Now, assume yourself a judge and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, brought a man before you on six counts of Money Laundering, arising from the allegation that he took bribe of six vehicles worth N204 Million, from a contractor whose companies had contracts with the State Government, at the time. He admits collecting the vehicles.

You confirm that the vehicles were proceeds of crime and that he committed the offence while he served as Commissioner for Finance, Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, in December 2012, would you have declared him innocent?

Say no to #OBAofBribe

Tony Anichebe Uyo

As political campaigns take center stage for the eventual election of candidates into political offices in 2023, Pastor Umo Eno, the PDP Guber candidate in Akwa Ibom state has been said to be the only candidate with the best blueprint for the collective good of Akwa ibomites if elected into office as governor.

The Special Assistant Media to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Revd Richard Peters made the remarks during his contributions in a live phone in programme of a private Radio station based in Abak, Akwa Ibom state monitored by our Correspondent.

According to him, " I have challenged Media directors and spokespersons of other Guber candidates to show me what their principals have in stock for Akwa Ibom people and all they do was to refer me to the Internet and when I surf the net, all I saw was grumbles about not being compensated by the party with Guber ticket after years of loyalty or that its their turn to produce governor nothing more".

Revd Peters who expressed dismay at the level such demands have reduced the exalted office of the governor said it is a clear indications that other contenders are ill prepared for the challenges that awaits the occupant of the office of the governor in a fast growing state like Akwa Ibom.

Peters further highlighted, "I have seen Pastor Umo Eno as the only governorship candidate with comprehensive blueprint for the people and ways to actualise them but unfortunately others anchor their campaign to be elected based on their alleged loyalty to the party or based on their imaginery and non existing micro zoning of the office of the governor ".

Revd Peters who also doubles as a Cleric of the African stated that if previously, leaders of the state were to be elected based on such trivialities then the state will not have recorded the current achievements and milestones they're enjoying presently.

" We need another Governor in the mould of Udom Emmanuel whom against all distractions had given us democratic dividends. We have seen 25 working industries, several road networks, great boost in Agricultural revolution, improved health facilities, political tolerance and inclusiveness human capacity development, peace and security and many more from a pragmatic and God fearing leader".

He further opined "Pastor Umo Eno is a good entrepreneur who started his hospitality concerns with about five rooms and grew it into a conglomerate of businesses in hospitality sector with more than 2000 people in his employ. He is a very focused fellow who has admonished his supporters to campaign only on issues and avoid using foul languages on others with divergent opinions. He has a clear blueprint for the people and never desperate for power".

Peters advise Akwa Ibom people to be circumspect in dealing with politicians and avoid being swayed by sentiment and emotions as they gear up to elect the next crop of leaders.

This is the network of rural roads around Nung Ukim, Ikono local government area that Governor Udom Emmanuel is going to commission today.
A feel of the sad history erased by these new roads leaves one to honestly appreciate the impact of this development.
#CompletionAgenda
UdomLegacy

It has been uncovered that the forensic expert recruited by Mr Akan Okon to publish fake forensic reports on Pastor Umo Eno’s Senior School Certificate Examination, is a known indicted fraudster with several records of criminally related activities.

Award winning journalist, Anietie Usen, disclosed that, “the forensic expert that SAHARA REPORTERS so lavishly quoted and relied on for their ‘breaking news’ is the same Jideoni Charles that most Nigerian journalists, newspapers and Television stations are familiar with.”

Sahara Reporters had days ago quoted Jideoni as a forensic expert who exposed the lies about Pastor Eno’s Senior School Examination certificates; but Usen, a former general editor of NewsWatch Magazine disclosed that, Jideoni Charles is a confirmed internet fraudster who was indicted and paraded by EFCC.

Akan Okon who is challenging Pastor Eno’s candidacy as PDP governorship flag bearer in Akwa Ibom state, is said to be investing heavily in sponsoring fake media reports against Pastor Eno.

The publisher of a local newspaper in the State, The Mail Newspaper, has recently been invited by the police for publishing a fake report against the certificates of the governorship candidate, after the West African Examination Council had disowned the said report.

Jideoni, the source of the current forensic report, is an impostor who previously paraded himself for a long time as both a “Professor of English and a Professor of Graphognomy (Handwriting Analysis)” in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, until the University denounced and disowned him in 2019.

The University had disowned Jideoni as a fraudulent character who was neither a lecturer or professor in the university, in the past or present.

OAU in a statement through Abiodun Olanrewaju its Director of Public Relations had said that , “Having gone through our records, nobody bears that name, whether a male or a female. We do not have a record of anybody with that name who is teaching or has taught in this institution…He was never a lecturer or non-teaching staff of OAU”.

Mr Anietie Usen also faulted Jideoni’s claim on his Facebook page that he was the
“National President, Institute of Graphoanalysts , Nigeria.

“Surprisingly, SAHARA REPORTERS does not know that there is no institute like that in Nigeria. My independent investigations, as a journalist, confirms that Graphology is the analysis of handwriting with attempt to determine someone's personality traits, NOT FORGERY.

“Here are other claims made by the fake Professor Jideoni Charles to warrant the defamation of the character of Pastor Umo Eno by SAHARA REPORTERS and their paymasters. According to his (Jideoni Charles) Facebook profile, he is also the “Doctrinal Head, The Universal Philosophers' New-World, Author, 'The Universal Natural Laws', and Originator & CEO, JC WEALTHY GENERATION CONCEPTS, Consultant Numerologist, Originator, Onigraffiks writting (sic) system”, etc.

“ From above, it seems to me that SAHARA REPORTERS actually relied on a soothsayer to tell them about Pastor Eno and his wrongdoing. What a brand of journalism!

“However, it is the issue of the JC WEALTHY GENERATION CONCEPTS that landed Jideoni Charles and 12 others in EFCC jail in Ibadan for internet fraud and later, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, of the Federal High Court, Southwest zone, Lagos, on Wednesday, September 4, 2019.

“Jideoni’s arraignment was sequel to the EFCC’s damning findings about the activities of an illegal financial outfit Jideoni floated through which he allegedly swindled his victims of several millions of naira. One of the 12 Jideoni’s accomplices, Oyewunmi Toulope Michael, (aka Gold Crumb), however, opted for a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to a one-count amended charge of fraudulent impersonation. He was subsequently sentenced to one year imprisonment. Justice Oweibo granted Jideoni bail to the tune of N10 million and two sureties in like sum.

“That was the last time Jideoni made headline news before he resurfaced days ago in SAHARA REPORTERS as a forensic expert and National President, Institute of Graphoanalysts, Nigeria (IGAN), a non-existent institute.

“Before his brush with the EFCC, however, the same Jideoni as a writer of horoscope, had in 2012 got himself into trouble with some Nigerian clerics after he publicly proposed that ‘men should sample several women sexually before marriage” because he himself ‘had sex with over 350 women when he was active in the game”

Anietie Usen expressed shock that any brand of journalism or publication would degenerate to the point of falling prey and being weaponized by fraudsters and shallow politicians to lynch and defame the character of an otherwise very decent, innocent and godly man like Pastor Umo Eno.

By Essien Ndueso

The peaceable and tolerant disposition of Governor Udom Emmanuel has propelled all manners of insidious calumnious campaigns against his person and his government. For example, the allegation that the Governor is ordering the security clampdown on dissenting voices is very baseless and rather laughable. But that itself can best be answered by the court of public opinion, where every member of the public can see in Mr Emmanuel, a transparent and accommodating leader who has eschewed political bias in his administration of the State. This perhaps explains why a lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, could throw caution to the wing and go all out to attack the personality of the Governor, accusing him of bribing some judges to secure judgement in 2019 in favour of Senator Chris Ekpenyong who had defeated Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Today, it is quite sad and embarrassing that the plot by convicted lawyer Inibehe Effiong through outdated tactics to delay justice on the defamation suit against Barr Leo Ekpenyong can receive the signatures of 13 lawyers in the guise of suing the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, His Lordship, Justice Ekaette Obot over a demand that is purely administrative.

