₦airaland Forum

The police in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, have rescued a 13-year old girl in a hotel room at Otta, Ogun State, where she was forced to sleep with men and thereafter paid N150,000 monthly to her employer, Rosemary Udoh.

Udoh, 33, and the hotel manager, Fatai Ahmed, 46, have been arrested and charged to Ikeja magistrates’ court sitting in Ojokoro for abducting and forcing the little girl into prostitution.

The victim confessed to the police that she slept with at least 10 men daily in order to raise the N150,000 for her employer and payment for the hotel accommodation.

She said that men paid her N500 for a round of sex and the hotel collects all the money, deducts some for the hotel room and keeps the rest for her madam who usually comes in the morning to collect it.

She was rescued after spending six months in the hotel where her madam, who lives at 16, Aderupoko street, Ahmadiya, on the outskirts of Lagos, took her for prostitution.

P.M.NEWS gathered that Udoh had gone to her home town in Akwa Ibom State and brought the girl to Lagos under the false pretence of sending her to school.

She had told the girl’s parents that she wanted to help them train the girl and send her to school in Lagos.

But not quite long after she brought her to Lagos, Rosemary started preparing her for prostitution. She reportedly bought her sexy wears and body cream before taking her to the hotel and handing her over to Ahmed, the manager.

P.M.NEWS gathered that while she was in the hotel, she was not allowed to have contact with any of her relations.

Luck ran out on them when police raided the hotel and discovered that she was under aged. The girl told the police what happened.

Udoh and the manager were immediately arrested and charged to court for abducting and forcing the little girl into prostitution. They pleaded not guilty.

The presiding magistrate, Mr. K. O. Ogundare granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two responsible sureties in like sum. The matter has been adjourned till 7 January 2012 for mention.

- Issue him 7 Days Ultimatum to Apologize

The Paramount Rulers of Ifim Ibom Ibibio and prominent leaders of Ibibio nation have issued a disclaimer on the Paramount Ruler of ONNA Local Government Area, Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, warning that anyone who deals with him as the Okuibom Ibibio III does so at his/her own peril as “he was not the Okuibom Ibibio III.”

This was contained in a communiqué issued after an enlarged meeting of Ifim Ibom Ibibio on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at Asan Ibibio.
The statement read in part: “That whereas HRM Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, the Paramount Ruler of ONNA Local Government Area was suspended from Ifim Ibom Ibibio for insubordination, sacrilege and absenting himself from meetings and programmes of Ifim Ibom Ibibio and ignoring all invitations and pleas for reconciliations in the interest of unity within Ifim Ibom Ibibio and Ibibio Nation.
“That whereas it highly provocative and contemptuous for the suspended Edidem Akpabio Ukpa to parade himself and later purportedly installed himself as the Oku Ibom Ibibio III in total disrespect to the customs, tradition and constitution of Ifim Ibom Ibibio as well as ridiculing the Oku Ibom stool.

“That Ibibio people disassociate themselves and condemned in unequivocal terms the sacrilege committed by HRM Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa by purporting to install himself as the Oku Ibom Ibibio III, whereas, late Edidem Robert James Obot was duly selected and proclaimed as the Oku Ibom Ibibio III after undergoing all the Ibibio traditional and cultural rites necessary before ascending the throne of Oku Ibom Ibibio stool.

“That the Government of Akwa Ibom State, the entire Ibibio people and Akwa Ibom people in general are advised to ignore Edidem Akpabio Ukpa’s claims to be the Oku Ibom stool as the Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers (Ifim Ibom Ibibio) has concluded arrangement to soonest present the Oku Ibom Ibibio IV-elect after the conclusion of all necessary traditional and customary rites.

“That Akwa Ibom State Government, all traditional institutions in the state, the entire Akwa Ibom people at home and in Diaspora, Nigerians and Foreigners, Corporate bodies, person(s) are hereby notified and advised not to accept any chieftaincy title(s) or have any dealing(s) whatsoever with Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, the Paramount Ruler of ONNA LGA in the name and or guise of Oku Ibom Ibibio III as any such dealing(s) or award(s) shall not be recognized and shall incur the wrath of god and Ibibio people against the violator(s) of this warning.

“That the Supreme Council of Ibibio Traditional Rulers and the people of Ibibio Nation shall soon come out with appropriate sanctions to all persons who took part either directly or indirectly in the purported coronation of Edidem Akpabio Ukpa as Okuibom Ibibio III which is a sacrilege to Ibibio tradition, custom and practice because it was done with the intension to divide Ibibio Nation and ridicule the Oku Ibom Ibibio Stool and Ibibio people.

