EFCC AND THE PAUL USORO QUAGMIRE

The unfolding Paul Usoro drama scripted by the APC and acted by EFCC is excruciating example of a very primitive and execrable brand of Politics being played by the government of Nigeria.

Every discerning mind understands that this drama is all about the unconstitutional takeover of Akwa Ibom state by hook or crook by the ruling party with the active collusion of some indigenes of the state.

Added to this and as if to add salt to injury, Paul Usoro (SAN) had the "unfortunate" task of being the counsel to the Senate president Mr Bukola Saraki in his trail at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) at the instance of the Federal government.This he carried out dutifully and successfully with great attention to details; one of the hallmarks for which he's known over the years.

For this, carrying out his lawful duty as a legal practitioner he's been marked for destruction and this plan is being accentuated by a few people in the bar with access to the levers of power who are still bitter over his guts to contest for the last NBA president election which he won.

Usoro was counsel to both Udom Emmanuel and Bukola Saraki people the government/APC attempted to heckle and discomfit for political reasons. Usoro's only sin is that he's seen as a pro PDP lawyer meanwhile he's never rejected an APC brief.

The idea therefore is since they missed Udom and Saraki because of Usoro's brilliant advocacy based on evidence, they would get him (Usoro) It's like in a game of football it's said usually when the game gets tough, "if you miss the ball, don't miss the leg" The NBA president Paul Usoro SAN, is unfortunately the "leg" in this crossfire, primitive, rough-hewn political game which the APC is known for.

How do you explain the fact that information regarding the charge of Mr Usoro SAN is already on social media meanwhile, he hasn't been served.

Why prosecute the case on Social media and not the court? The only plausible reason would be that they know their case is as wishy-washy and namby-pamby as a lamb that can't stand the weight of it's own wool. They idea therefore is to cause Mr Paul Usoro embarrassment in the eyes of the public particularly among lawyers but this has failed woefully and boomeranged as it has attracted the angst of majority of lawyers who understand that no law puts a cap on the amount a counsel ought to charge his client for services rendered which Mr Paul Usoro SAN carried out judiciously.

Why not equally look into the accounts of the states governed by the ruling party or the accounts of the lawyers who stood for them at their trying moments at the Election Tribunals to know how much they were paid by their clients (State governors)

It's in the light of the prevenient therefore that i must first salute and appreciate our eminently distinguished learned Seniors, Elders and other members of the Nigerian Bar Association for your continuous understanding of the issues and your undaunted and unblinking support and solidarity for our president at this trying period not just for him but for the Bar for it's the Bar that's under attack today. If we allow government institutions to begin to interfere and cap how much fees we charge especially when the remonstrance over the fees charged is not coming from our clients, then we are in serious trouble and our profession is in jeopardy.
This is therefore, the time for lawyers all over the country close ranks and come out enmase to protest and support our president and stand against the forces of facism, totalitarianism, anachronism and all their agents..
Let's fight not just to preserve the Bar but our hard earned democracy.

God bless our president
God bless the NBA
God bless our Nigeria.

*Etimbuk Johnson Esq*

2019: SEN. AKPABIO DEFECTED TO APC BECAUSE OF HIS CRIMINAL RECORDS— LAMIDO




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


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


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


His claims were massively acknowledged by the crowd.


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


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


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


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


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


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


Mr Lamido urged PDP defectors to return to the party.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Eight election campaign committees were inaugurated at the event.


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

Premium times

GOV.UDOM EMMANUEL: IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr.Udom Emmanuel, in his almost four years administration as the state’s helmsman, has proven doubters wrong, setting the pace and a template for a redefined leadership in our society.

It is not about Akwa Ibom State, it is the fact that a man has committed himself to the leadership and service to the people. That man is Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Naysayers will agree with me that, in the eyes of Akwa Ibom people, Udom Emmanuel remains the best man to have mounted the saddle of leadership in the state. He has prudently managed the state’s resources, with no extravagant expenses and lavishing of the state’s money on frivolous things, like we experienced in the last administration in the state.

What I try to juxtapose, is the governing models between the former Governor of Anambra State, now Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr.Peter Obi and the Akwa Ibom Governor.

Recollect that, both came from the banking sector to govern their respective states, and after eight years of governance by Peter Obi, never a time was it reported that the anti graft agencies were after Peter Obi. This could be attributed to his financial background in the banking industry.

Eight years after, Peter Obi had left Anambra better than he met it. Despite contesting the governorship elections in the state against the then PDP controlled Federal Government, he emerged victorious at the polls.

We are experiencing a similar Anambra debacle today in Akwa Ibom State, where Governor Udom Emmanuel is contesting for a second term against an APC controlled Federal Government. But Akwa Ibom people haven looked at his credentials and performance in office, in unison, has said, Udom deserves a second term.

Has the people fared better, since the Governor took the reins of office? Yes. Needless relishing his achievements here, but it is visible even to the blind, that within four years, there have been an industrial revolution in the state.

This is a Governor that has taken the welfare of workers and retirees in the state as a top priority. In the absence of a Federal allocation, he was able to pay workers an up to date salaries, when most APC states were owing, while some were struggling and having arrears of salaries to the tune of 10 months.

The people of Akwa Ibom have said that, if Udom Emmanuel was a ‘mistake,’ and could go this far, then we will repeat this ‘mistake’ again and again, until it will become a permanent mistake.

Even in remote areas, Governor Udom and the PDP has given succor to the aged, and hope to the hopeless. No other political party has affected the lives of people in Akwa Ibom than the PDP. If PDP was a ‘god,’ there are people who will practically worship it.

The market woman, the artisan, the laborer in Akwa Ibom understands only a language, and that is the return of Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term in 2019. Akwa Ibom people do not want later day Prophets, who come to them in the days of elections, and run away from the people after elections. They know that the Peoples Democratic Party has a larger heart to accommodate more persons, as it has done in the past.

What we should rather focus on, is not whether Governor Udom will win a second term, but we should be rather focused on the things we want him to do for us in his second term.

The Governor is not a loud mouthed Leader, who is loquacious in speeches, with vague promises, he is a man of his word.

I enjoin Akwa Ibom people today, to sustain the peace we have enjoyed in this administration for another round of four years. Governor Udom brings you peace and prosperity, vote for him, vote for the PDP.

When they come with WARSAW, the Lord will raise a standard against them.

I will end with Psalm 20:7 which says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

WE WILL NEVER BOW TO BABYLON.

Eneh John is the Editor of Trail Reporters News.

*Keeping Akwa Ibom in Peace and Prosperity: Why Udom is the only Option*

Tom FredFish,
8th December, 2018

Despite the many gains for peace in the past three and half years in Akwa Ibom state by the Udom Emmanuel led administration, the drum beat of war by Akwa Ibom APC candidates for 2019 elections baffles right thinking citizens on the real intentions of APC for the state.

Before the coming of the Udom-led administration in 2015, Akwa Ibom state was rated unsecured and a flashpoint of violence during electioneering. That period had Senator Godswill Akpabio, Obong Nsima Ekere, Obong Umana Umana among many others who are now in the APC, governing the state.

Irrespective of various attempts by the Nigerian police, there exist unresolved cases of high profile murder, politically motivated assassinations, kidnappings, rape, robberies and political violence.

There are several known instance to buttress this point. An Ibibio monarch, Oku Ibom Ibibio III, Edidem James Robert Obot was murdered in cold blood in his palace in 2011; a retired General of the Nigerian Army, Edet Akpan was reportedly kidnapped during church service; one staff, two police men escorting cash belonging to Idems Ultimate Limited from their Abak road office to a nearby Bank at Abak road were attacked by robbers who shot about three people dead and carted away the company's money.

Political violence was also the order of the day as violent cases were recorded in Ikot Ekpene during political campaigns by thugs loyal to a current APC chieftain as youths returned to Uyo on reprisal, attacked innocent citizens and burnt down several vehicles and tricycles popularly know as keke Napep bought by the state government to ease transportation in the state. A candidate for Mkpat Enin state constituency, Dr. Joseph Akpan-akpudo was allegedly murdered in cold blood because of his political ambition. The list of breach of peace, violence and insecurity is inexhaustible.

The threat to peace from 2007-2015 when Senator Godswill Akpabio reigned as governor was not without repercussions. The foundation of Akwa Ibom peace, prosperity and development were hampered.

Two cases will prove this point. According to Darabong Utip, an indigene of Uyo Local Government Area who told her story in a recorded video message, peace is sine qua non for prosperity. Darabong was born and bred in the North East of Nigeria. At the peck of the Boko Haram menace in the north in 2012, her family ran back to Akwa Ibom state for safety but insecurity in Akwa Ibom state was in no way different from that of Maiduguri state where they fled from. Her parents immediately left Akwa Ibom to nearby Cross River state until Udom came in 2015 and restored normalcy.

Darabong confided that the movement to seek a peaceful environment after fleeing the North affected the economy of her parents that she and her siblings dropped out of school because her parents could hardly fend for them talk less of paying their school fees. She stayed away from school for three years until Udom Emmanuel assumed office in 2015 and her family returned to the state, thus while her contemporary had graduated and some gone for youth service, she began year one at the university.

The story of Ubong Nkanga is not different from Darabong Utip. Ubong recounted: "I am from Akwa Ibom state, between 2009-2014, the state was insecure, and many businesses collapsed. Night life in Uyo seized and my parent's food business was affected. I and my siblings dropped out of school. However when Udom came as governor in 2015, the security situation changed, people could now go out at night. My parents went back to their business, and we are back to school, there is nothing absolute as peace. We are happy that the dark days in Akwa Ibom are over."

The above elucidations have shown that the absence of peace can affect prosperity. Peace can be defined as law and order within a state and the absence of violence or disturbances. Without peace no substantial development can take place - no economic activities, opportunities, looking for jobs, payment of taxes, seeking for votes or profits can take place in a situation that lacks peace.

Without peace, there can never be prosperity and no prosperity can exist without peace. To fast track the achievement of lasting peace, the Udom Emmanuel administration took into cognizance four major steps from the onset.

First, is decent livelihoods. The PDP administration under Governor Udom took cognizance of the fact that when people are gainfully employed in decent work either employed or self employed and earns a decent living, they have a stake and would do nothing to disturb peace that is why the governor focussed on industrialization to avail youths who are usually agents of the breach of peace, jobs.