It is evident that Femi Falana, SAN, and his co-lawyers do not mean well for Barrister Inibehe Effiong. Otherwise, they would have been more concerned about teaching him how the court works outside Facebook and other social media where his legal practice flourishes more to the point that he was already assuming the status of a self-appointed solicitor general on Facebook. It was this illusion that blinded him into daring a legitimate law court presided over by a State Chief Judge.

It is worthy of note that on July 27, the court was entertaining the last witness brought by the prosecution counsel, and a certain reporter with Premium Times, Saviour Imukudo was caught video recording the session with his mobile phone. Everyone knows that this is clearly wrong and the judge ordered the journalist out of the Courtroom. Inibehe rejected all forms of persuasions to continue his cross examination of the prosecution’s witness, insisting that the court was an open court and had no right to walk out a journalist who claimed had the right to record proceedings. When he ran out of ideas on how to go about his case, he turned his nozzle on the policemen in the courtroom, alleging that he feels unsafe among police officers.

Inibehe Effiong knew that the day in question was the day the NLC in Akwa Ibom joined in the solidarity strike with Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and as such security around the court premises and on Wellington Bassey Way, was a bit more intensified to forestall a breakdown of law and order. Between Inibehe and the other members of the public who monitored the proceedings, who ought to have been afraid to see policemen? How can Inibehe be ordering the judge to rescind his decisions as if he was talking to a school boy? Imagine telling the Judge to rescind his decision on the reporter and to order the policemen out of the court?

The action of Inibehe’s cheerleaders to sue the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State raises teething questions about the sincerity and intent of the legal team. These are supposedly renowned lawyers who know court proceedings at their fingertips, and know that the pocket lawyer and Facebook solicitor was wrong to challenge the court and the Chief Judge by his utterances before the Judge despite repeated pleas and warnings by His Lordship that he should respect the sanctity of the court. When all efforts to remind him that he is a lawyer, and that he was in court not on facebook failed, he was convicted of contempt.

Do Femi Falana, SAN and his legal team know that their client, Inibehe Effiong does not know how to use a simple expression like "as the court pleases?" Possibly he is the only lawyer in his generation that such expression sounds strange to?

Be that as it may, if the convict was uncomfortable with his sentence, the proper thing to have been done would have been to approach the appeal court to appeal the verdict of the lower court. This is a known norm of the court. Alleging that the chief judge refused to give them the certified true copy of the judgement, shows how much they have lowered the sanctity of the justice temple. But these are people who should know, and of course, who know that the a judge is not responsible for issuing the certified true copies of judgements. This is strictly an administrative function, domiciled with the court registrar. Where then is the basis of suing the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State on this?

This leads to more questions for Femi Falana and co: Are they doing this because it is in Akwa Ibom State? In all of Femi Falana's outstanding legal practices, where is it recorded that he sued judges in Yorubaland for delivering judgements that are not in his favour? Or is Akwa Ibom State another guinea pig for wrong precedence? Except, the lawyers are implying that what is good in courts and for judges in Yorubaland is not good for court and judges in Akwa Ibom State. Otherwise, this watery suit against the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State by this team of lawyers is a height of embarrassment to their legal profile.

We should not even forget that the case Inibehe Effiong was coming to defend is a weighty defamation of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, where his client, a loquacious lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong alleged that Justice W.O Akanbi and Justice Ebetu were bribed by
Governor Udom Emmanuel to the tone of $1.5m, to procure judgement in favour of Dr. Chris Ekpenyong in the 2019 senatorial elections. If Mr Inibehe Effiong is bereft of defense lines for his client, then he should not resort to these well-rehearsed dramas to delay the course of justice. How long will such a drama last? This cannot save him and his client in the evidently bad case.

Sadly, we are witnessing insults by an emergency lawyer who wants to use one attack on a judge to cover an earlier attack on other judges. And senior lawyers are supporting them because it is in Akwa Ibom State.

In as much as we agree with Falana and co that Mr Inibehe Effiong had no budding tutelage as a lawyer, his ignorance does not mean that anything goes in court because it is in Akwa Ibom State. Judges in Akwa Ibom State deserve as much respect as their colleagues in other parts of Nigeria, including the ones that are highly revered in Yoruba land. If a lawyer cannot insultingly question the authority of a judge to give orders in courts elsewhere in Nigeria, then such should not be tolerated in Akwa Ibom State.

We are counting days for Mr. Inibehe Effiong to exhaust his sentence so that the substantive case of defamation against Mr Leo Ekpenyong, instituted by His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel could resume in court. We advise Inibehe against further deliberate delays of justice on the matter again by similar unskilled innovations of court delays. Not even the ill-motivated suit against the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State by Falana and his 12 disciples can stop justice from being done on the matter. The suit is a wrong gospel by Femi Falana, SAN and his twelve disciples. Such wrong gospel cannot win any legal soul in their favour and that of their drowning client, Mr Inibehe Effiong. All we want is that justice should be served, and timely too. We are waiting patiently.

https://www.facebook.com/100000430644218/posts/5919841541373475/?d=n&mibextid=Irg8HP

Now that Akan Okon is busy churning out falsehood and all manners of defamatory lies against the person of the Governor (present and incoming), the Itu/Ibiono Ibom elder statesmen will not call him to order. But when the Governor gets up to seek redress, it will be said he is using government might to oppress the weak.

In 2019, Barr. Leo Ekpeyong was hailed as a hero because he was able to reel out all manners of vituperations against Udom Emmanuel and Senator Chris Ekpenyong. Today, the allegation is that the Governor is oppressing a helpless citizen.

Both Barr. Ekpenyong and Barr. Inibehe Effiong are busy canvassing for co-mourners on their obituary.
History was made for our learning, but we are a generation without memory.

I wish Akan Okon's memory card could remind him of Barr. Leo Ekpenyong that he should know where to draw a line between politics and character assassination.

Emmanuel Udosen wrote

“…I will pursue this case to the Supreme Court”- Barr Asuquo

A federal high Court in Uyo has adjourned sitting to August 30,2022, after ordering court summon to be served on the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of Young Progressives Party, Pastor Nyenime Andy and Senator Bassey Albert.

A lawyer and an aspirant of the YPP, Barr Alexander Asuquo had dragged Senator Bassey Albert to court over alleged attempt to inherit the Young Progressives Party ticket from the party chairman, Pastor Nyenime Andy.

Matter was then adjourned to the 30th of August 2022 for hearing, while hearing notice was ordered to be served on INEC and YPP accordingly.

The lawyer is joining the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Pastor Nyenime Andy, Senator Bassey Albert and the Independent National Electoral Commission, as Defendants.

YPP had earlier submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the name of the state party Chairman, Nyenime Andy, as its Governorship Candidate.

The plaintiff is seeking judicial answers to questions bordering on whether the state chairman of the party can validly use his position as the chairman of the party to preserve and reserve the gubernatorial ticket of the party to Sen. Bassey Albert (3rd Defendant) who was already an aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The 2nd and 3rd Defendants (Dr. Andy and Sen Albert) are allegedly evading service.

Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, the aspirant, Mr Alexander Asuquo said, “besides challenging the legality of the chairman's action, I'm also asking the court to determine if after also filling and submitting a nomination form in PDP, Bassey Albert can be validly nominated by YPP in view of the provisions of Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“I'm not just a member but a gubernatorial aspirant under YPP who was received into the party by Dr. Andy himself.

“After being received into the party in February 2022, I noticed that almost everywhere I went for consultation I was told that the party belongs to OBA.

“I asked some party executives about OBA's stake in the party but they dismissed it as a rumour.

“I then observed that the state chairman was working for OBA. He blocked me from the party machinery to enable him preserve the ticket for OBA. I wasn't sure of the plan until the day the state chairman picked up YPP gubernatorial nomination form pretending that he is interested in running for governor. He was actually acting as a decoy for OBA.

