By Udeme Nnana

It's a milestone season and it is usual for one to take stock. Some would review and measure different eras , different persons and styles with a view to handing down verdicts. Others might focus on key performance indices as a basis for their judgements while a biased columnist like me , an incurable optimist and positivist would characteristically look at the beautiful side of the moon , always.
One would like to begin by way of a full disclosure.I did not start out as one of his fans simply because the
medium of his arrival at the Hilltop mansion did not amuse me at all.One was alarmed and miffed by the fact that his 'political father' , perceived rightly or wrongly as the worst nightmare ever experienced in reality by discerning minds brought him into the saddle. But as days turned into weeks , weeks into months and months into years , I, like others, had what could be likened to the 'Saul on the way to Damascus' experience !
One realized that there are instances where a child who lost his way in the family has sired a reputable Reverend Father.One has also seen the son of an unapologetic witch - doctor become a fire eating Christian Evangelist winning souls for Christ. To stretch those examples , one's eyes opened on a discovery that a thorough and an objective close reading of the genealogy of The Lord Jesus Christ traced his family tree to Rahab , a practitioner of the legendary oldest profession in the world !.
Now the assignment is for our fathers of faith and religious scholars to determine if the verdict of The Lord Jesus Christ "let him who has no sin cast the first stone' had anything to do with the Lord Jesus Christ's consciousness of that famous 'family' background.
The lesson there is that good could come from bad just as the worst could come straight from the loins of the best.Such is life !
Definitely ,this explains why the Governor has briddled his tongue against talking about the world heavy , neck - breaking debt burden which has put a leash on his development agenda ?
From my observatory, one is cock - sure that if Governor Emmanuel spilled the beans on the mindless financial recklessness and mess which pressed him down from the beginning and which still hangs on his neck like an albatross, most Akwa Ibom people would gladly pick up stones and head towards Ukana , in search of his 'political father' to punish him for financial indiscretions.
So firstly , I love him for carrying that heavyweight financial sins graciously like a good political son. It is an uncommon display of courage and loyalty because its not a light and easy load trying to grapple with such empty shells like that football pitch along Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard , which most people wrongly call an International stadium .The 4 - Point Sheraton , the Ibom Specialist Hospital, the Tropicana and cinemaplex, unpaid gratuities and the Uyo - Ikot Ekpene highway to mention but a few that only people outside government can see.
Another action which has endeared the Governor to me was his decision to grant my own political father , Obong Attah, the father of modern Akwa Ibom State, that old man's death wish in his lifetime.In renaming the Akwa Ibom Airport in honour of Obong Attah , Governor Udom Emmanuel can do no wrong where I sit in judgement. That decision showed love, sowed love , respect and was a display of statesmanship which Governor Emmanuel would also harvest in due season.
Let me be personal in a moment ; the Ikpe Ikot Nkon - Arochukwu road project in INI , my Local government area of origin had defied all previous efforts to construct before now , but with its construction by Governor Emmanuel, there is a fresh breath in the entire landscape. The rice and cocoa farms in that food basket community had existed as tales told many times across generations since the collapse of the Eastern region but as one writes , there is a resurgence and a motivation to embrace Agriculture. The Governor has also solved an age - long political problem there too by giving my ODORO - IKONO homestead , a much marginalised locality in INI , a deserving clan of its own.Although the 'INI proper' indigines have cornered all the major political positions for themselves , someday a Daniel will come to judgement on that matter.
As a public servant , one is much in love with Governor Udom Emmanuel for being workers friendly.People forget too soon.There was an era with so much money but salaries were paid sometimes two weeks into a new month. Under the present administration, workers get paid as at when due.Like the transportation system in developed countries ; alerts are 'on time'. Among Lawyers , the expression is 'timeous' !
The impact of this policy of making workers salaries the first monthly expenditure includes better planning, workers can borrow and pay back on schedule .They can buy on credit and pay at month end.This has restored the self respect of workers , their dignity and integrity.There are more things to a happier life but those little things matter as they engender a more peaceful , relaxed and sunnier existence.
A transformation which a lot of folks still find difficult to come to terms with is the inflow of foreign direct investment , (FDI) into the state under the watch of the Governor.The questions people ask are the benefiting sectors , the total worth in United States Dollars or Naira and kobo , origin of the inflows and the reasons for the welcome development.It is pertinent to underscore that serious global investors constitute a cartel and being human beings , they also whisper among themselves; they gossip , they share information , experiences and fears.They do serious background checks on leaders and prospective environments which beckon to them and apart from infrastructure, they look at security , corporate governance issues and tax regimes.They look at 'ease of doing business' issues. Perception is now a huge capital which ranks very high on decisions regarding the most conducive location to venture into and to me , Governor Udom Emmanuel ticks right in all the considerations which investors consider.
The Ibom Airline ,The Syringe and Electricity meter companies are laudable initiatives of the Governor.
It was Peter Thiel and Blake Masters who wrote that 'every moment in business happens only once.The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system.The next Larry Page or Sergy Brin won't make a search engine. And the next Mark Zukerberg won't create a social network" .
Their argument is that others who would come after those ones would have models and examples to build on and that it is much easier to build on an existing foundation than to create something completely new ; out of nothing.This writer sees Governor Emmanuel as one who has created entirely new landmarks from absolutely nothing - the aforementioned industries , the glittering 21 - storey smart office complex, the world class isolation facility at Methodist Hospital , Ituk Mbang. Indeed , his regime has restored Akwa Ibom as an oasis of peace in the South South zone of Nigeria.
This Columnist celebrates Governor Udom Emmanuel, a Church centred leader for banning cult groups which wreaked unconscionable violence across the state.He has steered the state away from a 'point and kill' era where human life was so cheap and the common question on the lips of everyone was 'who is it this time'.
Yes , I love the Governor because like me , he is a man of peace.Another full disclosure here ; I am also 'Church centred' !
The Governor's prudence comes with the territory given his professional training and work experience.His insistence on value for money may not sit well with professional politicians but those of us who are professionals know that money must be earned as money not earned loses value and is easily wasted on frivolities.
Nevertheless, much as one loves him , one implores him to make sure that he completes the second and third ring roads and the Nnung - Oku Ikono fly - over and highway to Etinan including infrastructures in Eket. The post Covid - 19 economy would try his soul and capacity but his professional background makes him the man for this time . He should also perish the idea of a reduction of workers salaries because mopping the increases will not boost the revenue profile of the state drastically. Rather , leaving that item would endear him to the largest segment of Akwa Ibom people . Afterall, the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state has also increased in leaps.
His fairlure to complete and showcase Ring roads 2 and 3 projects would dent his legacy.It would have been better he did not start work on them than leave them uncompleted.That is a tough call indeed.
However , a toast to him on his Fifth anniversary is that God should help him to 'see' more clearly so he doesn't become a lameduck with a feet of clay as he embarks on his home run.

After pondering on series of publications made on social and perhaps print media with all, bouncing to an unsubstantiated propagation that the shoe, that is to say legacies left behind by former governor Godswill Akpabio is an oversized shoe for the present governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

I was bewildered to some extent that I asked myself. Did the former governor of Akwa Ibom State now a castellated Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio stationed a Jerusalem in the State during time as governor? Excluding of Heaven or Paradise as outrightly christened by the Jehovah Witnesses' congregation, if Akpabio was unable to at least stimulate Akwa Ibom equivalent to, if not better than Jerusalem before the expiration of his tenure as governor, then his band of supporters are undisputably making caricature of him. In our dialect, one would say " ado edóng".

I believe if their katzenjammer is about the execution of projects, everyone, both in Akwa Ibom and outside the shores of the State would sternly rebuke them. The present governor of the State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has invested copiously in executing impressive projects. I believe there's more to their brouhaha than what we are cognizant of. At the end of this piece, we would be able to apprehend if Gov. Udom Emmanuel has truly failed as conceived by the harum sacrums.

Before Akpabio's tenure as governor elapsed, so many maniacal activities within the State had made people to see it as a citadel of insecurity and anti-social activities. The place was deserted by investors, tourists and even indigenes because of these vices. Politically motivated assassination and kidnapping which were strategies for either driving away or incapacitating politicians they opined to be rebels or uncompromised. The State was hot and blooded for anything good to come from it. This tempo, they wanted Mr. Udom Emmanuel to maintain.

Antecedently, tertiary institutions across the State were regarded as militia encampments. Our students were brainwashed into cultism, taught how to handle sophisticated and locally prepared arms. They succeeded in this by always maintaining " I cannot give you fish everyday, allow me to teach you how to fish". Some became victims of school dropout, but that didn't alter the fact that even the ones in school were manipulated or induced into thuggery. This was their sole essence of being indoctrinated, all for the reason of sourcing for fish for themselves.

While some of these boys were massacred in active services for their paymasters, others were used, dumped with jeopardized futures. Some others were even bewitched and killed by their paymasters. This is what was expected of the present governor, to either raise or maintain the realm of evil forest cum cult activities in the State. It'll also interest you to note that if not completely annihilated, cultism in Akwa Ibom State has been reduced to its minimal. You can now behold the rationale why the pioneers and sponsors of cultism are against the present governor. One reason the acclaimed cultists for Christ are mobilizing mercenaries against the State Governor.

Execution of monumental projects/ commissioning of uncompleted projects was a generally embraced culture in their time. After dispatching more than triple of the real amount for a certain project, the project would be left unfinished but commissioned and hyped on television channels, Radio stations print media and as well social media. Some of these projects were subjected to money variation but at that, they were still abandoned.

The Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Center according to them was going to be an ultra-modern relaxation center, but tears enveloped my eye the day I realized that billions of naira was released for same project but yet, Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Center presently is nothing but an international popcorn stand. Yes, I heard they sell one of the best popcorns there and thus, people trip in daily to purchase the popcorn. If not that promiscuity has been abolished in this regime, the place would have been the center of commercial promiscuous activities.

The Nest of Champions, otherwise referred to as the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is another monument that strikes me sick each time I ascertain its actual standard as proposed by them, how much was released for that project and its current fate.

A whopping sum of N100bn was proposed and released for an Olympic-sized stadium with so many facilities like, Basketball courts, lawn tennis courts, volleyball courts, swimming pools, among other essential facilities. I didn't mean to make you cry, but I want you to note that the monument called Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is nothing but an International Viewing Center. It's actually the best in the world. With the N100bn released for the project, the State Government is still owing the company, Julius Berger a huge sum. There's no year the Government does not pay at least N400m to the company in a bid to augment the debt. Again, they wanted the present governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to reign in this state.

On Covid-19, if it was between 2007-2015, Akwa Ibom State would have had confirmed cases that triples the total cases in Nigeria. Akpabio would have taken advantage of the pandemic as a money-making venture. The Covid-19 relief funds given to the most affected States would have been doubled for Akwa Ibom State. So many of our youths would have been confirmed positive, and in the respective isolation centers, they would have been paid N5000 each day. This would go on that by the time we start having the real Covid-19 cases, there wouldn't be space or proper medical attention for them. Now, they would be left with the option to either stay and die, or go into the streets and spread the virus.

The accolades given to the Governor for changing the face of our health sector would have been the opposite if Akpabio was still the governor. Revamping and equipping the hospitals with up-to-date equipment is one project Akpabio wouldn't have ventured into, because it won't endow him the opportunity of turning it into a money-making venture. Hence, the fight against the novel corona virus disease would have been far from being successful.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, so many people in the State, especially members of the opposition party would have decided to run away from the State than to stay and be assassinated by unknown gunmen. It was as dangerous as this.

With these, I can deduce that the Akpabio's paid media mercenaries who are shedding crocodile's tears are bunch jokers of the century to have believed everyone would posses their deceitful tendencies.

Mr. Udom Emmanuel has not failed and will never fail his people. They were the ones who failed Akwa Ibom State.

Aniefiok Macauley

At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach. Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky.

The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away, but it landed on another lady in the group. Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama. The waiter rushed forward to their rescue. In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter. The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt. When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant.

Above presents a picture of the ability and inability of many a person to manage crisis and attitude to crisis situation as postulated in the Cockroach Management Theory by Sundar Pichai.

In his conclusion, Pichai reasoned that it was not the cockroach, but the inability of those people to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach, that disturbed the ladies. Thus, while the ladies reacted without getting any positive result, the waiter responded to the situation in a perfect manner.

