tired nor quitting.

In the last three years plus, the governor has been working assiduously on the state and to help the people follow and monitor the progress, his has placed the right signage where necessary. For instance, it can be recalled that in fulfilment of his promise to run a transparent government, the governor placed the “diversion” signage on the state budget turning what hitherto was a secret document to a public document which has not only armed the people with information but has further enabled them to be actively involved in the yearly financial planning and implementation of the state. He has also placed the “diversion” signage on the management of the state resources taking the state from the years of brutal wastage to the years of prudent management. He has placed the “stop” signage on the insecurity issues in the state. From the rampant cult clashes in Uyo, Ever, Ikot Ekpene, Oron and other urban cities of the state to the militancy in Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo, Oruk Anam and other rural/border communities, the governor has ensured that peace is restored.

Through his industrialization drive and wealth creation, Governor Udom Emmanuel has placed the “slow down” signage on unemployment and youth restiveness in the state. It is imperative to state that the governor is achieving this at a time when unemployment is reaching an all-time high in the country. According to the latest statistics, unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 23.10 percent in the third quarter of 2018 from 22.70 percent in the second quarter of 2018. It further indicates that unemployment rate in the country averaged 12.31 percent from 2006 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 23.10 percent in the third quarter of 2018 and a record low of 5.10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Also at a time when Nigeria is crowned as the poverty capital of the world.

There is a big “Work is ongoing” signage on infrastructure. From the massive road constructions, renovation of hospitals, schools and sports facilities across the state to the building of high-rises and cottage industries, factories and industrial park to boast the economy of the state. These are not imprints of an amateur. The governor has shown extreme competence on the job. With the dawn of 2019, the challenge has shifted a bit from the governor to the people. It will now be left for the people of Akwa Ibom to decide which signage to erect when they get to the polls in few months. It is no hidden fact that there are other people who are also on this same political trip for the purpose of obstructing the ongoing work. Because we are satisfied with the job Governor Udom Emmanuel is doing, we must together in one voice and with our votes declare that as far as 2019 is concerned, there are men at work and therefore, the road to the Hilltop mansion is “CLOSED”.

Wishing you all a prosperous 2019.

This piece is inspired by the rare picture of Governor Udom Emmanuel with his foremost lieutenants during the coronation of Oku Ibom Obibio, Nteyin Solomon Etuk.

Edidiong Udobia is a journalist and writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

APC JUSTIFIES UDOM’S RE-ELECTION?

I read on Mr. Ata Ikkideh’s wall on Facebook report of a recent radio interview by Senator Godswill Akpabio. I was more interested in question number one which was put through to the respected Senator and his answer.

Questioner: (1) Why didn’t you establish 31 industries?

Akpabio: Paucity of funds and insecurity.

Me: this is interesting. Therefore I want to be fair, very fair in my analysis here.
Firstly, I want to give you an idea, just an idea of the quantum money that entered Akwa Ibom State during Sen Akpabio’s regime.

Take a trip to Akpabio’s residential building under construction at Shelter Afrique Estate, Uyo. Biltmore Estate located at Asheville, North Carolina regarded as the biggest residential building in USA, cannot stand it. While the 250 rooms Biltmore building is a normal house with corrugated roofing sheets, the entire Akpabio’s (multiple rooms) building is made up of reenforced concrete with compressive strength greater than 6000(PSI) not only making the building bullet and bomb proof but designed to resist incoming warheads, missiles and countermeasures. The question is whether the senator is fortifying himself and family against 3rd world war. If the answer is no then the choice of the building is an indication of a person that has conquered money so much that he has run out of ideas of what to do with it.

Gov Udom Emmanuel on the other hand came in during period of recession and therefore received far less and yet he has been able to bring in some industries. He has also been able to restore security- which essentially will bring in more industries. This is a justification that he deserves four more years to build on that foundation.

