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

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

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

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

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

For instance, rehabilitations for the 150 km Bauchi-Gombe road, was awarded in 2016. As at the date the president presented his 2019 budget, only about 7 km was resurfaced, outside Alkaleri towards Gombe, a portion that was fairly smooth before work started leaving the 60 km where urgent rehabilitation was needed between Alkaleri and Bauchi unattended to. But Mr. President “mistakenly” claimed this gross inefficiency as one of his achievements; that the road has been fully rehabilitated and other not so factual claims, so he was booed. I am aware he has awarded contract for the rehabilitations of Calabar- Itu Road. So far nothing has happened there, he should avoid similar mistake of claiming any achievements there yet. In order words let him be truthful rather than political when he speaks on Friday.

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

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

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

Thomas Thomas Takes Failure to.....

By Alhaji Umani Uwemedimo


There is a popular saying "show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are".

It is very true that when people are curse or destined to fail, whatever or whoever associates with them becomes failure.

This has been the hallmark of Thomas Thomas from birth. The name is very familiar in Akwa Ibom State. Most times people mistake him to be a journalist; the truth is that Thomas is not a journalist but a man who chooses to destroy others by assassinating their characters and achievement through his fictitious writings and outright falsehood so they can be seen as failures like him.

Thomas Thomas started writing for newspapers Community Pulse Newspapers at about 2009 with a clear cut mission to malign, assassinate, and destroy people’s reputations by writing all manners of falsehood and fictions against them. This he does with the intention that his victims will look for him and beg him with money to stop destroying their character because they have a future to protect.

But because he is destined for failure, coupled with the innocent cries of his victims, the millions he has swindled from people so far has not achieved anything for him, neither is his life and living condition anything better than that of a church rat. He criticizes, blackmailed, and writes all kinds of fictitious things about government in an attempt to ensure that such government fails. In his attempt to blackmail government and make it devilish to the people, he runs into trouble with people and government which includes arrest and court actions.

His known allies who are also affected by this curse for failure are Solomon Johnny and Unyime Ekwere. They were flushed out of the Community Pulse newspaper the same day in 2010 when they tried to turn the newspaper into an attack dog for Senator Udoedehe.

They went back to the opposition leader Sen Udoedehe and collected fat sums of money to establish Global Concord Newspaper which they use as the mouth piece and attack dog of Sen Udoedehe from 2010 till date. They wrote all manners of evil and lies to discredit the government then in their selfish bid to enthrone Udoedehe as governor in 2011 which they failed. Trust Akwa Ibom people who love bad news, the paper became one of the best selling local newspapers in the state. A lot of people where falling on them with money couple with the proceeds they make from false stories and blackmail, but none of them today can boast of a better living condition.

This explains when a man is anointed for failure and that affects all that associates with him. Soon after the 2011 election, Solomon Johnny contested the 2012 councillorship election in Ibesikpo Asutan and failed.

In 2015, the Global Concord which had long been factionalized into three separate editions because of Thomas insincerity went separate ways. The Monday edition which is edited by Thomas Thomas stuck to Udoedehe, Wednesday edition edited by Unyime Ekwere declared support for Umana Umana, while Friday edition handled by Solomon Johnny went for Udoedehe. To show that Thomas was anointed for failure, and he always support failure; his candidate for the APC governorship ticket then, Udoedehe could not even win the party primaries. He attempted to contest the Etinan Federal Constituency seat in that 2015 but failed the primary.

Unyime Ekwere who supported Umana Umana for governorship got the party ticket for Etinan State Constituency in 2015 but lost the election because anything associated with Thomas must fail. And anything he supports must fail. But before then, Thomas had already extorted a lot of money from Umana Umana because he does not joke with money. He can write anything for you when money is involved. He can paint the devil to look like Jesus Christ when he is paid, but the unfortunate thing is that all must fail.

But despite all their spew and media campaigns of calumny against the candidate of the PDP then, they all failed together. Can you now see that Thomas Thomas caries a curse that everything he supports must fail?

Thomas Thomas is a very dubious person. The Global Concord newspaper became factionalized because of Thomas. When they finish printing the newspaper, Thomas will go back to the printer and secretly reprint the same edition and take it to the distributors for sale, and whatever is the unsold from the Global Concord, they will count his money from the sold copies while the unsold copies is counted for the general printing. When Solomon Johnny discovered this, he became very angry with Thomas, and that led to the division.

It’s only those who don’t know Thomas that can take him serious. Almost everybody is now used to his style and how to get his support. Just promise him position and give him money, he can write anything you want for you. Before the APC primaries, Thomas again declared his support for Udoedehe which makes it clear that Udo was heading for another doom. As predicted, it happened that Udoedehe lost the APC governorship ticket to Nsima Ekere.

But before then, Thomas told his readers that Nsima Ekere cannot win APC primaries, and cannot become governor in Akwa Ibom state. Because Thomas is known for failure, his candidate lost to Ekere, and to fulfil his vow that Nsima Ekere cannot be governor of Akwa Ibom state, he has now moved in to support Ekere knowing that he carries the anointing for failure.

But before then, Thomas and Solomon Johnny were dangling around PDP chieftains for cash to get their support. It was feared that if Thomas ever ventured into Udom’s second term election, that will be a failure on the part of the governor. Being a devoted Christian, Udom and his supporters ignored all their antics that they want to support him because he is better than Nsima Ekere by all standards. Yes, it's true that Udom is far more better than Ekere, but were they saying it out of conviction or because they wanted money?

Thank God that Thomas Thomas the failure has finally locate Nsima Ekere, and very soon Solomon Johnny will join him when the required N2 million for each of them is paid to Johnny just like it was paid to Thomas. Work will soon start. All I can say is happy failed project again.

AKHA 2019: AKPANUSOH REITERATES COMMITMENT TO EFFICIENT REPRESENTATION, INAUGURATES CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.

...Drums Support For Gov. Emmanuel

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Esit Eket / Ibeno State constituency in the forthcoming general elections, Dr. Usoro Akpanusoh has restated that he is commited to offering effective representation if re-elected for a second term.

Akpanusoh stated this monday 24th December, 2018 at his constituency office, Uquo, Esit Eket LGA during the inauguration ceremony of KINI-ABASI CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION for the commencement of ward to ward and unit by unit electioneering campaigns across the constituency.

Inaugurating the committee, Dr. Akpanusoh charged members of the committee and the entire constituents to remain fervent and loyal in supporting the Udom Emmanuel PDP led-administration urging them to reflect the symbol of peace, joy and love throughout the Christmas celebration.

He reiterated his dedication and commitment to legislate laws that will continue to attract impactful and pure democratic dividends for the enhancement and sustainance of development and progress in the area.

"As a believer of efficient representation; I have devoted my energy and I will not relent efforts to bring to my people purposeful leadership which have birthed the existing unimpeachable legislative legacies in our constituency and this can only be sustained by voting for all the PDP candidates in the 2019 general elections". Akpanusoh said.

Director General of Kini-Abasi Campaign Organization, Elder Friday Udoeka (Sultan), in his inaugural speech stated that the umbrella party remains the only party that is well rooted and parrading credible and popular candidates that will gladly return power to the people after being voted into power.

Elder Udoeka; a former state officer of the PDP, from Ibeno LGA appealed to members of the committee to rise above every challenges capable of hampering the anticipated peaceful and smooth victory of their principal.

He implored all eligible voters across Esit Eket and Ibeno LGAs to vote for PDP candidates to ensure they all emerged victorious beginning from the presidential elections to state House of Assembly elections.

Other members of KiniAbasi campaign organization are; Elder Benjamin Udobia, Hon. Iniobong Robson, Chairman sub-committee on finance, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Ette, Mr. Samuel Ekpeyong, Hon. Enobong Harry, director of youth mobilisation, Hon. Eddy Etangkanga, chairman, sub-committee, contacts and mobilisation, Rt. Hon. Ifum Henry Udo, Elder Eyo Etteudo, Dr. Ini Adaikpan, Ms. Naomi Daniel, Hon. Emma Ibok among others.

By - Jerryz EDOHO

TEXT OF THE CHRISTMAS BROADCAST
BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. UDOM EMMANUEL, GOVERNOR, AKWA IBOM STATE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE, DECEMBER 25, 2018

Fellow Akwa Ibomites

My wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance! The reason for this Season, is to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and to thank God for His love, blessings and guidance in the past one year and indeed, the last three and half years.

This particular Christmas broadcast is significant in a number of ways: I am speaking to you my dear people before the 2019 electioneering campaigns begin in earnest which will end with the elections proper. I am hopeful that by this time next year with your support we will continue the good works we have started together in re-writing the Akwa Ibom Story. You will agree with me, that the Akwa Ibom story requires bold new chapters and those chapters are what, together, with your support, we have written glowingly in the past three and half years. As they say, a great job done requires more job to be done!

We have every reason to be thankful to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ for the invisible hand He has extended to us as a people, as a State and as Government. Three and half years ago when we came in, we were bogged down by issues of election litigations but we nonetheless kept our eye on the ball, because we came in here with a bold agenda predicated mainly on the need to rapidly industrialize this State and engender in our people’s psyche a new attitude, a new mindset predicated on the dakkada philosophy and nothing, I mean nothing was going to derail us from pursuing that path of sustainable development.

Today, in spite of what the naysayers may say, in spite of the lies they tell you, in spite of the propaganda they weave, in spite of the blackmail they manufacture, we can thump our chest and proclaim loudly, without any slightest tinge of boastfulness that we have done well for you our dear people.

I do not intend to reel off my scorecard with this broadcast but suffice it to say that you are all familiar with what we have done and I will like to make this profoundly fundamental point: we are not engaged in building monuments that have no direct impact or meaning to our everyday lives; we are not grandstanding with the construction of white elephant projects , we are not on a course for fleeting applause, we are not here to create a cult of personality or to play God or to define ourselves as the sole repositories of knowledge and power; we are not here to sell our State on bended knees or to cut deals that will imperil the future of our State or our children. We are not here sorely to protect our selfish interest while sacrificing the collective good; we are not arming people and sewing fake army and police uniforms to unleash terror on our innocent children just to win elections, we are here, because we genuinely care about you, your children’s future, the place of our State in the socio-political calculus of our Nation. We are here, because we believe the resources God has so generously endowed our people with, should be used to develop Akwa Ibom State and empower our people to rise further to the faith of their greatness.

Akwa Abasi Ibom State is a Christian State, shaped by Christians values and mores, conditioned by the impulses to do good to all manner of people irrespective of their social standings; that is why it is critically important that the leader this State deserves must take into account these values and I daresay my fellow compatriot, these are the values I have brought to bear in the last three and half years as your Governor and I pledge to you again, on this day of the birth of the Prince of Peace, that I will not be intimated, I will not bend, I will not give in to blackmail, lies or attacks on my person or my administration. I will not cut deals to sell our State to the highest bidder neither will I sacrifice the elements that define us as a people simply to further a political goal.