Crisis comes in different shades and colours and managing it, is one of the numerous challenges confronting humans on daily basis. Some may be predictable while others unpredictable. At times, it could be intrapersonal, interpersonal and in some cases, global in nature like Covid-19.

In whatever nature, form and shade the crisis comes, the outcome whether successful or not would largely depend on the attitude, knowledge and confident level of the crisis manager.

The insurgence of the COVID-19 has once again thrown up the leadership capacity of crisis management by state governors and heads of government of many nations.

While some leaders have been blamed by their citizens for the poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic owing to their lackadaisical approach to curtailing the number of deaths, others have been commended for leading the fight from the front.

Interestingly, just as, it may not be the shouting of bosses in the office that disturb us, but our inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shout, so it may not be the noise of the minority members of the opposition who criticize every steps of a leader in the handling of the situation but the ability or attitude of the leader towards the generated noise.

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state, even in much more better ways than the waiter in the Pichai’s theory has often times shown a legendary prowess in responding to crisis that are far more complicated than the cockroach analogy. In doing that, he has always led in the front, maintained a positive attitude and gave hope that solution was realizable.

Good enough, the governor is not new to crisis management. For instance, he successfully managed the economic recession of 2016. While most of his counterparts ran to the center for bailout funds to pay salaries of their employees, and others even with bail-out funds owed salaries for ten months or more, Governor Emmanuel expertly navigated the troubled waters of recession without owing salaries and pensions.

Needless to point out that even at close shave with fatality, the governor has always risen to the occasion in showing exemplary leadership by leading in front. Many are appreciative of the strength and confidence he exuded in the management of the December 10, 2016 Reigners’ Church collapse crisis which led to the control of the death toll and rapid treatment of the victims.

Regardless, Governor Emmanuel also proved book makers wrong in their assumptions that Akwa Ibom was a flash point of the 2019 elections. By his peaceful mien, godliness and pursuit of peace with all men, he refused to be distracted by the sounds of the drums of war beaten by the Warsaw saw war political warlords.

In a rare exhibition of the character of the biblical Zedekiah, on the eve of the governorship elections, Governor Emmanuel went to the Latter House Chapel and offered prayer to God. He requested God to honour His name against those who taunted the Only God mantra.

Moreso, he prayed for the peaceful election, echoing the words similar to that of former President Goodluck Johnathan that “his ambition and that of any politician was not worth the blood of any innocent person”. The result was that the “mercenaries and militants investors” brought in from Edo and Rivers states by the opposition were either arrested or retreated from the state without firing a shot.

Today, just about a year after that, the governor is again called to the task of managing yet another crisis of a different dimension that has already sent over 95000 persons to their early graves in places like the United States alone and over three million worldwide.
Though no one planned for the pandemic of this magnitude, Governor Emmanuel as usual has shown himself ready to confront the pandemic headlong. Recalled that while others trembled out of fear and reacted to the pandemic by intuition, the governor, like that waiter, studied the situation, exuded confidence and took appropriate steps that have paid off.

Rather than reacting to issues or playing to the gallery by jumping in front of a moving truck, talking tough or sending his exco members and aides to keep vigil at the motor parks and boundaries, the governor adopted a digital approach to checking influx of people into the state.

Knowing that the dissemination of accurate and factual information is key to crisis management the governor ensures that this is done for the citizens and residents to be kept abreast of measures the government have taken to contain the pandemic.

Within the last two months, the governor in a bit to updating the people on the progress made in the fight against the pandemic, has had at least three statewide special broadcast, three media live interactions beaming across all social networks, radio and television as well as two press conferences. These are besides, the frequent briefings through his Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Incident Management Committee Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.

Perhaps, to show that those infected are still humans and should not be treated like animals by keeping them in makeshift canopies, caravans and tents at playing grounds, the governor ensured that there is a well-furnished isolation center at the Ibom Specialty Hospital as well as initiated and completed a state-of-the-art 300 bed isolation centre in Ituk Mbang in just about 30 days awaiting commissioning.

Besides, the governor has taken steps to ensure a quick recovery of the state from the pangs of Covid-19 by setting up a committee for economic reconstruction of the state, the Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Committee, headed by renowned economists Prof Akpan Ekpo.

Mindful of the fact that times may be difficult and no volume of palliatives would be sufficient to satisfy the over six million Akwa Ibom people, the governor, in a statewide radio and television broadcast empathized that he also feels the pain and he is together as always with the people.

There is no magical words that could be so soothing and reassuring than hearing Governor Emmanuel say “you have entrusted me with the responsibility of leading you and on this issue as with all other issues, I will continue to lead you from the front”, adding “I can promise you that we will leave no stone unturned in the fight against this pandemic”.
“ we may have been bruised but we will not be broken, while hoping for the best, we will prepare for the worst but rest assured that whatever that worst may be, it will not break us,
“I am hopeful that with God on our side, this pandemic shall pass and we will be able to say that we have been counted and not one of us is missing”, he enthused.

Macauley, a journalist writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom state

Good Governance Assembly (GGA) a foremost sociopolitical group in Akwa Ibom state, has uncovered a sinister plot to sponsor campaign of calumny against the governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

GGA revealed that it has obtained an exclusive intelligence concerning an evil plot by certain politicians in Akwa Ibom State to sponsor a media campaign aimed at smearing and besmirching the sterling character of the Governor, Udom Emmanuel has been uncovered.

According to a press statement by the group’s President General, High Chief Aniekan Essien, who met with some media men in Uyo, Sunday, “we have obtained exclusive and incontrovertible details received, a group of journalists were approached in Lagos by certain politicians in the State with the expressed assignment to write spurious, libellous and false stories about the Governor. The evil plot according to the details available is aimed at smearing the image and character of the Governor.

“The journalists, who were approached with huge sums of money to execute the evil plot, however, turned down the evil assignment. We were shocked and morally outraged that a fine gentleman who is seen as a highly successful governor, educated, urbane, worldly and who is working so hard to industrialize the State and change the mindset of the people; a decent gentleman blessed with Christian values and orientation, a man of peace and development could be so vilely targeted, just to settle political scores. It is outrageous and morally reprehensible and our conscience would not allow us to be used to bring down the image of this fine and capable leader and gentleman.

The group applauded the governor for focusing on developments in the state

“When we saw the news in the media about the addition of a new aircraft to the fleet of Ibom Air, the development that is taking place all over the State, even the proactive handling of the Covid-19 pandemic by the governor, and other great achievements recorded by him across sectors, we rose to expose the agents of darkness who were bent on publishing falsehood and blackmail-laden stories on the governor”.

“We categorically state that this is a sad commentary on the state of our politics; that a fine gentleman like the governor should be a target for smear campaign just for political purposes, this is very sad and unfortunate and we want to alert Nigerians about this style of ugly and depraved politics”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/group-exposes-plot-to-smear-gov-udom-emmanuel/

Post Covid-19 Strategy.

As part of government strategies to enforce the lockdown order to the later, to check illegal immigrants, particularly at the entry point of Akwa Ibom State, the Akwa Ibom State government through the executive chairman Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Hon. Atuekong Ubong Idiong laid the foundation and also monitored the installation of 3G Camera at the East-West road of Oruk Anam being the boundary between Akwa Ibom State and Rivers State.

This is in fulfilment of Governor Udom Emmanuel's promise during one of his state broadcast that the state government will install 3G camera in all boarders of the state to checkmate illegal movement and activities into the state during this COVID-19 pandemic

Ealier, the Oruk Anam council boss, Hon Atuekong Ubong Idiong in a bid to promote rural and traditional institution, he made a donation of a new motorcycle to the palace of the Paramount Ruler of the area for domestic use and prompt dissemination of information in the rural area.

Responding,the Paramount Ruler,HRM Akuku Engr J. J. Obosi (JP) thanked the Chairman for his kind gesture. The Royal father, stated that since in he lives in the royal area, the motorcycle for now will be of great help for the despatch of information to traditional rulers in the area and other domestic errand.

Akuku Obosi said he is optimistic that the Chairman being a humble and a cheerful giver will soon donate a back-up vehicle to him. He assured the executive chairman of the continuous support and blessings of the royal fathers to his administration now and beyond.

In another development, Atuekong Idiong upon being informed on the attack by hoodlums at the palace of the Clan Head of Nung Ikot Clan, His Highness Obong Mfon Jimmy and carted away valuable properties and a motorcycle, the Chairman in his swift response also donated a new motorcycle and other gifts to the Clan Head to aid his movement within the rural area

Obong Mfon Jimmy appreciated Hon. Idiong, saying he is a good man, that having heard of his predicament, the Chairman decided to salvage the situation. He prayed God to bless the Chairman and his cabinet.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC is an interventionist Agency which was established by an act of parliament for the sole mandate of developing the Niger Delta Region. Subsequently, a Federal ministry, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was created and its core responsibility was to oversee and report progress of development in the region before the Federal Executive Council.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC was to become a parastatal under the ministry and the core mandate of the Commission was to train and educate the youths of the oil rich Niger Delta regions to curb hostilities and militancy, while developing key infrastructure to promote diversification and productivity. Now, one would be forced to ask, " has this dream been fulfilled thus far?

Tracing antecedents, one could picture how woeful NDDC, as well as the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta have fared in the discharge of their core mandates. The objectives behind their establishment have outrightly been defeated, and it takes consistent reawakening activities by patriots of the region for actual reparation by them.

Without mincing words, notable organizations like the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF which is chaired by a one-time Military governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, rtd amongst others, have unanimously taken upon themselves the burden of striving to ensure the improprieties in the Commission and Niger Delta region at large are wholly corrected. This, every right thinking person from the region would support for proper accountability in the Commission which is for the general interest of the region. And not to be used as a mercenary of destruction to anyone who dare to call NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta to probity.

Having perused on the Press Statement of PANDEF which commended the National Assembly on the probe of NDDC, it's saddening to note that it does not in anyway warrant the relentless insults, abuses and castigation on the Chairman of the Forum, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga by some sponsored mercenaries.

On the Press Statement, the former Military governor enumerated the many challenges faced in the Niger Delta region and the need for both Chambers of the National Assembly to be patriotic not to drop the petition because of the pressure that would be mounted on them by some Desperados. I did not stumble upon any line which described the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Desperado or among the Desperados. But a couple of APC media hirelings and political contractors in Akwa Ibom State have claimed otherwise through concocted Press Statements, . Maybe they are indirectly trying to tell the world about how desperate Akpabio is, and how far he would go to mounting pressure on the National Assembly to decline the probe of his ministry and NDDC. But how would they be so mean to have turned to ironically bait Senator Akpabio even after being induced financially.

As the then governor of the State and subsequently Senator representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Akpabio's greatest philosophy was " what money cannot do more money can do". Thus, he would always create hopes from absolute hopelessness. Everything would be manipulated to occur the way he wanted. Because of how dangerous this philosophy had been, the former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Olusegun Obasanjo had warned Barr. Mike Igini who served as as the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Akwa Ibom State to run away from Senator Akpabio. " If you allow him come near you, he'll give you an offer you may never be able to reject". This was his advice to the INEC REC. Because the INEC REC adhered strictly to this elderly advise, Akpabio and his cohorts had sought for all available avenue to destroy Igini's image. The rest is history for those that know or would want to know.

Today, some unregistered groups are unceasingly threatening both Chambers of the National Assembly to drop the proposed probe of Akpabio and NDDC's wanton and reckless spending of about N42bn within few weeks. Some acclaimed Niger Delta Militant groups are not left out of this. This was what PANDEF meant by pressure. We thank God that at last, Akpabio's core mercenary has been able to indirectly point at Akpabio as the man behind the scene. This means that Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga who's from the same State with Senator Akpabio understands him better than others who are not from their State.

I also read an open letter to Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga written by one Rachel Etuk, one of the Akpabio's media foot soldiers. In her piece, she descended on the Elder why he should dare call the attention of the Federal Government and National Assembly to the abandoned East-West road which has been under construction for more than 15years now. She cried bitterly why the former Military governor should involve Akpabio to the hapless condition of the road considering the fact that Akpabio is barely a year in office as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

Sincerely speaking, I didn't see where Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga said or wrote that Akpabio is the reason why the East-West road is in that misfortunate state it is currently. Rachel linking Akpabio's name to this is something I do not understand. Was she trying to say that the N43bn that's been complained missing would somehow or someday be said to have been disbursed for the construction of that road without the requiring paper work? She really needs to explain to her paymaster, Akpabio why she had to drag his name to the East-West road saga. Maybe next time, Rachel would learn to digest a piece carefully with utmost understanding before venturing into giving reactions either against or in support. That's if she's even intelligent enough to read without the help of a second party.

