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Tag: Akpabio

  • We’ll resist plot to impeach Akpabio- Niger Delta leaders

    We’ll resist plot to impeach Akpabio- Niger Delta leaders

    Some leaders of the Niger Delta extraction have vowed to resist any attempt to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    A media report on Saturday, quoted some unnamed sources of plans by some senators to impeach Akpabio. 

    The media report claimed that some senators had already met in Saudi Arabia to conclude the moves.

    However, the report failed to name any lawmaker involved in the sinister moves. Instead, it relied heavily on sources. 

    The leaders, in a statement signed by the Secretary, Citizens Network for Peace and Development (CNPDN), Francis Wainwei, explained why no serious Nigerian should take the threat seriously. 

    They said in the last 10 years, no Senate President had spread the chairmanship of standing committees like Akpabio. 

    The south – south leaders explained that opposition members, as well as senators elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) got ‘juicy’ committees. 

    The pro-South South group leaders said the senators pushing the narrative have a bigger plan to destabilise the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by causing unnecessary tension in the National Assembly. 

    Read Also: No plot to impeach Akpabio, says aide

    The statement challenged the purveyors of the purported impeachment moves to show their faces and be ready to accept the dire consequences. 

    The statement read: “We woke to a funny story on Saturday morning about a purported plan by some unnamed senators to impeach Akpabio. Such stories can be ignored. But because we live in a society where some people take jokes too far, we’ve to immediately stop them.

    “Before those unnamed senators take their jokes too far, we need to remind them that we won’t fold our hands and watch them. We’ll resist any attempt or move by anyone. 

    “We know the antecedents of these people and we know that they’re actually targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Once they weaken the National Assembly, they’ll go after President Tinubu. We won’t allow them. 

    “If you couldn’t win elections through the ballots, you can’t also take over power through the backdoor. Akpabio will remain the President of the 10th Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly. 

    “No Senate President has ever done what Akpabio has done in a few months. If not for mischief, why are they in a hurry to disturb Akpabio? The South South supported these same people when they were in power.

    “Why would they want to sabotage Akpabio who is the highest political office holder from the South South which is the economic power of the country. 

    “For the sake of peace, we call on those jokers to leave Akpabio alone and allow him to focus on the task of rebuilding Nigeria with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Rebuilding Nigeria is a task for everyone. If you can stand the heat, we urge you to exit the kitchen and allow those who mean well for Nigeria to do the right thing.”

  • No plot to impeach Akpabio, says aide

    No plot to impeach Akpabio, says aide

    Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, on Saturday, denied alleged plot to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    Eyiboh, in a statement in Abuja, said contrary to sponsored news report in some sections of the media that some unnamed Senators were allegedly plotting to impeach the President of the Akpabio, the Senate under Akpabio is stable and unperturbed by what appears to be a syndicated media attack from outside the precincts of the National Assembly.

    Eyiboh insisted that the reports were complete imaginations and laced with malice to achieve what Senators are yet to comprehend.

    He said: “The Senate has since moved on after the leadership contest. The plot to drag in Senators who initially did not support the emergence of the present leadership into a conspiracy that does not exist was uncharitable to the Senators.

    “Senators are presently concluding their holidays in their constituencies and other places they have chosen to spend their time after the rigours of the inauguration and ministerial screening.

    “All senators are also refreshing themselves ahead of resumption and suggestions that they are presently engaged in other subversive plots against the institution is rather uncharitable.

    Read Also: Akpabio appoints ex-Reps spokesman, Eyiboh, as media adviser

    “It is especially uncharitable for those Senators who initially did not support the emergence of the leadership, but who have all unanimously endorsed the Senator Akpabio-led leadership.

    “Continuing to link these Senators with one conspiracy or the other with barely disguised innuendo is rather unkind.

    “We call on the media not to give in to the conspiratorial tales and to please not give damage to the reputations that they have built over time.”

  • Akpabio mourns Akintola Williams, says Nigeria lost an icon

    Akpabio mourns Akintola Williams, says Nigeria lost an icon

    Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed sadness over the death of Nigeria’s first indigenous chartered accountant, Chief Akintola Williams who died on Monday, September 11, in Lagos at the age of 104.

    Akpabio in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Public Affairs and Communications, Eseme Eyiboh, in Abuja, lamented that the nation has lost an icon, adding that the late Williams was an institution.

    He said: “I received the news of the loss of our first indigenous chartered accountant, Chief Akintola Williams with utmost sadness because there could not have been a better time than now that Nigeria needs to drink from his fountain of knowledge and savour his fatherly advice and wisdom.

    “It is indisputable that no Nigerian has impacted the accounting profession as the late sage for his achievements are firmly entrenched on the sands of history and would remain indelible in the history of our country.”

    According to Akpabio, “Nigeria has indeed lost an icon, an institution and father of accountancy who stood for truth and honesty and proclaimed the principle of accuracy and integrity with passion.

    “Chief Williams was a perfect gentleman, a professional to the core and a strict disciplinarian whose footprints will be difficult to be matched by any accountant in Nigeria. He symbolized hard work, resilience and determination.

    Read Also: Accounting icon Akintola Williams dies at 104

    “As the first indigenous chartered accountant, he played a significant role in etching Nigeria’s enviable place on the world map in the accounting profession. He was also a role model to many generations of accountants who took to the profession because of him.

    “I join millions of well-wishers across the globe to condole his immediate family, the accounting profession and indeed the entire Nigerians on.the loss of this sage.

    “May the Almighty God grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and may He have mercy on the soul of Chief Akintola Williams and welcome him in His paradise, amen.”