The future of Akwa Abasi Ibom people is very important to be sacrificed at the altar of those who want to return us to the days of slavery and servitude. The world is moving forward, and Akwa Ibom State is rising and moving with the rest of the world. You heard it loud and clear the other day from our Vice Presidential Candidate, our dear in-law, HE Peter Obi that Uyo is ranked one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Should we go backward or forward? As our people would say “Abasi akan”! It is forward ever backward never!

A few years ago, we lived in the inglorious world as captured by Thomas Hobbes- a society where life was nasty, brutish and short, you are all living witnesses to those dark years when our people were kidnapped, murdered or brutally killed for holding different political opinions; you are all living witnesses to a sick and inglorious times when old men and women were not spared the horrors of politically motivated killings.

Three and half years as your Governor, no one has been kidnapped for political reasons, no one has been assassinated for holding a different political view point; no one has been harassed for speaking his or her mind. I have been insulted, called all manner of names but I have taken it all in the chin, knowing full well that our people who enjoy the peace and security in this State are with us. Do you, my dear Akwa Ibomites want to go back to the days of horror, of killings and of kidnappings? The same people who brought you those years of horror are back together and they have promised you and the entire world that they will unleash violence upon you in the fashion of Warsaw saw war. As we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, may their plan to unleash violence on our peace-loving people never come to pass; may the peace and progress we currently enjoy continue to be our portion in Jesus name, and you my dear people say Amen!

There are a set of principles in Government that are generally referred to as positive and negative rights; rights to healthcare, education etc., form the key components of Positive rights. Rights to hold contrary opinion and not be killed or, murdered for holding such opinions. These are the principles that made the Western world, especially the United States the most desirable country in the world. My fellow compatriots, since we came in three and half years ago, I have pursued with messianic zeal the provision of these positive and negative rights. Our public education system is one of the best in the nation. We have improved the free and compulsory education by insisting on recruiting over 3,000 quality teachers to teach our children, we have provided modern tools and a conducive environment for our children to learn, preparing their future and getting them ready to compete fairly with their counterparts all over the world. This has been an abiding article of faith that I am dedicated to pursuing. A few days ago, the Stakeholders in our education sector acutely aware of the huge improvements we have made in this critical sector celebrated our efforts and charged me to keep up the good works. We will do just that, because the greatest legacy a leader can leave is an empowered and educated population. As Bongos Ikwue, the Nigerian music legend said at our 2018 Carol Night: if you don’t invest heavily in your children’s education, you will pay dearly for the attendant ignorance.

Health is wealth and this critical positive right is key to our developmental strides. Three weeks ago, at the Nigerian Medical Association EXCO meeting here in Uyo, the NMA President thrilled by our achievements in this sector, prayed and hoped that what we have achieved here in the health sector can be replicated nationally. At that event, I was honoured with the award of the NMA Health Ambassador because of the huge improvements we have brought to bear in that sector. From the remodelling and equipping of the Methodist Hospital, Ituk Mbang, to those of Etinan, Ikono, Emmanuel Hospital, Eket, the General Hospital, Ikot Okoro, the General Hospital in Iquita among others, to the great works my wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emanuel has done through FEYReP, we will continue to invest heavily in this sector. In the same vein, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi recently decorated my humble self as the overall best performing Governor in Nigeria at a prestigious event in Lagos.

Electricity has improved tremendously across the State because of the huge investments we have made in the power sector; most of our major streets are well illuminated at night. Our investment in agriculture is yielding results. Staple food prices have dropped significantly compared to what was obtained at our advent. We will be flooding the market with our locally produced rice from Ini Local Government, whose mill we had commissioned about two weeks ago. My fellow Akwaibomites, these are what in the Western world form what is called Kitchen table issues: issues that form part of the positive and negative rights and which directly affect the people, not monuments, not white elephant projects. Any responsible government must provide these critical services and I make bold to say here, that we have done well in providing these critical drivers of development and in my second term by the grace of God and your support, we will continue to provide these services to you my dear people

Our infrastructural drive is moving steadily and assuredly, in spite of what the naysayers may say, the roads we have built are all there for everyone to see, and these roads cut across the entire three senatorial districts. The strategy of the other side is to lie to you that what we have achieved are all lies. In their hurry to lie to you, they forget the fact that Akwa Abasi Ibom people are smart and can see things for themselves. Ibom Deep Sea Port is moving steadily, soon, IBOM AIR, the only State owned, State run and State operated airline in the whole of Africa will be in operations. I think we should all be very proud to be Akwaibomites and shame those who only traffic in lies and have nothing to offer you.

We have attracted close to 15 verifiable industries to this State. If you go to the Coconut Refinery, you will see a gigantic project that should bring joy and pride to us all as Akwaibomites, yet the other side say it doesn’t exist, which leaves me wondering why a few mischief makers should take delight in lying to cover up their lack of plans to move our people forward? The Flour Mill will soon be commissioned, yet the opposition say it doesn’t exist, do they think you don’t have eyes to see good things that are happening in our State? The Syringes Manufacturing Company occupies a sprawling space and is producing syringes that are being used in hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities, yet the opposition say they don’t exist; do they think we are all so gullible? The Metering Solutions can hardly keep up the demands for meters nationwide, yet the opposition say they do not exist. Do they think we don’t have eyes to see the good things that are happening in our State? Two weeks ago, we commissioned our Rice Processing Mill in Ini yet the opposition say the mill does not exist, do they think our people are so gullible? The AKEES Mini Industrial Park is helping interpret our vision of encouraging small scale enterprises, yet the opposition say they don’t exist, same with Fertilizer Blending Plant and other industries.

My dear Akwaibomites, when they tell you these politically motivated lies, tell them that you have seen what Udom Emmanuel has done in three and half years and that you are satisfied and you will go with the train of peace and security; of development and industrialisation. There is a saying in America that if it is not broken, then you don’t have to fix it. My fellow Akwaibomites, the chords of our development and unity, the tie that binds us as a family has not broken, it has been deepened under my administration, and therefore, we don’t need to fix or change our course of development.

As we celebrate Christmas, the birth of the Prince of Peace, my prayer is that may those who wish to unleash terror on our people, may those who have made elaborate plans to allow our State become a theatre of violence as in Warsaw saw war be put to shame by the collective will of our people who have all embraced peace that we have enjoyed in this State the past three and half years and are only interested in rising to the faith of their greatness and those of their children.

Politics will come and politics will go, but Akwa Abasi Ibom State will remain non-negotiable and sacrosanct. May we have a peaceful and violence-free electioneering campaign and elections come 2019 and may the might and the will of the people supersede every other “might” and our people say “Amen”.

As a worker-friendly Governor, I have approved Christmas Bonus for all Public Servant in the State. This gesture is to thank our Public Servants for their service to our dear State.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! Akwa Ibom edkakedda, ami mme dakkanda

Development First, before Politics!

© Atuekong Paul Bassey

Earlier today, Governor Udom Emmanuel was at Ikot Abasi Local Government Area to flag off abandoned roads network in Edemeya Clan.

The Governor, who was ably represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang said "he can't afford to play politics with development".

Its pathetic to note that the present NDDC MD, Mr. Nsima Ekere hails from the community and more worrisome that there's no evidence of the interventionist agency's presence in that part of the world.

Meanwhile, Ikot Abasi people have re-echoed their decision to vote massively for a man who has come to change their sad stories, in the person of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

They are of the opinion that 8 years term which began with Obong Victor Attah from Uyo Senatorial district, to Chief Godswill Akpabio from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, must be completed with Mr Udom Emmanuel from Eket Senatorial District. The people have spoken and so shall it be!

#UdomTill2023
#OnlyGod

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

#WhyWeWillVoteUdom is because he understands the place of science and technology in a developing economy in his unending quest to industrialize Akwa Ibom State.

In this approach the Akwa Ibom State Government under Governor Udom Emmanuel has been able to carryout fantastic projects in the sector, such as;

> Installation of Internet Protocol equipment for effective communication amongst MDAs to promote e-governance.

> Partnership with GVE Projects limited for construction of Solar Farms, for off-grid communities in the state.

> Construction and installation of 10 modern well equipped internet ready Computer laboratories in 10 schools, one in each of the Federal constituencies in the state.

> Collaborating with BroadBased Communication for the laying of Optic Fibre Cable across the state as the main
backbone infrastructure for ICT deployment.

> Training of over 5,000 youths on Digital Marketing, Web Development/Visual Designing, Oracle and Micro Works.

> Establishment of Oil and Gas Training Institute in the state in collaboration with Halliburton Nigeria.

> Repositioning the Research and Development Laboratory in the state. The Environmental Society has acknowledged it as the best managed Government Laboratory in the country and conferred it with Green Label Award.

(AN OPEN LETTER)

*AKWA IBOM SOUTH(EKET) SENATORIAL DISTRICT LEADERS' FORUM*


President Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Villa
Abuja

Your Excellency,

*STOP THE REIGN OF TERROR IN AKWA IBOM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE*


We, the leaders of Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District hereby join millions of Nigerians from the all walks of life to wish Your Excellency a most pleasant birthday and many more years in good health and God’s blessing. Ordinarily, on the auspicious occasion of your birthday, Mr President should not be encumbered with complaints cast in an open letter but we are constrained by time and the anxiety that a confidential letter may not get to you after all.


Mr President should please show understanding because the necessity is laid upon us as the voice and conscience of our people to speak up, at times like this, for your urgent intervention.


Mr President Sir, you might have been informed of the many threats by our former Governor and Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, Chief Godswill Akpabio to cause mayhem in the state shortly after he defected to your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In taking the decision to change from one political platform to another, Senator Akpabio was simply exercising his fundamental right of association as enunciated in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


While we have no grouse with the exercise of his constitutional right we are, however, concerned with the threats and the palpable mayhem he has unleashed on the state after his defection.


For the avoidance of doubt, Mr President, permit us to put on record the instances where the Distinguished Senator openly threatened war on Akwa Ibom State and its people, perhaps to appease his new found political bed fellows.


On August 18, 2018, Senator Akpabio attended the funeral mass of his grandmother-in-law, late Mercy Neife Igwenagu at the Christ the King Catholic Parish, Auguobu-Obua, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
When he was called upon to speak at the service, Sen. Akpabio in a disturbing disregard to the sacredness of the church vowed that your party, the APC, will take over Akwa Ibom State in the same way one of the world’s deadliest dictators, Adolf Hitler, took over Poland. As a former military general you have a better understanding of what Adolf Hitler did in Poland.


"We can’t talk politics in the church but come 2019 in my State, Warsaw shall see war and war shall see Warsaw. The return will be victory. May God grant us all victory." Senator Akpabio had declared war on Akwa Ibom State and stunned the congregation.


Again the following day, August 19, on his return to Ikot Ekpene from the burial ceremony, the senator repeated this war chant before hundreds of youths who welcomed him at the Ikot Ekpene Plaza.