“That based on the above, it is further unanimously resolved that the proceedings leading to and including the purported enthronement, pronouncement and anything done at the purported installation of Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa concerning the Oku Ibom Ibibio stool are hereby declared untraditional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“That Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa is hereby given 7 days from the date of this resolution to denounce his atrocities and Apologize to Ifim Ibom Ibibio and Ibibio people as failing which, he shall be banned from Ifim Ibom Ibibio forever,” the statement concluded.

The communiqué was signed by Paramount Rulers Etinan, Ibiono Ibom, Uruan, Uyo, Itu, Ini, Nsit Atai, Nsit Ibom, and Ikono LGAs. Others were: Ntisong Essien Udo Ekidem, the leader of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio; Obong Okon Akpan Oku, chairman of Ibibio leaders Forum; Etebom Sylvanus Okon, clan head of Ofot Ukwa in Uyo; Obong C. M. Ekiko, Obong Okokon Etuk, Obongawan Aniema Eyoren, Prof. Imo Ukpong, Barr. Udo Christian George among several others.
Speaking at the meeting, the Paramount Ruler of Etinan LGA and the acting President Ifim Ibom Ibibio, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette, had thanked the people of Ibibio race for not attending the “purported coronation of Edidem Ukpa as Okuibom III at ONNA,” in adherence to the warning issued by Ifim Ibom Ibibio against the event. He added that the position of Ifim Ibom was that things should be done properly and in accordance to the tradition of Ibibio land.

The leader of Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, Ntisong Essien Ekidem observed that it was wrong for Edidem Ukpa to install himself against the advice of colleagues, saying that since the event did not take place at Asan Ibibio it showed that the Onna monarch did not follow the due tradition and custom of Ibibio nation.

The Chairman of Ibibio Elders Forum, Dr. Okon Akpan Oku, on his part said that Okuibom was the sole responsibility of Ibibio paramount rulers who, according to him, should begin the process of selecting one among themselves to be the Okuibom IV. He contended that late Edidem Robert James Obot was the Okuibom III and as such, the paramount rulers should elect Okuibom IV for Ibibio people. He frowned at the politicizing of the matter, saying that the stool was the right of Paramount Ruler who must emerge according to Ifim Ibom constitution.
Obong C. M. Ekiko, a former state lawmaker in the old Cross Rivers state, said that the people of Ibibio nation would continue to look up to the Umoette led Ifim Ibom Ibibio to produce the king for the race, condemning the action of the paramount ruler of Onna. While Obong Okokon Etuk, also a former state lawmaker in the old Cross Rivers State, blamed the crisis in Ifim Ibom Ibibio on politicians, saying that traditional matters could not be handled politically. He advised the paramount rulers to ensure that due process was followed in selecting the Okuibom IV. He pointed out that the state government has removed its hands in the matter since it was a traditional one that requires a traditional solution. He supported the action of the Umoette led Ifim Ibom.

Etebom Jerry Emmah disassociated Ibibio National Union from the Ukpa-led Ifim Ibom Ibibio, saying that the president of the group, Obong Offiong Akpabio, acted without the consent of the group. He further accused their President of “playing politics with traditional matters,” noting that, “he (Offiong Akpabio) was the administrative secretary of Edidem Akpabio Ukpa and so all his actions and comments before, during and after Ukpa’s purported coronation should be treated and seen as that of the administrative secretary of Edidem Akpabio Ukpa and not to the office of the President of Ibibio National Union. He is a joiner. He was not there when we labored to form the body and labored to register it with the Corporate Affairs Commission. So, he cannot speak for us. I apologize on behalf of Ibibio National Union for any embarrassment he has caused you, please and, let me assure our paramount rulers here that actions have been taken to address the issue internally within Ibibio National Union.”

1. Do you suffer squandermania?

2.Can you tell the people of Akwa Ibom State how much you spent when the Nwachukwu panel came on a trip to Akwa Ibom State?

3.Can we Akwa Ibomites know how much have been paid as ransom to kidnappers, e.g chairman of your home local government council and Sen. Aloysius Etuk family member?

4.May we know how much of our state funds you have put in the Anti-Goodluck Jonathan Cult operating in the presidency and other high quarters in Abuja and Arewa Consultative Forum?

5. Please tell the public how much you spend to finance cultism in Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State.

6.Please could you tell us how much you spent on cultists with their black uniform on 5th March, 2010 at the funeral of Chief Tony Emenyi at Oron?

7.How much do you spend to promote ethnic politics in Akwa Ibom State? And how much do you pay for each bill board?

8.Why are you fond of abusing insulting and lying against elders? You lied against Obong Victor Attah, and Sen J.J. Akpanudoedehe who are both Akwa Ibom and national figures as you did on 5th March at Chief Tony Emenyi's funeral forgetting that Obong Attah was your boss and former Governor of the state.