Because they were trained to always attack personalities and not issues, Rachel in her open letter to the highly respected Akwa Ibom Elder had tried to soil his hard-earned reputation. One of the points she raised was that throughout Akpabio's 8-years in office as governor, the former Military governor had supported Akpabio unreservedly. "If Akpabio was that corrupt, why then did you support him throughout those years? This was the question Rachel put forward to H.E Idongesit Nkanga.

I don't know if Rachel has never made a mistake in her life before. If she'll claim not to have made any mistake in her life, she should know that life is like a football game. A center referee may blow his whistle, awarding a penalty kick against one side of the teams. But on looking critically at the VAR, he then discovers that his decision to have given a penalty kick was so grossed. He blows the whistle again calling for a fair play as against the penalty kick he had awarded earlier. That's how life is. Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga after the 8-years of Akpabio as governor discovered that if Akpabio had used 40% of the total money that had flourished in the State as at then, Akwa Ibom State would have been better than Dubai today. Rachel, if you were in his position, wouldn't you have called off the penalty kick the way Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga did? Be sincere to yourself for once!

Again, I saw where one of the media urchins of the Minister tried to explain how Akpabio made Idongesit Nkanga who he is today. This is only ludicrous. How's it possible for Akpabio to have made a man who was made even before Akpabio graduated from college? At times, I don't debate when some people maintain that everyone in Akpabio's camp is a tramadol addict. 'Akpabio made Idongesit Nkanga' is only but a statement that is tramadolically motivated.

I don't know how possible they think that blackmail, castigation and insult on anyone who dare support the National Assembly on the probe of the Interim Management Committee of NDDC and Senator Godswill Akpabio would help them quench the fire that has been burning and about setting the Minister and his cohorts ablaze.

I'm yet to understand how all the threats by some faceless and Militant groups would help make both Chambers of the National Assembly decline the probe of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and NDDC over the undocumented reckless spending of about N43bn within few weeks.

At this point, I'm left with no option than to state that Akpabio's efforts to subvert the Elders of Niger Delta as well as the National Assembly is nothing but the last kicks of a drowning horse. When it's time, he'll appear before both Chambers of the National Assembly to give proper account of the sudden disappearance of N43bn.


Umani Uwemedimo, a good governance advocate and public affairs analyst, writes from Uyo.

The myriad of vicious media attacks and insults against the National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum(PANDEF), His Excellency, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga(rtd), over his endorsement of the National Assembly's intention to probe the alleged N40 billion fraud by NDDC is uncalled for.

As an elder statesman, his responsibility include advocating for good governance, Justice and adherence to democratic principles by political office holders, which he has done over the years.

PANDEF as an advocacy forum made up of elders with sound minds from the Niger Delta extraction has from time to time been advocating for a currupt-free Nigeria, supporting good leadership among others since its inception, and no one ever coughed. But it makes a concerned mind to wonder why the recent call by PANDEF for the NASS to continue with the planned probe of alleged misappropriation of funds by the NDDC and the Interim Management Committee(IMC) has raised dust, instigating attacks from APC loyalists in the state against the leadership of PANDEF.

The forum was equally in support of President's Buhari's order for the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) last year. But why this attack on Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga this time around?

Media hirelings sponsored by the Minister of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sen. Godswill Akpabio have not failed to insult the elder statesman, calling him names for standing for justice and equity. A faceless group named "Akwa Ibom State Concerned Elders" has equally spat fire, wailed and panted over the development, calling the leadership of PANDEF names. It makes one to begin to think that the Akwa Ibom Concerned Elders is a beneficiary of the proceeds of fraud that has bedeviled and amputated the growth and strength of the Commission. Why should elders support fraud and corruption? Why shouldn't they respect themselves and wait for the outcome of the forensic audit?

Why would such a group shamelessly kick against the path of justice, especially at a time when coronavirus pandemic has devastated our economy, leaving it in a state of economic convulsion?

What did Idongesit Nkanga really say that triggered such insult from Akpabio's boys and those retired and politically irrelevant elders? It must be noted that during the time that Idongesit Nkanga was sacrificing for the repositioning of Akwa Ibom State politically and otherwise, some of the people calling themselves elders were doing 419 businesses.

Since our son Godswill Akpabio is at the helms of affairs of the NDDC, should PANDEF which is much concerned with the affairs of the Niger Delta fold their hands and watch things go wrong in that Commission? No. It should not be so. If Akpabio is clean, there should not be any reason for fear and paid insult. Such forensic audit to be carried out by the National Assembly is in the best interest and development of the Niger Delta.

Throughout Akpabio's tenure as governor, Idongesit Nkanga was solidly behind him, playing both advisory and fatherly role throughout his tenure. Why is such fatherly role considered an attack on Akpabio today?

It is very obvious that an old woman would always feel uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb. But let us all, especially the Niger Deltans wait for the outcome of the forensic audit, and then truth shall speak for itself.

By Essien Ndueso 

Agricultural development under Governor Udom Emmanuel has catapulted Akwa Ibom state into a bastion of food sufficiency. A man with rare foresight and unprecedented creativity, Governor Emmanuel, on assumption of office caused a cherished revolution in the agricultural sector. 

His drive towards Food Sufficiency necessitated the opening up of the hinterlands with high quality roads networks, creating access to the rich agricultural prospects across the State. This redeeming wind blew across Ini, Obot Akara, Uruan, Oron, Oruk Anam and others. Such critical opening up preceded and gave rise to the flourish and boom in agricultural activities in those areas.

The Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, the Foreign Direct Investment Committee comprising indigenous egg heads have worked hand in gloves with the State Ministry of Agriculture and Women Affairs to coordinate the Agricultural renaissance and diversify the state's economy. Their efforts in line with the Terms of Reference spelt out by the Governor helped facilitate  the acquisition of new improved seedlings of cocoa, maize and rice as well as fast tracked improved plantain and cassava productions. 

Cocoa production received a special attention through the training of farmers on modern skills to embark on a cocoa maintenance scheme and only recently distributed Agro Chemicals –NAPSAC Sprayers to all cocoa farmers . This initiative ripened the successes and prosperity in cocoa production. The state has suddenly become the largest cocoa producing state in Nigeria.

There is also the revolution in the growth of vegetables like cucumber and tomatoes, with the establishment of large green houses in the state. This means that in season and out of season, the farms do not blink. 

Mr Emmanuel has equally upped the ante of storage and processing of agricultural products to add value to the efforts of rural farmers.  There are various cassava processing mills in the State; a grinding that is directly responsible for the crashing of the price of garri, and further attestation to the food sufficiency praxis of the State.

Farmers are fed improved inputs from the State Government ranging from improved cassava stems, rice seedlings and fertilizers, to encourage farmers to cultivate all year round and ensure abundant food in the state.  Another staple food in Akwa Ibom State is Rice, and indeed there also has been a high rising profile in rice production. With rice mills strategically located in the State as the Ibom Agricon Rice at Ini Local Government Area, and yet another one, Sacam Rice Mill at Ikono, and the Ibom Golden Rice in Ibiono, there is an abundance of the commodity for the people. 

The state government is embarking on distribution of improve seedlings to farmers and provision of mechanized farm implements to assist in the enhanced rice cultivation. The Commissioner for Ariculture and Women Affairs, Dr. Glory Edet, explained that the rice is cultivated both upland and swampy areas.  The 11,000 hectares coconut plantation has received a boost with adequate attention to quality fertiliser  while another span of land in Okobo has been reserved for more coconut plants to feed the Coconut Oil Factory being executed in the state.

The wind of industrialization has also blown refreshingly across agriculture. This is evident in the fertilizer blending plant to blend fertilizer to meet the needs of the local farmers. The fertilizer blending plant does not walk alone on the lane of industrialization brightened by agriculture. The five hundred metric tonnes capacity King's Flour Mill is conspicuous as a cynosure of agricultural strides.

Beyond crop farming, the livestock market is also in the radar. Recently, the governor completed the central abattoir project in Itam, standing it out as the very best in this part of the country.

The Governor’s drive to make Akwa Ibom the poultry nerve center of the entire South South and South East regions,  informed the completion of an ultra-modern world class hatchery for day old chicks at Mbiaya Uruan. This hatchery has a poultry farm for parents stock and also modern facilities for off-taking and processing the matured birds from farmers. 

The vision of the Governor in stimulating the local economy and encouraging small and medium scale enterprises, prompted him to commence a 3bn naira revolving loan facility which means that traders, small businesses’ owners and are exposed to an interest free loan ranging from 100,000 to 5million naira. This is in addition to the interest free loan to N 2000 cassava and corn farmers.

Tens of thousands of traders can comfortably link the boost in their businesses to these visionary steps. The Governor has embarked on changing the story of market places in the State, with new markets replacing old dilapidated structures and capping it all with the ultra modern market in Eket.

The governor believes that the power sector is germane to the success of agricultural transformation in the State. Thus the revolution in the power sector, including the establishment of several power substations across the State has significantly reduced overhead cost in the production process of the food processing and other allied industries.

Governor Udom Emmanuel's vision in the agricultural sector has passed a critical litmus test. During the most turbulent time of the Coronavirus that ravaged the world, with Nigeria having a taste of the chunk, Akwa Ibom State flew on the wings of agricultural planning. When there were no interstate movements, or the difficulty of, the food sufficiency vision of the State came to roost. The flour mill and rice mills in the State became like Joseph's food pyramids in Egypt that saved the people. 

Akwa Ibom State is a flagship in agriculture whether in cultivation of the soil for man's use, tending of livestock, storage and processing of agricultural products or in their distribution and marketing. Governor Emmanuel is leading green revolution through well thought out fertilized agricultural policies and programmes.

He believes that for Akwa Ibom State to achieve food sufficiency, there must be more tractors in the farms than luxury SUVs in the streets. This is the secret of the bumper harvest in the agricultural sector that is witnessed in the State presently.

It is all-together, a leadership of fertile innovation and creativity in agriculture, where Governor Udom Emmanuel remains the farmer-in-chief. It is a flourishing experience in the State, in and out of season.

Richard Peters

Stretching over a 240 square meter area at Ituk Mbang in Uruan LGA of Akwa Ibom state, is a magnificent architectural masterpiece which houses the Ultramodern Infectious Diseases Hospital, an irresistible structure reputed to accommodate the first state-owned molecular laboratory in Nigeria.

What is most amazing about the seemingly 8th Wonder of the World is that it took only 41 days to start the project from the scratch and completed with state of the art medical equipment and standard building with its attendant aesthetic quality.

The center which has been frequented by various stakeholders including officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Members of Parliament, among others was initiated by Gov. Udom Emmanuel for the smooth management of the coronavirus pandemic in the state as he deliberately refused to go for a temporary structure which may be destroyed by wind.
And in obeisance to the instructions of the Governor, the Isolation Center is standing ready for use within record time.

One common attribute of Gov. Emmanuel that gets much deserved praise is the speedy implementation and delivery of projects as and when due, and this has earned him commendations from renowned institutions including the WHO.

Worthy of mention is the smart disposition of the Works Commissioner, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang and his team who have not only ensured that the project is completed in record time, but equally meets international standard as recommended by the WHO and NCDC.

To the amazement of many, Akparawa Inyang who has often been described as a digital works commissioner that has penchant for details, has followed up the project from the 4th of April when instruction was given for the construction of the Isolation Center till now that the facility is ready, crossing every 'T' and dotting every 'I' with clinical precision. In most of those days at work, he overworked himself and even passed some nights in his car at the project site. His effort is commended by Akwa Ibom people.

It might be surprising to learn that the breathtaking facility that is stunning in it's complexity has a 300 bed space structured into four wards, with 75 beds in each, 20 en-suites Doctors' Quarters, 26 Intercom lines in each ward and 4 Disinfection rooms for Doctors and Nurses.
Equally sitting high in the facility are Virology and Clinical laboratories, Canteen, 8 consulting offices, 4 changing rooms with 2 emergency exits.