He was accompanied by Chief Otu Robert Akpan and retired Police DIG Udom Ekpoudom. He told the youths that once Warsaw saw war and War saw Warsaw, Akwa Ibom will fall under APC in 2019, and all Democratic structures at the local government level in the state will be demolished.


On the 21st of August in his house at Ukana, Essien Udim while receiving a group of Itu local government defectors led by Hon Idongesit Ituen, he told them that, "when the thunder strikes,only the small grass and shrubs survive because they always give way. The palm tree and other tall trees are struck and they die. I say here again that during the elections in 2019, Warsaw will see war and war shall see Warsaw."

Stakeholders and people of goodwill within and outside the state have condemned the gradual resort to anarchy by our former Governor and his followers; and drew the attention of security agencies to the obvious threat to peace but to no avail.


After threatening to overrun the state, Senator Akpabio staged a desperate stunt on August 21, 2019 in his compound in Ukana. Surrounded by a detachment of heavily armed security operatives, the warrior lawmaker still raised the alarm about his home being invaded by hired assassins.


While dispelling the stunt, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) DSP Odiko Macdon, was quick to say “The force would like to state categorically that there was no attack on the person or residence of Senator Godswill Akpabio (CON) and no one was hurt in the neighbourhood. It was purely an armed robbery incident which was aborted by the timely intervention of the police at a nearby fuel station. The commissioner of police has been in touch with the senator who unreservedly expressed satisfaction at the way the situation was handled by the Police."

Mr President, it is instructive to note that every political party in the State conducted crisis free primaries, except Senator Akpabio's party(APC), "where war saw Warsaw" and three innocent citizens were killed on September 30,2018. No one has been arrested and, or prosecuted even when the crimes were committed in the full glare of security operatives.

When one would have thought his unbridled appetite for power and showmanship would be limited to the political space, the Senator and wife went a level lower on December 9,2018, when they rained insults on Methodist Church priests, including Archbishops and Bishops who had cautioned them from openly campaigning for a particular political party inside the church.

Not done with the war, the Distinguish Senator and his wife again staged another macabre drama by breaching the protocol of your wife and Nigeria's First Lady, Her Excellency, Mrs Aisha Buhari who was on a visit to our state in Friday, December 14, 2018.

Mr President, you are aware of the protocol associated with the reception Of a VIP, like your dear wife, anywhere in the world. It was, therefore, very embarrassing to see how Mrs Akpabio, encouraged by the husband, pushed her way to the foot of the presidential jet all in a bid to stop the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel from receiving the state visitor.

Apparently horrified by the action of the Akpabios, Mr President your dear wife, who was about disembarking from the aircraft made a U-turn and the door of the jet was closed for over 20minutes before sanity was restored at the Victor Attah International Airport Tarmac.
After such a deliberate show of impunity and utmost disregard for the offices of both Nigeria's First Lady and First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, one would have expected the presidency or any of its agencies to come up with a clarification on the incident or a strong word of caution so it doesn’t re- occur anywhere else in the country.

It is therefore worrisome that in the face of all the crisis fuelled by Senator Akpabio and his supporters the Presidency and all the relevant agencies have maintained an uncommon silence.

Mr President, it is our request that you urgently call to a halt, this return of impunity and reckless indulgence to Akwa Ibom State,noting that continuous reign of terror could lead to a breakdown of law and order.

God bless Mr. President
God bless Akwa Ibom State
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed

Rt. Hon. Chief Nduese Essien (Chairman)
Chief Obot Etukafia(Deputy Chairman)
Barr. Akpadiaha Ebitu(Secretary)

And others

Sen. Akpabio orders forceful pulling down of Entrance Gates of Godswill Akpabio International Stadium

Akwa Ibom Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC led by Senator Godswill Akpabio has ordered immediate and forceful pulling down the entrance of gate of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo for access to kick start President Muhammadu Buhari campaign on Friday in Uyo, the state capital.
This is sequel to the letter from the Ministry of Youths and Sport to the Chairman of the APC, Ini Okopido declining approval for the use of the facility.


According to the release signed by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir Monday Ebong Uko, the State Government in the alternative has gracefully made available the Uyo Township stadium which was used for the well attended Christmas carol night.

The release states "The Government of Akwa Ibom State has received with gladness the notice of the proposed visit of His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, to our dear state on December 28, 2018. "

"Consequent to this proposed visit, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Akwa Ibom State is in receipt of a letter of application dated December 19, 2018, requesting for the use of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium as the venue for his reception ceremony.



"Whereas we have sent a letter, dated December 20, 2018 in response to the application, addressed to Hon. Ini Okopido, the State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Akwa Ibom State, we are obliged, in light of the unfortunate attempt by some political actors and commentators to pit Akwa Ibom State Government against President Mohammadu Buhari and the Presidency.

Adducing reasons for the decline of the use of the stadium by government, Uko stated further "May we inform Akwa Ibom People and the entire public, of the reasons for our inability to approve the use of the requested venue,

He explained "That the next season of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is scheduled to begin on January 13, 2018. In view of this and the fixtures of home matches for Akwa United FC, it will be practically impossible to ‘regrass’ the stadium for pre-fixed matches, if used for non-sports activities, because of the nature of pressure that such events bring on the pitch. Additionally, The Maintenance Contractor (Julius Berger) had also advised that the present atmospheric conditions being very hostile to the pitch, the facility should not be used for non-sport activities during this harmattan period, so as to avoid inflicting long term or irreversible damage to the grass on the football pitch. This reason forced the relocation of the State’s Christmas Carols festival from the earlier proposed Godswill Akpabio International Stadium to the Uyo township Stadium.



According to him, the stadium from its inception has been under a maintenance contract with Julius Berger Construction Company. They operate all the sensitive and non-sensitive components of the facility.

" They had closed for the year and proceeded on vacation (as it has been their usual practice) and are due to resume on January 7, 2018.
"The implication of this is that, the technical capacity required to activate the venue is currently unavailable, and this is not within our control."



Uko said the Ministry has however approved, in the alternative, the use of the Uyo Township Stadium for the event and guaranteed that the approved venue is in perfect condition.

Miffed by this, APC On the order of Senator Akpabio has mobilised hoodlums to pull down all gates leading in to the main bowl of the stadium which they intend to set up a stage for the rally.
It would be recalled that few months ago, the APC members had vandalised the facility of government Primary school in Eket to carry out a rally for Nsima Ekere, it's governorship candidate.

Press Release
RE: Civil Liberties Organization Arbitration Meeting

The State Executive Committee of the party has been notified by the State Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo of an invitation to a meeting, issued by the Civil Liberties Organization. The said meeting is to ‘discuss’ matters relating to the membership of the House of Assembly, which are already before different courts.

It was resolved that the party cannot participate in that meeting for many reasons, chief among them being the fact that these issues are before courts and therefore discussing them will be subjudice. Additionally, the choice of an arbitrator as a matter of convention, must be agreed to by the parties, not imposed by anybody, let alone a meddlesome interloper, whose bias is manifestly obvious.

Take notice that the People’s Democratic Party will not attend any meeting with the CLO or any other such organization or person, to discuss matters currently pending in courts, except otherwise ordered by the Court.

Signed:

Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary
People’s Democratic Party
24122018

2019: Akpabio Gets More Desperate

...Set to form parallel Socio-Cultural Group To Ridicule Afe Annang

* Monarchs Kick, Vow to Place Curse on Ex-Governor

As part of his vow to assume control of every socio-cultural group in Annang land and use it to frustrate Mr. Udom Emmanuel's reelection, Senator Godswill
Akpabio has concluded plans to float a new group as a means to counter Afe Annang.

The new group, it was gathered, is to be christened Atai Afe Annang. Among other things, the hurriedly formed group, it was learnt, is designed to reduce the influence of the famous and supreme socio-cultural organization in Annang land, Afe Annang.

The immediate past Senate Minority Leader, a source said, is angry that Afe Annang, led by HRH Akuku Pius Effiong Eside, has thrown its weight behind the second term ambition of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Recently, Afe Annang scheduled a meeting at its secretariat at Ebebit, Afaha Obong, but the embattled Senator allegedly sponsored some youths to cause mayhem at the venue and chase away the Royal Fathers and elders on the pretext that compensation was not paid on the land.

Determined to hold the meeting, the monarchs and other elders moved the meeting to Independence Hall, Abak.

Incensed by the former governor's attitude, many elders in Annang land have described his (Akpabio's) action as the height of desperation and desecration of the traditional institution.

Some Paramount Rulers in the area have vowed to place a curse on the Senator should he continue with his lack of respect for elders especially the traditional institution.

Meanwhile, those recruited by the Senator to form a parallel association say the Senator is ready to fund the new group to ridicule Afe Annang for no just cause other than his anger that the apex socio-cultural organisation in Annang land is determined to support Governor Emmanuel's reelection.

A senior citizen from Abak who spoke with our reporter on the ugly development, said the Annangs respect traditional institutions and wondered if the senator is truly an Annang man. He pointed out that Mr Isong Akpabio had once said that the Senator was not a member of the Akpabio family. This, he said, Justifies why he (Godswill Akpabio) once said he should not be buried in Annang land when he dies.

Akpabio's recent move is part of his spirited effort to render Afe Annang voiceless in Annang land having failed to assume control of the group in November through Dr. Chris Akpan, a former Commissioner in the state and his cronies.

It could be recalled that Senator Akpabio's plot to hijack the group was firmly resisted at the meeting held at Independence Hall, Abak in November this year by the the Akuku Pius Eside led group who have committed themselves to the second term project of Governor Udom Emmanuel in view of the Governor's sterling performance and in accordance with the principle of justice, equity and fairness having supported other senatorial districts for 8 years shot at the governorship.
It could be recalled that the senator has lately so desperate and had to attack a Bishop of Methodist Church in his local government for stopping the senator's wife from campaigning for APC in the church.

*Udom is on Ground. I can No Longer Guarantee Your Victory in 2019, Akpabio Tells Nsima*

- as Akpabio begs Udom to concede ISD to him

- to refund 7.2 billion naira collected from Nsima to bribe officials

By Augustina Ukoh, Uyo, 22nd December 2018

Hell is set to loose in the coming days between the Akwa Ibom APC governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere and Senator Godswill Akpabio concerning 7.2 billion naira collected by Senator Akpabio as part of mobilization "seed" to rig the 2019 elections in favour of APC.

According to a source close to Mr. Nsima who wants to remain anonymous, Senator Akpabio had approached Mr. Nsima with a proposal of 11.2 billion naira to be utilized to win the governorship election. The title of the proposal reads: A Holistic Material for the Dismemberment of the PDP in Akwa Ibom state in 2019".

A breakdown of the proposal shows that the money will be utilized to lobby some Federal Government agencies like the INEC, Police, Army, Navy, Civil Defense, and other paramilitary formations to be deployed to the state for the general elections.

The source noted that apart from those agencies mentioned above, the money according to Senator Akpabio was also to lobby the national and international media, Election Observers - both local and international who would monitor the elections.