“I was shocked when I realized that the rumour was true and decided to wait for them at the appropriate time. Now I want the court to determine whether what the chairman did in pretending that he wants to contest for governor when in fact he has no intention to run but to keep the ticket for OBA is lawful.

“I'm ready to go up to the supreme court over this issue because I believe it will set a bad precedent if not challenged.

“This is a novel provision I want the court to give judicial interpretation.

“If OBA wanted YPP's ticket so badly, he ought to have resigned from PDP early enough and not after he failed to succeed in PDP and after I've already written to YPP to ventilate my reservation”, Asuquo concluded.

The federal high court sitting in Uyo has dismissed an application by a governorship aspirant in the May 25, 2022 PDP primaries, describing it as lacking merit.

Justice Agatha Okeke in her ruling yielded to the submissions of the plaintiffs and the 1st and 2nd defendants to dismiss the application.

The court described Mr Akan Etim as a meddlesome interloper and a 'busybody'.
In the suit FHC/UY/CS/110/2022 Mr Etim Aniekan Akan, one of the defeated aspirants in the PDP Governorship primaries, sought the Court’s leave to be joined as a party in the suit.

The Defence Counsel for the 1st and 2nd Defendants, Paul Usoro,SAN citing relevant judicial authorities had said the only grounds on which a party can be joined in a suit is where their participation will aid the administration of Justice, and where such party’s interests are tied to the interests of the defendants.

Paul Usoro said where the party sought to be joined is seeking the cancellation of the primaries and disqualification of the registered parties, there is no connection between such interests and that of the plaintiffs and the defendants and urged the court to dismiss the application.

The 1st and 2nd defendants reasoned that a necessary party is a party without whose presence the case cannot be completely or effectively determined.

They reasoned further that one can also be joined in a case if the plaintiff had made a case or seeks reliefs that pertain affect that party.

Similarly, the counsel to the plaintiff, Uche Awa,SAN, also opposed to the application by Mr Etim Akan, seeking being joined in the case describing it as abuse of court process.

Mr Etim Akan had pleaded that having bought the forms from the 1st Defendant, and having participated and secured some votes at the primaries, he deserved to be a part of the case.

Senator Bassey Albert has finally admitted purchasing forms for his cronies to allegedly rig in the 2022 Ward Adhoc delegates Congress in Akwa Ibom State.

Senator Albert spoke through his personal assistant on Media Mr Anny Michael in reaction to widespread condemnation on why he purchased 1000 forms for his personal use.

Reacting on Facebook, a social media interactive forum, Senator Albert said he committed no offense in purchasing the forms.

“My Boss is a decent man, there is nothing wrong in purchasing forms for people, after all did Berekete Radio not purchase Presidential form for Me (sic) Udom Emmanuel, did Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District youths not purchase Governorship form for Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert (OBA) my amiable Boss.”

“The Crux of what is before the court is whether the Ad hoc delegates primaries was done in line with PDP constitution of widespread participation or whether some members were disenfranchised making the process invalid as such using such a list to conduct a Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly and the outcomes a nullity.

Bassey Albert’s spokesman concluded that, “There is no point being diversionary in the approach to justice.”

As the race to Hilltop mansion, the official residence of the Governor of Akwa Ibom state enters critical stage, startling revelations of the arm-twisting and desperate political maneuvers of the Senator representing Uyo senatorial district in the senate Obong Bassey Albert popularly called (OBA) has been exposed.



The latest revelation emanated from a prominent man of God and founder of one of the top churches in Akwa ibom state who gave an insight into Senator Albert desperation to penetrate the governor’s heart by trying fruitlessly to compromise the Christian leaders in the state popularly called “fathers of faith”.

According to the Christian father who craved anonymity for safety reason in a chat with our reporter, “Oba had long before the Governor revealed Pastor Umo Eno as his preferred candidate for PDP ticket enlisted Bishop Cletus Bassey with mouthwatering offers to break into the ranks of fathers of faith and get them endorse and present him to the governor as their chosen candidate and God’s ultimate revelation to them.

Arch Bishop Cletus Bassey popularly called political Bishop Swing into action and mobilized some prominent fathers of faith to Abuja on all expense paid trip with adequate hotel and other bills footed.

However trouble started when the agenda of the Abuja meeting was unveiled to the fathers of faith who immediately discovered that they are in Abuja to be used by Oba to achieve his dream of taking over from Emmanuel in 2023.



Our Sources explained that after the fathers of faith have been treated to some sumptuous meal and rested, they were told in clear terms that they were in Abuja on the invitation of Senator Bassey Albert’s 2023 ambition.



He further highlighted that Oba sent for them to strike a deal which will fetch all of them a cool N50 million each and all they need to do is to go as a united front to Governor Udom Emmanuel and inform him that after ceaseless prayers and fasting God revealed him to them as the next governor and should be supported.



Our Reporter gathered that the meeting was abruptly brought to an end with the fathers of faith exchanging hot words with bishop Cletus bassey for cajoling them to Abuja to compromise their integrity and hard earned reputation.



Our reporter gathered that Bishop Bassey sensing that the project which he hoped to reap millions of naira was dead on arrival hurriedly called the senator to come over while appealing for their understanding.



Senator Bassey Albert arrival and confirmation of the promised N50million each for them further infuriated the fathers of faith who walked out on the Abuja meeting and returned home.



Unperturbed and still filled with false hope and confidence, Oba last December again approached Bishop Cletus Bassey and energized him to resurrect the Akwa ibom Christian Assembly popularly called (ACA) and mandated him to use it as an alternative platform to confront and possibly diminish the strength and popularity of fathers of faith in the state.

In the spirit of the then season over 1000 bags of rice and undisclosed amount running into millions of naira was put at his disposal to commence the onslaught.



Our source who said he has keenly observed the political style of senator Bassey Albert described him as a very desperate and vicious politician who has no interest in the future of the state but rather to perpetuate himself in government and continue to feather his nest from common patrimony.



According to him, “Akwa ibom needs a visionary and result oriented leader who fears God and loves the people. We need a man who will continue the developmental strides of the governor and not one coming to pursue vendetta. Akwa ibom has seen a man who had through sheer hard work and faith in God built ever growing business empire and have employed several youths of the state to earn decent living through his conglomerate in the person of Pastor Umo Eno.

“He has displayed maturity and love for the state by not joining issues with those bent on blackmailing him for no just cause and Akwa ibom people are now better informed on the real enemies of the state”. He intoned.

https://nationnewslead.com/aibom-2023-sen-akpans-desperation-to-compromise-clergies-exposed/

Ephraim Inyang-eyen is a mole, nurtured, planted and sent to derail Senator Bassey Albert’s bid for governorship, a disgruntled insider to the plot has revealed.

According to the disenchanted former collaborator, the idea to foist Ephraim Inyan-Eyen on Senator Bassey Albert, otherwise Known as OBA as a “minder” and a fake supporter was reached sometime in 2019, shortly after the elections.

“It was determined that Senator Bassey Albert would definitely run for the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State, and the general consensus within certain political circles was that OBA was not, by temperament, his unbridled arrogance, his over- reported close associations with cultism in the state and his also alleged commitment to unleashing violence as a way and means of gaining power; his desperation to rule the state, which has made him strike an agreement with certain forces outside the state, who are desirous of talking us back economically, not suitable to be the governor of the state at this time of peace and security the state is enjoying.

“OBA meanwhile, had made it known that he was going to run and win the governorship of the state, whatever it took, violence and all. To checkmate OBA’S sense of entitlement, it was determined that certain people would be ‘assigned’ to him as ‘minders,’ with the expressed directive to show loyalty, fidelity and fake trust in his capacity to become the governor. Ephraim Inyang -eyen, was drafted to carry out that task, and he accepted the role with happiness and assurances of his capacity to get the job done.

“I was a key part of the plot and we have so far, gained the confidence of OBA, to the extent that last week, OBA appointed Ephraim Inyang-eyen as the Deputy Chairman of his Campaign Council. That singular act is the fatal mistake OBA has made in his run for the office of governor, as every strategic considerations and decisions taken, have been revealed and compromised. OBA, I can tell you, currently is floating, as every plan and calculations he has made is in the hands of other contestants.