The Center built with security consciousness is well fenced with 44 security cameras fitted strategically around the building, in addition to 20 fire hose stations. The facility also has 2 Ambulances and a laundry. This is indeed a well thought-out Nigeria's Miracle, as described by Dr. Sylvester Agwai, the state Coordinator of the WHO.

It must not be forgotten in a hurry that the idea of the construction of the Center was seen as a colossal waste of resources by some people, while many doubted the possibility of delivery in time. But this has gone a long way in showing that governance is a function of responsibility, which has been a major characteristic of Gov. Udom Emmanuel.

Both the Governor and the Works Commissioner were abused and insulted, but the result of a completed Isolation Center has quieted the naysayers, as the Center will not only serve the interest of Akwa Ibom people, but Nigerians in general.

The facility which will be commissioned on May 29, 2020, has earned Gov. Udom Emmanuel another point in the Completion Agenda's scorecard. This is another milestone in Gov. Emmanuel administration's effort to critically tame the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state and efficiently manage any other Infectious Diseases that may surface in the future.

We will defeat this common enemy as the state government is not allowing Akwa Ibom people to wander like sheep without a shepherd. This is equally seen in the selfless efforts of the health workers and other stakeholders who have contributed their quota in the fight against the pandemic. They deserve our commendations for standing at the forefront of the battle. Now that the well-equipped Isolation Center is ready for use, our collective victory is sure.

Governor Udom Emmanuel Unveils New Aircraft For Ibom Air

The Akwa Ibom State aviation industry has expanded with the acquisition of additional Aircraft which steps the number to four in the Ibom Air fleet .

The latest of the Aircraft is a 90 seater, Bombardier CRJ900, registration number 5N-BXP with the latest hyper technology safety device ; High Efficiency Air Filter (HEAF)

Receiving the Aircraft at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo , the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel said the aeroplane which has warranty in the domestic aviation is the latest addition to the fleet of Ibom Air.

"this is the latest in this fleet and when you have an airplane that is still within warranty in the domestic aviation, you can bit your chest that have quality product and that safety is assured", he explained.

Governor Emmanuel said that conceptualisation of the state investing in the aviation sector date back to 2016, adding that experts have attested to the quality of Aircraft owned and services operated by Ibom Air.

"....the air efficiency is super so nothing to fear and also our safety standard remains to be beaten by any other airline. I have the assurance of the management of the business that they will maintain instead of going down they will improve as there is room for improvement."

According to him, " one do not have to be afraid flying in the plane because it is fitted with air efficiency including safety-safe-net" and expressed optimism that in no time Ibom Air would be a reference point in the aviation industry of the West African sub region .

Earlier, the Chairman, Ibom Air Limited, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga Rtd, Asaid that the Aircraft was expected in the state last December but was delayed because of clearing issues and thanked God for the arrival of the Aircraft.

While explaining that " the plane is backed with modern facilities including hyper technology that is against bacteria and viruses, coronavirus inclusive", he commended the vision of the state administration to venture into the aviation sector, describing the investment as profitable.

Also speaking , the Chief Executive Officer, Ibom Air, Capt. Mfon Udom, said that it is a thing of joy to see the industry expanding and assured of quality service delivery to the teaming passengers on resumption of flight operations.

Highpoint of the event was unveiling of the Aircraft by Governor Udom Emmanuel, assisted by his Deputy Mr Mosses Ekpo, Prelate Sunday Mbang and Bishop Uma Ukpai who prayed for the success of the industry.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a Chinese firm, Wizchino Engineering Limited, has donated 20,000 pieces of facemask, 1,000 pieces of M95 facemask and 100 pieces of Infrared thermometer to Akwa Ibom State in support for the fight against COVID-19.

The presentation was done on Tuesday, May 19, at the conference room of the State Government’s Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.
Presenting the items, the Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Wia Jack, commended the state government on the proactive measures put in place to control the spread of the virus.

Receiving the items, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem thanked Wizchino Engineering Limited for registering their support for the state in the heat of the pandemic.
Witnessing the presentation were the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Domic Ukpong; his Information counterpart, Sir Charles Udoh in the presence of newsmen.

Press Release

In response to the prevailing economic realities of dwindling revenues, caused by the crash in the price of crude oil in the global market, His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, has painfully directed, the slashing of salaries of all political office holders by 20%.

His Excellency the Governor was confronted with an urgent need to take decision on either of two painful options: continue to pay the current salaries for a while and end up being totally unable to pay same subsequently or spread the discomfort (20% cut) sustainably over a period of time pending the return of crude oil price to normalcy in the global market.
We must not forget that it was by the same ancient principle of " necessity is the mother of invention", that led to the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Post COVID-19 ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE by His Excellency the Governor, to recommend navigable routes out of this global economic morass for our State.

Let us all know and appreciate the fact that these measures are temporary. Akwa Ibom State Government will transparently resume full payment of salaries when this dark cloud PASSES.

God bless Akwa Ibom State.

Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem
Secretary to the State Government

Ibom Air's fourth aircraft lands in Uyo Tuesday

All is now set for the arrival of the fourth aircraft in the fleet of Ibom Air.

A key benefit of Ibom Air’s very modern fleet of Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft is that they all come fitted with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.


The new aircraft is expected to touch down on the Victor Attah International Airport on Tuesday on May 19, 2020.

Ibom Air took delivery of the airline’s fourth Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft in Lagos on arrival from Calgary, Canada at about 10:48 pm on Tuesday May 5, 2020.

The airline in a statement had said, "We are very pleased to receive the first of our two recently purchased Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft, in line with our fleet expansion strategy.

"With this addition, our fleet grows to four aircraft. This particular aircraft, with registration number 5N-BXP, made its maiden commercial flight in May 2014 .

"Thus, Ibom Air continues to operate the lowest average fleet age amongst Nigeria’s airlines.

"This fleet strategy is in line with our vision to be a world-class African regional airline.


"We thank the Hon. Minister of Aviation, the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the NCAA, NAMA, FAAN and the Akwa Ibom State Government, for making it possible for us to ferry in this aircraft during this period.

"Keeping it in Canada waiting for the Covid-19 pandemic to pass, would incur huge and unnecessary hard currency costs for us," the statement concluded.

Press Release

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected the 10; very old, used vehicles donated by ExxonMobil for use in the COVID-19 contact tracing in the state.

The decision was taken at the State COVID-19 Committee meeting yesterday following an evaluation of the vehicles and other donations to the state by the oil company. The vehicles are considered too old and not in good enough operational conditions to withstand the rigors of contact tracing which they were meant to serve.

However, The state government has accepted the two ambulances and 20 hospital beds also donated by the oil company, despite the fact that the ambulances are converted buses while the beds are below the standard of those currently in secondary healthcare facilities in the state.

The Akwa Ibom State Government appreciates the continued support of corporate bodies and private individuals who have so far made cash or other materials donations towards the fight against COVID-19 in the state.

Citizens and Residents are advised to continue to maintain prescribed safety protocols.

Signed

Charles Udoh KSJ
Commissioner for Information
Akwa Ibom State

May 17, 2020

As part of efforts to set Akwa Ibom State on vantage for a robust post COVID -19 economy, the state government has approved the establishment of an e-Labour Data Bank to aid strategic manpower planning.

The Commissioner of Information, Mr. Charles Udoh, announced this Friday, while briefing Government House Correspondents at the end of the State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Udom Emmanuel at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Uyo.

He said that the Council has resolved to make available relevant information on indigenous manpower composition in the state for proper economic planning.

"One of the issues we decided on was the setting up of Akwa Ibom E-Labour Data Bank; a unique Labour Information and Mailing system for collation of Data of skilled and unskilled unemployed Akwa Ibom state indigenes.

"Data of indigenes employed in Federal Ministries, Departments And Agencies , MDAs, would also be collated. The idea here is for us to have the information at our finger tips to enable us take economic sound decisions for the state, especially when it has to do with manpower planning”, he explained.

Mr Udoh added that to actualise government vision of "Power For All By 2021Initaitive " a list of villages and communities without electricity have been collated to enable government work towards restoration of electricity in such communities.

"...recount that the state government launched the "Power for All By 2021 Initiative" during the last state anniversary and that initiative is ongoing. To fast track the initiative, today, the Council reviewed the list of communities that do not have electricity with a view to ensuring that every household in the state will be connected to the national grid ".

The Information boss who decried the challenge of vandalisation of electrical installations urged communities to protect public facilities in their domain, warning that other communities will not be deprived the opportunity of benefiting from such facilities in the guise of replacing a vandalized installations for communities that had benefited.

"Over the years, the challenge of government has been that transformers given to communities have been vandalized and that is why we have been calling on communities to protect their transformers because government cannot keep recycling transformers within a given community. So, if you protect your transformer and I protect my transformer, other communities will have the opportunity of having one”, he advised.

He said that the council also expressed concern over incidents of flood due to blockage of roads and drains and has resolved that residents of the state should take responsibility of keeping the drains in a functional state by clearing drains within their vicinities during environmental sanitation exercise.

Mr Udoh hinted that the meeting accorded the Council opportunity to be updated with activities of the Ministry of Health towards mitigating the Covid-19 Pandemic, review of ministerial responsibilities as well as receive updates on ongoing projects by MDAs.

Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, commends the leadership of the National Assembly on the decision to investigate the Alleged Financial Improprieties in the Niger Delta Development, NDDC, following allegations that huge amounts of public funds have been expended within three months, without due process, by the management of the Commission.

The glut of petitions in the public domain against the interim management committee is not only disturbing but embarrassing. PANDEF, therefore, welcomes the setting up of Committees by both Chambers of the National Assembly to investigate the allegations. The probes would help determine the validity or otherwise of the assertions, and save the people of the Region from the anguish of the ignominy.

We further commend the spirit of patriotism demonstrated by the South South caucus in both Chambers, particularly, Senator Thompson George Sekibo of Rivers state and Honourable Peter Akpatason of Edo state for sponsoring and supporting the motions that called for the investigation, in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively.

Recall that PANDEF had supported the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari last year. We made our position known in the communique issued at the end of the Forum's National Leadership Retreat held at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in October last year. PANDEF's backing of the forensic audit was informed by the appalling state of infrastructure in the region, and the Commission's continued failure to fast-track the region's development. The NDDC has been characterized with non-performance, poor management, misapplication and misappropriation of resources, and reckless perversion of its set objectives, while the Region is littered with abandoned projects.

We had, therefore, hoped that the forensic audit would expose and bring to book those behind the cacodemon of corruption in the NDDC. And that it would instill financial propriety in the management of the Commission, correct the years of underperformance, and subsequently, reposition the interventionist agency for better service delivery to the Region. But it now appears our hopes were misplaced.

President Muhammadu Buhari may have had good intentions in ordering the forensic audit, following the sack of the previous Board, and the subsequent appointment of an Interim Management Committee to oversee the affairs of the Commission for the period of the audit.

We further recall that, when some persons in the Region, who were opposed to the setting up of the IMC and jettisoning of the Board, which they considered an aberration of the NDDC Act, threatened violent protestations, PANDEF intervened and appealed for support for the IMC to carry out its assignment.

However, it is increasingly becoming difficult not to doubt if the process had not been hijacked by desperate politicians for selfish purposes. The Commission has been snared in a web of intrigues and counter intrigues since last year.

Regrettably, it is the people of the region that suffer the bane of the debauchery and continued failure of the Commission to deliver on its mandate.

Critical stakeholders of the region are concerned over these developments at the NDDC, and Mr. President's reported extension of the period of the Interim Management Committee to December 2020.

PANDEF, therefore, implores the Committees of both the Nigerian Senate and the House of
Representatives saddled with the task to rise above board, and write their names in gold, by
conducting a thorough investigation, without fear or favor. They should be mindful of persons with vested interests that may attempt to frustrate or compromise the investigation.

It is also not unexpected that pressures may be put on the National Assembly even by highly placed individuals of South South extraction to abandon this enquiry.

We thus urge members of the National Assembly to be true patriots, and not accommodate partisan considerations in this probe, because the hope of the people of the Niger Delta region and indeed Nigerians, for an improved NDDC is at stake.