Second, is the provision and access to capital. When people are provided with capital to invest and improve their income through investment, they are not only stakeholders but an instruments of empowering others. This discourages them from any violent venture. The provision of soft loans to traders, artisans and other citizens up to 2billion naira by Governor Udom has yielded positive gains in the attempts to instill peace in the state.

Third, is the accurate utilization of revenue and services. The collection of revenue and investment of it in critical infrastructures and services needed to boost the state economy and peace to flourish, increases systemic resilience to violence.

Fourth, is having the right kind of leader who leads by example. Widely known as a Christian with the fear of God, Governor Udom since assuming office has lead by example. He has zero tolerance for violence and is never desperate to hold on to political power. His appointees are very conscious of this and have followed his body language and set mark for themselves to avoid activities that would encouraged violence or breach of peace. The high point of various attempts to stabilize peace in Akwa Ibom state is the proscription of all cult groups in the state by Governor Udom Emmanuel. This helped a great deal to reduce violence which is a product of cult related activities.

All these effort of Governor Udom Emmanuel is not without gains. Just recently, in a well attended event, the Nigerian Union of Journalist, NUJ, Akwa Ibom state chapter honoured Governor Udom Emmanuel with the "Outstanding Peace Achievement" award - the first of its kind since the creation of Akwa Ibom state. The state has been named the most peaceful state in the Niger Delta and conducive for investors. That is why her Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, is one of the highest in the country since 2015. The simple equation is that there can be no investment in a place where peace is absent. The investment in Metering industry, Syringe factory, flour mill, cocoanut industry and others in the pipeline are the product of lasting peace in the state. These activities would lead to employment and the end product - prosperity.

As citizens move to elect their leaders in 2019 for another four years, the only option left to keeping Akwa Ibom in peace and prosperity is electing Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term in office. And "this is none negotiable" said Mr. Dan Etukidem, a public affairs analyst.

_Tom FredFish is a public affairs analyst_

*LEST WE FORGET EVANG. (CHIEF) FEJ ETIM*

What where the sins of Chief (Evangelist) Fidelis Etim, the man who paid Godswill Akpabio's transport fare from Lagos to Uyo, and introduced him to Obong Victor Attah for a journey into politics in 2002.

For students of history, Obong Fidelis Etim was the political godfather of Ikot Ekpene and throughout Obong Attah's tenure, he held sway as Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB.

His nature as a very accommodating statesman, led to his recommendation of a certain Godswill Akpabio, a man he never met, to Attah as commissioner in the state executive council. The only nexus linking them, being that Ibanga Akpabio, Godswill Akpabio's cousin, was Chief Etim's personal assistant.

Akpabio sailed as Commissioner, in the process, superintending the Ministries of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as Lands and Housing. Suddenly, a man who could not afford an air transport fare to Lagos, and who never was a member of PDP before 2002, became a powerful rich politician, who started contending for the position of governor ahead of 2007.

Again Chief Etim made all the overtures for support to his godson. Introducing him to the annang elders and leaders. In 2007, Akpabio won and was sworn in as governor, and suddenly, the story changed.

The big man was abandoned because his son Solomon Enoabasi Etim, was not wise enough, and had picked a form to contest the 2007 governorship primaries against Akpabio. Governor Akpabio ceased to recognize Etim as his godfather and announced his Ibanga Akpabio as his real godfather.

Etim's house in Ikot Ekpene which hitherto was a Mecca for politicians was outlawed by the government. Any political office holder that was spotted near the once happening Nseyen street apartment of Chief FEJ, got instantly ostracized from the administration.

Former Governor Attah himself also suffered this fate. In his recent 80th birthday celebration, Attah recalled how people would sent him messages on his phone, wishing him well, but regreting their inability to visit him, to avoid the wrath of the 'system'.

Despite all his explanations to Chief Akpabio that he never supported his own son Solomon's adventure into the governorship race, Fidelis Etim was blatantly blacklisted by a governor who believed that the 'sins' of a son can be visited on his father.

The chief spent his last days preaching love telling the world that he bears no grudge against those who are paying him back in bad coins. Even the launch of his Divine Assistance Outreach, could not win back the heart of his estranged godson.

"See my house that everyone used to visit to seek favour, now have you seen anyone here?" he told journalists who visited him during the Christmas period of 2007.

To further spite the old man, he went to his family and picked a certain Don Etim, who was in a poor communication standing with his uncle Chief Etim, and made him a powerful commissioner throughout his 8-year rule.

While it is established that Akpabio failed to reconcile with the sage, it is on record that the governor eulogized and mourn Chief Etim following his death shortly after.

The then governor accorded Etim a lavished funeral ceremony, and led all members of the political class and executive council members of his cabinet to bid him farewell.

Today, we remember Chief Fidelis Etim, and we remember the era of 2007-2015 when scorpion and horsewhips were milder punishments to the Warsaw realities.

(c) *Akwa Ibom Sacred Facts Inc*

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

by Essien Ndueso

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

2019: PDP GAINS MORE MOMENTUM IN OTORO WARD 2

...As Wife of the PDP Candidate for Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency, Dcns. Maureen Aniekan Umanah Visits the Ward.

Sixtus Tom

As the 2019 general election campaign continue across the Nation and in Akwa Ibom State, Otoro ward Two woman have been charged to vote Governor Udom Emmanuel and other PDP Candidates for the continuous peace, Industrialization and sustainable development policy enjoyed in the State for the past three years.

Dcns. Maureen Aniekan Umanah, wife of the PDP Candidate for Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency, together with the wife of the Abak LGA Chairman, Mrs. Unwana Imoh Williams, wife of the PDP Candidate for Abak State Constituency, Mrs. Udeme Otong, PDP Senatorial Woman leader, Mrs. Useneno Tom, PDP Chapter Woman Leader, Mrs. Atim Thompson, ors, gave the charge today, December 6, 2018, during her visit to Otoro Ward two, Abak LGA during her ongoing Unit to Unit and Ward tour in Abak Federal Constituency.

Speaking on the representation of Abak Federal Constituency, Dcns. Umanah said 2019 will make the end of arms chair and empty seat representation of the Federal Constituency in the National Assembly as Hon. Aniekan Umanah's representation will be build on two pillars of Effective Representation and Massive Empowerment of the people.

Speaking on behalf of the women, the woman leader of the Ward, Mrs Ekaette Eyo, who presented the 10 women leaders of the ten units in the Otoro Ward two said it is a challenge for the women of Otoro Ward 2 to return Governor Udom Emmanuel to the Hill Top Mansion in 2019, and added that they stood with former Governor Victor Attah for 8 years, Goodwill Akpabio for 8 years and must stand with Governor Udom Emmanuel for 8 years.

Mrs. Ekaette expressed that the choice of Elder Aniekan Umanah for Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika Federal Constituency is never negotiable for the women of Otoro Ward two. " Elder Aniekan Umanah's philanthropic pedigree is enough for the Women of Abak Federal Constituency, not only Otoro Ward two alone to vote him for the House of Representatives in 2019. Elder Umanah's project is our project doesn't need any campaign to gain our vote. We are PDP and we will vote all PDP Candidates come 2019", She said

Mr. Solomon Isaac, the Ward Chairman who was on ground to receive the delegation lauded Dcns. Maureen Aniekan Umanah and her team for visiting the ward today on her unit to unit and ward sensitization tour, and assured that APC has no place in Otoro Ward 2 as the women in the Ward are dedicated to the business of PDP.

The Ward Chairman said there is no shaking in Otoro Ward two as no other party other than PDP exist in the Ward.

EFCC &APC: We are not afraid

The press statement by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress on the investigation and intended prosecution of some private citizens and public officials from Akwa IBOM State, over allegations of fraud is shallow, laughable and very expository of their ignorance of the law.

Besides the political mileage which that political ensemble hopes it can gain from the ill-motivated proposed prosecution, may we draw their attention to the fact that as at today, none of those listed by the stories flying around has been charged before any court. If they are eventually charged, the constitution presumes them innocent until proven guilty and the standard of proof for criminal matters remains beyond reasonable doubt. There is therefore no need for the APC to engage in a premature celebration of their imminent failure. The court of law is not partisan and will not dispense judgement according to federal might.

On Governor Udom Emmanuel’s performance in office, Akwa Ibom people clearly understand the pains suffered by the local APC politicians who are frequently embarrassed by the accolades poured on the Governor by the Presidency and other federal institutions, in recognition of his superlative performance in the administration of the resources of our state. Clear examples abound in the areas of food sufficiency, industrialization, increased power generation cum replacement of power infrastructure, road construction, education, healthcare etc. These achievements are contradictory to what is obtainable in states controlled by the APC, where payment of salaries is becoming excruciatingly difficult, if not outrightly impossible. Recently, the Governor of Benue state, was quoted to have said that since he returned to the PDP, he’s been paying salaries without any hitch. The question is, has his state’s allocation increased? No. The implied meaning is that there is something in the APC that prevents governments from paying salaries, let alone undertaking meaningful development. Akwa Ibom people have juxtaposed the two parties at all levels of governance and have chosen to remain under the coverage of the PDP.
However, when the APC is willing and ready, we will eagerly take them on a tour of the achievements of the Udom Emmanuel-led administration.

Finally, when the EFCC decides to charge any member of the current administration, we can assure that legal representation will be entered and the case pursued to a conclusive end. We will not behave like some acclaimed national comedians, who for fear of their past, when confronted, defected to the broom bearing coven. Our administration has nothing to fear, it is just unfortunate that the opposition using the EFCC, is strenuously trying to implicate our own son, Paul Usoro SAN who by dint of hard work and God’s grace has reached the peak of his career and is currently serving as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association(the first time an Akwa Ibom son has risen to that height). This scheme is reminiscent of the plot to pull down Hon. Justice Inyang Okoro, still plotted by the APC Akwa Ibom in the early days of this administration. As the first plot failed, so shall this fail.The evil plotting of the APC will remain mere plots without manifestation. After all the scripture had questioned, “who is he that says a thing and it comes to pass, when the Lord had not commanded it.”