Industrialization is without doubt at the apex of the growth and development options of any third world economy. In order to move from the vicious cycle of generational poverty an economy must evolve from agrarian or whatever state to manufacturing. There is no other options.

That is why I thank Mr. Nsima Ekere for his shortsightedness. In his so called manifesto he listed reasons Akwa Ibomites should jettison industrialization and accept his alternative measures. And these are nothing different from what state government after government in Nigeria have been doing for the past 53 years without any results. Ironically these are his much hyped planned programs for Akwa Ibom State in the next four years. For instance he said he would invest massively in infrastructure in a way that “puts money in the hands of artisans, suppliers and contractors and pay people 100,000 each if their wives deliver triplets or more children at a time. What a way to revamp a third world economy!

By the way is he referring to artisans and suppliers from the moon? Where were these people when he managed over 1.5trillion naira at NDDC for over 3 years. Is the infrastructure under reference different from the ones he claimed to have invested in to “REPOSITION” NDDC? Where are they? Why didn’t those claimed investments put money on artisans hands? Sometimes these men talk with very little regards to the intelligence of the Akwa Ibom people.

I recall VP Osinbajo claimed the APC government has invested more on infrastructure, about 3trillion, in the last 3 years; more than the combined investment of all other government in Nigeria history. But why hasn’t this reflated the economy? For answer let’s look at the “balloon effect” on the circular flow of income analogy which I think Mr Ekere’s economic team didn’t explained to him. The size and strength of a balloon can be determined by either injection or leakage of air. Interestingly however, you can manipulate the air inside a balloon to change the shape. But whatever new shape it takes, the size remains the same if there is no external injection. In this case only the air inside is being manipulated. This is what happens to an economic system that is monotonous or starved of external inflows. State governments after governments wait for federal allocations (which is the air within the balloon), pay salaries, build some infrastructure etc. As long as nothing new comes in the economic balloon remains the same while the number of people breathing the trapped air increased daily. They are also breathing out so at the end while the balloon becomes more uncomfortable, its overall size remains. This is the thrust of Nsima Ekere’s economic policy.

His planned investment of 50billion in 4 years to develop small and medium enterprise as a replacement for a well articulated industrialization policy already in place shows how shallow some people who offer themselves for leadership can reason. From which source? Same over flogged Federal Allocation (the usual air inside the balloon)? The sad thing is that people are clapping including renowned economists some of whom are professors building leaders of tomorrow. As we speak some of them are on radio studios spreading same Old Testament with this visionless proposal. Very sad indeed.

FDI of $1b or more maybe brought in by just one industrialist in one day as the market opens up. Imagine if in just one year you have only five of such. That is $1b x 366=1.83trillion fresh funds injected into the system. Why will the state not grow, why will it not develop even if the federal allocation collapses.
Who is thinking for these people Mbok? The way to go is industrialization which injects into the balloon more and more air while the balloon increases in size until it bursts.

Nsima’s planned economic model shows he has not given up the Old Testament model of receiving and sharing federal allocations among cronies and top party faithfuls using coded terms like “Local Content” while the masses wreath in poverty with poor “boys” hovering around the few plunderers.

So when they tell you that all “politicians” have left PDP to APC please pray for more to do so in order for Udom to have enough latitude to make the state work again for your good. Only industrialization can grow the economy, create and sustains job and ensures improved standard of living on a sustainable basis.

Who said Udom has brought in enough industries to create the desired impact? Ammem? It is just over two years of a brand new vision. But he has taken the state through some important steps. The learning process, the usual teething problems etc were there as should be expected. But a lot of lessons have been learnt. The toothpick, rice mill and some others may not be operating at installed capacities yet and have attracted some criticisms; even laughters but the syringe, the metering industry etc are doing well. That is the way it should be. Success here, failure there the journey continues. Through experience, better ways are learnt and improvements attained.

Senator Akpabio supposed to have asked Udom how he has succeeded so far in the only two things which his “more money” philosophy could not do in his time which are security and industrialization. As ONLY GOD could do, he has made Sen Akpabio to say the truth during his radio interview under reference : that Udom has succeeded where he failed and therefore deserved a second term.