It must be appreciated that the peace and development of the region is paramount, and that the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs and the NDDC, have critical roles to play in this regard. It was for this reason that, increased budgetary funding for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and interventionist agencies in the region like the NDDC, was one of the issues PANDEF highlighted in the 16-Point Demand, presented to the federal government on November 1, 2016.

The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, in particular, has a mandate to escalate socioeconomic
development in the Region by formulating and executing projects, and programmes as well as
coordinating intervention activities of Agencies, Communities, Donors, and other relevant Stakeholders involved in the development of the Niger Delta Region.

The Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs having been a Governor of one of the States in the region for eight years, we presumed, sufficiently understands the peculiarities and challenges of the Region, and thus, would act accordingly, in the best interest of the Region and its people. But it seems the Ministry's only focus now is the NDDC.

It is important to note that the first and only visible project undertaken by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is the East-West Road; after 13 years the road is still uncompleted; a haven for criminals and deathtrap. In fact, not even an inch of construction has been added in the last five years. To the 9thNational Assembly, history beckons.

Signed:

His Excellency, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, rtd, OFR
National Chairman, PANDEF, and former Military Governor, Akwa Ibom State.

May 13, 2020

Integrity is not bought, it is earned over time, and only few people have this rare virtue. Integrity is one asset that has opened doors to so many and suspended protocols to speed up the progress of others.But one thing is common, a man of integrity must be hated, abused, attacked and insulted. That is what Gov. Udom Emmanuel is passing through in the hands of those who hate honesty and transparency.

Gov. Emmanuel on good authority has a name that rings bell in the international market; a name that can attract blessings and support beyond the borders of Nigeria; a name that many have sought to use in flying to the Pinnacle of their careers, however it is applied. Hence, some writers whenever they seek relevance and patronage for their write ups, they attach the name Gov. Udom Emmanuel to it to sell their lies and falsehood, and create scene where there's none.

It is unthinkable to attempts to cast aspersions on a man who has built his life, career and future on the foundation of integrity over the years, with just a flimsy story about building a house in Ikoyi, Lagos State. And to show how dirty the heart of the writer is, he went ahead to list the names of people living on that same location.

The question that tasks a concerned mind is: In reality, can a Governor honestly afford to build a house from his income and allowances? Another one is: can a governor who before he joined politics, had risen to the echelon of his career as a banker afford such a building?

It is laughable that people would just wake up one day and start disgracing themselves in the name of investigative journalism.

Akwa Ibom state under Gov. Udom Emmanuel runs an open government where the account of the state is published every year and various transparency groups have adjudged Gov. Emmanuel's prudence in financial management. We have been in this state over the years, and we can boldly say the truth about past administrations. Common sense should tell us that no bank will ever entrust the fortunes(finances) of an entire nation in the hands of a greedy bank manager. Gov. Udom Emmanuel had gone beyond this height, and was handling an intercontinental assignment before God brought him to serve his people in the capacity of a governor. Can such a person afford a building in Ikoyi?

I do not believe less, the position of Ray Ekpu when he attempted to describe the scenery of recent events in the state and those behind them. In his words, " The list could also include congenital complainants, pull-them-down specialists, fetishists, preachers of pessimism, political perverts who seek recognition they haven't received and 2023 political contenders who are convinced that the Governor may not look in their direction when choices for electoral offices will be made. It is an aggregated assortment of the disgruntled".

Whether as a group or as individual, the aim is to cause mischief, destroy, steal and kill one's reputation, and nothing less. I strongly believe this is what the writer had wanted to achieve when he started crying that a Governor was building a house in Ikoyi, even during the lockdown in Lagos. Now I know that his right brain is malfunctioning, and the service of a psychiatrist is a necessity.

There are things that are worth thinking about especially at a time when the entire globe is seemingly helpless as the novel coronavirus is destroying lives and the economies of nations. The story of a building in Ikoyi is just another piece of distraction and must be ignored by all.

It is still fresh in our memories the stories of George Udom and Kufre Carter who laid false claims against the state government and the governor. Today, they are telling the whole world that they were lying, and that Akwa Ibom people should forgive them. Many have not learnt their lessons yet. We must do away with hate and envy and learn to tell the truth.

Akwa Ibom is our own. We must build the state together, and avoid casting down the bricks that others have painstakingly laid in the building of our dear state.

By Essien Ndueso 

When Governor Udom Emmanuel set out to lubricate the once virgin well of agriculture in Akwa Ibom State with the establishment of Africa's biggest coconut oil refinery, most people had no idea of coconut's enormous potentials.  But the Governor went ahead, displaying his propensity to plan towards an economy beyond crude oil, as if he knew  that a certain  Coronavirus pandemic would soon bring the world on its knees.

The St. Gabriel Coconut Oil Factory located in Ikot Ekpuk, Mkpat Enin Local Government of the State is handled by VKS Nigeria Construction Limited. The factory which has a projected capacity of processing one million coconuts a day, will commence with a starting capacity of 300,000 coconuts daily. It was flagged off by Governor Emmanuel on May 24, 2017, as part of activities to mark his second year in Office. With a projection of being a future Nigeria might have to fall back on, the refinery project is visionary because of the multi-faceted use of the coconut. As Governor Emmanuel himself put it, the coconut has over 365 uses, implying that there is a different function for the coconut in each day of the year. In cosmetics products, automobiles industry, confectionery, physiotherapy, medicine and general catering, coconut asserts itself as the future the world had longed for. 

In recent years, coconut oil has emerged as a potential ‘miracle’ food and source of revenue. Some health specialists and nutritionists have asserted that the coconut oil is capable of promoting health benefits, such as weight reduction, cholesterol lowering, prevention of cardiovascular diseases, and anti-inflammatory effect, among others.

The refinery project which is currently nearing completion has enjoyed the support of host communities, implying that they acceded to the Governor's charge when he sued for the cooperation of youths in Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo and sounded a note of warning to the leaders of the community to resist the temptation of harassing the contractors in order not to frustrate the progress of the factory. As a deal, during the flag off, the State House of Assembly member for Ikot Abasi / Eastern Obolo, Honourable Uduak Ududoh had registered the gratitude of his people to the governor for keeping his electoral promises of providing employment opportunities to indigenes of the area and assured of a pact of peace.

Indeed, the employment opportunities have been encouraging. The project manager, Mr Alper Yilmaz affirmed that eventhough at 80 percent completion no fewer than 1000 people had been engaged at various stages of the project execution which is currently at the state of production line installation. Before the current pandemic, some production lines had arrived and installations are underway, albeit hampered by the Covid-19 lockdown.

This writer visited the coconut refinery project and work had indeed reached an advanced stage. An indigene of the community and Assistant Safety Officer at the project site, Unyime Oliver, expressed gratitude to Governor Udom Emmanuel for having the once neglected Mkpat Enin in his development plan, which has granted youths of the community the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills acquired in School to work. The Warehouse Manager, Ibanga Nsisong averred the project as the first of its kind in West Africa, which will rescue over 5000 unemployed youths from awarding of contracts, to direct and indirect labour. Other workers recounted the challenges of job hunting they faced before the project commenced and described the project as a welcome development that will engage and create wealth for the youths of the community and the people of Akwa Ibom State.But the Health and Safety Supervisor, Mr Aniekan Samuel Peters, went a step further when he thanked the State Government for always releasing funds for equipment to ensure an accident free working environment and prayed for the sustainability of the project beyond the lifespan of the present administration.

The refinery itself, according to the Managing Director of VKS Nigeria Construction Limited, Onur Kumral, sits on a total landmass 78,487 square meters earmarked for the refinery, and this further shows the seriousness at a time when oil from coconut is more expensive than crude oil.

Aggressive construction began in 2017 after the flag off, and on September 25, 2018, Governor Udom Emmanuel inspected the level of work at the coconut refinery project site. Impressed at the pace of work, Governor Udom Emmanuel explained that the foreign market is already ready for the produce of the refinery and described the project as the biggest in Africa, and another project of his administration that will elevate the youths of  Akwa Ibom state.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the inspection, Governor Udom Emmanuel explained that the facility will employ thousands across the state and that the revenue from coconut oil surpasses the revenue from crude oil daily. He furthered that the refinery which will also process palm kernels, will give birth to smaller factories that will process other parts of the coconut fruit. 

The facility boasts of administrative offices, production areas, technical spaces, industrial firefighting systems, water treatment plants, effluent treatment plants and residential quarters for technical and managerial staff as well as Green parking areas for tractors carrying raw materials. 

If the factory is billed to process and refine over one million coconuts daily, is the state ready to provide the raw materials to feed production? There is the state coconut plantation on 11,000 hectares of land at the Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin axis of the state which is meant to accommodate over two million coconut trees. Already, a clarion call has been sounded to all farmers in the state to cultivate coconut as it will be a major revenue spinner in the State's economy in few months . To show the imperatives of this, the state government had few months ago directed all local government authorities in the state to dedicate at least 50 hectares of land for the cultivation of coconut while 230 public schools were also directed to plant at least 300 coconut trees in their respective premises. But all of these will still not be enough to feed the factory, meaning that all the coconuts produced in Nigeria and neighbouring African countries will have to find their way to the emerging coconut processing hub.

Following his visit to the state recently, renowned journalist and columnist Sam Omatseye had this to say about the Refinery in a piece titled 'The Udom Challenge', published in the Nation Newspaper of March 16, 2020, "For a region that teems with forests, it is open for work. The St Gabriel Coconut refinery is still under construction, with work at an advanced stage. It plans to refine 300,000 coconuts a day. This hub will spur agricultural work and employment to feed this buzz of factory needs. All over the state, Governor Emmanuel touts his completion agenda. He has challenged himself. To set up an infrastructure work is one thing, to turn them into fruits is another. Harvests, however, are afoot already."

Governor Udom Emmanuel has indeed shown that his industrialization agenda in Akwa Ibom, is not a hoax. At least the giant flying birds, Ibom Air attest to the sincerity and commitment of his administration to match policies with action.

Apart from the Kings Flour Mill, the Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing company, Lion  Plywood/Timber Manufacturing Company, the rice mills, Metering Solutions Company among others industries established by Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration, the coconut refinery is one that will contribute in skyrocketing the economy of Akwa Ibom State as it gives hope to individual coconut farmers as a ready market for their farm produce and offers direct and indirect benefits to several others.

These fit the words of Frank Herbert that “good governance never depends upon laws but upon the personal qualities of those who govern”

Emmanuel Nicholas

“The secret of crisis management is not good versus bad, it’s preventing the bad from getting worse.”— Andy Gilman, president & CEO of Comm Core Consulting Group


There is no gainsaying that the world is in crisis; crisis of a deadly disease called COVID-19. As humanity continues to wriggle itself from it's pangs and fangs, many societies have adopted various crisis management approaches.

While some may not have yielded visible result, it's interesting to note that quite a number have birthed positive results and hope.

Outstanding among nations of the world that have recorded tremendous successes in the fight against the dreaded COVID-19 is Taiwan.

Interestingly, in Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State is renowned for her enviable successes in this fight. But there is something unique about these two societies in their management of COVID-19.

The above quoted aphorism by Gilman appears to be the cardinal approach in how Taiwan and Akwa Ibom State manage COVID-19 since its outbreak in their domains. Their watchword is " preventing the bad from getting worse.”

Upon the discovery of the first infected person in Taiwan on Jan. 21, this country which at its closest point is only eighty-one miles (130 kilometers) away from China and has a very high population density had embarked on early intervention, a flexible command structure, and a comprehensive epidemic prevention strategy.

They undertook rigorous investigative efforts to track travel and contact history for every patient, helping to isolate and contain the contagion before a mass community outbreak was possible.

Taiwan has until now contained the spread of Covid-19. Taiwan has not only “flattened the curve” of infections but has kept its confirmed cases below 500, even though it has been more than three months since it saw its first case. Less than 1% of the more than 60,000 tests that it has conducted so far have been positive.

How does Taiwan keep the coronavirus at bay? While many countries undergo lockdowns, people in Taiwan go about their daily lives, but with their masks worn. The culture of face mask coupled with other risk management strategies described earlier is noted by expert to be their magic wand.


In the same vein, just as Taiwan, the moment COVID-19 broke out in the country, Akwa Ibom State never waited to be affected before rising to action.