Signed:

Comrade Ini Ememobong
State Publicity Secretary
People’s Democratic Party
Akwa Ibom State chapter
06122018

Rt. Hon. Luke Presents Evidence of Invasion of State Assembly to Senate

The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke today, Thursday, 6th December, 2018 appeared before the Senate Committee investigating the invasion of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, to present evidence of the invasion of the premises of the state legislature by five suspended lawmakers aided by the police.

Accompanied by Rt. Hon. Ime Okon and Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko, the speaker, Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke gave a detailed account of the desecration of the chambers of the state legislature by the suspended lawmakers who received full protection from the police.

The invitation of the Speaker by the Senate Committee was sequel to a motion sponsored by the senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, Sen. Bassey Albert (OBA) drawing the attention of the Senate to the invasion and occupation of the state legislature by the police. The motion also drew the attention of the Senate to attempts by the five suspended members of the state assembly to impeach the speaker and the state governor under police cover.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Luke later presented documents and video evidence of the invasion to the committee to assisit it in its investigations.

The Inspector General of Police appeared yesterday before the committee.

Later today, the five suspended members also appeared before the Senate Committee

*SENATOR GODSWILL AKPABIO THE PABLO ESCOBAR OF AKWA IBOM STATE*

Pablo Escobar (1949-1993) was a Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist that was crowned “The King Of Cocaine” and supplied an estimated 80% of the cocaine that was smuggled into the United States of America at the pinnacle of his career.
Pablo Escobar was the richest criminal with a known estimated net worth between $25 and $30 billion dollars by the early 1990s(equivalent to $48.5 and $56billion as of 2017) making him one of the richest men at his prime. Senator Godswill Akpabio is one of the richest Akwa Ibom Indigenes and he made his wealth as a Governor.
Just like Godswill Akpabio, Pablo Escobar was worshipped as a god by many Colombians, especially in his home town, Medellin City. Drawings of his face adorned walls and houses, T-shirts with his picture were worn by many, Children were named Escobar by their Parents, in short, Escobar merchandise meant commercial success. Akpabio and Escobar enjoyed playing god and portrayed themselves as one.


Like Akpabio, some people worshipped and viewed Escobar like a hero due to his freewill generosity and also taking care of Medellín’s poorest habitants while others saw him like a bad guy due to the excessive evil(killings & kidnappings) his drug business brought to Colombia. Senator Akpabio’s reign as Governor witnessed a high rate of politically motivated assassinations and kidnappings.


On Sunday 2nd December, 2018, a young boy who hawks sachet water had removed his shirt to place on the floor for Senator Akpabio to walk on during a political rally in Uyo. He was rewarded thereafter by Senator Akpabio with N500,000 for worshipping him. I applaud the magnanimity of our dear senator, the boy has been “uncommonly transformed from a boy to a man” as the popular quote goes for all kinds of gestures of Senator Akpabio.

In 8 years of Senator Akpabio’s reign as Governor Of Akwa Ibom State, it is estimated that he received 3 trillion naira in allocations accrued to the State's treasury. While we celebrate the flyovers, the good roads, the other uncompleted projects and his freewill generosity, we should ask genuine questions like “How did you truly spend our 3Trillion Naira Sir?”


Majority of Akwa Ibom people have been easily hoodwinked by Akpabio’s generosity, For every 1 million naira Akpabio shared, 100 million naira disappeared, for every 50 million naira he shared, Classroom blocks were left abandoned to rot. 3.8 trillion naira would have ensured that work started at Ibaka deep seaport, at least 10 working industries out of 31 industries that was promised, genuine business grants and entrepreneurship schemes would have been initiated, Little wonder why Nigerian Bureau Of Statistics(NBS) ranked Akwa Ibom State the 2nd State with the highest level of unemployment few months after Akpabio left in 2016, Yet we got carried away by his sharing of unsustainable peanuts. Like the former minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Iweala said “The projects on ground in Akwa Ibom State doesn’t tally the billions received ”.
Unfortunately, when a politician is very generous, we forget to ask questions but I would not sway in the popular path of many Nigerians. I appreciate Akpabio for what he did, but I will also ask him where he stashed the bulk part of our 3 Trillion naira.

Like the renowned Criminal, Pablo Escobar, Senator Godswill Akpabio remains a Hero and a Villain till unanswered questions of how he spent our 3 Trillion naira and how much he is worth are answered.

*A VOTE FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY*

Aniekeme Finbarr

The defining moments are here again and the people of Akwa Ibom State have the sacred task of shaping her future through the ballot. It is a choice that will guarantee peace, physical development, economic empowerment and the strong bonds of a united people.

Akwa Ibom state needs a consummate Akwa Ibom son with eclectic economic alchemy and the requisite experience. A man that has the rare access code to the pumping station of jobs, wealth, opportunities and possibilities.

Akwa Ibom State needs a man naturally configured with charisma, independent mind and great foresight, who has been tested by his own personal industry and expansive records of achievements in creating wealth; and who shows glaringly an uncommon courage for manic persistence to conceive and turn ideas into actionable solutions.

Akwa Ibom State needs a man who intends to have the luxury of time to sit on the drawing board for too long. The world has gone very fast and Akwa Ibom people must chose its next leader not based on primordial sentiments but based on quality, pedigree and anticedents.

If the state requires a leader committed to creating jobs, the natural answer is Udom Emmanuel. Even before he became Secretary to the State Government, he was an investment banker of many years at the highest level, whose area of specialization was in income optimization. Udom Emmanuel had been personal account officer and finance consultant for many of Nigeria's richest men. You need not search for investors in another planet. Udom Emmanuel had been a licensed trader on the floor of the London Stock exchange and had by the license given him by the FSA been doing financial transactions in the United Kingdom. If you add all these to his personal commitment to the state project, his achivements in office and his penchant for success, the people have a very easy task at picking who leads the state from May 2019.

Akwa Ibom people will judge Udom on the strength of his performance in his current assignment. He has ennobled the office of Governor with remarkable skill, the fear of God, exceptional diligence, elegance and panache. He has demonstrated an extraordinary acumen in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

A vote for Udom Emmanuel is a vote to continue enjoy the investments made in health care delivery, equipping hospitals with modern amenities such as those of Etinan, Ikono, Ikot Okoro, Ituk Mbang, Iquita, in Oron, Emmanuel Hospitals etc. To further expand infrastructure, Governor Udom Emmanuel had commissioned a 40 apartment residential estate for the expatriates that are manning the key aspects of the Ibom Specialist Hospital ‘s operations. That is in addition to constructing a brand new 300 bed capacity block the Dr Ann Ward Gynecology block at the St Luke’s Hospital Anua including the rehabilitation of the Pediatric and male blocks of the hospital.
Also, old structures and out-dated equipment have been replaced with new state of the arts ones. Secondary health facilities like the General Hospitals in Etinan, Ikono, Ituk Mbang, Ikot Okoro, Eket and other locations across the state are today wearing a massive facelift at various stages of completed and on going work. The physical structure aside, supply of equipment to the hospitals has been another area of government emphasis. 25 of the 100 containers of medical equipment procured from the United States of America have been supplied and disbursed in the state to hospitals. Consequently, functional theatres in the state as well as the newly constructed ones now have modern theatres better than most in the country

Any vote other than Udom Emmanuel is an automatic return to the years when the above named hospitals were overtaken and overgrown with weeds; where reptiles of all manner took up residence in place of patients. Akwa Ibom people will prefer a choice of having these critical secondary healthcare facilities run optimally and where the lives of our people are saved or dwell in the world of propaganda.

A vote for Udom Emmanuel is a vote to continue to enjoy economically viable road network, where every part of the State is covered- parts such as Obot Akara in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, where the Nto Edino-Azu, Ekwereazu Road has ended the reign of tears and pain the people of the area had experienced, where children were drowning from makeshift canoes that took them to school daily, or parts of Mbo or Ini Local Government Areas where for more than eight years, not a single kilometre of road was constructed, but today, these areas enjoy good roads.

A vote for Udom Emmanuel is a vote for more industries. The rice mill in Ini will soon flood our State with high quality but affordable rice, Akwa Hatchery is working and producing, the Cassava mills are in operation across the State. In the area of industrialization, through Udom's efforts at attracting Foreign Direct Investments and the conducive environment he has created, he has been able to attract industries to the State such as the Syringes Manufacturing Company, which today is producing syringes that are used all over this State and the nation.

Anyone who argues that he is better than Udom Emmanuel must justify his massive budget and corresponding achivements for Akwa Ibom people. Governance is not about lies and propaganda, governance is about character, integrity, transparency and doing the job of the people. Governance is not about giving people fraudulent contract papers for road construction. Akwa Ibom people deserve better, they deserve to be told the truth. The era of taking our people for granted, playing on their perceived gullibility is over. Our people deserve a fair deal from those who wish to lead them and not a raw deal.