“Ephraim Inyang-eyen is a very combustible person, he has been fighting and insulting some of us, who were, and are still insiders of this plot, and we have been warning him to trade softly that a time will come when we will tell him that we have had enough of his bomb-throwing character and will then spill the beans. I have decided to do this now.

“Let Ephraim Inyang come and deny what I have put out here. He knows who I am and I know he will tell the OBA Campaign Organisation that I am lying .Time will tell!” the source concluded.



Akwa Ibom Guber: Insider Reveals Reveals Ephraim Inyang-Eyen Is A Mole In Oba’s Camp, Says OBA Should Watch His Back


https://newsnowonline.com.ng/2022/03/29/akwa-ibom-guber-insider-reveals-reveals-ephraim-inyang-eyen-is-a-mole-in-obas-camp-says-oba-should-watch-his-back/

Today we visited the site of the ongoing construction of 6.4km Utu Ikot Ekpo, Etim Ekpo - Mkpok Eto, Ika Road. Last year, when we went there, the swampy and muddy environment never gave people reasons to believe that the road would ever be completed within the lifespan of Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration.

The asphalting of the road which has reached nearly half of the road, has drawn excitement from several locals who would not believe that their rural forgotten communities could become urbanised in their lifetime.

Some of the elders in the communities, Pa Sunday Alexander Umoh and Elder Etim Akpan Ekpo expressed happiness over the fact that God used Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to carry out the road construction in the community.

At the current pace the work is going, it is obvious that this road will be completed next month.
The entire length of the road has side drains and it is at the stone base level, while a larger part of it has already been paved with asphalt.

"The Governor has visited our community making a once dark zone now a bright zone. I pray God to bless him and continue to give him the grace to carry out more projects in the State," Pa Akpan Ekpo exclaimed.

The road, links up with the ongoing 15.13km Ikot Esu, Ikot Otomo, Azumini Road that links Ika with Abia State.

It has a spur to Nkwot also in Etim Ekpo local government area.

© Essien Ndueso
March,2022

CLEAN FOREIGN USED 2012 ML UPGRADED TO 2015 GLE WITH ORIGINAL DUTY AVAILABLE JUST CALL 09033347837

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A coalition made up of groups in the nineteen states of Northern Nigeria is currently in Akwa Ibom on a facts finding mission.

Led by the National Coordinator, Alhaji Balarabe Rufai, members of the delegation are being conducted round project sites by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, represented by the Special Assistant to Governor on Research and Documentation, Mr. Essien Ndueso, his counterparts incharge of New Media, Aniekeme Finbar and that of ICT, Solomon Eyo.

At the coconut Refinery, the delegation was conducted round the factory by the Facility Manager, Mr. Ozan,l Aydingenc who took the team through the production line of the factor, briefing the visitors on the progress so far made at the facility which is nearly completed.

Speaking to journalists at the Coconut oil factory, the leader of the Northern group, Alhaji Balarabe Rufai hailed Governor Udom Emmanuel for his foresight in facilitating the establishing of the factory, observing that job opportunities would be created for youths.

He charged other state governor's in the country to emulate Governor Emmanuel.

"This is a wonderful thing the Governor is doing. I want to call on other governor's to emulate it so that our youths would be gainfully engaged".

Among facilities visited include, the I kilometre Ikot Oku Ikono flyover, Ekom Iman-Etinan road, the cable bridge at Ekpene Ukpa, before arriving at the Coconut Refinery.

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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


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

A delegation from Akwa Ibom State comprising members of the Ibom Deep Seaport Committee is currently in, Seoul, South Korea to drive Governor Udom Emmanuel’s vision for the rapid realization of the seaport.

Among members of the delegation is Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr Akan Okon, and Chairman of the Implementation Technical Committee, Mrs Mfon Usoroh,

They are among the Nigerian contingent to the Maritime Sector and Harbour Development programme in Seoul, South Korea.

The Nigerian contingent is under the leadership of the Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea, Ambassador Ali M. Magashi.

Opening up on the essence of the visit, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport said it is to help offer inputs for the development of lbom Deep Seaport.

According to Commissioner Akan Okon, the visit will also enable Akwa Ibom State tap into the broadening bilateral relationship between Nigeria and South Korea, especially in the areas of maritime security and economic development.

“Having invested so much in the Ibom Deep Seaport, the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel will continue to seek ways that would ensure the Ibom Deep Seaport is optimally beneficial to Akwa Ibom people, when it is finally established.”

Mr Akan Okon assured that, “on our part, we’ll continue to work tirelessly to drive Governor Udom Emmanuel’s lofty vision for Akwa Ibom State.”

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

- By Udeme Nana,Ph.D

Earlier this month, precisely on Thursday, 7th October, this writer joined the entourage of Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State to the University of Nigeria, where the Governor delivered the 2021 Founder’s Day Lecture. The other great ‘Lion’ in the delegation was Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Russia, Chief Assam Assam who had also served Akwa Ibom State as the Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice. The Founder’s Day was to mark the spectacular contributions of the great statesman, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe to the establishment of the University of Nigeria. The legendary University exists as a counterpoise against the current agitation by some Igbo youths to cut ties with a country for which the great Zik of Africa, their iconic son, who set it up, lived and died.

One does not know why the Governor of Akwa Ibom State was picked as this year’s visiting guest speaker on such an auspicious occasion. As one journeyed through the meandering road towards Nsukka and into the lush greens of that citadel of learning, one wondered if the Vice Chancellor and his team had known that the celebrated Zik of Africa was, in the 1920’s, a mentee of the late Chief Nyong Essien, a respected Akwa Ibom titan, who was the pioneer Chairman of the Eastern Nigeria Council of Chiefs and the Nsom of Uruan in the Ibibio heartland of Akwa Ibom State. There is a possibility that the Governor was properly briefed because he was accompanied by his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Frank Archibong on the trip.

One imagined the organizers had remembered that the first Head of Government, then known as Leader of Government Business, in the Eastern region was another distinguished Akwa Ibom indigene and a leading intellectual of that era , the late Professor Eyo Ita from Ibeno. Yes, there are memories of Ibanga Udo Akpabio who had served as Secretary – General of the defunct Ibibio state Union and a Minister in the Eastern regional Government who moved the motion for the establishment of the University. Even the symbol of the Institution, the Lion which stands in a menacing poise at the erstwhile main entrance into the University reflects the contribution of another AkwaIbomite as it was chiseled professionally by an Akwa Ibom sculptor, Dr. Uko Akpaide who, incidentally, taught my father when today’s old men were struggling boys in elementary school. Akwa Ibom is also one of the catchment areas of the University, a circumstance which gives advantage to applicants for admission into the school from the state. It would be nice, in addition, to have indigenes of the state enjoy such favourable consideration in employment opportunities. After all, Akwa Ibom was part of the oil – palm belt, the golden goose at that time, which exploitation generated resources to fund the building of the University. So much for some of the vital links between Akwa Ibom and the first indigenous University in Nigeria.

Governor Udom Emmanuel seized the moment to present a case study on how he has changed the narrative of development through infrastructure and Industrialisation in Akwa Ibom, ‘that was once a civil service state’.

According to the Governor, who held the audience spell bound in his characteristic oratory : “ shortly after I was sworn in, fully conscious of where we were going, I set up a Technical Committee on Foreign Direct Investment and charged them to go all out and sell our state, our areas of comparative advantage and ensure that through Industrialisation, we would expand the opportunities of growth for our people “

The Governor, having been properly robed in the requisite academic gown temporarily turned professorial and taught his captive students that ‘the key drivers of Industrialisation were the quality of infrastructure on ground and of course, peace and security since investors will not go to a place that is unsafe and insecure” This explains his ‘Maintain Peace Movement’. It was telling that the Secretary – General of the Group, Prince Enobong Uwah was in the flight. Does anyone out there still have issues with Governor Emmanuel’s deep concern for a peaceful environment?