The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel understood the importance of the words of a Former US Senate Majority Leader from 1961-1977 and diplomat, Mike Mansfield that “The crisis you have to worry about most is the one you don’t see coming.”

Since Governor Emmanuel could not predict exactly when and how the State would be affected he went to work to ensure the State was proactive against the pandemic.

On Monday March 2, the Akwa Ibom State Government announced the preparation the State has taken in readiness to contain the virus anytime it finds its way into the State.

The State kick-started by setting up a task force committee for the prevention and control of the infectious diseases, called for volunteers, met with all authorities working at all entry points into the State to be on high alert against anyone with suspected case of the disease.

The State Executive had met with the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health, had meeting with churches through Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN for awareness.

The State government also powered Centres for Infectious Disease and Control across the State at Ikot Ekpene and Ibom Specialty Hospital.

The Ministry of Health went far as putting in place a Subcommittee on Decontamination and Burial in case anyone dies from any of those diseases hence prevent further outbreak. A special ambulance was also kept for that purpose.

The sensitisation was very high. Our radio waves, TV stations, newspaper and social media were covered with State Government sponsored sensitisation messages against COVID-19.

In addition, the State government also ensured that there were adequate trainings for health professionals to be ready for the battle ahead. At Ibom Specialty Hospital, the State Governor ensured additional 25 beds in what appeared as executive suites were set up with all 13 ventilators and oxygen connected. The State which is blessed with 19 functional ventilators is only second to Lagos among States with ventilators in Nigeria. To ensure the medical equipments are properly used and patients are also comfortable during treatment, the State Governor immediately bought 1,500 KVA generating set for the Specialty Hospital.

Within the premises, Governor Emmanuel got ready an ICU centre with situation room close to were medical experts are.

When COVID-19 finally arrived the State, true, to Governor Emmanuel's word, " COVID-19 met us prepared as if we knew".

To bring the pandemic under control, just as Taiwan, the State embarked on a robust contract tracing of suspected cases with those who may have had contact with them. So far, the State COVID-19 management team has done 458 contacts tracing, indicating about 99.1 per cent attainment as acknowledged and commended by NCDC.

These early detection and commitment to treatment of patients who test positive has brought rewarding results to the State. Out of the 17 cases recorded in the State, there has been close to 100 per cent recoveries. 15 patients have recovered and discharged. It is on recorded that the two cases of death were only brought to the Hospital at very critical stages. The State is now left with only a patient which is at the stage of receiving treatment.

Despite these positive results recorded in the battle against COVID-19, Governor Udom Emmanuel understood the importance of the word of American journalist, political scientist, and author, Fareed Zakaria, who said that " The broader challenge is to lay down a longer-term strategy that endures after the crisis of the moment."

He decided to build a world class 300 bed Isolation and Treatment Centre in addition to the ones in Ibom Specialty Hospital and Ikot Ekpene Treatment centre. Apart 300 beds Ward , the Isolation centre has a virology/Clinical labs , 20 suites Doctor's quaters ,Canteen and administration offices for the medical Director and Secretary.

Criticism came from all cylinders. Instead of being distracted, he brought to bear the profound words of Martin Luther King, Jr. that “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” He made people understand the importance of the project.

Speaking on the reason he embarked on the project, he noted " Life is a curve. It slopes up and down. That tells me that I have room at the initial curve where it peaks and before it declines to actually put up something better. I have the land, I have everything, so the best is to put something enduring.

"Soon, the Isolation and Treatment centre will be ready. It shows that we are thinking ahead. We may never really use it for COVID-19. The facilities will be there for a very long time. Peradventure, you never can tell the future.

"If need arises, will we come back and live in regret that we had opportunity and could have put something down on ground which we did not."

Interestingly, to work the talk of faith over fear, Governor Emmanuel just as Taiwan, has adopted a strategy where the people will take safety precautions while the economy is still in operation.

On May 2, 2020, Governor Emmanuel ordered that the use of face mask is now compulsory in all public places.
Consequently, whether they are commuters or pedestrians, it is now a common trend to see Akwa Ibom people strapping their face mask from ear to ear, and nose to chin.

This strategy has really proven to be result oriented. Since this practice began, just as Taiwan, the State has witnessed significant decline in her index cases despite the huge number of the index cases in other States of the Federation.

This success is no coincidence. A combination of efforts by medical professionals, strategic approaches by the State Government and the society at large have armored our State’s defenses.

In the future , the 300 beds Isolation Centre with additional medical facilities can be transform to akwa Ibom State University teaching Hospital , Uyo Campus .
It is also worthy of note ,that the two index cases that died ,did so away from Government's medical facility and management.

Indeed, as the Chief executioner of this battle, Governor Emmanuel's approaches has bolstered confidence that we are on course not only to contain COVID-19 in the State but stand as a leading example to other parts of the Federation in a functional strategy to combat the dreaded disease

By Aniefiok Eduok



Having gone through a news story credited to the Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr Ememabasi Bassey, that Akwa Ibom State Government is not testing enough COVID-19 suspected cases, one is tempted to be worried.


Why would the state refuse to conduct adequate test on suspected cases and why is Dr. Bassey, a former Commissioner for Health in the State, so quick to be on the media on such a delicate issue.


On face value, one would be tempted to assume that the state now has abundant test kits and testing laboratories which it is refusing to deploy. But cursory analysis shows that the otherwise is the case as there are not enough test kits sent across to states by Nigerian Center for Diseases Control, NCDC, to carry out Covid-19 testing and the CMD cannot be said to be unaware of this. In fact, I recall that the NCDC DG sometime ago cried out that there are no test kits  in the country to carry out aggressive testing. The UUTH is a Federal referral center and should naturally be the reference point in the management of the novel disease, with over 4 ventilator and isolation center. But the CMD is on the media crying wolf instead of getting the federal government to perform its responsibilities. 


Over the last couple of weeks, it has been confirmed that even when samples are sent to NCDC for testing, it takes more than a week to get the results. It is either reagents or whatever is not available and the results come in trickles.


The CMD should know better than making a show on radio in regards to this. He should not make it look as if COVID-19 is an Akwa Ibom thing. The entire world is being ravaged by this pandemic and the problem associated with it has been the issue of adequate testing samples. And that is why the NCDC and indeed many other authorities in the world have maintained that only symptomatic cases should be tested. Further investigation shows that testing of COVID-19 Samples is not as easy as one thinks because the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to that of common malaria, and the number of samples sent in by various states on a daily basis is quite huge, hence delays in sending back results. 


Recall that the US President Donald Trump had once promised to carry out testing of samples in millions per day, but ended up being mocked by the world because he could not achieve such. He didn't even achieve 1/4 of it.


Perhaps what the UUTH CMD should be reminded is that the same NCDC had awarded Akwa Ibom 99% in contact tracing which shows the transparency by the State Government in the fight against COVID-19. 


Also, the state of the arts isolation centers in the state including the nearly completed 300 beds isolation center built by the state at Ituk Mbang is a pointer that the Akwa Ibom State Government is not playing politics with the handling of COVID-19 in the state.


Methinks that the CMD of UUTH should be more informed with these facts than a common man, and hence appreciate the efforts of the state Government in fighting the pandemic. If anything, why is it easier for Dr Bassey to visit and sit in a radio station for one hour when he wouldn't spend up to five minutes in reaching out to his colleague and current Commissioner for Health, to register his concerns.

By Richard Peters & Uko Umoh


In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel has risen to his profession as somebody, who has a broad idea of creating a self-sustaining, economic-driven system for his people, by attracting money-spinning industries to boost the economic base of the state.

He has provided the enabling environment and atmosphere for the likes of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises to thrive with relative ease. As a well equipped player in the financial sector with massive experience that spanned over decades, the governor understands that the task of changing Akwa Ibom State’s status from a purely civil service state to one that could be economicaly self-sustaining.

To him there was the need to have a strong industrial direction and vision. Thus, he started by creating an enabling environment for the industrial revolution in the state by providing the enabling infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and others.

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/re-opening-the-economy-via-smes-governor-emmanuels-example/

Few months back, I was in a place where economists were making analysis on the Nation's economy. The bone of contention of their analysis was Lagos State which over time has been able to diversify its economy, and to considerably reduce its dependence on Federal allocations.

After Lagos State, next they talked about was Rivers State and as well, Akwa Ibom State which both share a higher proportion of the Nation's oil revenue. For me at that moment, it was indeed a nice feeling having beheld the State being tabled in good fate in the assemblage of men.

Without mincing words, Akwa Ibom State whose industrialization drive began barely five years ago has recorded unprecedented feat and everyone would wish there were better economic foundation structured for her in time past.

Governor Udom Emmanuel upon his assumption of office in 2015 had came up with his set plans to change the status of the State from a civil service State to an industrial hub. The Health sector and security of the State were not left out. All of these were encapsulated in his 5-points agenda.

With the availability of lean resources, the governor has kept to his promise of touching all the areas of the State. Almost all the secondary healthcare facilities have been completely revamped with befitting structures and up-to-date medical equipment. Brand new ambulances were made available in each of these hospitals, and medical practitioners were sent on compulsory trainings in a bid to make them better equipped for the task.

The Ibom Specialist Hospital which was left uncompleted by the past administration was later upgraded and equipped to befit its much rumored world class standard. This on its own has contributed immensely to the boom of the State economy.

The revamped of the State Health sector did not only help in the revitalization of the economy, but it made it possible for residents in the rural communities to easily access good medical facilities when the need arises. This was a preparation for a time like this.

No one had dreamt that there would come a time where the world would be captivated the way it is with this corona virus pandemic. The pandemic has gravely ruined the economy of many Nations because of the unexpected and total shutdown of operations of all institutions. The UK, USA, Germany, France, etc are not left out. As I speak, it is slowly hitting Nigeria, and the hope for our economy to still strive effectively is shattered. I won't hesitate to consent the postulation that the corona virus pandemic is a World War III in disguise.

Because no one had prepared for this, there's a high rate of competition amongst infected patients across the world. Some places suffer the stress of running around to draw out modalities toward curbing the spread of the virus. Many places because of minuscule or zero availability of sound medical facilities, number of deaths are being recorded on daily basis, and there's no hope of curtailing this in the next available weeks. But the case is a reverse in Akwa Ibom State.

Even before the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria, the governor had already ensured that all hospitals in the State are well equipped with up-to-date medical equipment irrespective of how big or small any of the hospitals is. So by the time the virus came into the State, it met a potent resistance medical force that could subdue its ability.

Even at this, the governor is still unsatisfied. This, he has moved to constructing new Isolation centers in Ituk Mbang and Eket respectively.

The corona virus pandemic is not going to exist forever. Sooner or later it'll be subdued globally, but the negative effect it has posed on the economy and how to return everything to normalcy are what people should be concerned. Was there any plan made before now?

I may not be able to speak for any other place, I'll only have to say what I know. This, I will center my discuss on Akwa Ibom State which I know the governor had already prepared the State for a season like this.

For four years, the State governor was aggressively giving out grants for traders, farmers all in a bid to encourage SME's in the State.

A time came that it made it mandatory for political appointees in the State to own a farm or risk being sacked. To further boost the agricultural sector, Committees were setup to revive the long deteriorated Akwapalm factory, provide some necessities for effective agricultural activities. This is the provision of subsidized fertilizers, oil palm and cocoa seedlings, and so on.

This made available the 3,240 hectares of Cassava Plantation in about 15 Local Government Areas of the State. A project supervised by FADAMA. Registered 49,318 registered rice farmers across the State which at the end, the production of garri and rice which are the most essential foodstuff in the State was made possible.

With the Rice Processing Mills, Cassava Processing Mills, Oil Palm Processing Mills, Maize Shelling/Drying Mills, as well as the Vegetable Green House which was commissioned by His Excellency, the Vice President, food production and availability wouldn't be a problem in Akwa Ibom State throughout this trying times.

Though the pandemic would severely affect the State Monthly allocation from FAC. With the operations of the Kings Flour Mill, the above listed factories and other 15 factories in the State, nothing would get out of hand for the State government. The economy will still functions and the welfare of the people will be catered for.

Gov. Udom Emmanuel with all these is the man who sees tomorrow. He saw this coming and hence, moved to preparing the State before time.