In all, Akwa Ibom people appreciate good things. So much needs to be done, many more expectations will be met. They will courageously go out there and do the needful at the Governorship elections. The people will return the mandate to a man with the capacity to save the future. The people will not be intimidated by ethnic warlords who are out to plunge us back into the abyss. There is this spirit that emboldens and stirs the passion, the soul and the tigritude of the average Akwa Ibom son and daughter, which once they are sufficiently provoked, becomes irrepressible. That spirit will go with the people and on May 29, 2019 Udom Emmanuel will be sworn in once again as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

APC;BEWARE OF AKPABIO

Tom-Chris Morgan

Five months ago,the All Progressives Congress(APC) witnessed the defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio from the ranks of his former Party ,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).It was the PDP that gave Senator Akpabio a platform to serve as a Commissioner for 4 years in Akwa Ibom State under Governor Victor Attah from 2002- 2006.
The PDP gave Senator Akpabio the platform to serve as a two term Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015.
As Governor, he was the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.
Akpabio as Governor of the oil rich State became a major financier and power broker in the PDP.
The petro-dollars at his disposal enhanced his political reach and he sat at the front row of major political decisions in the country.His moneyed hands were in every pie and he walked the political runway in Nigeria like a giant.It was at this time that the former Spokesman of PDP, Olisa Metuh, described Akpabio as the face of PDP.
The 60 year old Senator, as Governor , was behind the infamous 16 is greater than 19 result of the Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF) , an erstwhile stable political interest group which outcome sowed the seeds of the disintegration of PDP when five Governors led by Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State ,who were aggrieved by that infamy left to team up with the Progressive flank to float the APC.
In his home State where he had under his feet, Akpabio brook no dissent.He was the Emperor and whoever posed a challenge to his authority paid dearly.He presided over a gestapo -like regime where more than 200 persons were kidnapped,scores of girls and women raped while those unlucky to escape were murdered.
The families of the late Peter Ebere (EPISCO),Udo Okoiso,Barr.Imo Udonwa,Edidem James Robert Obot,Iniekong Udonwa, the Ekpenyong brothers , Engr.Ukpana,Rt Hon.Uwah and others too numerous to mention who were murdered under his watch are still waiting for Akpabio's day of reckoning.
What APC now has and is celebrating in Akpabio, is a double faced genie; corrupt and dictatorial.Examples of these are several white elephant projects which his government paid for fully but are now lying in various uncompleted stages with the contractors denying ever being paid by Akpabio's opaque government.
Few days ago in Anambra while campaigning for his associate,Sylvester Okonkwo,he is quoted to have boasted that he will invest N2 billion to ensure that Sylvester Okonkwo wins the Anambra Central Senatorial seat.One wonders how a man ,who in 2002 lived in Dolphin Estate with only plastic chairs as seats in his parlour could become so stupendously rich without owning any business or "a second address".
This new APC god is an adept at throwing the kitchen sink at his benefactors.When his former boss withdrew support from his Governorship aspiration,Akpabio ran into the embrace of Chief Ufot Ekaette,then Secretary to the Federal Government and through the SGF got President Obasanjo's endorsement and backing for his aspiraton.However ,no sooner than Akpabio become Governor than he abandoned the old man.
After cutting Obong Ufot Ekaette "to size ", he turned his attention to another of his financiers,Ambassador Sam Edem,then serving as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) and disgraced him out of that job.The same fate befell the late Chief Fidelis Etim who physically took him around the state to introduce him to people since Akpabio was never known in the State.
His next victim was Senator John James Akpan Udoedeghe,former Minister of State (FCT)who was his Gubernatorial Campaign Manager in 2006, whom he hounded for challenging him in the 2011 Governorship race.
Akpabio as Governor, pushed his former Deputy ,Obong Nsima Ekere out of office on trumped up charges and another benefactor,Umana Okon Umana ,his Secretary to the State Government was locked out of his office and sacked not minding the fact that it was Umana Okon Umana who bankrolled his first Governorship Campaign effort in 2006 from money stashed away as Governor Attah's Commissioner for Finance.In both cases, Akpabio saw them as peers who could compete with him on equal grounds in the billionaires club and he could not just stand that.
Akpabio is a study in betrayal.He said this much recently when he stated publicly that in the build up to the 2015 elections which pitted Goodluck Jonathan of his erstwhile Party (PDP) against Muhammadu Buhari of the APC,that his heart was with Buhari while his body was with Jonathan.Talk of Janus !Talk of a victim of Split Personality!
So far ,Senator Akpabio has spoken and warmed his way into the hearts of the ruling APC.His entry into the Party in Akwa Ibom state has resonated with men of shady character,cultists and leaders of kidnapping gangs across the State.Again ,they have become emboldened having in tow a former DIG who liaises with the Nigerian Police High Command in Abuja to do the dirty security work for him.
As a politician who fully knows that the Security Agencies are extensions of the Party in power at the centre,he is exploiting his new status in the ruling party to foster crisis across the state.And not minding the security challenge in the North East,the unrest in the North Central and restiveness in the South East,the APC seems to be relishing in opening a new flank of insecurity in the heart of the South South by encouraging the Security Agencies to align with Senator Akpabio's destructive and destabilising agenda in a State which he once governed .
In all these,The ruling Party and President Buhari should beware that their new poster boy and enforcer is a well known victim of Acquired Trust Deficiency Syndrome (ATDS). Trust and depend on him totally at ur own peril.
Here,one can only admonish the All Progressives Party, as a buyer, to beware.

December 2, 2018

Press Statement

PDP Berates Buhari Presidency Over Fresh Lies On Atiku
…Counsels Buhari to Focus on Issues and Stop Fretting

The attention of the PDP Presidential Campaign has been drawn to fresh fabrications allegedly being sponsored by the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency, in its unrelenting bid to tarnish the image of our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, since their realization that Nigerians have reached a consensus to vote him in as their next President.

It is indeed despicable that President Buhari will continue to endorse the spinning of lies by his handlers against another Presidential candidate, including its false claims that Atiku Abubakar cannot travel to the United States, which Nigerians have since seen to be mere fabrications.

Is it not ludicrous that the Buhari Presidency has abandoned its statutory duties and turned itself into a lying, "monitoring spirit" on Atiku Abubakar and his movements, yet it has not been able to produce any documentary evidence to substantiate its claims?

President Buhari’s fixation on Atiku Abubakar, to the extent of sponsoring fabrications in a section of the media, only goes to show that he is intimidated by our candidate’s resume, his overwhelming popularity and policy direction, which have since amplified his (President Buhari's) incompetence and lack of direction, as a result of which he is being rejected by the majority of Nigerians.

Atiku Abubakar is a global figure and is not inhibited, in any way whatsoever, from traveling to any part of the world.

However, he is not prepared to make the sky his office, unlike President Buhari, who unleashed a widely condemned taste for very expensive and wasteful gallivanting with our national fleet, while Nigerians wallow in abject poverty for neglect and abuse of resources.

In any case, the PDP refuses to lose sight of the fact that our campaign is on the rescue mission and that Nigerians are looking up to our candidate for direction.

As such, we will not allow the rejected Buhari Presidency to distract us from our focus of repositioning and redirecting our nation to the path of a united, peaceful, secure and prosperous nation where are all citizens are happy and free.

The PDP Campaign therefore counsels President Buhari to note that Nigerians have moved ahead with Atiku Abubakar as their next President. He should therefore use the remaining days of his fading administration to prepare answers for his misrule.

President Buhari should, by now, be providing answers for the over N11 trillion stolen under his watch, particularly in the petroleum sector where he sits as minister; the alleged diversion of funds meant for the purchase of weapons and welfare of our soldiers to finance his re-election campaign as well as the neglect and insensitivity that led to the escalation of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country under his rule.

President Buhari should provide answers for his incompetence and harsh economic policies that plunged our economy into recession, leading to high cost of living, loss of over 30 million jobs, acute poverty, hunger, collapse of infrastructure in our country in the last three and half years.

On our own part, the PDP will continue to focus on issue-based campaign and run with practical answers to the myriad of challenges facing our nation in line with the manifesto of our repositioned party and the policy direction of our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
Director, Media & Publicity,
PDP Presidential Campaign Council

ESSIEN UDIM POLITICAL LEADERS DISOWN NSE NTUEN, BACK UDOM, ONOFIOK
December 1, 2018


… Describes Nse Ntuen’s Conduct As Shameful

Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Essien Udim have risen in strong condemnation of what they describe as ‘shameful and unethical rampage of their sacked House of Assembly member, Mr. Nse Ntuen who according to them has been illegally parading himself as Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

In their resolution, the stakeholders led by the political godfather of the district, Chief Michael Afangide, the chairman of the area Raphael Isobara, serving and former political office holders, passed a vote of confidence on Governor Udom Emmanuel and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Barr. Onofiok Luke.

In a communique issued in Essien Udim and made available to newsmen, the stakeholders described the conduct of the former House of Assembly member as contemptuous, misguided, and an inciting behaviour which does represent the mandate and interest of Essien Udim people, but a conspiracy plot of the APC to cause a breach of peace, law and order in the State.



“Our attention has been drawn to the shameful and unethical rampage of Mr. Nse Effiong Ntuen from Essien Udim Local Government Area who is recently parading, cajoling and illegally claiming himself to be Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored his aberration since he is now a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC. But we have a local adage ‘that a madman’s shame extends to reasonable thinking members of his family’, hence our resolve to issue this communiqué”.

The PDP stakeholders noted that though the former lawmaker is now an APC member, they were constraint to condemn his action because he represented Essien Udim before he was sacked in accordance with relevant laws for vacating the party which brought him into the House of Assembly.

They observed that Ntuen’s shameful behaviour attempts to put Essien Udim people in bad light.

We salute the Hon. Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke for his mature leadership and control of the House of Assembly at these trying times. We hereby pass a vote of Confidence.

“We are committed and hereby solidarize with the good governance of His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, whose leadership in the state and promoted security of lives and property which has encouraged industrial and infrastructural development of the state.

The furthered that, “based on the superlative performance of His Excellency the Governor, we hereby pass a vote of confidence on him even as we are irretrievably committed to his re-election for a second term as Governor of the State come 2019.

They condemned “in very strong terms the unwarranted act of the state Commissioner of Police, CP MUSA KIMO for his partisanship in aiding and abating the former 5 APC lawmakers to forcibly enter into the state house of Assembly to foment lawlessness, criminality and vandalism with the use of thugs, arms and dangerous weapons to occasion threat to life and property within the state house of Assembly and its environs.”

“A typical Essien Udim man and by extension an Annang man is famous and courageous in maintaining peace and order in the society and must not allow himself to be used to foment trouble or illegality in the state.”

SAME SCRIPT, SAME CAST.

By Aniebiet Francis

In 2013, the defunct CPC, ACN and some aggrieved members of PDP under the aegis of nPDP merged to unseat President Goodluck Jonathan, A Seating President of the Peoples Democratic Party.

It was a season of well coordinated propaganda, criticisms and mouth watering campaign promises. With their top notch hired propagandists and branding experts, the APC brainwashed Nigerians into seeing President Good luck Jonathan's administration as a failure, while General Buhari was projected as a saint and Messiah of Nigeria.

But as a "Clueless and Corrupt President", President Goodluck Jonathan built an economy that was rated the fastest growing economy in the world, he had respect for court orders/rule of law, he was spending N1Billion everyday on fuel subsidy & fuel was N87/litre, he gave room for the opposition to critcize his government/organize (Occupy Nigeria) the biggest protest in Nigeria, that lasted for days. The Nigerian rail transportation was back and running and he constructed new dams and rejigged old ones.

Under that supposedly corrupt administration, Farouk Lawan allegedly got a bribe & EFCC went after him.