No doubt, there is a correlation between a peaceful and more secure environment and influx of investors into any location. Any wonder then that Uyo, the state capital, once a sleepy city, is no longer a dull place as it welcomes and hosts business people who fly in to stay, cut deals and savour the hospitable location and its array of delicious cuisines.

Another sector which the present government has changed the narrative is Aviation through Ibom Air even though critics continue to ask questions about the ownership structure of the Airline. Nevertheless, in the words of Mr. Udom Emmanuel “Ibom Air, has become a national sensation, flying the colours of Akwa Ibom within the Nigerian Aviation space and dominating it, a mere two years after its maiden commercial flight’

Indeed, Ibom Air, one of the flagship success stories of Governor Emmanuel operates from the only airport in Nigeria, arguably, with specifications where two aeroplanes can take off at the same time. It is important to underscore that the airline is just one aspect of the business operations plan of the Airport. The Airport in Uyo is a potentially Maintain, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub with prospects for job creation, more investments and ancillary businesses. Ultimately, the entire environment around the Airport would become a city with profitable services around it.

The Governor used the podium at Nsukka to repeat his grand vision which a lot of politicians in his state do not seem to see. He noted “ as I always say, it is good for a 21st century leader, to have a broad vision and the requisite exposure to international best practices. What do I mean by that?

He stated ‘your vision is a product of your exposure, what you have seen elsewhere, how those things work and how they can be applied in your local environment to the benefit of the people is a lived experience and not a learned one” Have those throwing mud at ‘Fathers of Faith’ and blackmailing the Governor’s immediate family and other religious leaders concerning the Governor’s succession plan heard that? Which leader would accomplish so much and not want such accomplishments and legacies sustained through a deliberate succession agenda?

Since most Akwa Ibom politicians were not at Nsukka to hear the Governor twice on his mindset about his succession, it would suffice to re – echo Governor Udom Emmanuel’s loud and clear pronouncement on the occasion of the 6th Anniversary of his Administration on the issue, ‘let me now ask you my dear Akwa Ibomites : Do you want a successor who will cancel out all the great strides in industrialization we have started? The peace we currently enjoy and return us to the years when violence and kidnapping reigned and sowed fear in the hearts and minds of the people? Do you want a successor who will come with anger towards all we have done, as opposed to continuing with the great works we have started? Do you want a leader whose approach to testing his popularity would be to drive in a long convoy to “Ibom Plaza” and throw money at the hapless people, watching them scramble for the money and the people would say that’s “Ano owo Mkpo”! Is that the kind of a successor you want? Is that the kind of empowerment our people deserve? Someone who will bring out the worst in our youths rather than challenge them to seize the future and unleash their potentials? Do you want a successor who will relegate God to the background and assume an all-knowing power? Or do you desire a successor with a known e-mail address that the International business community recognises? Do you want a leader who will fritter away our commonwealth in search of cheap popularity or one who would utilize the resources and continue investing in projects with enduring value? Do you want a successor who would see Government as a cabal where our commonwealth would be shared among a privileged few or do you desire a leader who would continue to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of our people, a successor who understands the economic dynamics that shape our globalized space and would utilize those skills to advance our well-being? These are questions you have to provide answers, and the answers you provide would determine the type of a successor you deserve.

‘Mark my words, we will not return to the type of leadership that is big on noise and small in the execution of the big picture items. We will never go backward on the peace in our land, the steady and focused developments we have started. The line in our State anthem has made this faith manifestly clear: Forward ever and backward never!’

On that occasion, he had also declared :

‘My dear Akwa Ibomites, if what you are desiring is a successor who will not have the capacity and the discipline to build a State where you and your children will live in peace and strive to excel, if you are desiring a successor who will turn back the clock of our developmental strides, if you are desiring a successor who will bring out the worst in our youths as opposed to galvanizing their energies and challenging them to be the best they can be, if you are desiring a leader who would not efficiently utilize the resources of this State on projects that have redeeming value then I am sorry to disappoint you, God will not give us such a successor.’

He had laid emphasis on the point when he further noted:

‘We have gone too far ahead to retreat backward. So, as you are engaging in prognostications, creating camps of loyalty and getting consumed by who you think my successor would be, always bear these thoughts in your mind’

That sums up Governor Udom Emmanuel’s splendid vision ; well written and laid out, stated clearly in unmistakable terms and spoken boldly within and outside the state-QED

Governor Udom Emmanuel has commended the Global Peace Foundation in collaboration with Vision Africa, organisers of the three day Inclusive retreat on Security held at Warrenton, Virginia, United States of America.

Mr. Emmanuel made the commendation while fielding questions from state House Correspondents on his arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport , Uyo.

The governor who said the retreat was timely and expressed optimism that Nigeria would benefit from the retreat.



The state chief executive was optimistic that collaborative efforts of all Nigerians across sociopolitical and ethno-religious devides was needed to restore peace in the country.


The governor said the current situation in Nigeria has called for concern of all Nigerians and even non-Nigerians, stressing that it has become imperative for the various sections of the nation to unanimously acknowledge peace as a basic need and seek ways to achieve it.

"It is just for all of us to agree that this is what we want and we will get it. Once we agree that peace is what we want we will get it", he stated.


According to him, "the whole world is trying to come together to chart a course, where we have to go back to how we used to live together. That's the whole idea".

The Governor however sued for patience and the cooperation from citizens and stakeholders in the project, assuring that Nigeria will be better for it.

"It's a process. It's not something we can achieve in one day. Now that we've started the process, we must keep the momentum and everybody must be back to the table to speak and let's see where Nigeria will be tomorrow", Governor Emmanuel maintained.

He thanked the International President of Global Peace Foundation, Mr. Jimmy Fling, Mohammed Camara of Guinea, Bishop Onoha of Nigeria and other contributors at the conference, recounting that all participants 88cknowledging peace as the one word all must strive to establish.

"We are all working towards that and in a nearby future we will achieve that. We really want to find a lasting solution", he affirmed.

Governor Emmanuel also thanked the people of Akwa Ibom State for the opportunity to serve and be portrayed in good light, expressing gratitude for the privilege of being selected as a key influencer to be part of the mission.


Media Unit
Govt House, Uyo
AKWA IBOM STATE

" I am saying this openly and I am not beating around the bush, former Governor Akpabio and the incumbent Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, left an exceptionally enormous shoe behind that is still extremely challenging to fill in Akwa Ibom State."

- Prelate of Methodist Church, Samuel Chukwuemeka Kalu Uche

The above remark credited to the Prelate of the Methodist Church regarding Akwa Ibom state is past naughtiness, and can appropriately be portrayed as coercion taken excessively far. Dr Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, is cited as charging at a program in one of the parts of his congregation in Abuja that, "the Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio, " left behind shoes excessively huge for others to wear in Akwa Ibom State."

At first it seemed like a joke or trick by some inactive bloggers, particularly since the name of the prelate is wrongly introduced as Sunday rather than Samuel. In any case, one of the media editors affirmed to us that the news was extraordinarily supported by a specific Jackson Udom, who is better established in his taken on state, Oyo State, than his familial home, Etinan in Akwa Ibom. We comprehend that the said Jackson Udom, who is circling this information, is for sure a Personal Assistant on Media to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

We held back to check whether the prelate Samuel Uche would respond to it, without any result. Having seen no opposite comments from the methodist Prelate, we are constrained to accept that he made that wild charges, perhaps to likewise dive profound into the previous Governor's set up standard, that what cash can't accomplish (for ravenous and childish Nigerians) more cash can do.

It's the stature of unwarranted speculation by the Pastor Samuel Uche, whose assertion suggests that Akwa Ibom State under Udom Emmanuel is faring tragically. Nothing could be so false. It is on record that Akwa Ibom is among the best 3 practical states in Nigeria occasioned by the Governor's prudent administration of assets. Lately, there has been series of project being commissioned and embraced by series of political tribal leaders from the nation's seat of force, connoting progress and great steps. It asks to ask now, could an ineffectively oversaw state construct and charging the extent of undertakings, for example, the 21 story Dakkada Tower office complex, the assortment of metropolitan streets and surprisingly the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene double carriageway street it met at 20% execution? The response to this is self-uncovering.