Umani Uwemedimo writes from Uyo

Mankind is fighting World War III or something worse. It is a dastardly unique world war. First of all, unlike World War I or World War II, the entire globe has had to go on lockdown -for months. Second of all, there’s been not one gun fired, not one bomb dropped, not one ballistic missile released.

Third of all, the enemy is a strange one. This time, it is not man fighting man. This war is waged on the human race by an unseen foe. The hydraheaded, solution-defying agent of death has two names.

Known either by its baptismal name, coronavirus, or interchangeably by its latter-day identity, covid-19, this virus has ravaged humanity. For the record, it sneaked in through Wuhan, China back in December, last year. At the time of piecing this together, the live updates by World Health Organisation (WHO) show that globally, there have been 3,822,951 coronavirus cases and out of that: 265,084 fatalities. This is the grim reality of our world, with each country and in most cases each part of a country fighting the war its own way.



In Nigeria, the so-called giant of Africa which operates like a dwarf, the situation is even grimmer. With failing infrastructure across all (but especially medical) sectors, falling revenue, rising poverty, choking corruption, mounting anxiety, and an apathetic citizenry wallowing in untold ignorance or crass illiteracy or both, its covid-19 crisis is expectedly one-way traffic. Current news feeds by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) say that the country now has 21,208 tests carried out, 3,145 confirmed cases, 2,508 active, 534 discharged, and 103 dead. Hope hangs in the balance, penduluming lazily and dreadfully.

Somewhere in the deep south of the country though, the sun seems to be rising and shining, brighter and brighter. Akwa Ibom state, world famous for its cosmopolitanism, compactness, and a people so highly hospitable to visitors as well as adventurous in travelling, has surprisingly kept its numbers incredibly low. NCDC records the state in good standing: 16 cases, four active, 10 discharged, two dead. The two unfortunate losses notwithstanding, the Akwa Ibom experience is pure magic, contextualised in the Nigeria macrocosm and vis-à-vis the very nature of the state and its people as enunciated above.

Clearly, Gov. Udom Emmanuel has the magic wand. That must be the reason many say he’s leading this war from the front lines. While that is true and right, it can also be argued that it is not complete and correct. Apart from leading this viral battle from the front lines, this first class accountant turned governor is doing so equally from the middle and from the rear.

In nearly five years of his stewardship, there’s been a deliberate tune-up of infrastructure (medical and otherwise) in the state. Except for primary healthcare which the administration was turning its attention to, just before the pandemic struck, the state boasts what might be the best secondary, tertiary and quaternary setups nationwide. World standard hospitals in Ituk Mbang -Uruan, Iquita -Oron, Ibiaku Ntok Okpo -Ikono (and others spread across the three senatorial districts) plus including Ibom Specialist in Uyo, the state capital, run by well trained personnel deploying top class facilities explain why the state looked prepared for covid-19. Without a doubt, this visionary governor put everything in place long before yesterday to secure the today and future of his state and people.

Added to the growing lists of roads and Ibom Air and sundry flagship achievements, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has secured his jurisdiction and compatriots from the front. Ditto, what he has done; economy-wise. So far, the state in his time has helped to bring about all of 18 industries and counting. Economic security plays a pivotal role in restraining disease spread.



Furthermore, the way the Akwa Ibom state chief executive has rallied and continues to mobilise and motivate his team, and all the heroes (medical workers, security agents, food dealers, journalists, transporters, etc.) in the front lines of this war -even staying up as late as 3am everyday to receive ad hoc briefings- speak to a leader who is not only totally in charge but also in touch. To understand that Mr. Emmanuel also leads the fight against covid-19 from the middle and from the back, one only need take a more critical second look at the surefooted measuredness with which this governor approaches decisions that have to do with the people. It took him sometime to declare a lockdown, more to extend it, and as soon as he could he relaxed it to secure the people if you like against mental and pocket depression; replacing it with an 8pm to 6am curfew -obviously to secure the people against petty banditry that seemed to have raised its ugly head during the lockdown.

Recently, while addressing Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, the governor quieted and indeed won over critics who felt he was slow in taking some of those hard decisions. ‘Look, being governor doesn’t make me any special or better than every other Akwa Ibom person. Coronavirus doesn’t care if you’re governor. In taking a decision or building a facility such as the 300-bed isolation centre that should be ready in another fortnight, I take time to ensure it is the best for every person including me!’

That humanity or empathy is one of the fundamental ingredients missing in leadership in our continent. It is a thing of joy that somewhere off the Gulf of Guinea, a state governor is securing our bragging rights as a people who know what to do and how to do it. By commanding his team, and motivating everyone in the front lines of battling covid-19 and at the same time never for once losing touch with the people, Gov. Udom Emmanuel has provided leadership in front, in the middle and at the back. And, the people have risen in support as can be seen in the evolving success against coronavirus.

God bless Akwa Ibom State!


Michael BUSH
Uyo – Nigeria

Although criticisms (or feedbacks) are sometimes necessary to assess an individual, government or organization’s performance(s), some criticisms are usually an obvious display of hatred or insult, thus, making such criticisms baseless and inconsequential. A typical example of this, is a write up by a certain Emmanuel Umohinyang recently captioned "Creeping Tyranny in the land of promise" published on Saharareporters. com and circulated across other online platforms. Definitely, Umoinyang’s write up could only be dismissed as one of those cries from a disgruntled, sad and inconsequential alien who has stubbornly refused to reckon with the superior performance of the State Governor, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.

Accusing Governor Udom Emmanuel of running a tyrannic government where journalists, oppositions and critics of the government have been molested in one way or the other in order to portray Godswill Akpabio’s era of administration as a trailblazer, is nothing short of a myopic and irrational assertion. How would one reconcile the administration where cultism, killings, kidnapping of innocent citizens, people’s wives and plunging the entire state into perpetual fear and human abattoir, to a government where relative peace is felt and enjoyed by every citizen?

The Machiavellianism of Godswill Akpabio’s era sufficiently placed Akwa Ibom State as one of the flash spots in Nigeria, where all manners of sins were committed simply to satisfy Akpabio’s insatiable thirst for blood, power and wealth. Mr. Thomas Thomas of the Global Concord newspaper, et al, have been victims of Akpabio’s draconian measures and brutal attack on journalists, with only God rescuing them from the terrible fangs of Godswill Akpabio.

Today, Akwa Ibom State is being celebrated as the most peaceful state in Nigeria, this is because Governor Udom Emmanuel through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit in him, has established a violent-free atmosphere. An ambience that has guaranteed the safety of life and property of the people of the state and its visitors. A situation that was a sharp opposite of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s tenure.

The relative peace enjoyed in Akwa Ibom State today has stimulated economic growth in the state which has led to industrial explosion through money spinning investments by both foreign and local investors which has culminated in our youths/people gainfully employed. This is against the backdrop that the Akpabio’s administration was bedeviled by all sort of security and peaceful breaches, lies and financial recklessness.

In his assertion, Mr. Emmanuel Umoh-Inyang described Governor Udom Emmanuel as a “political passenger”. Well, by this, he has proudly displayed his poor knowledge of the person of Udom Emmanuel. For the records, Udom Emmanuel possessed a very rich and intimidating résumé spiced with unmatchable working exposure that has placed him as one of the best hands in Nigeria’s public service. His entrance into politics was to add values to his people.

Ever since he took over as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, he has brought his professional savvy to bear on the administration of the state. he cleaned Akpabio’s mess by providing workable industries across the state. Akpabio promised thirty-one (31) industries across the 31 local government areas of the state but failed to erect even one. Yet, the said Emmanuel Umoh-Inyang had the shameless boldness to compare a government that was largely saturated by fraudulent endeavour to Udom’s government that has imparted positively on its citizens. Please, is the different not clear?

On the case of the current administration clamping down on the press, critics and Unionists in the state, it is pertinent to put the record straight here that there is a huge difference between constructively criticizing the government, blackmail and raising false alarm, all in a desperate attempt to discredit the government or damage its reputation. Some people who are perceived to be enemies of the state have resorted to spreading false information and blackmailing the authority of the state in the name of advising the state on sensitive issues; therefore, drawing the state on a war-path with its citizens.

No government will condone this, as the image of the government is always at stake in times like this. It is obvious that Governor Udom Emmanuel runs one of the best and open government in Nigeria.

Although criticism (or feedbacks) are sometimes necessary to assess an individual, government or organization’s performance(s), some criticisms are usually an obvious display of hatred, insult or outright spreading of falsehood, thus, making such criticism(s) baseless and inconsequential. Criticism must be constructive, devoid of foul language, insult and abuses.

On the rumour that the current administration is clamping down on the press, critics and Unionists in the state, it is pertinent to put the record straight here "that there is no member of the NUJ in Akwa Ibom State that is currently in detention" Comrade Amos Etuk, State chairman of NUJ stated during the world press day. Secondly, there is a huge difference between constructively criticizing the government, blackmailing and raising false alarm, all in a desperate attempt to discredit the government or damage its reputation. Some persons who are desperate or desirous of being famous have resorted to spreading false information and blackmailing the authority of the state in the name of advising the state on sensitive issues; therefore, drawing the state on a war-path with its citizens.

No government would condone such, as the image of the government is always at stake in times like this. It is obvious that Governor Udom Emmanuel runs one of the best and open government in Nigeria.

It therefore behooves on us to carefully examine every information within our disposal before circulating them, also be ready to defend same, should there be any need to explain further, and ensure you have people or resources that will help you out, if there be any litigation.

Think again and Take responsibility

Gil Courtemanche was right in his assertion that “propaganda is as powerful as heroin; it surreptitiously dissolved all capacity to think”. This thought by the Canadian Journalist is apt in conceptualizing the mendacious outburst of a certain self acclaimed evangelist, Pat Akpabio who in recent times, has been fond of dancing shamelessly naked on the social media, creating a negative impression of the majority of virtuous and responsible women in the State of Akwa Ibom. 

Although Pat Akpabio deserves no response from any sane person or group on account of her degenerate escapades which suggest anomie and socio- psychological incoherence, it’s apt to unbundle her as a victim of her past and an ample case study of psychological projection- a defense mechanism in which the human ego defends itself against unconscious impulses by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others.

First, Pat’s attempt at distorting historical facts by associating the government of Deacon Udom Emmanuel to intimidation and arrest of Akwa Ibom people is lacking in truth, facts and reason especially if juxtaposed against the reign of terror that ensued in Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015, of which Pat and her husband, Ibanga Akpabio were critical players. 

It is instructive to note that it was during that reign and period of history that some of the illustrious sons and daughters of state were brutally murdered in cold blood, while many others were victims of extrajudicial arrests and kidnapping. Those who were murdered include, a former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Okon Uwah, former Chairman of UCCDA, Obong Charles Umana, Engr. Albert Ukpanah, the Ekpenyong brothers, as well as mother of a Governorship aspirant Mama Udonwa, among others. Other victims of abductions, and arrest included journalists like Pastor Imeime Jerome, Thomas Thomas, an elder statesmen, Chief Edet Ononokpono, who died shortly after his incarceration, newspaper reporters and distributors, among others. 

Against this backdrop it’s evident and deduce-able between Governor Emmanuel whose administration since 2015 till date, has not witnessed any case of politically motivated killings and the one before him (2007-2015), which one is tolerant, people-centric and democratic. Pat is glaringly a victim of structural amnesia. 

Secondly, Pat’s mention and recourse to democracy is laughable. It must be emphasized that democracy, according to Harold Laswel is , “government of the people by the people and for the people”. By possible extrapolation, it’s a system that best guarantees human right and freedom. If we must go by this conceptual clarification, it is crystal clear that the government of Udom Emmanuel is a top flier because this is the first time the people, as exemplified by Pat Akpabio's incessant vituperative outbursts, have real freedom to opine on government policies. 

Thirdly, it begs to ask, What does Pat Akpabio seek to achieve by masquerading in Covid- 19 to disparage Governor Udom Emmanuel and his efforts at nipping the pandemic to the bud?  For instance, her call for the sack of the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong is ridiculous and exposes her mental incapacitation and logical comprehension. Dr Ukpong is a seasoned medical doctor whose stewardship, both in private and public life remains untainted. His sacrifices and loyalty in Covid- 19 management in the state and ultimately, in ensuring that the process is not hijacked by unscrupulous crisis contractors have been commendable, hence the recent vote of confidence in him by the state Executive Council. That again, is the apogee of projection against their failures while holding public trust. Pat Akpabio should rather direct her attacks on her husband whose stewardship as Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Development could be classified as an ‘abysmal low’, a situation that earned him dubious notoriety as a mediocre. 