Unfortunately, Nigerians desired a "perfect government", so they voted out the Jonathan administration in the 2015 elections and ushered in the ERA OF CHANGE, with General Buhari as President.

Have you experienced the promised change? Oh yes! Very much! even more than we expected.

A month ago, I read a report from NBS that 7.9m Nigerians lost their jobs within 21 months under President Buhari, this news reminded me that CNN had also rated Nigeria as the poorest country in the world, YET the debt profile of Nigeria under President Buhari's administration in just three years is the highest in the history of this country.

President Buhari is spending N2Billion everyday on fuel subsidy & fuel is N145/litre.(Even though they told Nigerians that there is nothing like subsidy)

Under the "incorruptible" President Buhari, Governor Umar Ganduje collected bribe and EFCC went and collected donation from him.

Peaceful protest and criticizing government is now a punishable offense as protesters(offenders) are either arrested and imprisoned by the police or gunned down by the soldiers.

We are also experiencing remarkable changes in prices of items under the APC-led administration.
A bag of rice has moved from N800 to N1800
A bag of cement has moved from N1000 to N2750
Vegetable oil(25 litres) has moved from N6,500 to N13000
Sachet Milo/milk from N25 to N50
Bottle water from N50 to N100

The most interesting part of this story is, today, majority of the people who supported and campaigned for the the APC/Buhari are yet to forgive themselves. The decampees are back to PDP and anow working tirelessly for Buhari's defeat come 2019 elections.

Their return was quite easy and well celebrated because "Politics is a game of interest, no permanent friends, no permanent enemy..." But everything in Nigeria is currently on a nose dive AND THE MASSES ARE PRIMARY VICTIMS of the script of the drama they acted in.

In view of the 2019 elections in Akwa Ibom, the APC(SAME CAST) has come with THE SAME SCRIPT of the 2015 presidential elections. They have employed the best critics and propagandists to launch smear campaigns against the sitting Governor (though their outing has met a brick wall). They are wooing some desperados who lost out during the PDP primaries and a few lazy people that believe government house should be a charity home and a Governor should be a father Christmas. They've consistently tried to lure some undiscerning persons with hundreds of millions of naira, NDDC contracts and exotic cars in a bid to oust the incumbent Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel.

GOLDEN QUESTION
Does Akwa Ibom need a change of government?

CAPITAL NO!

Governor Udom Emmanuel in the past three years has delivered on his campaign promises across all the sectors.


Akwa Ibom, a largely civil service state, that was running a mono-economy with total dependence on oil revenue is now rated as the second highest in foreign direct investment earning by NBS.

With seven new industries, one revamped, two under construction to be commissioned in 2018 Akwa Ibom is an emerging Industrial Hub in Africa.

The Minister of Power, an APC chieftain nicknamed Gov. Udom and Akwa Ibom Mr Power and Power Hub respectively.

The Agricultural sector is now an industry that employs our teeming youths and women.

In the sport arena, Akwa Unites and Ibom angels are the rave of the moment, while new talents are discovered yearly from the youth sports festival.

In tourism, this administration has equally scored high.

Civil servant are paid salaries as at when due and the Governor has cleared ten years backlog of gratuities of his predecessors and commenced payment of others in phases under his administration, the latest being that of 2015.

And most importantly, we have peace in the state, except for these past weeks that some political actors instigated violence to earn favours from the IG.

My dear Akwa Ibomites, SAME SCRIPT + SAME CAST = SAME ENDING. Let's learn from the mistake of 2015, four years is too long a time to live in regret. Say No to these political actors acting out a known Script in our dear state, some of them have been paid enough to last them for the four years of untold hardship this mistake might cost Akwa Ibom people, IF we don't listen to the voice of reason.

Everyone clamours for a "perfect" government that will fix EVERYTHING with the snap of a finger. Bitter truth, no government can achieve that because no government run by humans can be perfect.

Governor Udom Emmanuel is human with his share of imperfections, but he has to a large extent placed the interest of this state above his and by all indices available, he is very committed to building the Akwa Ibom Obong Attach laid the foundation for, let us support him for a second term.

For a peaceful and prosperous Akwa Ibom, VOTE GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL.

#AmazingAniebietFrancis
#OnlyGod

Governor Udom Emmanuel is a representative of the Akwa Ibom project- Rt. Hon. Unyime Etim 



" There's a time in one's life where the bitter truth has to be distinguished from a a purported truth", and we didn't witness a different case as the Executive Chairman, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. Unyime Etim mounted the podium to defend what everyone believes to be 'true' during a rally at Ikot Ekpene today. 


Before now, there have been speculations by the APC power mongers that the governor of the State, Deacon Udom Emmanuel Gabriel is leading the State with tribal sentiments, but this is far from the truth as this is just a satanic propaganda from the bottomless pit of hell whose sole aim is to create crisis and disparity among us as an entity. 


From 29th May 2019, when Deacon Udom Emmanuel Gabriel took oath of office as Governor of the State, he has tried effortlessly to run an inclusive government, which means all the rural areas of the State are actively involved in his policies and distribution of the dividends of democracy. This can be seen in the ongoing infrastructural projects, industries, appointments, scholarships, and empowerments. 


The Ikot Ekpene boss in his statement pointed it clear that the instigator of the above fallacious statement are the ones striving to create disparity in the state all in the name of fighting an Annang course which is nothing but a false claim. 


" I want you all to know that Udom Emmanuel Gabriel is not a tribalised leader, he a running an inclusive government that even the blind in our village could attest to. 

They are coming to deceive us, yet they sat somewhere in their village to make a mace for themselves without informing any of us here. They sat somewhere in Ukana and brought one of their brothers to impersonate the Sergeant At Arm without putting us in the plans. They even appointed their own speaker without putting our people into cognizant. They should not deceive any of you that they're fighting the Itai's course because all they know what to do is champion their selfish interest, and that's what they're doing now". The council boss advised.

I WAS UNDER SPELL WHILE IN PDP......Umana Umana on radio today

Me: You then left for APC with all the money you stole in the PDP govt n regained your consciousness but now I think you are back with a bang of spells because the master of all spells and your spell carrier GOA is back with you that is why you can't even use your senses again.

Becos under your nose ,your party chairman is an Annang Man,the Running mate of the Governorship Candidate is an Annang man,the leader of your party is an Annang man,the caucus chairman is an Annang man,the factional Speaker of APC/ Itai State House of Assembly is an Annang man.

U talked about industries not owned by Govt I was laughing at you because u were the SSG and Chairman of FGPC when you and GOA promised 31 industries and till u guys expended 3trillion naira in 8years not even a matches or candle factory was established in Akwa Ibom State.

I believe you are still under a serious spell and anytime you regain your consciousness you will regret always joining people to fight against the Ibibios .

You destroyed all the prominent sons and daughters of Ibibio tribe in your 16years reign in PDP because you wanted to be Governor, Ambassador Sam Edem became a beggar because you wrecked him. I don't want to mention those who never saw today because of you Sir.

Pls next time you are interviewed pls mention them so your cleansing process can be complete.

The Ibibios are wiser now than when you were here .

That's my position and you can go to court.

Tsunamic hits APC as thousands of its members defect to PDP

***Pledges Support For Governor Udom, Macaire and Mbakara

By Mfreke Udonkang



Friday 30th November, was a solitude day for APC aspirants in Ikono local government area, as their supporters aligned and pledged their unalloyed support for all the candidates of PDP in the State, ranching from the Governorship aspirant, Mr Udom Emmanuel, Federal House of Reps Aspirant, Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo and State House of Assembly aspirant, Mr Asuquo Nana Udo.


The episode occurred immediately after the remains of Late Rt. Hon. Dr. Clement Bassey was laid to rest. A group progenited by the special adviser to the chairman of council on inter-governmental relations, Hon. John Asanga snared the duo at Ikot Udo, Nkwot.


The grass rooted aspirants were forced to have an unprepared seat, meet and gist with the sea of heads who chanted melodious songs to entertain them, speaking at the sit-meet- gist, a front line woman leader in ward 6, Mrs Ekemini Aniekan Udofia thanked the two aspirants for stopping by and promised to mobilize women of the ward to vote massively for the party from the highest position to the lowest. She expressed dismay over the fucate promises of the APC and assured that the days of the devilish party are numbered.


The convener of the sit- meet-gist, Mr John Asanga praised the standard bearers for their magnanimity and down to earth attitude portrayed by them for halting to sit with the group.


"I want to thank the principal of MkpoikanaAbasi and Akwa Odudu Abasi campaign groups for stopping by to meet with grassrooters after the burial of our late leader, defiance that you came to this community to mourn with the deceased family, I want to intimate you that we will support you and the performing Governor of our dear state whose tenure has brought about industries and peace profound" he said.


Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo (Macaire) the federal house of reps aspirant for Ikono/Ini in his remark said that he was amazed by the show of love by the group and the ward, he applauded them for the suavity and mind blowing songs sang by the women of the ward, he promised the people life changing representation which has been lacking penultimate Years. He stressed that his tenure in the hallowed chamber will weed out ineffective representation in the constituency.


On his part, the PDP standard bearer for Ikono state constituency, Mr Asuquo Nana Udo expressed his delight by the people who despite the huge loss of the former House member by the ward, thought it wise to lay siege for them. He promised impact filled and developmental minded tenure in office when voted in to power in 2019.


The sit meet gist ended in a lasting soiree, as the remaining few members of the APC party aligned with the PDP and begged to be carried along.

*Attah: Akpabio, Ekere's Unending Humiliation of a Father*


Dear Akwa Ibom people, the last few days have witnessed the celebration of the 80th birthday of one of our greatest and most revered Son, His Excellency, Arc Obong Victor Attah, the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the champion of the Niger Delta struggle.

Obong Attah no doubt needs no introduction. His legacies are there and his place in history is indisputable.

Some unfortunate incidents happened during the events marking what many called the Pan Akwa Ibom celebration of Obong Victor Attah.


Ordinarily, everyone had thought that the celebration should have been devoid of partisan considerations, but some ne'er-do-well leaders of the APC attempted to do the unexpected.

Walk with me a little down memory lane.