9.Are you sure you are a lawyer as you told me when you and I stayed in Udoakaha Esuene Government Guest House in 2003? The way you insult your seniors does not convince me you are learned or civilized or even in fact educated. Your speech mannerism does not portray you as educated.

10.By the way Your Excellency, how much do you pay per square metre on your road contracts?

Read More @ http://globalconcord.com/questions.html

Dust raised by the arrest and arraignment of High Chief Effiong Eso Ononokpono by Chief Godswill Akpabio is yet to rest as groups within and outside Oro nation are threatening fire should the former lawmaker be subjected to further intimidation and harassment.

Chief Ononokpono was arrested Thursday, March 25 and arraigned in Magistrate's Court 1 presided over by Magistrate Edet Obot the following day on grounds of defamation of character of Gov. Akpabio through a paid advertorial in the Nation Newspaper of Thursday March, 25th 2010.

The advertorial is alleged to have caused alarm and tension in the State as well as bringing public hatred to the Governor.
But in a swift reaction, a group of Oro elders and youths under the aegis of Oro Nations Forum condemned the arrest and urged the state government to work towards immediate release of Chief Onokpono or risk their anger which according to them will be shown in open detest and hatred to his government and his second term ambition. According to the group, who spoke at Oron on Saturday through its coordinator, Chief Edet Eyongette, democracy cannot survive if responsible individuals fail to hold the government accountable on problems threatening the peace and development of the society.

They said the arrest of the former lawmaker was to “disintegrate Oro nation especially as the general election was drawing closer. This is what is happening to the Ibibio, it is a divide and rule antics which has been adopted by this government at several instances. Regrettably, our sons in government are agents of destabilization. There is no way they would have condescended to being used by the government to victimize our people here in Oro nation.

You know the Attorney general is our son and is now used in a suit against a father and senior citizen of Oro nation on a flimsy pretence. Pastor Oyong is equally not able to advise the governor to tolerate Chief Ononokpono's advice…but at the end we shall tell them that politics is not a platform to ride on the elders because most of us have been there”,
Read more @ http://globalconcord.com/onokpono.html

Unless they change their minds, five (5) of the nineteen commissioners in Gov. Godswill Akpabio's cabinet who are no longer comfortable with the leadership style of the governor and unfavorable public criticism to the government are considering resigning their appointments.
Global Concord gathers from a close aide to one of the commissioners that the decision of his boss and others are not unconnected to the upsurge of insecurity and unsavory public opinion towards the government.

Apart from this, the aid who confided in the Global Concord while it visited the commissioner to ascertain and established some substance in the recent raid conducted by security operatives from Abuja on some Aides to government top functionaries in connection to kidnapping and political thuggery in the state told the press that the situation has caused “serious embarrassment to my boss and others and about five of them are considering resignation”. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Aide to the undisclosed commissioner said most commissioners were not in control of their ministries because they are used as errand men and rubber stamps”.
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A society is a self sustaining entity if it has all its components functioning as expected. It has the executive to provide it with leadership and fix necessary transformation in it to make life meaningful. It equally has the legislature to make laws to guide the behavior of people and provide basis where infringement can be claimed at yet another stratum, the judiciary. This important group of people in the society as learned as they are, provides interpretation to the laws kept in the society and prescribe punishments to the offenders.

There is no need stressing the notion that a society with functional information apparatus is well formed socio-politically, economically, educationally and religiously thus creating the fourth estate of the realm, the Press.
The major function of the press in the societal arrangement and management is more of a middle person. It watches over the society. It praises when ideals are pursued and brought to bear for the betterment of all by authorities concerned and point out the fall when priority attention is denied to things necessary to enhance the well being of members of the public. At various times, it sets agenda for the government to pursue.

If the fourth realm of this society, the press compromise on this assignment, the consequence can only be imagined but should not be experienced. It is like a watchman spying for devil's emissaries at the expense of the victim.

While we are not attempting to bring the practice in Akwa Ibom in particular and Nigeria in general to disrepute and indictment, we dare to say that a lot has been left undone or either done in a way that causes harm to the society.

Much has happened and some unnoticed and uncorrected because the media, either by commission or omission fail to give the necessary attention to such issues. Not that those things, if brought to the fore, cannot upgrade our society, but that there can be pointed cases of either attachment or detachment that can indict the profession.

Global Concord Newspaper shall not only go to those areas that none of its comrades dare, but shall do so objectively, in-depth and in tune with the ethics of journalism and the society.

Our society needs this Concord and we answer “yes” to the call. You can rely on us for news on all aspect necessary for our societal growth.

We shall explore all segments of this society to do it better and we shall explore even you.

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