After going through the document, Mr. Ekere was said to have released an initial advance payment of 7.2 billion naira to Senator Akpabio to begin lobbying the agencies. "But since 11th October when the money was released to Senator Akpabio, be has not given Nsima any concrete situation report on the deployment of the cash."

Our source continued that "each time Nsima ask Senator Akpabio for progress report, Senator Akpabio would reply that all is well which is not a better response to Nsima and hence created room for Nsima to doubt if Akpabio could deliver".

"You know that Nsima rely so much on Senator Akpabio to win this election so he didn't want to confront him directly on the matter for fear of causing stir that would look as if he doesn't trust him. So he kept using diplomatic means to approach the matter until someone close to Senator Akpabio told Nsima that Akpabio had met brick walls when he approached most of the people and agencies on the matter" our source said.

Our source hinted further that Mr. Nsima was very furious when he discovered that many days have gone without Akpabio acting on the plan to use 9.2 billon naira to rig the election. So he approached Senator Akpabio on the matter as he was loosing confidence that he would deliver.

Angered that Mr. Nsima does not appreciate all his efforts and sacrifices to make him a governor, Akpabio fumed: "do you know how difficult it is to manipulate and rig elections now, do you know? I approached INEC and Mike told me that he won't take the risk and go to jail because of two billion naira that he won't compromise the elections for APC. I also went to the GOC in charge of 2nd battalion in port Harcourt to see how he would deploy his men to Akwa Ibom from Rivers state since the Military Officers at Ibawa Barracks in Abak are "playing Udom" but he told me that he cannot guarantee my request. So also is the new Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police which I suffered to ensure his redeployment to Akwa Ibom state telling me that he has a secondary school classmate in Udom government who said he knows APC plans to use the police to truncate the will of the people and threatens to expose it to the media, so he won't play ball to compromise his career."

"I have been working underground and hard to ensure that I gather their support but the more I do, the more everything keep going in favour of Udom and you are not even helping matters probing how I use your funds underground. "Nsima, to be sincere from the look of things, I cannot guarantee that you will win this election because the people are with Udom and if we cant rig the election, it is over as i fear for my own election," Akpabio concluded in a sober tone.

According to our source who was at the meeting, Nsima who was baffled that Akpabio could give up so soon, asked the Senator for a refund of the money but Akpabio kept mute meaning that he could not give account for the initial money received - a situation that those present assumed may led to a renewed hostility between both leaders.

Meanwhile, sources close to Senator Akpabio has hinted that with the near impossibility for APC to win the state, Akpabio is threatened that he may not win the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district election thus he is planing to reach a truce with Governor Udom to concede the ISD to him. They hinted that the former Senate Minority Leader has sent an advance team ahead of him to plead with Governor Udom Emmanuel to soft-pedal on ISD and not embarrass him base on the respect Nigerians now have for him as a nationalist.

But a source close to Governor Udom spoke authoritatively that Senator Akpabio may likely fail in that mission because Governor Udom is not ready to compromise or concede any senatorial district of the state to the APC. The source noted that since Udom has been called a political novice he would want to use the 2019 election is an opportunity to stamp his feet and show the world that he is on ground, hence Akpabio is wasting his time approaching Udom, the source concluded.

As it is, all is not well in the APC camp with the seemingly feud between Nsima and Akpabio which many observers say may likely consume the party before the election if the issues at hand are not tackled amicably but "if they want peace, Akpabio should refund the money he collected so that we can deploy it elsewhere " said a source loyal to Nsima.

LET THE PEOPLE SAY AMEN

BEING THE SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. UDOM EMMANUEL, GOVERNOR, AKWA IBOM STATE AT THE CHRISTMAS CAROL NIGHT, 2018
UYO TOWNSHIP STADIUM,
DECEMBER 21, 2018

PROTOCOL

Akwa Ibom people praise the Lord, Nigerians let me hear you shout a loud hallelujah,  wherever around the globe that you may be  watching us, permit me to welcome  you all to our beautiful  City of Uyo, the City of hope and  dreams, a City of peace, progress and development, a City of enterprising, God-fearing and hospitable people.

2. For the fourth time since  you honoured me  in 2015 to be your Servant-Leader,  I stand  here again  this evening  to invite you to join our voices and raise our hands to the Heavens in thanksgiving and  praise and worship to our Father and our  Saviour, Jesus Christ. What a mighty God we serve! What a great provider we have in Him, what an awesome and ONLY God we have! Thank you for coming out in thousands to be a part of this yearly gathering of worshippers as we celebrate the Birth of the Prince of Peace.

3. The theme of this year’s Carol Night is apt and profoundly fitting “Let the people say Amen”.  We have a million reasons to say “Amen” to our heavenly Father for turning our State into a beautiful City on Hill, whose light of progress illuminates brightly and has proven to the world that Government can indeed, be a force for good and not a force for ill.
4. When we came in three and half years ago, our nation was going through the worst economic crises in our recent history. Most State governments couldn’t pay their workers’ salaries. There was despondency in the land but through His grace, not only did we pay salaries, we went ahead to clear 10 year backlog of pensions and gratuities spanning 2001 to 2011 to the eternal joy of our labour leaders. We have maintained and kept this sacred contract with our people ever since because the welfare of our workers is of paramount importance to us. Can I hear you say Amen!

5. For three and half years since we came in, this State has remained the most peaceful in the nation, attracting foreign investors and becoming a tourist destination of choice. For three and half years, politically motivated kidnapping or assassination has not occurred; no one has been molested for expressing a different opinion, there is respect for our common humanity and values, a new tone of civility and mutual respect has taken roots and the result of this is the sunny disposition our people now project; because they can sleep peacefully at night and wake up to go about their legitimate functions without having to look over their shoulders. We give God the glory for this this great feat. We will never go back to those dark days again and the people say Amen!

6. We have a loud and thunderous reason to say “Amen my dear compatriots. Our children are receiving the best education available through the public school system. Two days ago, the stakeholders in the education sector, satisfied with the great improvements we have made in that sector and impressed with the huge resources we have spent in recruiting quality teachers for our children, the amenities we have provided and a conducive atmosphere that encourages intellectual development for our children unanimously celebrated us.  

7. As the Late South African Present, Nelson Mandela once stated that education is the surest way out of poverty and ignorance; we remain dedicated to ensuring that the future of our children, their capacity to compete with their counterparts in the globalized 21 Century economy is assured. We will never go back to the years our sons and daughters were seen only as good enough to cook the meals for the society’s well-heeled. The future belongs to our children and through education, they will conquer the world. We will continue to invest in this critical sector and the people say Amen

8. Three and half years ago, garri, was sold 2 cups for 200 Naira. Today, our people now buy 14 cups of the same garri for 200 hundred Naira. Last week, I commissioned the Ibom Rice Mill in Ini Local Government Area and our plan is to flood the market with our own locally produced rice which will be readily available and affordable. I have always maintained that a society that cannot feed its people has lost the cardinal element of the Social Contract. We are committed to feeding our people and ensuring that no child goes to bed hungry and the people say “Amen”.

9. Our healthcare delivery service is nationally celebrated. A little over a week ago, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) at its National Exco Meeting here in Uyo honoured me with of the “NMA Heath Ambassador Award.” They were impressed with the huge investments we have made in heath sector, through the remodelling, rebuilding and equipping of our secondary health facilities with the most modern tools, and these were the same hospitals that had been abandoned and their surroundings overgrown with weeds. Today, the Methodist Hospital, Ituk Mbang, Etinan General Hospital, General Hospital, Ikono, General Hospital, Iquita among others are shining examples of a government that cares. We will continue to invest in this sector, because we need a healthy population to provide the needed manpower for the massive industrialization programme that we have embarked on, and the people say “Amen”!

10. Three and half years ago, when we came in, Uyo and most of the rural communities were covered in darkness and we felt that was an unacceptable situation. Through our investments by way of upgrading of the sub-stations, today, electricity has improved significantly across the State and by the New Year, we hope to launch our “electricity for all initiative”. I have always maintained that the provision of steady electricity is not rocket science, all it takes is strategic planning, and this, we have done and  we intend to do more in the years to come and the people say “Amen”!

11. Three and half years ago, when we came in, we promised our people that the central plank of our governance will be on industrialization as a means of creating wealth and jobs. Today, we have delivered above and beyond our expectations, and we give God the glory for this! In spite of the gloomy and turbulent economic climate that has made most State Governments unable to pay salaries, unable to undertake capital projects,  we have brought into this State  several industries, and they are all there for everyone to see- from the Syringes Manufacturing Company, to the Metering Solutions Company, the pencil and tooth-pick manufacturing company, the Fertilizer Blending Plant, the Flour Mill, Coconut Refinery currently on-going,  the rice and cassava mills, the AKEES mini  Industrial  parks etc. We are determined to make this State an industrial hub within our region. Do I hear you say “Amen”?

12. A key catalyst for development and economic prosperity is the provision of durable infrastructural amenities. America became the economic powerhouse it has been today, because President Dwight Eisenhower opened up the country through a well-planned inter-locking road network across the 48 contiguous States. Here in Akwa Ibom State, I make bold to say that we are replicating same approach in our own way. All over the three senatorial districts of the State, roads are being constructed, commissioned or work on-going. To date, in spite of what the naysayers may say, we have done over 1, 700 kilometres of economically viable roads and we haven’t even started yet.  Our State owned and run Obong Victor Attah International Airport has a Category 2 runaway and work is on-going on the 2nd taxiway.  To ensure that our State remains the destination of choice for foreign investors, we are launching IBOM AIR, our wholly owned Airline that will lessen the problems currently being encountered by our numerous airline travellers. Work is going on steadily on Ibom Deep Seaport project and our dream to open up our State through land, air and sea will come full cycle. When we promised all these, our naysayers said it couldn’t be done, and some are still deluding themselves that it hasn’t been done, even when they are riding on the road we have built, are enjoying the steady electricity we have provided, are being treated in the world class hospitals we have remodelled and equipped with modern amenities, and whose children are receiving quality education in our public schools. We will  however, not relent, we not give in to propaganda or blackmail because ours is a journey for sustainable development not on a fleeting course for applause and the people say “Amen.”

13. Today is not a night for long speech; it is mostly the night to reaffirm God’s immeasurable blessings and love for us as a people and to ask him to continue to shine His light upon us. May the forces that want to take us back to the days we wished had never happened be confounded and be put to shame and the people say “Amen”.

14. As we celebrate the birth of the Prince of peace, may God touch the hearts of those who traffic in commodities of disunity, who have promised to unleash war on the innocent people of the State, and whose veins radiate violence; may they come to the understanding that Akwa Abasi Ibom State is peaceful and populated by law-abiding people whose sole desire is to rise to their faith of greatness and create a great future for themselves and their children. This is what I am dedicated to doing, taking this State to a higher level of industrialisation, where our people will have jobs and opportunities for growth, where the chords of unity will be strengthened, where our children’s future is assured, where our people will walk with their shoulders raised high, knowing full well that they, too, are major players in the Nigerian Boardroom and not observers on the side-lines of the Nigerian Enterprise and the people say “Amen”!