Akwa Ibom stays one of only a handful of exceptional states in Nigeria that isn't owing its workers and retired people, on account of the Governor's monetary administration ability. The Pastor Uche ought to be informed that altruism as a resource, isn't procured through promulgation and character death. It was in this regard that Shakespeare advised that, "Satan can refer to the sacred writing for his motivation."

Rev. Uche should realize that the measuring stick for estimating development in the worldwide south is the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). In such manner, isn't obviously Governor Udom Emmanuel is the one "changing a tight shoe" for an ideal fit? Put in an unexpected way, isn't the current Governor of Akwa Ibom the one re-exploring the direction of work through the formation of occupations, riches and neediness easing? What befell those records previously, especially, before 2015, particularly when most pieces of the state couldn't be gotten to because of psychological warfare?

Along these lines, the financial development and advancement, estimated by more than 18 enterprises that this administration has drawn to the state in the beyond six years, the nine renovated auxiliary medical services offices/General Hospitals, and the improvements in the avionics business, including the Orange Air Magic, Ibom Air and the International Airport Terminal Building, just as the endeavors in thorough insurgency in instruction and farming, bear witness to the way that Akwa Ibom is faring magnificently better compared to what was gotten before 2015, when the previous lead representative left the seat.

In the event that maybe the Pastor Samuel Uche, had a decent connection with his individuals in Akwa Ibom, he would have been educated that the express that was infamous for unparalleled slaughter and politically planned hijack and deaths, had starting around 2015, become place of refuge where organizations are flourishing and improvement currently cuts across all the nearby government regions all the while.

On this note, we have some relevant enormous shoes puzzles for the Pastor Uche:

* Are the huge shoes the high spate of frailty in the express that prompted the deficiency of thousands of lives, which decreased the state to a simple killing field?

* Do the huge shoes additionally incorporate the build-up of annuities and tips the past organization never paid all through the residency of 2007 to 2015?

* Did Uche ascertain the obligations abandoned from the Stadium complex venture, the incurable Tropicana undertaking, and a few streets projects, among substance of the huge shoes?

* Which piece of the huge shoes could one track down a solitary double carriageway or significant street project in the whole of Eket Senatorial District, notwithstanding being the fortune base of the state with 12 neighborhood government regions?

* Knowing what 200 million naira can accomplish in local area improvement projects, does Pastor Uche likewise realize that every one individuals the previous lead representative used to bring for his recognition singing, trucked home such silly sums? Soccer star Pele, got his($300,000), and still wouldn't respect the solicitation to the state. What an enormous shoe!

As a priest, we will not ask Samuel Uche the amount he was trucked home for this lost useless swipe, however we are constrained to encourage him to zero in on the podium and the obligation of winning spirits, rather than being a device of political coerces.

We in the Mandate Eyes thusly approach the Pastor Sunday Uche to apologize to Akwa Ibom individuals, for offending their honesty with a particularly hidden and damaging remark. He should halt from making provocative expressions fit for impelling rational individuals of the now tranquil Akwa Ibom state.

Signed

Uwemedimoh Umanah,PhD
Director of Public Communications,
Mandate Eyes/ Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
15/10/21

The real reason Mr Udo Silas, former Senior Media Aide to the Governor Godswill Akpabio fell out of favour with the government is that, few months to the end of Akpabio's tenure, Udo Silas as SSA to the governor completely abadoned his duties and absconded to Port Harcourt for pecuniary motives.

The former governor, allegedly told his then incoming successor shortly before leaving office that "if you must succeed, don't work with someone like Udo Silas. He started well but along the line, veered off. He left his duty post and is now in Port Harcourt looking for contracts."

In a reaction titled, "THAT RIDICULOUS MENDACIOUS OUTBURST BY UDO SILAS ON UYO-IKOT EKPENE ROAD", Mr Aniefiok Macauley, Special Assistant to Gov Udom Emmanuel said not only was Mr Silas wrong with his submission on the Uyo Ikot Ekpene road project, he lacked the locus standi to have spoken about the project.


The statement read in, "reading through a post by one Udo Silas on the above subject matter, it was easy to discern how mentally low he was in penning down those vitriolic inanities. I am rejoining his post not to castigate him but to call him out with irrefutable facts about the construction of Uyo- Ikot Ekpene, whose contract award was signed on 19th December 2011.

Though Silas, in his smallness of mind claimed that Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State was brought from obscurity to be governor against the wishes of the kitchen cabinet of Governor Godswill Akpabio, as he then was, I think Silas requires a good dictionary for a real meaning of obscurity.

For a fact, a man who at the zenith of his career sat on many offshore Boards of his bank and was Executive Director cum Financial Controller of Zenith Bank cannot by any stretch of imagination be said to have been in an obscure position in his preferred career.

Perhaps Udo Silas knows that even in journalism that he would not make the list of first 100 first class journalists in Nigeria.

It is therefore undoubtedly that man who was rescued from obscurity laden with abject poverty and decorated with a title of Senior Special Assistant, having earlier mismanaged and ran aground a weekly regional paper whose print run was less than 1000 copies, would likely see every other person from his limited worldview.

Regardless, Udo Silas failed woefully in his acerbic pontification to interrogate the governor on facts and figures to justify his morally deficit claims that the governor blatantly lied about the 20% work done on the road when he took over the mantle of leadership in 2015.

This appalling failure on his part, could be attributed to his ignorance on the reality on ground at the time, particularly in respect to the construction of the road in question.

In all fairness to Udo Silas, as an indigene of Onna local government area, he may not have been familiar with the project, since it does not lie on his frequent route to Port Harcourt.

It is on record that few months to the end of Akpabio's tenure, Udo Silas as SSA to the governor completely derelict his duties and absconded to Port Harcourt.

In some instances including the purported commissioning of road project in question, Udo Silas' absence was conspicuously noticeable that the former governor, told his incoming successor, "if you must succeed, don't work with someone like Udo Silas. He started well but along the line, veered off. He left his duty post and is now in Port Harcourt looking for contracts." What a testimony from one's boss.

In view of the above scenario, I have therefore elected to furnish and remind him, his ilk and traducers with these undisputable facts about the Uyo- Ikot Ekpene road project.

1. That barely 7 months of being sworn in for a second term as governor, it is on record that, the then Governor of Akwa Ibom State , Godswill Akpabio on the 19th December, 2011 awarded a contract to Julius Berger(Nig.) PLC for the dualization of the 25 kilometres of Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road to the tune of N28,394,575,803,22k (Twenty Eight Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety Four Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Three Naira Twenty Two Kobo).
At over N1billion per kilometres), the highest in the country as at then.

The contract, according to available documents was to be completed within 24 months, approximately about December 2013.

To kick start the contract, mobilization of 40% of the total sum amounting to N11, 357,830,321.29k (Eleven Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty One Naira, Twenty Nine Kobo) was approved and disbursed.

2. The records show that on the 12th September, 2013, when the road ought to have been completed, Akpabio’s government reviewed the cost by additional N23,516,228,394.00 (Twenty Three Billion, Five Hundred and Sixteen Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Four Naira) which when added to the original cost amounted to a total contract sum to N51,910,804,197.22 (Fifty One Billion, Nine Hundred and Ten Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira Twenty Two Kobo.

3. Again, barely a year later and in fact on the 25th July, 2014, the Akwa Ibom State Government approved additional work in respect of the dualization of the said road with the following description: (i) Section from Ch. 23+000 to City centre incl. Roundabout. (ii) flyover to the tune of N19,448,373,217.63k . (Nineteen Billion, Four Hundred and Forty Eight Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Tree Thousand Two Hundred and Seventeen Naira Sixty Three Kobo) Although the sum of N71, 359, 177, 414.89 (Seventy One Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Fourteen Naira Eighty Nine Kobo) was released for the execution of the project. In spite of various approvals and disbursements, the contractor abandoned the project.