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

Etinan General Hospital: An Example of Udom’s Midas Touch in Healthcare Delivery

By Uwemedimoh Umanah

It was Mother Theresa of Calcutta who said: ' let us touch the dying, the poor, the unwanted according to the grace we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to the good works'.

Some days ago, I paid a visit to General Hospital Etinan. I must say that what I saw was a testimony that the Akwa Ibom Government, under Governor Udom Emmanuel has the grace to touch the poor, the dying and the needy, through a deliberate health sector revolution.

During his 2015 electioneering campaigns, the Governor made Wealth Creation a cardinal agendum of his 5- Point Agenda. He noted that it's only a healthy population that can be wealthy and employed. In his opinion, the optimum population (comprising of those in the productive age) should be given the enablements to thrive, hence his health sector reforms which has monumental implications as seen in the Etinan General Hospital.

The ambience of the hospital, characterized by a natural ecosystem and architectural landscape were psychologically relieving. The Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, a Europe trained O&G Consultant, Dr Essiet Ime was right on ground to give my crew insights into the ongoing revolution in the health sector of the state with specific reference to the hospital.

I must say without any fear of contradiction that the hospital is one of the most equipped secondary health facilities in Nigeria.
This submission is premised on a juxtapositional assessment of the decaying state of public hospitals in Nigeria versus the state -of -the arts facilities and numerous qualified personnel at the disposal of Etinan General Hospital.

I personally witnessed a new culture and consciousness of dynamism in the management of medical emergencies. From the manner doctors conducted caesarean session in the theaters, the number of personnel in all the wards and departments to the sophisticated equipments, tells a story of quantum leap and a glorious dawn.

My discussion with Dr Essiet Ime was revealing and informative. He expressed appreciation to the Akwa Ibom State government for ensuring that the Hospital ranks among the best public hospitals in the country. "Etinan Hospital was a forgotten place. The governor decided to visit some months after his swearing in, and the memorable visit has given birth to the massive turnaround you are seeing today", he said.

As an eye -witness who spoke with beneficiaries of government's magnanimous health policies and programs, I must say that one aspect of the hospital worthy of note is that it's the bastion of the free medical services for pregnant women (undergoing ante natal care), children under the age of 5 and the the aged 65years and above.

This makes it the more imperative because rural women, according to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Kimoon, are the backbone of the sustainable livelihood and provide food security for their families and communities.

Mrs Iquo Essien who was undergoing antenatal care said that she has been doing that free of charge in the hospital. "We are not charged any amount of money during checkups and sometimes, drugs are given to pregnant women by nurses free...", she said.

The Pharmaceutical Department of the hospital cannot go unnoticed. There, I met over 5 pharmacists and a pharmacologist on call who were were busy with their daily routines. Drug shelves are well stocked while the Head of Unit was on ground to supervise his team, in a manner that depicted 'shared responsibility'.

Can words alone describe the numbers of lives being saved by the hospital on a daily basis following Governor Udom Emmanuel's intervention? Can a mere 'thank you' convey the reward of a man who has saved many lives by putting up this life- touching project?

The Medical Superintendent, Dr Essiet Ime could not be conceal his enthusiasm by lavishing accolades on the Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel. In his words, "mere words cannot appreciate the benevolence of His Excellency, the Governor. I have worked for several years but this is the first time I'm really touched by an intervention by a government in a medical facility...therefore the management and staff of the hospital also rely on the efficacy of devotion session conducted every friday morning to give thanks to God for using Governor to upgrade the Etinan General Hospital".

To this end, it's pertinent to address the mendacious falsehood peddled by sponsored agents of the opposition APC in the state that the hospital was not built by him and that he doesn’t have a signature project. Governor Udom Emmanuel is not jostling for anyone’s attention in this regard. Udom’s signature project is ‘the Akwa Ibom people’- capable of engendering sustainable livelihood in the state, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

If these agents of doom have the best interest of the state and its people at heart, they should be thankful to the Governor whom God is using to save lives in the state through his proactive engagement in the healthcare delivery system of the state.