15. May the Prince of peace whose Birthday we are singing songs of praise tonight grant us a peaceful and violent free electioneering campaigns and the elections proper come next year . May the might and the will of the people prevail over any other “mights” that are being conjured or planned, because it IS ONLY GOD that gives power to WHOM HE desires and the people say Amen!

16. It is well with Akwa Ibom State, it well with Nigeria, it is well with us all! Merry Christmas and a prosperous Happy New Year!

2019: Udom And Nsima Are Poles Apart (1)

Uwemedimoh Umanah

As the 2019 gubernatorial elections draws near in Akwa Ibom, there is an urgent need to take a look at the flag bearers of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Udom and the Action Congress of Nigeria, Nsima Ekere.

Security is one area Udom Emmanuel stands taller than his APC counterpart, Nsima Ekere.
Security refers to freedom from, or resilience against, potential harm (or other unwanted coercive change) from external forces.

The Udom Emmanuel administration has demonstrated zero tolerance for insecurity which bedeviled the state during the immediate past administration of Godswill Akpabio.

During the administration, in which Nsima Ekere served as deputy, over 3,000 Akwa Ibom were directly or indirectly murdered in cold blood. The brutal murder of Albert Ukpanah, Okon Uwah, former Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, and Charles Umana, a former Chairman of UCCDA, among others, readily comes to mind.

While some of the deaths were system- induced, others were not. But the government lacked a robust security architecture to tackle the menace.

From May 2015, the administration of Udom Emmanuel has evolved an Integrated Security Management Strategy which addresses insecurity from the human development perspective. Job creation, wealth creation, youths enterprises promotion/ grants and interest- free loans and functional collaboration with security agencies. These efforts have drastically reduced insecurity in the state.

This was aptly captured by the Inspector -General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, during a security summit in Uyo: “Akwa Ibom is one of the very few states we have in this country where you can see that security is taken as a very serious issue.... Your Excellency, this is an issue we believe other states can take a cue from. We are obviously here to appreciate your commitment to peace, to appreciate your commitment to good governance”.

Peace, security and unity have tremendous impact on investment and sustainable development. Udom Emmanuel, if re-elected in 2019 would sustain the security momentum currently enjoyed in the state. Akwa Ibom people would continue to do their businesses without fear of being murdered, sleep with both eyes closed in their homes and ultimately enjoy their right to association and speech.

On the other hand, it’s widely believed that Dr. Nsima Ekere would deepen insecurity which was prevalent during his days as a deputy Governor. During the APC gubernatorial primaries which Ekere emerged, many Akwa Ibom people were murdered.

Ekere’s security policy can be best summarized by his chief campaigner, Senator Godswill Akpabio, that “Warsaw will see war...”, implying a return to the inglorious years...

Never again will our beloved state be a slaughterhouse. Only Udom can guarantee that!

UNOMA AKPABIO’S DESPERATION TO BECOME AKWA IBOM FIRST LADY AGAIN

Recent activities of Mrs.Unoma Akpabio, over her failed attempt to perform the functions of the First Lady of the State, has been totally condemned by well meaning Nigerians, Akwa Ibomites, and even members of the opposition All Progressives Congress in the State.

The embarrassment Unoma has brought to the state, was unbecoming of one who had previously held the office of the First Lady in Akwa Ibom.

Without sounding ethnical, i don’t think the script Unoma acted, would have been tolerated by “Ndi Igbo” in far away Enugu, where she originates. Akwa Ibom is not a ground for rascality, where every Tom, Dick and Harry, demonstrates his or her upbringing to demean our state.

Akwa Ibom has always been a peaceful State, until political killings became “a state policy” (apologies to Babantan) when Unoma and her husband, Akpabio piloted the affairs of the state.

It is noteworthy to recollect that, the tenure of Unoma ended on the 28th of May, 2015. Need we remind her, that the dark days in the State were over, with the coming of a light bearer, Mr.Udom Emmanuel as Governor.

We can also remind Unoma, that our land should no longer be desecrated by her actions. She has for a long time shown an act of desperation, since her husband’s political sojourn to APC.

Akwa Ibomites have risen to say no to any “Ma uneghe” syndrome in Akwa Ibom. Mrs.Martha Udom should enjoy the paraphernalia and functionality of the office of the First Lady.

If we go back to history, ugly memories of how Unoma assumed the position of a second political god after her husband in Akwa Ibom will erupt. Memories of how she became a defacto Governor, in a land she never contributed to its making will return.

I wish that Unoma Akpabio will do us so much good to allow us bury the gory memories of her reign as First Lady.

But may I advise Unoma Akpabio, that since she is so desirous of the Office of the First Lady again, she can go ahead to divorce Godswill Akpabio, marry another Governor, but certainly not Governor Udom Emmanuel, and thereafter assume the position of a First Lady again, which the law permits her.

If she cannot heed to the above advise, she should come to the reality that her turn as Akwa Ibom First Lady will never happen again. Life they say, is transient, and as such, Unoma is expected to live in the reality of time, not the self glory of yesterday.

WE WILL NEVER BOW TO BABYLON.

EVERTERIBUS VERITAS, THE TRUTH IS FOREVER.

Eneh John is the Editor, Trail Reporters News.

Onofiok Luke: Celebrating Three Years Of Robust Legislative Engagement.

-Paul Sylvester

For some analysts, certain legislators represent a given crop of people and quality. Rt. Hon. (Barr) Onofiok Luke, in this case, clearly represents the kind that people yearn for.

For three years now, after emerging Speaker of the 6th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Luke has exuded legislative intelligence and strategic pursuit for good of the people. Typical evidence is the bills he has sponsored and ideals he stands for.

For instance, a community-conscious Onofiok Luke would, even as Speaker, sponsor the Primary Healthcare Development Bill, Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Bill, among others. This explains why the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) recently gave him an award, following his disposition in making sure Akwa Ibom State has a fitting healthcare delivery system.

Speaker Luke, by every yardstick, has demonstrated great and rare capacity for leadership that has steered the 6th assembly to great heights.

His passion for the development of the state has seen him ensure, along with his colleagues, that there's a smooth working relationship between the executive and legislature.

Like my brother Itoro Bassey would say, "Speaker Luke has written his name in Gold", therefore we know he will do even more when he represents the good people of Etinan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Congratulations, Mr Speaker!

THE WAR BETWEEN APC AND THE AKWA IBOM PEOPLE (2)

By Uwemedimoh Umanah

The All Progressives Congress (APC), is at war with the the Akwa Ibom people for refusing to "welcome" and imbibe the tenets of an imported imperialistic political party in the state. The APC is a product of contradictions; a group of selfish, greedy, and self- serving politicians whose ultimate aim in politics is material aggrandizement and primitive accumulation of capital.

Professor Barry Hampe, a Political Scientist and one of the most reputable scholars in party politics puts paid on the features of a party that is people- oriented and ideology- driven: "A good political party, if such were possible, would have a clear political philosophy, consistent with governance in a democratic republic. It would attract members by the strength of that philosophy, rather than by modifying it to pander to special interest groups. Its members in office would focus on doing the people's work, including making compromise with members of other parties when necessary so that the perfect does not become the enemy of the good. It would stand for maximum personal liberty and economic reality. It would at all times strive to ensure that government is never any larger than it needs to be".

Flowing from this theoretical premise, it is crystal clear that the APC has failed Nigeria and Nigerians. The party was built on a cracked foundation and on a false substratum. Its leadership component understands nothing other than deepening the extractive and accumulative essence of the Nigerian state.

The APC led federal government has demonstrated to the whole world that he is unrepentantly alien to democratic norms, culture and practice. It directed the DSS invasion of the Akwa Ibom Governor's lodge to satisfy the exploitative instinct of its appendages allies in the state.

The President has been unstatesmanly in dealing with perceived political foes- particularly those he believed have contributed in one way or the other to his numerous electoral failures since 1999 or his ouster as Head of State in 1985. The case of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Col. Sambo Dasuki, Nnamdi Kanu, among others is familiar to Nigerians. It has been reported that President Buhari has flagrantly ignored court orders granting bail to Colonel Dasuki. Where then is the independence of the Judiciary, which is the beauty and fragrance of democracy? Is this APC's model of democracy?

Instead of constituting a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in the South African model, build confidence among the people and strengthen the institutional component of the state, the APC government is going about selective justice, annihilating only PDP members and sympathizers. The former PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh and former PDP Chairman Haliru Bello, and recently, former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose, are examples.

In Akwa Ibom State, the APC-led federal government has planted surrogates; men with questionable character and unquenched lust for power, as allies to entrench their extractive and subversive goals.

For instance, the choice of Nsima Ekere by the APC is to complete the reign of terror in Akwa Ibom and deepen primitive accumulation. Pundits have argued that Ekere’s blueprint is not only to decimate the population of Akwa Ibom through intimidation and killings as exemplified recently in his party’s congresses, but ultimately to “donate” Akwa Ibom and its resources to the Hausa/ Fulani imperialists and the Yoruba Capitalists under Bola Tinubu.

It has been posited that a little above 1000 Akwa Ibom people were openly and remotely murdered through 'the razor' of killers, kidnappers and armed gangs during the reign of terror in Akwa Ibom State. Although this figure appears huge and seemingly speculative to the writer, truth is, it was the black era in Akwa Ibom history from which the state hasn't recovered.

It begs to ask, who the pivots of APC in Akwa Ibom State are. It's either those who were disgraced from office for their excessive accumulative instinct, those who wished they could live from the treasury of the state , those who had lost touch with their people at the grassroots and needed a platform to re-launch their career, and those whose overbearing quest for power put them on a collision course with the political system.

Another very glaring feature of these political gladiators is that they represent an "unholy alliance," "amalgam of opposites"- those who hitherto had one personality or ego crisis with each other, but engaged in an extra-ordinarily fragile union, to vent their personal misgivings and anger against the political system, mainly because they either could not win at the PDP primaries or were not lost out in the Fiefdom of the immediate- past administration.

On April 11, 2015, the All Progressives Congress was roundly rejected by the people of the state in the ballots. While the ruling PDP scored over 996,079 votes, the APC had a paltry 89,865 votes. By possible extrapolation, the APC was roundly defeated and secured less than ten percent of the total votes at the polls.

The people of Akwa Ibom prefer the PDP and the Divine Mandate as represented by Governor Udom Emmanuel. As I’d noted in another treatise, God chooses a leader and gives to every society the kind and genre of leader it deserves. I also used an example of Saul who misrepresented God's benevolence and chose to play - god. That was why when the glory of God departed from Saul, he began to have some degree of insanity which ensued till the day he died (1 Samuel 18: 10). Does this not justify the commonly used axiom that "he whom the gods want to destroy, they first make mad"?

The people realized that leadership is the soul and ultimate driver of development and needed a leader who could deepen the infrastructural revolution in the state through the creation of jobs, amelioration of poverty and reduction of social inequalities hence the emergence of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as fourth democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State.