Akwa Ibom people may also wish to ask questions about Ibanga Akpabio’s messy embezzlement and primitive accumulation at SUBEB where he held sway as “Lord of the Manor” for many years. Indeed those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

Fourthly, Pat Akpabio’s ad hominem attacks and lamentation on the management of Covid- 19 in the state could best be described with Shakespeare’s thought on Macbeth, “a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. When did Pat become a champion of human right who places premium on the lives of Akwa Ibom people? Pat can only come clean by exonerating herself and husband from the bloodletting that ensued in the state between 2007 and 2015. Pat’s problem stems from her entitlement mentality of misconstruing government privileges to be rights. 

We challenge Pat Akpabio to fault the NCDC which recently scored Akwa Ibom 99 percent in contact tracing vis-a-vis the pandemic. Can she also debunk the fact that the state is currently building a 300- bed isolation center at the Methodist Hospital Ituk Mbang, while a section of Ibom Specialist Hospital has been fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities even before the first case of Covid-19 was recorded in the state? Is Pat aware that 407 doctors and 2000 nurses are on ground with the requisite training to troubleshoot the drained Covid-19 pandemic in the state. Thanks to Governor Udom Emmanuel whose unconventional strategy and unique development paradigm have paid off in a time like this. 

Finally, poetry, according to Percy Shelley, is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted”. Pat Akpabio’s attempt to cast aspersions and curses on father’s of faith in the state is the height of distortion and a recourse to emotional blackmail and cheap sentiment. It is an obscurantist tactics of recompensing the revered fathers of faith for speaking up for the unity of the state during the March  2019 gubernatorial elections in the state- against Warsaw threats- that would have thrown the state into another season of bloodbath. On this, again, Pat has stooped so low!


The Mandate Eyes hereby advises Pat Akpabio to bury her bitterness and seek the help of a Psychotherapist, who would help her overcome her season of anomie and its attendant psychological projection- a product of her dark past. 


We are grateful to His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel for making political inclusiveness a cornerstone of his administration, without which the likes of Pat Akpabio would be facing litigations for making unguarded statements. 

We commend the Governor for being proactive in pandemic preparedness in the state which underscores the value he has for the sanctity of human life!


For Pat and her ilk, who have no sense of decency, we say enough is enough. "Idoho inó inó ikpöng ado abùd"



Comrade Ernest Akpan 
Coordinator 


Comrade Joseph Okon 
Secretary 


            MANDATE EYES

By Godwin Edet

I have just finished reading an article with the above caption, written by one Inibehe Effiong. The name is very familiar in the city of criticism. Infact, he has a place in the Hall of Criticism. We know that he doesn't write out of compassion for the common man, but out of the blind conviction that to be famous, one must criticise. But this is a fat lie.

Inibehe has again kicked against groups, organisations, traditional and religious bodies for supporting and appreciating Gov. Udom Emmanuel in the way his government is handling the coronavirus pandemic in the state. Every right thinking person in our society knows the efforts that the present administration has injected in the fight to stall the spread of the dreaded virus. As a result, groups and organisations have continued to praise the state governor for such feat. But the question is: Why do the heathen rage? Why has Inibehe Effiong imagined a vain thing?

I have tried, but to no avail to ascertain the rationale behind such irrational thoughts by Inibehe. Did he expect Oro Union, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Traditional rulers, religious bodies and other professional bodies he mentioned to fight the government? What is the essence of fighting a government that is doing its best to ensure that things are in place for the people to enjoy? That would have been another level of madness for crying out loud.

Inibehe must understand one thing: Government thrives on collective effort. In governance, both the leaders and the governed have respective roles to play for success to be achieved. Any government without the support of the people is bound to fail.

In the present dispensation, almost everybody has seen that the government is trying, and such a government needs to be supported and encouraged.

That is what Oro Union did. That is what Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio did. That is what every other organisation and religious body he mentioned did. Why should Inibehe be angry that people have supported a performing government. Is this not witchcraft? Who has bewitched our son?

For heaven's sake, great democracies that we are celebrating today attained those heights as a result of collaboration and citizens' participation in governance.

When someone is advocating for the people to rise against a performing government, what does he want to achieve? Does he want others to join him and fight what is right?

Brother Ini, it doesn't work that way. You will walk on this part alone, because an average Akwa Ibom person loves and cherishes what is good. No one will follow you to fight your fathers. Bitterness and envy are not in our blood.

In answering your question, I want you to know that we are a people bonded in love. We are bounded by the cord of compassion for one another. We are our brother's keepers. The present adminstration, good spirited individuals, pressure groups, socio-political organisations, religious and professional bodies will continue to fight for the common man in Akwa Ibom. We are doing our best, and testimonies abound.

Akwa Ibom people, groups and organisations that have seen what Gov. Udom Emmanuel is doing will continue to support him. Together, we will build the Akwa Ibom of our dream, while the enemies of the state will perish in shame.


Godwin Edet writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

By Abasiofiok Inyang

"Too many people speak after hearing just one side of a story. Judging a situation without being there and knowing the actual facts ruins lives and relationships, so you best know the full story before attacking someone and making false accusations"--- Stephen Covey. 
Governor Udom Emmanuel must have been very much aware of this wise counsel when he addressed journalists,  the entire Akwa Ibom citizens and the world last Monday. The chat was not only timely but very apt considering the many rumours, concocted stories and outright blackmail that followed the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus in the State. From the number of those infected by the COVID-19 in the State, to the handling and management as well as the palliatives given to cushion the effects, the social media was flooded by fake news with the very intention to bring down the governor and his administration.

Specifically, the briefing well fitted the recent heat generated as a result of the removal of Dr Aniekeme Uwah as State Epidemiologist. The "emergency social media practitioners" whose stock in trade is to jump to hasty conclusions and deliver judgments after hearing from one side. As if that was not enough, tempers were raised in the State when rumour mill dished out that nine commissioners in the State Executive Council were infected by the COVID-19 disease.

Undoubtedly, Dr Uwah may have the wealth of experience in the field of epidemiology. His being appointed to head the department of epidemiology was like putting a square peg in a square hole. Interestingly, he never disappointed in his handling of the department. 
However, his wealth of experience and delivery of his assigned duties was not enough for him to exhibit the act of insurbordition and disloyalty to his superiors. This is the bitter truth that many who judged after hearing one side failed to let the world know. 
Yes, Dr Uwah and Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong might have had issues but as long as he is the  surbordinate, there was no justifiable reason to act the way he allegedly did.

The governor in his briefing, was able to point out that Dr Aniekeme Uwah was not sacked by the State Government as the public was misinformed but only redeployed in line with the rights of the government.
 
It is also worthy of interest to note that the governor cleared the air on the palliatives given to Akwa Ibom people and insisted that it was meant for the poorest of the poor. Actually, the governor had good intentions to reach out to the people through over 2,274 groups but its handling was disappointing as those entrusted failed in their responsibility and went about to present one side of the story to the public.

What a State! The case was not different as regards the palliatives given by the Federal Government to the State. The social media was equally awashed with insinuations that the State Government has received so much from the Federal Government but the governor proved such rumour mongers wrong and disclosed that apart from one hundred million naira donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and the 1,800 bags of rice from the Nigeria Custom Service which he said, is not yet certified good for consumption by Akwa Ibom people, the State has not received any other thing from the Federal Government. 

The media chat also gave the governor an opportunity to disclose the State Government's preparedness in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that before the outbreak of COVID-19, government had employed over 200 doctors and over 2,000 nurses and put in place facilities worth millions of naira in different hospitals including the Ibom Specialist Hospital. The Ikot Ekpene Infectious Diseases Hospital is equally wearing a new look with facilities to handle the pandemic while reassuring that the isolation center at Itu Mbang will be ready in two weeks time as work is being done day and night.

In overall assessment, the governor has done his best to tackle the dreaded coronavirus disease. He only needs to be encouraged and not run down by those who are yet to understand that election had since ended in 2019, and governance is for the good of all.

The Chairman of Comfort 95.1FM Uyo and Chairman Board of Trustees of Ritman University, Senator Effiong Bob, has called on the people of Akwa Ibom State to cooperate with Governor Udom Emmanuel in the fight against COVID 19 instead of condemning all actions taken by government in it's attempt to contain the spread of the virus in the state.

Senator Bob was reacting to the recent outburst by a section of the people on government's actions in it's bid to avoid the spread of the virus.

He commended Governor Emmanuel for his proactive measures at containing the spread of the virus which include the construction of the Isolation Centre at Ituk Mbang, the equipping of the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Ikot Ekpene, procurement of nineteen ventilators, functional intensive care unit with medical professionals and consultants, the school on radio programme which will allow our children to continue their education during this trying period as well as the distribution of palliatives to all the villages in the state which has made the stay at home period to be less frustrating and demanding.

He pointed out that it was as a result of these that the NCDC scored Akwa Ibom State highly in contact tracing and also trained and guided health professionals on the rudiments and intricacies involved in the handling of COVID 19.

Senator Bob said that it could have been worse if the pandemic had met the state at the time when medical institutions in the state were in deplorable conditions and medical personnel were still far behind the twenty first century professional standard adding that the Ibom Specialist Hospital which Governor Emmanuel has put into good order has assisted greatly in the containment of the spread of the corona virus.

He called on the people of the state to avoid unnecessary bickering but to adhere to government's directives and efforts at preventing the spread and contacting the virus.

The two term senator of the Federal Republic and PDP stalwart appealed to the people of Akwa Ibom State to adopt simple hygienic measures of washing their hands with soap using running water, use of hand sanitizer where necessary, use of face mask and other respiratory hygiene measures in addition to adopting social distancing.

He said that the stay at home exercise should help family members inculcate family values, assist develop cooperation amongst members of the society and ensure that people acquire good leadership principles.

More than all these, Senator Effiong Bob called on the people of the state to take the state and country to God in prayers as He is all knowing and capable of taking any affliction away from His people.

He used the opportunity to thank all health professionals who have risked their lives to work towards the preservation of people's as well as help prevent the spread of the virus.

I have read so many arguments on the arrest and arraignment of some people who shared malicious publications, and urged Akwa Ibom residents to run away from the state for their lives, yet they didn't run. While many attempted to justify their arrest on the basis that he spread malicious information and panic in the state, others condemned their arrest by the Police, calling the governor unimaginable names and all of that.

I want us to be sincere with ourselves and not be sentimental, was those publications mere criticism or blackmail? Perhaps, a clear sense of defamation? Although the case is in court, we know what the law says, so let's allow the court decide their fate. However, in as much as we advocate for and celebrate media democratization and participation, it must be done with caution. There are things that are not acceptable in saner societies, no matter how liberal the state appears to be, not even in The US.

In other words, in democratic governments, criticism is accepted, but it must not be out of place. Open insult and blackmail cannot be regarded as criticism. Besides, those publications were capable of pushing people from their safe haven to danger, even at a time when lockdown as ordered by the government was still in place. Is that not outright flouting of government's order?

Has Covid-19 stolen our conscience, that some people now write absent of reasoning? Our morality should not be slaughtered on the altar of greed for political or media relevance. Irrespective of political interests, the state governor deserves some level of respect from all the citizens.

Even in great democracies of the world where freedom for almost everything is in place, acts capable of sabotaging government's efforts are not permitted. Everyone, no matter the level of freedom they have, is guided by sets of principles. And this is equally expected here.

Let us not deceive ourselves, if those people were sincere on their "postulation" that the state was not safe, they would have been the first to run. But what were they he still doing?

Enough of the abuses on the person of the governor. For heaven's sake, he is human. He has a family. He is just like anyone of us. If you wouldn't want such to be meted on you, don't encourage others to do so. One day, you may become a governor, how would you feel if every Tom and Dick insult you even when it is not necessary?

We are in a sane society, we must behave accordingly. Let people resist every inducement, whether in cash or kind, to do things capable of sabotaging government's effort. We are on the path of victory over covid-19, all hands must be on deck till we achieve this. Enough of distractions.