Obong Attah became Governor in 1999. In 2002, an unknown name then called Godswill Akpabio was introduced to Attah by the late Chief Fidelis Etim, who is the governor's bosom friend. Attah appointed Akpabio as his Commissioner on Late Etim's account.

Obong Attah introduced Akpabio to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo as one young and enterprising man who will take over power from him when the governorship is zoned to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in 2007 as Attah proposed.

Attah not only made Akpabio Commissioner but gave him ALL the support he needed to succeed in all the Ministries he served as Commissioner. Not once was Akpabio's allocation, imprests or entitlement as a Commissioner withheld.

When Obong Attah realised that Akpabio was not the kind of successor the state needed, because it became clearer that he was incapable of maintaining the peace, unity and harmonious coexistence between the major ethnic groups in the state, he decided to throw his weight behind his son In-law, Dr Udoma Bob Ekarika, but then it was too late because majority of Akwa Ibom people had already resolved, including yours truly, to support Akpabio to emerge as Governor in 2007.

Attah had all the powers if he had wanted to hijack the election to stop Akpabio from winning the primary and election; but he allowed the process to go on as peaceful and transparent as it was.

Recall that James Iniama of the then Action Congress emerged the Governorship candidate and contested the 2007 election against Akpabio of the PDP. All through the election, no case of violence or assassination was experienced. Iniama lived at his Ewet Housing residence with key members of his campaign team. There was nothing as threat to his life. Why? Because Attah as Governor was a man of peace who placed the interest of the state above self.


No sooner had Akpabio won the election than everything changed. Akpabio's unprovoked vengeance against Attah and other political opponents begun. His humiliation of Obong Attah started less than 48 hours after he was sworn in as Governor. He started by saying that Attah built only eight rooms with outdated furniture at Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.

Not only was Attah denied the hotel to host his 70th birthday, Attah was treated with disrespect and contempt by Akpabio. Tragic was that this happened with the backing of some Ibibio co-conspirators who are back parading themselves as today's agent of change.


We can never forget that people like Senator J. J. Udoedehe, a great Ibibio son assisted Akpabio as Campaign DG to emerge as Governor. But what happened? Akpabio fought him and ensured that he had problems as Minister of State for FCT with the then substantive Minister of FCT and that eventually led to the sack of Udoedehe as Minister.


When Udoedehe decided to challenge Akpabio for the office of Governor in 2011, we all saw how he was framed up, arrested, and charged to court. We all saw how Akpabio and his gang opened fire in Ikot Ekpene and killed innocent Akwa Ibom youths whose only crime was to go to campaign in Ikot Ekpene, a town Udoedehe is In-law.

Akpabio did not end there. He masterminded the burning of hundreds of taxi's and buses at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat and also sponsored the attack and burning down of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Office along Abak road and blamed the incidence and lose of lives on Udoedehe. It was a season of blood and death.


Recall also that this same Akpabio sponsored a plot to impeach Nsima Ekere as his deputy Governor for corruption and abuse of office, the same man he is today presenting to Akwa Ibom people as his new agent of change.


I can remember the role some of us played to save Nsima Ekere from being impeached in 2012. I got intelligence that Nsima Ekere will be impeached. I called his line severally to notify him but he was not picking his calls. I called his media aide, Mr Inem Ina and told him that I have tried calling his boss to inform him of a plot to impeach him but he (Ekere) was not picking his calls.

Inem Ina asked me how I got the information. I told him it does not matter but he should convey my message to his boss. He told me his boss was about going for project inspection and that it's not true as Akpabio was not even in the state to have been plotting to impeach Nsima Ekere.

I simply advised him to send someone to Akpabio's house in Ukana if he will not see the same Akpabio he claims has travelled out of the state meeting with House of Assembly members, perfecting last minute plans to impeach Nsima Ekere out of office and political circle of the state.


A security agent was sent to Ukana by Nsima and my Intel was corroborated. The Akpabio who had earlier told Nsima Ekere that he has travelled out of the state and that Nsima Ekere should go on project inspection on his behalf was actually in Ukana plotting to get his deputy Governor impeached.


It was Inem Ina himself who called me back to confirm what I told him about Akpabio's conspiracy against Nsima Ekere and that was how we saved Nsima Ekere from being impeached. We quickly posted his resignation letter on social media and got major TV stations in the country to air the news of his resignation letter while Akpabio was still perfecting his impeachment.

Akwa Ibom people, ask them questions.

Back to Attah. When Akpabio declared war on Nsima Ekere, Obong Attah who today is still being humiliated by Akpabio and Ekere, was the saviour.


Attah stood up against Akpabio's tyranny and impunity. Then, he had political value to them. Now at 80, the same people who God used Attah to make them what they are today have the effrontery to plot disrupting Attah's birthday celebration.


I thank sincerely Governor Udom Emmanuel for honouring Obong Attah. Posterity will judge him right and honour will never depart from him and his house.


But Akwa Ibom people, who could have thought that these enemies of Akwa Ibom state will take their vengeance and impunity to Attah's celebration? Akpabio who was nothing till God used Attah to make him what he became, boycotted the Symposium and State Banquet. Not just that; frustrated and bitter that the Akwa Ibom State Government have honoured Attah, he exhibited the mischief he is famous with by organising a fake reconciliation meeting between two Ibibio sons, Senator J. J. Udoedehe and Obong Nsima Ekere.


Why did Akpabio wait till the day and time the Akwa Ibom State Government held the state banquet in honour of Obong Attah for his fake reconciliation meeting? Surprisingly, two Ibibio sons one would have ordinarily thought are sensible enough to see through Akpabio's mockery could not. Akpabio manipulated them to attend a fake reconciliation meeting than attend the state banquet for Obong Attah on time.

Nsima and some APC chieftains who many thought would allow Attah's birthday celebration to go on successful without their dubious politicisation of the event, failed public expectations as usual. From the APC, it was only Obong Rita Akpan, Dr. Maurice Ebong, Otuekong Sonny Jackson, Engr. Ben Ukpong and Obong Umanah Okon Umanah who arrived the venue before commencement and stayed till the end. Nsima Ekere who is dreaming to be Governor and will want people to respect him and his office, showed uncommon disrespect for the office of the Governor and Obong Attah the celebrant by leading APC thugs to invade the venue of the event 1 hour, 45 minutes after the event had started.



To further show the lawlessness and impunity he is known for, he caused a stir, breached security and disrupted the event. His thugs would have caused mayhem but not for the timely intervention of DSS agents who were at the venue. What a way to honour a former Governor by a man dreaming to become a Governor! What a way to honour the same man he ran to when Akpabio was moving against him.

Akwa Ibom people, please think outside the box.

Nsima Ekere continued the humiliation Akpabio directed him to do to Attah by storming out of the venue after sitting for barely 40 mins or so. I was a bit surprised that the likes of Atuekong Don Etiebet and Senator Ita Enang who ought to have been conversant with protocol would be part of the mob that insulted Attah and his guests. I doubt if they will want to see 80 years let alone be celebrated at their old age.

We have gathered to rejoice with Attah as a man of peace. Can we say the state will be peaceful if the likes of Akpabio, Nsima and the APC have their way; a people who invaded the House of Assembly with thugs on the day the House sat and pass a resolution to immortalise Attah?


Attah at the banquet gave us a story of how he contested the Governorship election with the late Dr Ime Umanah and while on the campaign trail, their convoy came across each other, he stepped out, Ime Umanah did same and they both embraced one another and exchanged pleasantries without any harassment from any supporter and how he told Ime Umanah, "I will defeat you" only for Umanah to also repeat same and both pledging to congratulate either of them that wins the election.

This was an era where contestants were seen as political opponents in a game where there will be winners and losers. But what happened in Akpabio's time? Political opponents were seen as enemies that should be kidnapped, killed and murdered in cold blood.

Akwa Ibom people, these same people who will beg Attah to support and endorse them when Akpabio was persecuting them, are the same people now used by the same Akpabio to humiliate Attah. Was it not the same Udoedehe whom Attah supported and endorsed his candidature when he was haunted by Akpabio who had the guts to arrive Attah's birthday celebration 2 hours, 15 mins after the banquet had commenced only to noisily go about shaking people's hands to show he has arrived in clear breach of protocol? And why was he late to the banquet of a man who helped him become who he is today. Attending a fake reconciliation meeting between him and Nsima Ekere brokered by Akpabio? Are the Ibibios now this foolish under Akpabio's spell?

This is the same Akpabio whom Nsima Ekere and Udoedehe repeatedly brandished as devilish. I have lost count of the number of times Ekere, Udoedehe and the new saints of APC addressed the press and spoke loudly about how bad Akpabio was. How Akpabio's impunity took over the state. Today, he is their king and leader.

Akwa Ibom people, the time has come for us to grow up.

To Akwa Ibom youths, the time has come for us to think well before deciding to ruin our lives. This man buying you guns, bullet proof cars and vest mandating you to kill; have you stopped for once and ask where are their children? Have they also bought their children the guns they have given you?

Akwa Ibom people, please stop, think and ask questions.

Nsima has been in NDDC for more than two years. How many times have Akwa Ibom youths benefited from the annual NDDC allowance to youths of the nine Niger Delta States? The only one they hurriedly gave in December 2016 was released after I blew the lid on the fraud that engulfed the stealing and embezzlement of the funds meant for Akwa Ibom youths.

If Nsima Ekere cannot be trusted in little things, how do we think we can trust him with great things?

Akpabio administration that APC branded as wasted years is now their reference point as the best performing administration in the state.

Akwa Ibom people, please stop sleeping, wakeup and ask them to tell you the real truth about their Re-Union.

Akwa Ibom people, ask questions.

Stop believing every nonsense they say or post on social media.

If they can humiliates Attah at 80, not minding what he contributed to their Political life, if they can humiliate Attah whom they used his press statements as their Political weapon against the Akpabio era of impunity in Akwa Ibom state, then stop and ask yourself questions before it is too late.


I endorse this message.

Prince Emmanuel Sam, The Unstoppable Voice of Truth.