Let me end this brief 'excursion' with the words of Dalai Lama, the 14th Monk of the Gelug School, "love and compassion are necessities not luxury. Without them, humanity cannot survive".


Governor Udom Emmanuel is an exemplification of love and compassion for Akwa Ibom people. It's only a person in his genre that is capable of holding the people at heart.

The 2019 gubernatorial elections therefore would be a choice between light and darkness, between prosperity and doom and above all, between moving forward or moving backwards!

Udom is represents light, prosperity and advancement... Akwa Ibomites cannot bargain for the lesser ONE.

#OnlyGod
#UdomIsWorking
#2019SureDeal

APC CHIEFTAIN UNLEASHES TERROR ON GOV EMMANUEL'S AIDE
...Former Governor's Brother Hospitalized with Machete Cuts
A senior special assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Mr Amanam Nkanga, this evening escaped death by the whiskers when he was brutally assaulted and attacked with dangerous weapons by a caucus member of the APC, Hon Emah Bassey at his own hometown Ikot Nya in Nsit Ibom local government area.
Mr Nkanga younger brother of former Governor Idongesit Nkanga, according to eye witness accounts, had accompanied the divisional police officer, DPO of the area, Mr John Umoh, to an APC gathering which blocked the only express highway linking Ikot Nya with Etinan, that had prevented road users from movement out of the area.
On their arrival, Emah Bassey, a former two term member of the House of Representatives who had stormed the venue with a truckload of supporters swooped on him and personally allegedly brought out his long knife to severe the head of the Governor's aide.
Mr. Nkanga was said to have experienced a horrific treatment as dozens of weapons were physically unleashed on him by the suspected thugs, getting him subsequently hospitalized.
When our reporters visited him at the hospital, Amanam who was weakened by apparent loss of huge blood, explained that the former lawmaker simply jumped at him asking him, "why are you here," before inflicting the blows on him, and knocking him out of consciousness.
Two other victims of the attack were seen at the hospital emergency surgical theatre, with deep cuts on their hands and faces.
One of the victims who gave his name as Edidiong, lost part of his teeth and had a gash on his jaw.
Some indigenes of the community rebuked Mr Emah Bassey whose village, Afaha Offiong is the headquarters of Nsit Ibom, for deliberately breeding trouble in the area.
They alleged that he deliberately brought his meeting to block the road in Ikot Nya, as a way of spiting his former political father, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, whose younger brother Amanam he almost succeeded in exterminating.
The violence earlier promised by the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom state has further been reinforced with the open attack, they said, calling in the state police commissioner to bring the culprits to book.

AKWA IBOM IS ON TRACK

Governor Udom Emmanuel has reengineered governance with prudent discharge and deliberate allocation of our resources. From the repositioning of failed structures at the Ibom Hotels, Ibom Specialty hospitals, Ibom Power and other haphazardly concocted ways of policy implementation to putting in place Power Infrastructure that has unbundled electricity distribution in our State by creating a ring of viable power stations.

We have about 6 remodelled and rekitted General hospitals in Ibiaku Ntok Okpo, Ituk Mbang, Etinan, Iquita Oron, Ikot Okoro and Eket and structures to deliver sustainable healthcare delivery at the Primary level.

Hundreds of our schools have been repositioned through a conscious effort in infrastructure amidst an increased morale in teacher and student welfare. Government has continued to promote and sustain the free education in the State.

A dozen factories and food processing facilities for Rice, Cassava, Cocoa, Coconut dot the landscape increasing our food sufficiency index. Massive cultivation in line with ensuring a non oil dependent economy is in place.