4. What the likes of Udo Silas fails to tell the public is that at the twilight of Akpabio’s tenure sometimes in May 2015 and almost four years after that contract was awarded, he hurriedly commissioned what he called the Phase 1 where only 6km was asphalted, 3 km at binding course , and 5 km was at earth works level.

Though records show that the sum of N2.3 billion naira was approved and disbursed for the payment of compensation to property owners marked for demolition from kilometer 4 to Ikot Ekpene plaza, none of the beneficiaries was paid and this resulted in several litigations and abandonment of the construction work .


Based on the facts stated above, the question Udo Silas should be asking is “why did Akpabio not complete the 25 kilometer road in 4 years despite approving and disbursing over N71Billion at a time a dollar was exchanging for N187?”

Governor Udom Emmanuel deserves accolades for making funds available for the payment of compensation to property owners on the right of way and ensuring that funds were made available to Julius Berger PLC for the completion of the project.

Yes, the governor deserves commendation as expressed by the stakeholders of Ikot Ekpene senatorial district and not a vile tirade by people with slavish mentality."

A key interest support group in Akwa Ibom State says the "infantile and logically obtuse outburst by Senator Ita Enang," in a radio interview last weekend should be dismissed as a mere rant of an attention seeker.

The group, Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance in a statement in Uyo endorsed by its convener, Mr Faith Mboho, described the president's aide as a man known to suffer from seemingly incurable disease of the diarrhoea of the mouth.

This, they maintain, often leads Senator Enang to childishly peddle falsehood, such as the speculation that Governor Udom Emmanuel was defecting to APC simply because he brought Vice President Osinbajo and Senate President Ahmad Lawan to inaugurate some of his projects.


"Let us state here unequivocally, that Governor Udom Emmanuel, WILL NEVER JOIN THE APC, he has never entertained such thoughts and will never even deign such, a nanosecond consideration."

They described Governor Emmanuel as "a major Stakeholder of the Peoples Democratic Party, a loyal party man and a key member in the vanguard to position the PDP as the alternative to what has befallen Nigeria in the last six plus years of Ita Enang’s party rule."

"The group insisted that Governor Emmanuel's stellar performance, accounts for the desperate attempt to a move to APC.

"We understand the desire and desperation for Ita Enang’s party to have a Five Star Governor, in the mould of Governor Emmanuel, whose performance has drawn commendations from key members of Ita Enang’s party, be associated with them, but sorry to disappoint you, Senator, Governor Udom Emmanuel is not going anywhere, he remains a PDP member for life".

To them, "it is sad and unfortunate that Senator Ita Enang would base his outlandish claims on the fact that Governor Emmanuel invited both the Vice President and the Senate President, both of the APC to help commission projects in the state as the reason for his fantasy- filled defection talk.

"Perhaps Ita Enang needs to be informed that Governor Udom Emmanuel has nationalist credentials and bonafides, and above all, sees himself as a professional in politics as opposed to being purely a professional politician", they concluded.

The Akwa Ibom State Government has inaugurated a fourteen-membrr committee to monitor enforcement of the recently enacted "Law to prohibit Open Rearing and Grazing of Livestocks and Provide for the Establishment of Ranches and Livestock Administration, Regulation and Control, and Matters Connected therewith" in the state.

Performing the inauguration today, at the Government House, Uyo, the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, clarified that the law is not targeted at any group of persons but was necessitated by the rising need to ensure orderly organization of agricultural activities across the country, including Akwa Ibom State.

This, he stated, would be in the best interest of the entire Nigerian populace who need both the vegetables and tubers of the crop farmer as well as the meat and dairy products of the livestock farmer to balance his diet, stressing that a healthy population makes a healthy nation.

"The typical staple food on the table of an average Nigerian is a symbiosis of livestock products and crops: the swallow such as our garri, pounded yam, amala, the meat, fish and the vegetables. ...the law is not anti any person. It is to make sure that we eat balanced diet, because if cattle destroys the vegetable component of what we eat, all the vitamins will be lost.When you ensure balanced diet, the population of Nigeria will be healthy and when the population is heathy we have a productive population".

He reiterated that, as stated while signing the bill into law on September 18, 2021, that the major objectives of this law is to promote modern techniques of animal husbandry, create job opportunities and expand the value chain in livestock business and promote the production of high quality of livestock in the state in accordance with international best practices, rather than a witch-hunt tool against anyone.

Highlighting the Committee's mandate therefore, the Governor said it shall, among other functions and powers, develop an integrated modern livestock development and production plan for the state, develop guidelines for the implementation of an integrated livestock production policy and make recommendations to the governor, consider and determine the suitability of a location proposed for establishment of a ranch in the state, ensure that livestock are reared at permitted ranches to prevent straying, impound any livestock that is left to graze outside a ranch and encourage peaceful coexistence between the ranchers, farmers and host communities.

The functions also include to prescribe guidelines for minimum hygiene standards for meat and dairy activities in personal, commercial and general ranches, inaugurate same committee at the Local Government level, give approval to the Local Government Committee for the establishment of Ranches in the Local Government Area, collaborate with relevant Ministries, Local Government Committee established under Section 12 and Department of Livestock at each LGA to ensure effective implementation of the Law in the State and any other functions incedental to the law or as may be directed by the State Governor.

Responding on behalf of the Committee members, the Chairman and Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet, thanked God for blessing the State with fertile soil and good environment that support both crops and livestocks farming. She commended the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel for ensuring peace in the State and taking steps to secure the agricultural sector in the State by protecting the interest of the various parties in the sector.

Dr. Edet assured that the committee will make the State proud by ensuring a balance of interest between the crop and animal farmers in the State, adding that the committee will work in synergy with security agencies to ensure the enforcement of the law in the state.

Also speaking, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Uko Udom, SAN, and a member of the committee, said the inauguration of the committee was the first step towards enforcement of the anti open grazing law.
He explained that the committee will soon constitute sub-committees for public enlightenment and information, monitoring and surveillance, enforcement and other functions, to enhance its effective operation, stressing that the law was vioid of any political element.

The Committee also has the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Mary Bassey as Secretary .Other members include; the Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Fubara Duke,Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Capt.Iniobong Ekong(rtd.),Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Lands and Water Resources,TPL.Aniekan Akpan(Ag.),Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,Elder Ini Ikie ,Environment and Solid Minerals, Nsudo Nsudo and that of Health, Dr.Patrick Essiet. Also included in the Committee are the State Surveyor- General,Surv.(Mrs)Emem Isang ,Director of Verterinary Services and Livestocks,Ministry of Agriculture, Dr.Obot Obot, Director of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture, Aniefiok Isong,Director of Forestry in the Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals, Etido Eyo as well as the Director-General of the Akwa Ibom State Neighborhood Safety Agency,among others.

MEDIA UNIT
OFFICE OF THE SSG
08/10/2021

As key supporters and ardent believers in Governor Udom Emmanuel, our attention has been drawn to an infantile and logically obtuse outburst by Senator Ita Enang, during an appearance on a local radio station yesterday morning.

In the course of the programme, Ita Enang, a man known to suffer from seemingly incurable disease of the diarrhoea of the mouth, which often leads him to peddle falsehood and logically confounding assertions that even someone who is mentally retarded would not be associated with, lived true to his character and billing.

He is reported to have stated among other manifestly false assertions that His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel will soon join the All Progressive Congress (APC.) He went ahead to draw his conclusion for peddling this lie, because Governor Emmanuel, recently invited the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbjajo, SAN, GCON and the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, to commission the Dakkada Tower, the Dakkada Luxury Estate flag-off and the Uyo- Ikot Ekpene road respectively. He went further to say that because of this development, he has “granted” the governor “amnesty” from his usual vitriolic attacks; and that he is now his “friend.”

We would have totally ignored Ita Enang as we always do, since most of what emanates from his mouth are not products of reasoned or rational thoughts, but from a man whose relevance in both the State and National scheme of things have all but evaporated leaving him to seek relevance as a local radio station verbal bomb - thrower.