Obasanjo EXPLODES IN ADAMAWA:

"No Matter How Long We Choose To Feign Ignorance, The News Of A Stranger Running The Affairs Of Nigeria Has Gained International Attention. I Have In The Past Few Weeks Received Calls From Different World Leaders and Some Concerned Global Investors Who Sought For My Response Over This Issue Which Is Currently Being Talked About In Almost Every Home In The Country. Fake News Is Real But This Story Whether False Or True Can Only Be Put To Rest By The Accused Who Happens To Be President Muhammadu Buhari. In 2010, Many Of You I Believe Still Remember How It Was Rumoured That I Was Shot Dead By Assassins. The News Understandably Went Viral Immediately And On Learning About It, I Came Out And Said I Was Alive And Well. Buhari Is Answerable To Nigerians So He Should Do The Needful And Stop Inadvertently Giving Credence To The Story."

Soldiers killed while service
chiefs were attending Buhari’s
second term declaration –
Atiku

Published November 26, 2018

Olalekan Adetayo , Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic
Party , Alhaji Atiku Abubakar , on Monday, regretted
that soldiers were killed on the day the nation’ s
service chiefs were attending the inauguration of
President Muhammadu Buhari ’s re- election
campaign , “ Next Level. ”

He said it was possible that the killing could have
been avoided if the service chiefs had been allowed
to concentrate on their jobs.

This was contained in a statement made available to
journalists in Abuja by the Atiku Presidential
Campaign Organisation.

The organisation recalled that Atiku had asked his
friends and associates to present the gifts they would
have given him on his birthday to the families of the
slain soldiers .

It said it was therefore wrong for the All Progressives
Congress to cast aspersions on the presidential
candidate on the day of his birthday and turbaning
as Waziri Adamawa .

It said the APC ’s statement which accused the former
Vice President Atiku Abubakar of “ selfishness and
mercantilism ” was curious as Atiku dedicated his
birthday , not to himself, but to celebrating the 100 or
so heroes of the 157 Taskforce Battalion of the
Nigerian Army who lost their lives to Boko Haram at
Metele in Borno State .

It added that the fact that Atiku asked for anyone
who wished to give him birthday gifts to instead
endow such on the families of the slain heroes is the
opposite of selfishness .

The statement read , “ Ironically , the All Progressives
Congress that is now accusing Atiku Abubakar , has
not deemed it fit to pay tribute to these gallant men
who gave their lives in order to secure the lives of
others .

“ As a party , they have not issued even one statement
condoling with the slain or their families, neither
have they offered any tangible support to the families
of these fallen heroes . Yet , they are accusing the
Waziri , who has shown commitment to honouring
these heroes , of selfishness .

“ As a matter of fact, we now know through Reuters
report , that these real Nigerian heroes were killed on
November 18 , 2018 , which was the exact time that
the candidate of the APC , Muhammadu Buhari ,
invited the service chiefs to attend the launch of the
plagiarised # NextLevel launch at the banquet hall of
the Presidential Villa .

“ The nation can only wonder if the Metele massacre
could have been avoided if the APC and President
Buhari had allowed the service chiefs to focus on
their core duties , rather than on his ill -fated re-
election campaign. ”

The organisation commended the service chiefs “ for
beating a hasty retreat from the event as soon as
they discovered that President Buhari was trying to
hoodwink them . ”

It said while it took Atiku only a few hours to
respond to the incident and express support , it took
Buhari a week to express “ shock ” .
It added , “ We , therefore, wonder who is truly
‘selfish ’.

“ It is left to Nigerians to compare and contrast who
is a leader and who is a follower based on the
conduct of these two parties .

“ In any case , we would like to inform the APC of
Waziri Atiku Abubakar ’ s call for financial support
from well-meaning individuals and institutions for
the survivors of the Metele massacre , and indeed for
all who paid the supreme sacrifice in the frontlines
for us to be safe . ”

​PDP Recieves APC decampees in ONNA

Otobong Nsekpong

No fewer that 30 strong men of APC in Nnung Ndem Ward 1 in ONNA local government area have joined the People's Democratic Party ahead of 2019 general elections.

The declaration of stand happened last Sunday in Okat community where the senior special assistant to the state Accountant General, Mr. Johnson Ekaete hosted members of PDP from the three villages of Ndon Eyo, Mkpok and Okat that make up the ward.

Receiving the decampees, the ward chairman Mr. Imo Francis Akpabio said their return marks the death of APC in the ward.
He assured them that PDP will win the governorship election in the state with their son (Mr.Udom Emmanuel) who has favoured the ward with both political appointments and infrastructural development returning for a second term.

"Don't waste your vote because Udom Emmanuel remains your governor till 2023. I do not want anybody from this ward to be outside government by identifying with other parties" he said

Also speaking, the convener of the
meeting, Mr.Johnson Ekaete commended the peaceful nature of the ward in past elections and urged the people to maintain the status quo come 2019.

He promised to accommodate the decampees in every activity of PDP in the ward urging members of PDP to welcome their brothers with open arms.
"Without Governor Udom Emmanuel we would not have had this beautiful road criss crossing our communities and the flour mill company situated in Nnung Ndem Ward 1.
"All we can do to show our appreciation is to return our votes 100% for the governor's reelection come 2019" he appealed.

Earlier the chairman on the occasion Barr Michael Inyang said the people of Nnung Ndem Ward 1 cannot count all the blessings they have received from the administration of Mr Udom Emmanuel in the last three and half years.
Barr Inyang who is also the Legal Adviser of PDP in ONNA commended the convener for lubricating party's mechineries at the ward level urging other government appointees to emulate him.

Also speaking the councillor representing Nnung Ndem Ward 1 in the ONNA legislative council Hon Enobong Umoette said the council has completed necessary arrangement for a village to village tour in appreciation for the tremendous support given to the party during the local government elections.

Mr. Johnson Ekaete, the father of the convener in his remark went down memory lane to recall the support of the people of Nnung Ndem Ward 1 to political parties without anything to show for such support and thanked God for the PDP government that has brought development to their doorsteps.

Mr. Imoh Phenson and Uduak Bassey spoke on behalf of Ndon Eyo village; Uwem Udo and Mfon Moses from Mkpok village while Obongawan Juliet Bedford spoke on behalf of Okat women all of whom gave reasons why it will be PDP all the way in 2019.

*Re: Victor Attah International Airport*

It is comical for the APC Chairman in Akwa Ibom State to insinuate that the idea of naming the Akwa Ibom International Airport after Obong Victor Attah by Gov. Udom Emmanuel was first muted in September by their party. This clearly shows a lack of intellectual sagacity and a discerning mind to rise above petty mudsling antics.

For the records, the Akwa Ibom State Government has; in the last three years demonstrated unparalleled creativity in all facets of governance.

The thought of naming an airport after a worthy patriot is not rocket science but it takes a bit of commonsense to actualise.

Recall that the Leadeship of APC today in Akwa Ibom State was in power for 8years and never deemed it fit to bestow such an honor on the father of modern Akwa Ibom. Instead, that Government conspired to relegate the revered Elder statesman into obscurity to the extent of depriving him the use of the facilities of Ibom Hotel and Resort for his 70th birthday celebrations.

Maybe the Akwa Ibom State APC Chairman should do well to also accuse a group, Greater Peoples Forum for Social & Economic Development, that also made the call in a report published in an online newspaper on June 27, 2018.

Let me reiterate that team Akwa Ibom of today led by Mr Udom Emmanuel has earned national and international acclaim for intergrity; transparency and accountability.

Charles Udoh
Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy

"As Elder Aniekan Umanah dedicates his campaign organization (AniekanAbasi 2019) I challenge anything who thinks he Federal Might or whatever Might to come and challenge God".

His Excellency, Otouekong Idongesit Nkang at the campaign service to dedicate AniaknAbasi Campaign Organization for Elder Aniekan Umanah

Udom lmmortalises Attah, Renames Airport After Him

The Akwa Ibom State Governor,Mr Udom Emmanuel has immortalised a former Governor of the State, Arc.(Obong) Victor Attah by renaming Akwa Ibom International Airport, Victor Attah International Airport.

Governor Emmanuel made the proclamation yesterday at a State banquet at Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, Uyo to celebrate Obong Attah popularly addressed as the 'Father of Modern Akwa Ibom' who clocked 80 last week.

This is the first time the former governor has been honoured by the State Government since he left office in 2007.

Obong Attah is the second democratically elected governor of the state, who laid the foundation for the development of modern Akwa Ibom by initiating an International Airport, the Independent Power Plant, the Ibom Science Park, and the Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort as well as built the second phase of the state secretariat, among other achievements.

He was in the fore front of the resource control struggle by Niger Delta states for control of their oil wealth, a position which pitched Obong Attah against the Federal Government in the Obasanjo era.

The Udom administration is currently exerting effort towards the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport, also conceived by the Attah administration
©Anietie Esu

4, Attah: crossing the Rubicon

By Edidiong Udobia

“I count myself very lucky to have a Governor like Deacon Udom Emmanuel. There were times when this would not be possible, and times when this would be prohibited”. -His Excellency, Arch. (Obong) Victor Attah, during his 80th Birthday Symposium at Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort

In my earlier article, “As Udom crowns Attah with honour”, I had noted that with the state government's decision to celebrate former Governor Victor Attah on his 80th birthday, Governor Udom Emmanuel would be crowning Attah with the honour long overdue. Attah that we know is not a euphemist. He is not one known for mincing words. In his element, he is a real “table shaker”. This is why his testimonial on Governor Udom should be carved in stone. Moreso, it further proves that the claim that Governor Udom has brought fundamental and very significant changes to Akwa Ibom is not make-believe.

The change is radical; it's a quantum leap. There were times when celebrating the elder statesman was prohibited. But last Saturday, people across party lines, and ethnic groups, from far and wide, converged to clink glasses, make toasts and even merry in honour of His Excellency, Arc. Victor Attah. The icing on the cake was Governor Udom Emmanuel renaming the airport after Attah. By that singular act, Governor Udom has not honoured Attah only, but also the people of Akwa Ibom, who have been agitating for it. In our experience, we know that it is one thing for the people to make a demand from the government, but a completely different thing for the government to grant the demand. Even naysayers are over the moon on this one.