Strategic Investments are attracted in the Aviation and Construction Sector with the 21 Storey Edifice that is amazingly on the 14th floor within 6months and the Ibom Air project that remains a fantastic prelude to the final implementation of the Airport Development of MRO and cargo facilities.

The once crawling Ibom DeepSea Port project has advanced to the EPC stage with a properly defined execution strategy.

The financial model for Road Construction has seen to the opening up of the State which was landlocked for almost a decade to facilitate movement of goods through Abia, Umuahia with approval from the Federal Government to open up the Ikot Ekpene-Aba axis. All these roads are pointed towards economic value; Uyo-Etinan-Eket-Ibeno has progressed significantly despite the financial and economic challenges in our nation. The Ibaka Superhighway is on course alongside numerous economic arteries that cut across local government areas.

The Ibom Smart City project is about to lunch in 2months even as vigorous fibre optics are being laid to provide internet services at the State Secretariat, Ewet Housing and University areas as pilot for Ease of Doing Business which by the way has been revived massively through access to finance for 10,550 traders and Farmers in the State.

The Feyrep Initiative of Her Excellency is quietly furthering the renewed mindset and call for greatness of the Dakkada Philosophy by quietly launched Social Empowerment in Agriculture,Trade and Impact Investments.

Our people are back on the path of sustainable development but sadly we have been too dependent on subservient welfarist schemes of the past. Opportunities abound and that is exactly what a responsible Government should do. SMEs are popping up everywhere with plans to vigorous pursue wealth creation. Take a trip to the Made in Akwa Ibom Gallery.

In Sports our children are rising in excellence even as World class sporting arenas are evolving in the 10Federal Constituencies

I can boldly say that Akwa Ibom is obviously on track. Feel free to ask for further clarification as these numerous milestones are evident!!

Compliments of the season!

DMAESTRO

*“Sikwarity, ikwonomy, and pyting kwarapshun”*

By Edidiong Udobia

“I am standing here to express my gratitude and appreciation to the party for organizing this get-together to start the campaign against next year. If you could recall in 2015 when we traveled the length and breadth of this country and we based our campaign on three fundamental issues, -security, economy and fighting corruption...”

The above is an excerpt of President Muhammadu Buhari's short address at the flag-off of the APC presidential election campaign, last Friday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. At least, that is rumoured to be what was written for the president, though, we will all agree that we heard something else. But I'll assume that the president mumbled in an attempt to communicate what was written. Therefore, I will adopt the written speech as my working document.

Preparatory to the president's visit, I had raised a pertinent question; “what will President Buhari tell Akwa Ibom people?” Like other sensible Akwa Ibom people, I am genuinely interested in the progress and prosperity of the state. Regardless of which political party is at the center and which party is ruling the state, as the highest oil and gas producing state in the country, Akwa Ibom is very critical and strategic to the development of the country. By her immense contribution to the resources of the nation, the state should always be a key beneficiary of the federal government's policies and programmes irrespective of the political party at the center. On this note, it is the responsibility of every Nigerian president to ensure that Akwa Ibom is fairly treated by his administration, and President Buhari is not an exception.

More than three years after assuming office, President Buhari should have something concrete to point at in Akwa Ibom as an achievement of his administration. This is what we expected the president to tell us while flagging-off his campaign last Friday in the state. Akwa Ibom expected the president to mention at least, a few federal government interventions in the state. Akwa Ibom wanted to hear the president tell us what his administration has done in the state in Akwa Ibom in terms of infrastructure, economic development, etc. We wanted to hear what his administration has done to ease the regulations on Ibom Power Company in order help the state have access to more power generated by the company. Akwa Ibom people wanted to hear the president list some federal projects executed in the state by his administration.