Let us state here unequivocally, that His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, WILL NEVER JOIN THE APC, he has never entertained such thoughts and will never even deign such, a nanosecond consideration. He is a major Stakeholder of the Peoples Democratic Party, a loyal party man and a key member in the vanguard to position the PDP as the alternative to what has befallen Nigeria in the last six plus years of Ita Enang’s party rule.

We understand the desire and desperation for Ita Enang’s party to have a Five Star Governor, in the mould of Governor Emmanuel, whose performance has drawn commendations from key members of Ita Enang’s party, be associated with them, but sorry to disappoint you, Senator, Governor Udom Emmanuel is not going anywhere, he remains a PDP member for life!

It is sad and unfortunate that Senator Ita Enang would base his outlandish claims on the fact that Governor Emmanuel invited both the Vice President and the Senate President, both of the APC to help commission projects in the state as the reason for his fantasy- filled defection talk. Perhaps Ita Enang needs to be informed that Governor Udom Emmanuel has nationalist credentials and bonafides, and above all, sees himself as a professional in politics as opposed to being purely a professional politician. He still keeps friends he knew while in the private sector even if those friends belong to the other party.

We will not also deign Senator Ita Enang a response to all his false claims and pseudo self glorifications when everyone already knows his antecedence as a greedy and self centered professional politician, whose essence of living, is merely for his stomach infrastructural consolidation and expansion. As for his so called “amnesty” allusion, we can categorically maintain that he is the one who, actually needs amnesty from political oblivion and irrelevance he is fast sinking into.

Signed:

Comrade Faith Mboho
Convener,
AKWA IBOM INTEGRITY ALLIANCE
10/10/21

Governor Udom Emmanuel few minutes ago received the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, at the Victor Attah Int'l. Airport, Uyo.

Senator Lawan is in the state to commission the 25km Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road as more activities keep unfolding in commemoration of the 34th Anniversary of the state creation.


Media Unit
Govt House,Uyo
5/10/2021

Governor Udom Emmanuel few minutes ago received the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, at the Victor Attah Int'l. Airport, Uyo.

Senator Lawan is in the state to commission the 25km Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road as more activities keep unfolding in commemoration of the 34th Anniversary of the state creation.


Media Unit
Govt House,Uyo
5/10/2021

Today, Tuesday, October 05, 2021; the drums will roll-out to celebrate the winners at the First-Ever Akwa Ibom State Environment Awards tagged “Keep Akwa Ibom Beautiful Awards (KAIBA)”.

The awards; which is the first of its kind in the state and by any state in Nigeria, recognizes outstanding contributions by individuals and corporates in the state to improving our environment. The aim is to encourage the participation of residents, citizens and corporate bodies in Environmental protection, beautification and sustainability.

Winners of the Awards were determined independently by an expert jury representing a cross-section of professionals, including leading brand owners and retailers, sustainability organisations, environmentalists, academia and industry experts.

Award Categories are :

1. Most Environment Friendly Bank
2. Most Environment Friendly Construction Company:
3. Most Environment Friendly Local Government Council Chairman:
4. Most Environment Friendly Local Government Council Office
5. Most Environment Friendly Hotel
6. Most Environment Friendly Eatery
7. Most Environment friendly Radio Station
8. Environment Reporter of the Year - Radio
9. Environment Reporter of the Year - TV
10. Environment Partner of the Year - Individual
11. Environment Partner of the Year - Corporate
12. Environment Design Company of the Year

In view of the need to adhere to COVID19 protocols, attendance at the Award Ceremony is strictly by invitation.

A safe environment starts with you.

Let’s do it together!

#environment #awards #sustainability #climatechange #biodiversity

Ikot Ekpene local government chairman Mr. Unyime Etim says he is ready to lie down and roll on the floor before Governor Udom Emmanuel.

He said doing so during the commissioning of the project by the Senate President on Tuesday October 5, would be a small way of appreciating Governor Emmanuel for the road project.

Speaking during a visit to the project location on Monday, Mr Etim said he suffered vilification during the general elections because political merchants came out with false assertions that the 25kilometer dual carriageway will never be completed by Governor Emmanuel's administration.

He said he and all the people who remained resolute in their support for the Governor are vindicated by the completion of the project.

"I worked at the Ministry of Works and Transport when this project was awarded and I know the challenges that faced the project.

"I know that Governor Emmanuel has expended far more than what was initially estimated for this project, and he did that because he sincerely wants to develop the state.

"This road is Akwa Ibom's major gateway from the South Eastern part of the country and from other parts of Nigeria.

"Its completion shall engender economic activities between Ikot Ekpene, adjourning local government areas and the rest of the state", Mr Etim added.

In a live video presentation on the new road, some media aides of Governor Emmanuel, Messrs Sampson Akpan, Essien Ndueso and Solomon Eyo maintained that the road which Governor Emmanuel met at less than 20percent completion, demonstrates a new paradigm of equity and fairness in the distribution of commonwealth to the people.

The road is expected to be commissioned by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan by 2pm, Tuesday.

The road commissioning is part of activities signalling the state's 34th anniversary engagements.

Do you know that Oron Nation people are busy contributing money to sponsor few greedy elements to lodge Abuja, in the name of petitioning the Senate to stop the Ibom Deep Seaport Project?

Every Oro person has been asked contribute money to Oron Nation Redemption Fund. Through a
UBA a/c # 102 437 5*** of one Chief Papa Eskor Anwana who describes himself as Chairman of Oron Nation Redemption Fund.


An exclusive document circulated among Oron People says in part, "Oro People must immediately commence preparations to defend this important Petition and this will require funding for transportation and Hotel accommodation of Oro Nation Team in Abuja."

According to the leaked document from the Oron people, "Besides the defence of Oro Petition at the Senate , the Court has also ordered a judicial review of the attempted relocation. The legal team of Oro Nation will require to be funded."

Dear Akwa Ibom people, while others are fighting and contributing to develop their communities, and sponsor their children on scholarships and welfare packages, Oronians are mopping funds to sponsor few greedy elders to Abuja for a meaningless venture.



READ FULL TEXT BELOW:



Good day Oro. Please find above the extract of Senate Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday September 22, 2021 for your information.

Please take particular note of Petition number 3 before the Senate by our own Ambassador Dr.Etim Udo Uye and three others on the proposed relocation of Ibaka Deep Sea Port from its preferred location at Ibaka to Ibeno to be built as a Dugout Port.

"Petition from Ambassador Dr. Etim Udo Uye & three others against the Secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State on petition of the people of Oron Nation in Akwa Ibom State to the Government of Akwa Ibom State against the relocation (of Ibaka Deep Sea Port) to Ibeno to be built in an artificial ocean as adug out port;"

At the end of the debate on the petition, the petition was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics ,Privileges and Public Petitions and to report back in 4 weeks.

As usual the petitioners and others interested in the petition will be expected, at very short notice, to appear and testify before the Committee.

Oro People must immediately commence preparations to defend this important Petition and this will require funding for transportation and Hotel accommodation of Oro Nation Team in Abuja.

Besides the defence of Oro Petition at the Senate , the Court has also ordered a judicial review of the attempted relocation. The legal team of Oro Nation will require to be funded.

It is for situation as above that Oron Nation Redemption Fund account was established.

Every Oro person should please contribute to Oron Nation Redemption Fund. It is a patriotic duty.

UBA a/c # 102 437 5xxx

May God Bless Oron Nation

Chief Papa Eskor Anwana.
Chairman, Oron Nation Redemption Fund.

This is a leaked court petition by Oro People, served in the Federal High Court on July 2021.
To invest in Oron Land, you must have 40 percent of your money for litigation before using the remaining to put up the investment for them to benefit from.
Let's stop and think, for how long shall a few leaders within Oron Union continue to shift goal post and blindfold the peace loving people of Oro nation on this matter and prevent this profound economic renaissance from coming to Oro nation?
©
AKWA IBOM INTEGRITY ALLIANCE (2021)