Away from the Victor Attah International Airport hullabaloo, the events of last week have a more deeper meaning and will be pivotal to the future Akwa Ibom is moving into. First of, regardless of party affiliation, we all agree that Akwa Ibom deserves to have her own “Bola Tinubu”. Someone so highly revered in the country that when he sneezes, the country catches cold; but with an unquestionable leadership qualities. Someone who is not lily-livered but a competent marshal who will fearlessly muscle the overall interest of the state to the center. For instance, Governor Udom has been almost a lone voice in the clamour for the relocation of ExxonMobil Headquarters to Akwa Ibom. Imagine having a revolutionary agitator like the one who once led and succeeded in the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy struggle. Imagine having Governor Udom Emmanuel and a revitalized Victor Attah stand shoulder to shoulder in the struggle for the interest of the state.

The Udom-Attah alliance is a new dawn for Akwa Ibom. At a time when the federal government is bent on silencing opposition by sprinkling dirts on leading opposition voices, having Attah fully back in the struggle is not only a masterstroke but a suckerpunch, which has obviously dislodged enemies of the state. The resistance is further thickened. More importantly, the alliance is a clear message that Akwa Ibom has moved past her infamous days of vilifying her worthy leaders to a glorious future of celebrating them.

Lastly, it must be noted that these little efforts by Governor Udom to make amends and unite Akwa Ibom people, are being noticed and appreciated by the citizens. A citizen, Enwogo Cleopas said; “I was emotional all through last night at this banquet. I love that this man is being celebrated.” Never have we had a governor so committed to ensuring a peaceful and secure Akwa Ibom, and this, we must not only be thankful for, but jealously guard and keep this precious gift. The Udom-Attah pact is in the best interest of the state and therefore, is irreversible.

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

*# UDOM 2019*

*PDP RECEIVES OVER 5500 DECAMPEES FROM APC IN IDU URUAN*

It was a bee hive of activities as the Chairman, BOT, Uruan Democratic Renaissance Group - Akparawa Okon Okon in his magnanimity, continues to champion support for Udom towards the forthcoming election in 2019. He officially received over 5500 persons who decamped from APC and other parties to PDP across the entire 11 wards in Uruan in the late hours of Friday 23/11/2018 at Idu.

Mr. Okon made this known while addressing the APC decampees in the open field of the Uruan Local Government Council headquarters, Idu.

The UDRG Chairman urged the decampees to support PDP and all her candidates in the forthcoming general elections in 2019 as it remains the yardstick for the Governor to return to the hilltop mansion next year.

The Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Road Maintenance and Other Infrastructure Agency (AKROIMA)/The Uruan Divine Mandate Coordinator - Akparawa Prince Godwin Ntukideh thanked Mr Okon for the initiative, while urging the decampees to support Mr Udom's second term bid. He also informed them that their support will bring even development to the entire Uruan.

A decampee from central Uruan Ward II said that this decision was taken to reciprocate and support Governor Udom's unwavering love for Uruan people.

In another development, Mr Iyire, a decampee from Southern Uruan Ward III lauded Mr Okon Okon for championing the decision they have engaged-in to join the PDP family to support Mr. Udom's second term bid for his good works to continue in Uruan.

Present at the occasion were; top government dignitaries, PDP Uruan chapter, political stalwarts, support groups and many others.

Every honour comes with responsibilities, I want to charge the church to pray for us so that we in government should be level headed so we can own up the responsibilities that is bestowed on us. We have evidences of God going with the children of Isreal as a pillar of could performing Miracles for the Isrealites, we have a leader in Deacon Udom Emmanuel, we are asking that the same way God made a way for the children of Isreal,divided the red sea for then, He should also make a way for us the PDP to cross over to 2023.

In 2011 we defended an Akwa Ibom agenda, we faced a lot of opposition, we pulled through against all odds to elect our son and brother the erstwhile senator of Ikot Ekpene senatorial District then Governor of our state for a second term. We did our best supported H. E Godswill Akpabio for a second term and he won, it's on that premise that I must state that what is good for the goose is good for the gender. What we did for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District such must we do for Eket Senatorial District.

I am speaking on facts and figure and I want to be quoted. I have crossed my heart t, I want and will forever stand with Abak people to defend and fight for the Akwa Ibom agenda.
#speaker, Barr. Onofiok Luke
#Aniekan-Abasi 2019.

REBRANDING THE MUTILATED PERCEPTION

BY ITORO UDOTIM

Akwa Ibom State under the tireless and sleepless watch of Governor Udom Emmanuel, has recorded success in Her willingnes and practical readiness to invigourate the dormant perhaps collapsed economy he inherited.

The system His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel came to meet is still a research problem to experts in financial, Economics and Conflict management.

As a rescue mission this administration has put in place visible working industries, employed thousands of people in the state civil service and in the private sector. She has and still granting loans and financial capital to well proposed small and medium scale businesses.

Salaries, Pensions, gratuities, allowancies and grants have no complainants.

Roads running into hundreds of kilometres have been commissioned, while more are under constructions with contractors happily taking them seriously. Compensations to true owners of affected land have since been settled.

The stampede experienced in Ukanafun, Etim-Ekpo, Essien-Udim and other parts of the state are almost at a graveyard peace.The perpetrators of those missions have repented and surrendered their arms.

These and many more beneficial actions are the reason why some people feel the money would have been used to invite past and present presidents of countries for a dinner.

They have misinformed an insignificant few that Governor Udom Emmanuel does not spend judiciously and does not dash out cash.

Rationally, is it fair for one to substitute industries with dashing out the money meant for the same industries?

Ofcourse no.
Governor Udom Emmanuel is serious and not distracted by the misinterpretation of all his realities.

Our funds are in prudent control and certainly the dividends of all this will not only benefit this generation but will be of good beyond our time.

In order for Akwa Ibom state to continue with this growth rate, the most responsible thing to do is to shun violence and use our PVC's wisely by VOTING GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL for a SECOND TERM in office as Governor Akwa Ibom state, come 2019.
#ONLYGOD

AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SAGA; A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE OF POLITICAL LUDICROUSNESS.

Sometime about a year ago , after a careful appraisal of political actions and inactions of various political stakeholders in their respective spheres, I scripted a piece wherein I brought to the fore that the Nigerian state is fast emerging as a theatre of political absurdities,

often I wish that such negative trend be halted, however, the recent melodrama and political comedies that the sixth Assembly of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has been involved in recent time shows that silliness in governance in Nigeria is becoming an established norm.

Let me insert a caveat here that my analysis here will likely be elongated but not be coloured by political affiliation and sentiments hence, It becomes pertinent I plead that you fastened your seat belt of expectations towards this issues based excavations as we take off this flight of political discourse and dissection of characters,roles and the possible climax and resolution of this show.

It is not surprising to me that the political ship of Akwa Ibom state is being tossed as the present especially after Chief Godswill Godswill Obot Akpabio moved towards the broom division of political affiliation, he has many supporters and countless followers with arms extending to the State of Assembly and thus it was expected that loyalty and solidarity will be displayed one way or the other.

Hon. Idongesit Ituen displayed that which led to a suit being commenced at the Federal High Court, Uyo presided over by Hon.Justice Riman seeking for a restraining order against the speaker from declaring the seat of the Mr Ituen vacant by virtue of his dumping the political party PDP that sponsored him to office,

as a lawyer I have decided not to delve into some legal issues and the intelligence of commencing that Suit by Originating Summon, since it is known that such a mode of commencement was likely to get the pronouncement of the court very fast,

Bassey Dan-Abia Esq will be swift to remind me that every trial has its game plan, I thought the game plan of that suit was to buy time and Writ of Summons would have done the job and in any case resort would have first been made to the state High court first obviously knowing that the issue of jurisdiction will arise and thus the game would have been sustained.

Yet they chose Federal High Court over State High Court and Originating Summons over Writ of Summons, the defendants counterclaimed against the plaintiff and it succeeded, that's legally novel ! In a political case one ought bebe proactive and expectant of anything.

In fact, who am I to question their decision and their wisdom after all, I promised myself not to give an opinion on the propriety or otherwise of their legal steps and calculations!

Back to our issue of discourse>>>

Finally the court decided against Ituen which led to the speaker declaring his seat vacant amidst social and political controversies and chants of Warsaw saw War or if you like describe it as Warsaw to see War.

Before the respective parties will settle to leak the wounds of defeat and pop their champagne of their Victory, Justice Riman granted a stay of execution, what a judicial waywardness?

In any case, it is a settled law that no matter how wayward and senseless a decision of Court may appear or be, it is still binding on parties until set aside, thus on the strength of this Hon Ituen continues to enjoy his privileges, incentives and office as a Member representing the sunshine people of ITU state Constituency, AKSHA period.

The only option open to Mr Speaker and the House is appeal to the Court of Appeal which I believe their chiefest ground will likely be:

'The trial court erred in Law when he granted the relief of stay of execution against the respondent when the appellant seat had already been declared vacant'

Huh, legal scholars will saturate my inbox with various and recent authorities to the extent that one cannot restrain an already completed act, but that is certainly the Christmas political knot that only the Court of Appeal is clothed with the requisite jurisdiction and capacity to untie at the moment.

The political perspective©

>it is sad when paid political advisers cannot see beyond their nose, they think that being advisers starts and end at being at the bar morning, noon and nights feasting over pots of Ishewu/Nkwobi and whores as loosed gluttonous Canons. That office certainly transcends beyond those mundane things, in Akwa Ibom State political science students can simply come and understudy a classic situation of gross failures of Political Advisers in SAs and PAs in the boardroom of governance with only few exceptions.

I have been trained to interpret political scripts from my infantry days and the ability to identify a script about to unfold has always been an advantage to my clique from time immemorial and this farce and political show happening in Akwa Ibom state is no exception.

Now it has consumed the Indigenous Commissioner of Police that was somehow sympathetic to the Umbrella group, a new CP is here to interpret a script sent to him from above and his ability to effectively interpret same will determine the duration of his stay to help in the general election or not,

Do not take for for granted that Hon. NSE Ntuen emerged as a 'garveless' speaker of a four Man Assembly, obviously that legislative rascality, discard of ethics and abrogation of power cannot survive beyond the realms of social media euphoria but I call for serious and calculated political steps that the aim of declaring a state of emergency or any security sanction against the state will not be achieved as a grand ploy towards 2019 general election,

While we await the Court of Appeal decision, the suspense game continues.

Christian Tom of Counsel writes from Akwa Ibom State this 21st November 2018.