The Divine Mandate is a social contract between Governor Emmanuel and the people of Akwa Ibom State, whose resolve is unruffled, irrespective of the antics , intrigues and propaganda of the opposition APC in the state, which has deployed a conspiracy theory aimed at upstaging the status quo in the state. Their alliance with the foreign power elite was perfected with the engagement of surrogates for the purpose of smearing the character of the purveyor of the people’s mandate, Governor Udom Emmanuel.

APC's current battle with the Akwa Ibom people is geared towards desecrating and demonizing the Governor and ultimately destroying the goodwill which he has garnered ; an indisputable asset for the political, social and economic emancipation of the state.

The APC is fully aware that, with the degree of goodwill at the disposal of Governor Emmanuel and the proportion of support by both 'the productive elders' and the youth of the state (optimum population), the governor can always have his way in enacting and executing good policies for the wellbeing of the people.

A political party whose ideology is antithetical to justice and equity is to say the least, anti- people . The APC failed the litmus test when in 2015, it vehemently opposed zoning- an egalitarian political culture which the Akwa Ibom people enthroned in the state, and crowned it with the search, adoption and support for the tuskbearer of the Divine Mandate, Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The people of Akwa Ibom see APC's incursion as typified in the impending verbal and online debate as a battle to save the soul of the state from the "spirits of doom"- the fallen angels.

Winston Churchill also amplified the importance of resolve, political will and timely intervention to avoid unanticipated consequences by asserting that, “If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.”

The battle between APC and the Akwa Ibom people is, "the battle of life and death." It is a battle to safeguard the God-given resources of the state from external incursion ( Tinubu, Buhari, Oshiomhole, etc, and internal collaborators). It is the battle for the soul of Akwa Ibom, which necessarily must be resisted by the people, with their votes!

Uwemedimoh Umanah, a Diplomatic Scholar, Peace & Conflict/Development/Public Affairs Expert, writes in this piece from Uyo

12 WARD EXCO OFFICERS DUMP APC IN ETIM EKPO

...DECLARE SUPPORT FOR UDOM EMMANUEL 2019

12 executive officers of the All Progressives Congress have resigned their appointment, citing the impunity and lawlessness rocking their party.

According to the APC chieftains, the sterling performance of Governor Udom Emmanuel in office, has compelled them to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

According to them, their main preoccupation, is the reelection of the Governor for a second term in office.

We the undersigned ward executive members of the All Progreesives Congress(APC) Ward 10, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, hereby resign our positions/membership of the APC to enable us join the Peoples Democratic Party,PDPhaving seen the superlative performance of His Excellency, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and also having regards to the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) stands for truth, equity and fairness regarding the zoning arrangement already established in Akwa Ibom State.”

“We therefore thank our former party for the opportunity given to us to serve in our different capacities.”

Those who resigned included, Dominic Sunday Ineme, Vice Chairman, Esitime Moses Akpante, Ex-Officio, Sunday James Nte-ebono, Secretary, Imo James, Ex-officio, Afangideh Afangideh, Publicity Secretary, and Ukpono Afangideh who served as Assistant Secretary.

Others include Comfort Ime Sunday, Welfare Officer, Victoria Akpanobon, Assistant Treasurer, Demekre Jumbo Afangideh, Treasurer, Pastor Ubokobong Etokobon Financial Secretary and Ekemini Saviour Friday, member.

Meanwhile reports from Ward six of the Etim Ekpo indicate that four executive officers of the APC have equally cross carpeted to the PDP. They incude Idorenyin Benson, the Assistant Secretary, Mmeti Umanah, Assistant Auditor, Nse Matthew, Ex-officio, and Ifiok Friday Udoekong, Assistant Secretary.

The story is no different at Ward Three, as the Chapter Ex-officio member of the party Udeme Sunday and the Financial Secretary, Itoro Raleigh have thrown in the towel, to declare for PDP.

At Ward 1, Owoidighe Akang and Imo Jackson who were ex-officio officers have also dumped the broom party.

UDOM’S CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION CAUTIONS AKPABIO ON SHABBY TRAITS


The 2019 Campaign Organization Governor Udom Emmanuel, the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization has expressed disdain at the show of disrespect ignited at the Victor Attah International Airport on Friday by former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, and wife Unoma, during the maiden visit of the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, to Akwa Ibom State.

In a press release signed by the Spokesperson, Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok, he described the act as “a show of shame demonstrated by power desperados in an attempt to breach the state protocol in order to boost their already deflated political ego.”
The group demanded an open apology from the duo of Godswill Akpabio and wife, to the Nigerian people and the government of Akwa Ibom State for chaotic act.

Otuekong Ibiok expressed shock at the attitude of the exposed and experienced former Governor of the state in the act which resulted in the open disrespect to the president's wife.

He added that the act further attests that Warsaw threat which was no fluke, not even to the office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He recounted a recent incidence where the duo descended on a highly respected Methodist clergy in Essien Udim for daring to interrupt them from desecrating the sacred Altar of the Lord with highly provocative and inflammable political utterances.

“They are out to get their way in all matters at all cost. They wanted the Nigerian First lady to know that her husband, Mr. President and the APC have ardent followers and supporters in Akwa Ibom, even if they have to prove so by dancing naked on the airport runway.”

He added that they were rather goofed and smeared with bashing by the right thinking members of the society.

Ibiok alerted the people of the demarcation between desperate political maneuvering and respect for constituted authority, stating that it was unjust for anyone to allow overzealous and egocentric political interest disparage the respect and candour which a true patriotic Akwa Ibom sons and daughters carry anywhere in this country.

“Our dignity, integrity and pride as Akwa Ibom people must never ever be toiled with. Anyone who is a former this or that must accept his fate and allow us continue to relish the peace in the state,” he added.

He commended the wife of the Governor, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel for the display of maturity and comportment even in the face of extreme provocation, saying that her humane disposition has gained wide admirations, and enjoined other patriotic Akwa Ibom persons to steadfastly defend and uphold the sanctity and the awe revered for the seat of the number one citizen of the state.

*Exclusive: Fresh crisis rocks A’Ibom APC over Ekere’s prospective nominees*


...Udoedehe, UOU, Oro stakeholders kick as Akpabio seeks to take ‘too many’ positions

By editor on December 16, 2018 No Comment



A fresh crisis has rocked the Akwa Ibom state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, following a list of “Would be appointees” penciled down for Obong Nsima Ekere, if he wins next year’s governorship election.



The list which was allegedly agreed upon between the former senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Nsima Ekere was secretly complied in Ukana on the eve of Akpabio’s 56th birthday celebration, a deal sources say will be sealed with an oath between the two main actors to forestall any breach of trust when all grey areas are addressed.






According to sources privy to the deal, Akpabio agreed that Ekere should pencil down Rt. Hon. Emma Bassey, as Secretary to Government (SSG) and Pastor Udo Isaiah, who is currently Ekere’s SA on Administration, as Chief of Staff. Also agreed was the nomination of Akpabio’s chief of staff Mr. Emmanuel Inyangetor, as Deputy Chief of Staff.



A mild drama was said to have ensued in the cause of the listing when Akpabio insisted he should be allowed to choose the next Accountant General but Ekere opposed it, pleading that Mr Nse Willie be allowed to serve in that capacity due to the sensitive nature of the office and the need for him to have an ally he can “trust” as Accountant General. Mr Willie is currently Mr Ekere’s Special Assistant on Finance in NDDC.



Our sources said they could not agree on who should take the position of State Auditor General. However, Ekere was told to name his person for the position of Auditor General for Local Government.



Some of the appointments allegedly agreed on by Akpabio and Ekere include, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as well as Commissioner for Finance. Our source claimed that the draft list has Mrs. Imaobong Akpabio, currently working in Ibom Power considered for Commissioner for Finance.



Engr. Akanimo Edet, former member that represented Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency, is billed to be appointed Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, while Atuekong Uyo Nathaniel, Ekere’s current SA on Security in NDDC will serve as Commissioner for Works.



“No name was agreed upon for Commissioner for Transport but Akpabio was alleged to have conceded the right to appoint to Ekere. Prof Etok Ekanem who heads ONE for Change Initiative will head Ministry of Education, while Mr Ekere’s wife, Ese Nsima Ekere will nominate the Commissioner for Health.”



“The controversial list has Arc Ubokutom Nya from Essien Udom nominated by Senator Akpabio for Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Hon Eseme Eyiboh as Commissioner for Information, Chief Sunnny Ibanga as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which means Ikot Ekpene will have two members of the envisaged State Executive Council.”






“The party will nominate someone for Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, while Mr Sonni Anyang who wrote Mr Ekere’s manifesto will return as Commissioner for Economic Development”, our source said.



Our source revealed that Obongawan Geraldine Etuk was nominated by Mr Ekere as Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Gabriel Toby who lost the Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency primary after defecting from the PDP to APC was nominated by Akpabio as Special Adviser Bureau of Labour and Productivity with Abom Tony Esu penciled down as Special Adviser Political and Legislative Affairs.



The arrangement has Mr Umana Umana given the right to nominate the Commissioner for Special Duties, Senator J. J. Udoedehe to nominate Commissioner for Environment while the position of Commissioner for Housing, Rural Development, Science and Technology, Youths and Sports were still pending and unresolved.



Both chieftains agreed that Mr Utibe Ukim should be appointed as Chief Press Secretary while Akpabio will nominate some of his assistants to serve as Media Aides to Nsima Ekere.


Unsure of having a cordial relationship with the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, after the exit of the Elder Patrick Albert led executive, Mr Ekere impressed on Senator Akpabio to agree to their sponsoring Otuekong Franklyn Isong, the Publisher of the Radar newspaper for election as the next NUJ Chairman for Akwa Ibom State to prevent a hostile media that may become a serious headache to the adminstration.




According to our source, the composition of Boards was another area of dispute between Akpabio and Ekere. Names to man some of the very juicy boards are yet to be considered.



Some of the names immediately agreed on are Umana Umana’s Media aide, Mr Iboro Otongaran as chairman Akwa Ibom State Hotels and Tourism Board. According to our source, Ekere suggested that Mr Anietie Usen who is about retiring from NDDC should be appointed to head Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation; Chief Inibehe Okori will head Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Limited, Mr Destiny Young was pencilled to head Akwa Ibom Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, Bishop Josephine Egar will head the Akwa Ibom Pilgrims Welfare Board while Akpabio’s former Chief of Staff and later SSG, Sir Etekamba Umoren will be appointed Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission.




Evangelist Pat Ibanga Akpabio was penciled down to head the Akwa Ibom State Council for Arts and Culture, Hon Uwem Udoma who was told to relinquish the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency ticket for Hon Emmanuel Ekon, will be appointed Chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, United States based Regina Askia will head the Akwa Ibom State Hospitals Management Board, Prof Chris Ekong goes to Akwa Ibom State Scholarship Board, Chief Otu Ita Toyo will go back to Local Government Service Commission.