Assuming, the last three years were not enough for the president to do anything for Akwa Ibom, as a state, where is he his launching his reelection campaign, the people expected him to tell us what plans he has for the state in the few months left and his second term, if reelected. We expected the president to tell us what will be our collective gain as state going into 2019. Politics is about making good negotiations and striking the right deals. As stakeholders in the country's ecoming, we expected President Buhari to negotiate with us. With a population of over 5 million people, Akwa Ibom is a factor at the polls and we expected the president to have a pact with us. Alas, with his less than 20 minutes address, President Buhari bullshitted us the most disrespectful and disgraceful manner. The president clearly showed that his administration never had any plan for Akwa Ibom and will probably not have any even if he is reelected. By his address, if Akwa Ibom is to find any solace, then the state must find a way to squeeze herself into his fairy tail of security, economy and fighting corruption.

By insinuation, the president clearly told us to see the incessant intimidation and molestation of government officials and citizens of the state by security agencies as his administration's achievement in terms of security in the state. President Buhari also meant that Akwa Ibom people should see the frequent freezing of the state government account by EFCC as his administration's achievement in the state with regards to economy. Most importantly, the president, without mincing words, told us to see the transfiguration of “Sinitor Godwin Afhabio” and other Akwa Ibom persons formerly accused of corruption, as his administration's achievement in the state in terms of fighting corruption. Like in 2015, the president has started traveling the length and breadth of this country, and again, his campaign is based on three fundamental issues of “sikwarity, ikwonomy, and pyting kwarapshun”.

Edidiong Udobia is a journalist and writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

Breaking: Nsima Ekere orders A'Ibom APC chieftains to boycott Oku Ibom coronation

...You're shooting self in the foot - Caucus members tell NDDC boss

Less than 24 hours to the sacred coronation of His Eminence, Nteyin Solomon D. Etuk, JP as Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General, Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers and Patriarch of Ibibio Nation, Akwa Ibom state APC governorship candidate, Mr Nsima Ekere is facing stiff rebellion within his party following an order he allegedly handed down ordering APC chieftains in the state not to attend the monarch's coronation.

The directive is however being strongly resisted by some Ibibio APC chieftains who warned the former deputy governor to stop following Senator Godswill Akpabio's advice of dividing the state between ethnic lines and giving directives capable of jeopardizing the more the party's fortunes ahead of 2019.

Mr. Ekere was alleged to have spoken on phone to some key members of the Akwa Ibom APC caucus on Saturday night, asking them to prevail on party members to boycott the event, for what inside sources termed, 'fear that the monarch may make a solemn proclamation at the event that may not go down well with the APC come 2019.'

It is not immediately clear if senior APC chieftains like Mr Umana Okon Umana, Senator J.J. Udoedeghe, Senator Ita Enang, Engr Ita Awak, accepted Ekere's plea. The caucus chairman, Otuekong Don Etiebet did not reply to media enquiry of his position on the matter as at Saturday night.

But a caucus member from Uyo senatorial district who pleaded anonymity when asked by our reporter said, such directive by Ekere was misplaced, divisive and clannish as there is no way party leaders will listen to him on the issue at this point in time.

'It only shows the level Akpabio has polluted his mind and this is a clear indication that the former governor is indeed APC's greatest enemy and destroyer.'

'I doubt if any right thinking Ibibio son or daughter who is in APC will listen to Ekere and boycott the coronation of the new Oku Ibom Ibibio just to please Akpabio. Some of us are members of the Planning Committee and we were so appointed not because we are APC members but because we are Ibibio's. It is time Ekere looks beyond Akpabio and stop taking counter productive actions like adopting Akpabio's aged-long divide and rule tactics against the Ibibio nation'.

'But you must also understand that owing to how the former occupant of the stool died, Senator Akpabio and some APC chieftains have a moral burden attending the coronation', he said.

He insisted that while Akpabio has the moral burden and guilt that may make his attending the ceremony almost impossible, it is improper for Ekere as the party's governorship candidate to try to compel or force other APC chieftains not to attend. 'The celebration is not about APC or PDP but the future of the Ibibio nation and the unity it brings back to the state. Whoever advised him to hand down this directive is Ekere's worst enemy and if you look further, that person is Akpabio,' he declared.