Others are, Mr Maurice Ekpenyong to head the Akwa Ibom State Security Trust Fund to be created within Nsima Ekere’s 100 days in office, Senator J.J.Udoedehe was given the right to appoint who heads Uyo Capital City Development Authority, UCCDA while Ekaette Unoma Akpabio will nominate who heads Akwa Ibom Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA).



Otuekong Don Etiebet will nominate who heads Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board, Akwa Ibom State Technical Schools Board went to Senator Ita Enang, Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board went to Barr Ibanga Akpabio to nominate the Chairman, while Chief Ben Ukpong will choose who heads Akwa Ibom State Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education.



Sources said both Akpabio and Nsima disagreed over who takes Akwa Ibom State Board of Internal Revenue following Akpabio’s insistence that he be allowed to nominate a company to serve as Consultant to receive tax on behalf of the State Government.



Some of the boards where Akpabio and Ekere could not reach common ground include Akwa Ibom Investment and Industrial Promotion Council, Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme, Akwa Ibom State Land Use and Allocation Committee, Akwa Ibom State Law Reforms Commission, Akwa Ibom State Library Board and Auditor General for Local Government, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Akwa Ibom State University, Akwa Ibom State College of Education and Akwa Ibom State College of Arts and Science as well as Ministerial and Ambassadorial nominees.




APC chieftains not included among Commissioners and Board Chairmen, have been promised to be carried along in the appointment into federal boards, Transition Chairman and Committees, and as Senior Special Assistants, SSA’s, Special Assistants, SA’s and Personal Assistants, PA’s to the Governor.





http://thefactreporters.com/2018/12/16/fresh-crisis-rocks-aibom-apc-over-ekeres-prospective-nominees/

Revealed: Why Akpabio is angry with Udom Emmanuel

Amidst resounding hullabaloos on the reasons for the anger and the recent defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio to the All Progressives Congress, APC, indications have emerged that the major reason why the once celebrated great teacher decided to abandon his political godson was because of the Governor’s adoption of a new campaign slogan other than the one coined and handed over by the Distinguished Senator.

The statements by Senator Akpabio in recent times capture his inner mind when he recalled how he (Akpabio) dissipated energy to ensure Udom’s victory in 2015 and afterward, Governor Udom has failed to accord him his due but attributed the success to “only God.”
It would be recalled that Senator Akpabio has repeatedly made jest of the new slogan by Governor Udom Emmanuel “Only God” which accordingly, infuriated him and undermined his role in the last election.

Our investigations reveal that Senator Akpabio had coined a slogan, “Let Godswill Be Done Again, Again and Again,” which ostensibly allocating to himself the role of an almighty whose will must be done and supersedes every other considerations.

It was gathered that Udom was at the verge of adopting the “Godswill” slogan when a revered clergy in the state (name withheld) warned him not to worship any man nor give the place of God to a man.

Accordingly, Governor Udom on a second thought, called his great teacher to break the news which threw him (Akpabio) off balance and cemented the Senator’s decision to abandon his political godson on the ground of what he term insubordination, ingratitude and flagrant disobedience.

While expressing his anger last week, Senator Akpabio was quoted to have said, “OnlyGod gave Someone the power to become the Governor of Akwa Ibom State when he was never a member of any political party, OnlyGod made someone the Governor of Akwa Ibom State when he never assisted anyone in Akwa Ibom State to bury his or her parents, and OnlyGod made someone the Governor of Akwa Ibom who never contested nor dreamt of becoming the Councillor, Chairman, State or Federal House member.”

Speaking further, he said “the only mistake I ever made in life was asking God to make the Governor of Akwa Ibom State to be my successor instead of asking God to reveal him to me. God would've revealed to me that he was going to be a man that will not develop Akwa Ibom State, God would've revealed to me that he will be a man that will abandon the Four Point Sheraton hotel in Ikot Ekpene LGA that would've employed over 300 Akwa Ibomites.

“God would've revealed to me that he will be a man who will abandon the Hilton at Tropicana in Uyo that would've employed over 500 Akwa Ibomites. God would've also revealed to me that he will be a man who will Start up Eket Sport Stadium at his LGA (Onna) and abandon it to build a Lodge in Lagos State.

“When the wind comes, no one can stop the wind and APC is coming as the wind which no man can stop. I am hereby asking the same ‘OnlyGod’ to replace this man with someone who will take Akwa Ibom State to a level higher than where I left it instead of taking Akwa Ibom State back to where it was when I became the Governor of Akwa Ibom State."

In a sift reaction, Governor Udom Emmanuel said no man can play God. He maintained that he had given due respect to the distinguished Senator but cannot accord him the place of God in his life.

The Governor boasted that he was comfortable even before he ventured into politics compared to some political “gods” who according to him, could now, afford basic needs of life because of politics.In his words, “there is a great difference between those who used night bus & those who used chartered plane from Lagos.”

It is on record that the slogan for the 2015 campaign which ushered in Udom Emmanuel was “let Godswill be done again,again and again.” This reference to “Godswill” (his first name) in the campaign slogan according to some thinkers, to a large extent, gave Senator Akpabio a pride of place and massaged his ego.

Our findings also revealed that Senator Akpabio has himself, adopted the slogan “Let Godswill be done again, again,again and again” for his re-election to the senate and is bent on making Governor Udom Emmanuel regret his refusal to follow his instructions especially as pertains to the campaign slogan.

GOVERNOR EMMANUEL OPENS FIRST RICE MILL IN AKWA IBOM

A new rice milling factory built in Ini local government area of Akwa Ibom State has been commissioned by Governor Udom Emmanuel, with a promise that it will give birth to several other factories in the area.

Governor Emmanuel who was accompanied by his wife said Ibom Agricon Rice factory was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure that sooner than later, 80 percent of staple food consumed by Akwa Ibom people, are produced in the state.

The Governor maintained that it was the first rice mill in the state, promised to return to the federal constituency in a short while to commission a cocoa processing factory.

While promising to expand the factory to boost its productivity, he said the public private partnership project will give birth to the establishment of more industries in the area, thanking the youths and members of the community for the support and cooperation with the promoters of the scheme.

“Under the present economic realities in Nigeria, it is not an easy thing to put up an industry like this, and it is really the grace of God that has made us achieve this,” he said.

“ When you see some industries in certain places, it is because the owners of the land willingly donated their land without compensation and MOU to the investors to build such industries.”

He urged all youths and stakeholders in the state to continue maintaining the peace in their respective communities to enable more investments to thrive.
He said Ini, which had hitherto had no power supply got light restored in the first Phase of his electricity project in the area, and promised to complete the second phase of the power scheme in January next year.

Mr Aniekan Dominic Utuk, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Agricon Farms limited, said the factory at current capacity can produe two metric tons per hour and promised to ensure that quality and standards are maintained to meet the expectations of the people.

Earlier the member representing Ini in the House of Assembly and Chief Whip, Emmanuel Ekpenyong thanked the Governor for prioritizing his local government in the scheme of things and promised that his people will appreciate him with their votes during next year’s election.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the State Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency said the rice milling factory was a further boost to the industrial development of the Governor, and assured that henceforth all the rice used at the state government house will come from the factory.

Prof. Udoh said that the Family Rice is a premium long grain rice bagged in all-weather proof laminated bags, explaining further that the rice has passed through all the modern processes of rice processing devoid of dirt and contamination.

Highlight of the ceremony was the purchase of 20,000 bags of the product by Governor Emmanuel who acted as an off taker, for distribution to people during the yuletide.

*14year Old Akwa Ibom Female Athlete Clinges National Gold in 400m*

*...Sets New National Record*

Akwa Ibom teenage sensation Imaobong Nse who was a revelation at the second Akwa Ibom Youth Sports Festival has become an instant hit at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abuja, Nigeria.

Imaobong Nse an indigene of Etinan who resides and schools in Ibeno, today won gold in the women's 400m final.

She's defeated other national and international athletes, most of who are more than twice her age in a new national record time of 52:35 secs.

Imaobong 400m race to set an unprecedented feat ever attained by a 14 year old in national athletics competitions in the country.

Imaobong was so impressive that a philanthropist in the Stadium donated the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira and a pair of Spike shoes to her.

There's also the offer of an all-expenses-paid training trip abroad during next school holidays.

Governor Udom Emmanuel had while launching the youth sports festival in Akwa Ibom in two successive years, promised to discover and groom athletes that will take over the national and global sports scene.

Miss Nse won two gold medals at the National Youth Games which held in Ilorin earlier in the year

Press Release

*Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) honours Governor Udom Emmanuel with “Health Ambassador Award.”*

At its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting currently on-going in Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) this morning bestowed on the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel the “NMA Health Ambassador Award.”


In a citation read by its National President, Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, Governor Emmanuel was lauded and celebrated for being a doctors’ and health -friendly Governor.


The National President commended the Governor for the massive investments he has made in the health care sector through the rebuilding, remodelling and reconstruction of numerous previously abandoned hospitals in the State, equipping them with modern amenities and fully digitalizing their operations.


While bestowing the award on the Governor, Dr. Faduyile hoped the feat performed by the Governor in health care delivery services in the State could be replicated all over the nation.
This award by the NMA on Governor Emmanuel is a testament to his nationally recognized bold approach at improving the health care services in Akwa Ibom State.


He has always said that given the industries that he is attracting to the State to have the required manpower, a healthy population is needed for the jobs that are being created by these industries.


Governor Udom Emmanuel will continue to do the right thing for the good people of Akwa Ibom State across sectors to the eternal grief of those who have sworn to push lies and malicious propaganda driven mainly by political and selfish considerations on his impactful and sterling performance. Akwa Ibom is rising and it is forward ever backward never!


Signed
Ekerete Udoh, Chief Press Secretary/Senior Special Assistant, Media to Governor Udom Emmanuel

BREAKING NEWS!

APC CHIEFTAIN ISSUES 7DAY ULTIMATUM TO GOV EMMANUEL
...GIVE US AKPABIO’S HANDOVER NOTES NOW

An APC chieftain, Mr. Enefiok Ekefre has requested Governor Udom Emmanuel to give within 7 days, the Certified True Copy of the Handover Notes prepared and presented to him by his predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio sequel to his swearing in on May 29, 2015, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

The APC caucus member who last week said he and his supporters are supporting Gov Udom Emmanuel 's reelection in 2019, however maintained that Akpabio may have a lot of questions to answer from Akwa Ibom people, hence his demands for handover notes
Writing through his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, the APC Chieftain described himself as “ a notable leader, out-spoken political, chieftain of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the all Progressive Congress (APC).


The letter which is published on page 10 of Thursday's The Nation newspaper on page 10 further stated that “Our client has observed with dismay the persistent public altercations between your administration and that of your predecessor on issues relating to performance, projects, and debt and revenue profile among other areas of disagreements.

"It is the brief of our Client that as a concerned citizen, he cares about the progress and welfare of Akwa Ibom State and is desirous of having access to information and records in the said Handover Notes which will offer insight into and possible clarity on some of the issues in controversy between your administration and that of your predecessor.

"Our Client believes that it will be in the overall public interest for the Handover Notes to be made available to him.”

The letter went further to advise the Governor to “please take notice that if you fail, refuse or neglect to furnish us with the information and records (Handover Notes) with Seven (7) days of receiving this request, we have the firm instructions of Our Client to immediately commence legal proceedings at the High Court against you to compel the release of the said Handover Notes.”

AKSU VC DEBUNKS APC's WILD ALLEGATIONS OF NON PAYMENT OF SALARY OWED STAFF.

The Vice Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, in Mkpat Enin local government area, Professor Eno Ibanga says no single staff of the institution is being owed salary of sixteen months as speculated by the opposition party in the state.

The Vice chancellor who was reacting to set the record straight in an interview said since Governor Udom Emmanuel's assumption of office, staff salaries have been paid as at when due.

Professor Ibanga explained that already, the November 2018 salary has been paid to staff noting that within the next one week, the staff of Akwa Ibom State University should be receiving their December 2018 salary.

"Governor Udom Emmanuel is not owing any staff. As I speak to you today, I don't know where the oppositions are getting the information may be they are the ones owing", the VC said.

The Vice Chancellor stated further that before taking over the administration of the institution, there were issues of staff employment which had nothing to do with the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Some staff of the University also corroborated the statement of the Vice Chancellor of the University that they were not being owed any salary since Governor Udom Emmanuel assumed office.

It would be recalled that the spokesman of the opposition party, APC in the state, Eseme Eyibo had in one of his interviews on a private radio in Akwa Ibom State alleged that staff of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden were being owed salaries up to sixteen months by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

GOOD ROAD NETWORK FOR INVESTMENT:

In fulfilment of his campaign promise, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel on 28th May, 2018 commissioned the 4.6KM School of Arts and Science Road, Nung Ukim in Ikono Local Government Area, this is #WhyWeWillVoteUdom

Now That The Governor Is Talking...


*Otobong Sampson*


Those who are picking out Governor Udom Emmanuel for finally reacting to the senseless criticisms and many jibes directed at him and his administration by his predecessor are simply nattering nabobs with reprehensible morals. A former governor of the state, Mr. Godswill Akpabio has, since his defection to the All Progressive Congress assumed a new pastime - taking inelegant swipes at a man who had thoroughly regarded him even in the face of extreme provocations.

Perhaps provoked to breaking point, now the governor is dishing clapbacks and withering comebacks. He is accused of ingratitude by Akpabio's medieval court jesters, yet not even one of them thinks their master is guilty of provocation. The Bible in Ephesians 6:4 admonishes fathers not to provoke their children to anger. Colossians 3:21 also cautions: 'Father, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged'.

At first, they thought the governor was incapable of challenging the 'great teacher'. How wrong! Apparently, Mr. Akpabio has been overrated and his influence - exaggerated.

His successor deserves many kudos for the level of tolerance he has shown towards a man infamously known for his overbearing attitudes; not knocks for speaking up in defense of his person and his administration. There's no wrong in fitting issues into proper perspectives. For whatever gratitude there is, respect should be mutual. You can't run a man down and not expect his opinion of you to go down by many degrees.

The people are glad that Governor Emmanuel is finally 'talking'. They are backing him to talk more. Civility isn't timidity. Courtesy can't be poltroonery. It is nauseating mischief for cheerers to emerge when the former senate minority leader throws words carelessly at his successor and governor of the state but shout hoarse when the latter replies in equal measure.

If Udom owes Akpabio gratitude for playing a role in his emergence as governor in 2015, then the former governor has a debt of gratitude also to repay the incumbent for having his eight years mess cleaned up and covered up. Whoever is proficient at uttering taunting words should be smart enough to expect a corresponding response.

There's no doubt that Mr. Emmanuel is a man of fine words and of even finer deeds. Refined in attitude and resplendent in character, he is simply unmatched by his predecessor in finesse.

To his credit too, he has remained largely apathetical to the many incitations by the APC leaders which include recklessly daring schemes to belittle his office and undermine his government. All through his time as Akwa Ibom governor, Akpabio didn't permit a fraction of even corrective criticism. He still does not look like a man who would. The All Progressive Congress governorship candidate is cut in this same undemocratic mould.

If the intent has always been to rile his successor, the senator has rather inadvertently affirmed the long-held premise that he obsessively craves power...that he would rather not exist than stay on the periphery of power.

Mr. Emmanuel is rendering quality service and offering great leadership which has taken the state up the stairway of development and economic growth. His works have been brave and challenging in other to bring change. He brings energy to governance, deploying in a bespoke manner the appropriate expertise and making the presence of his competence shine. It is immoral for Akpabio to attempt to hold the governor to impossible standards when he wasn't held to same during his moments.

Even as an aspiring comedian which he has repeatedly admitted to being, he can go about his politicking without resorting to unsavory remarks and sly innuendos at his successor. The governor isn't responsible for Akpabio's political itinerancy and he shouldn't bear the brunt of that ruinous wandering.

UDOM EMMANUEL SET TO BE DECORATED AS
BEST PERFORMING GOVERNOR IN NIGERIA
 
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel will ‪on Sunday, December 16, 2018‬, be decorated and inducted into the HoG Hall of Fame as the Overall Best Performing Governor in Nigeria by the Ooni of Ife, Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
 
A statement by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Udoh indicates that the organizers are honouring the Governor during their Pre-20th Democracy Dinner at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos “in recognition of his massive developmental strides in Akwa Ibom.”
 
The Commissioner mentioned that Mr. Emmanuel’s choice for the honour, “is underscored by his strides in infrastructure, health, human capital development and unprecedented love for the people of Akwa Ibom State.”
 
According to him, the organizers, in a letter, acknowledged that “the Governor occupies a pride of place among a select distinguished Nigerians who have delivered dividends of democracy to their people.”
 
The HoG Award has been on for eight years, and seeks to encourage good governance in Nigeria, while the HoG Hall of Fame induction holds once in four years, as it takes into account, consistency in delivery of democratic dividends for upwards of three years.
 
The HoG has over the years hosted and paraded individuals like Alh. Atiku Abubakar, GCON; Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina; Dr. Aliko Dangote; Senator Ben Bruce, among other notable Nigerians.

WE WILL NOT GO BACK TO AN INGLORIOUS PAST, BEING A PRESS STATEMENT BY THE FORMER STATE, CHAPTER AND WARD OFFICERS OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS WHO RECENTLY DECLARED THEIR SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL

Gentlemen of the Press,
Just yesterday, we led thousands of our members, who having been tired of the systematic deceit, strategic economic demobilization and sheer lack of focus by the leadership of the APC, decided to pitch our political tents with the visionary, focused and result oriented leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party.

Prior to yesterday’s event, there were spirited moves to prevent us from holding the event but we gallantly marched on, knowing that the true measure of a man isn’t where he stands in moment comfort and convenience, but he where he stands in moments of controversy. We went on to hold a very historic event, never witnessed in the annals of our political experience. The event was blessed with both qualitative and quantitative excellence. Our members in their thousands trooped out and colorfully celebrated their freedom from political oppression and unending impunity, as practiced in the APC.

Thereafter, as our people were heading home joyously to share the good news of redemption with their kith and kin, they were molested on the road by hoodlums sponsored by the APC. In Nsit Atai, the former chapter chairman’s vehicle was attacked and his tyres destroyed, in Ibesikpo Asutan, Eket and Ikot Ekpene, the former APC stalwarts were harassed and intimidated. This ugly situation is most reprehensible and must be totally condemned.
This press conference is to alert the entire public that if anything bad happens to us, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Obong Nsima Ekere, Uyo Nathaniel and Chief Sunny Ibanga should be held responsible. Having not yielded to their pressures to remain in their evil political coven, they have resorted to threats and violence. In the days ahead, we will expose the contents of the play book of the APC and how they hope to overrun the state with federal might. But like we said yesterday, we reiterate that, federal might will meet with unit might.

Thank you gentlemen of the press

GODSWILL AKPABIO; AN EMBODIMENT OF UNGRATEFUL SOUL


By Ubong Michael Ntekim, An APC chieftain

"When you talk about ungratefulness Godswill Obot Akpabio is a walking monument of it.
Ask Total Chair, if he had moved an inch in the direction of Obong Victor Attah, Godswill would never have been the governor.

Ask Obong Ufot Ekaete and his dear wife Eme who tried to return to the Senate riding on the back of what great role her husband played in making Godswill governor. Ask Obong Victor Attah what level of disrespect Godswill showed him for making him a Commissioner for almost 7 years.
I Wish you could Ask Chief Fidelis Etim, the man who dragged Godswill to Uyo in a night bus and made him his choice Commissioner.

Godswill became the governor and made himself god before Akwa Ibom people. He deliberately, systematically, viciously, totally wasted Total Chair, Ufot Ekaete, Eme his wife Obong Attah. A show of gross ingratitude to four men that were instrumental and responsible for everything he is today. Yet I hear him complain against one man, Gov Udom Emmanuel who never wronged him?. Godswill Akpabio lives in an extremely fragile glass, he should stop throwing stones".

NSIMA EKERE IS CONSIDERED THE WORST MD NDDC EVER HAD

-JOSHUA ROLLAS

The tenure of Nsima Ekere's management as MD of NDDC has been described as the worst since the creation of the interventionist agency.

Chief Joshua Rollas who is the President of Niger Delta Development People's Assembly stated this recently when he spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Chief Rollas described the administration of Nsima Ekere as one without a vision, focus and blueprint. He also noted that under Nsima Ekere, NDDC has abandoned thousands of projects executed by the Commission, Nsima has also abandoned contractors who put in so much money to execute projects given to them.

In his words, Chief Rollas maintained that Nsima Ekere who is characterized by high impunity, pride, deceit, lies, intimidation wondered how Nsima Ekere could be trusted with the position of a Governor when he lacks the capacity to lead an interventionist agency like NDDC.

When asked if he had a personal experience with the MD of NDDC, Mr Joshua said "ask him, he knows me very well. I have been to his office many times. All Nsima is interested in is how he could use the money of the NDDC to enrich himself. For the first time an MD is asking for his COT in any contract he gives out no matter how small it was", the Chief explained.

He also said that this is the first time in history of NDDC where contracts are blown up by 100% of the real contract sum. Chief Rollas however complained that the most painful and disappointing part of the whole thing is that he and other concerned Niger Deltans have petitioned the EFCC, but no one has answered them. He said that he believes that Nsima may have bribed the EFCC with contracts so that no matter how much you complain, no one listens to you.

Chief Joshua assured that he has not and will never give up on the struggle for the common wealth of the Niger Delta region, noting that anyone who attempts to sale of oil blocks to some power brokers in Nigeria will continue to get a stiff opposition because the wealth of the region belongs to the people and not some power drunk individuals.

Timi Igini, Rivers State.