  • Akpabio appoints ex-Reps spokesman Eyiboh as Media Adviser

    Akpabio appoints ex-Reps spokesman Eyiboh as Media Adviser

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio has named a former spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Eseme Eyiboh, as his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs.

    Akpabio made the announcement at a media parley with Senate Press Corps at the weekend in Abuja.

    The Senate President described Eyiboh as “an astute politician, experienced media manager, public affairs expert and communications guru”.

    A two-time member of the House of Representatives, Eyiboh was in the Green Chamber from 2007 to 2011 and was reelected in 2011. 

    Read Also; G-20 side meets: Tinubu secures multiple economic partnership agreements for Nigeria

    He was spokesman and chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs between 2007 and 2011 under the then Speaker Dimeji Bankole.

    In 2011, he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Civil Society Organisations and Donor Agencies by the then Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

    Eyiboh is the immediate past Chairman of the Governing Board of the Cross River Basins Development Authority and is a former Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission; former Director of Akwa Palm Industries Limited; former Speaker of WAIFEM forum for Regional Parliamentarians, Accra, and former Corporate Affairs Consultant to Socfinco Indufina of Brussel.

    The new Special Adviser is also the Dean of the Faculty Board of the Initiatives, an agenda-setting caucus of former and serving members of the National Assembly. 

  • Akpabio appoints ex-Reps spokesman, Eyiboh, as media adviser

    Akpabio appoints ex-Reps spokesman, Eyiboh, as media adviser

    Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, has named a former spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Eseme Eyiboh, as his special adviser on media and public affairs.

    Akpabio made the announcement at a media parley with Senate Press Corps in Abuja at the weekend.

    The Senate president described Eyiboh as: “An astute politician, experienced media manager, public affairs expert and communications guru.”

    A two-time member of the House of Representatives, Eyiboh was in the Green Chamber from 2007 to 2011 and was reelected in 2011.

    He was spokesman and chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs between 2007 and 2011 under the speakership of Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Ogun demolishes Gbenga Daniel’s wife’s five-storey plaza

    In 2011, he was appointed chairman of the House Committee on civil society Organisations and donour agencies by former speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

    Eyiboh is the immediate past chairman of the governing board of the Cross River Basins Development Authority and is a former Executive Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission; former director of Akwa Palm Industries Ltd; former speaker of the WAIFEM forum for Regional Parliamentarians, Accra and former Corporate Affairs Consultant, Socfinco Indufina of Brussel.

    The new special adviser is also the Dean of the Faculty Board of the Initiatives, an agenda-setting caucus of former and serving members of the National Assembly.

  • Akpabio lauds PEPC’s verdict on 2023 presidential polls

    Akpabio lauds PEPC’s verdict on 2023 presidential polls

    The Senate president, Godswill Akpabio has lauded the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which on Wednesday, September 6, affirmed the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 presidential election.

    Akpabio described the court’s verdict as an affirmation of the popular mandate of the Nigerian people for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as delivered at the polls in February.

    The senate president in a statement by his media unit heartily congratulated Tinubu and Shettima on the resounding affirmation of their popular mandate by the well-thought-out judgement of the court.

    Akpabio noted that the court painstakingly evaluated all the issues raised by the petitioners and delivered a clear verdict on the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

    He asserted that it is clear to see by dispassionate observers that despite the challenges, Nigeria’s electoral process is making steady progress and deserves the appreciation and support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Atiku’s greed caused PDP’s defeat at PEPC – VON DG

    Akpabio urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu’s government in its drive to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “I applaud the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal for upholding the victory of our President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and our Vice President, His Excellency, Kashim Shettima, at the 2023 presidential polls.

    “I also congratulate our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on its vindication by this well-thought-out landmark judgement.

    “This judgement has expressly affirmed the popular mandate of the Nigerian people for our party the APC and its Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, freely given at the February 2023 polls.

    “As the Court has painstakingly addressed all the issues raised by the petitioners, I urge all concerned to accept the judgement and join hands with the Tinubu government in its bold efforts to secure the wellbeing of our people.”

  • Akpabio’s apology

    Akpabio’s apology

    • Leaders have to be more sensitive to the people’s plight

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s words exposing payment of holiday allowance to members of the Senate has  provoked widespread criticism. As the senators held their final plenary sitting before recess on August 9, Senator Akpabio, who was presiding told his colleagues that “a token” had been sent into their bank accounts by the clerk. His colleagues, who realised the likely response of the public to the gaffe, sought to correct him immediately, and, in making to correct the mistake, he used another metaphor that did not resonate well with Nigerians who have become very critical of leaders because of the cost of governance. Senator Akpabio said he had sent mails to their mailboxes. He apologised and we recognize that to err is human.

    In the entire episode, two things stood out. First, this is no time for expensive jokes.

    The senator may not mean it that way but such a statement could be perceived as taunting the poor. Even those in the vanishing middle class can hardly afford three square meals and pay their children’s school fees.

    We agree with senators who have cautioned the Senate President in presiding over the 109-member chamber. Many citizens see leaders as dealers that cruise around in exotic cars and live secluded in castles where those who elected them have no access to.

    Senator Akpabio is not new to controversies. The Senate President should see this as learning experience on his new perch where the hallowed chamber focuses on  discussions and debates. Coming after a short screening of ministerial nominees, the words rubbed the people on the wrong side.

    Senator Akpabio had an eight-year tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State where he needed not take heed in presiding over the state executive council. In the former role, the proceedings were behind closed doors and no television cameras were allowed to project the sessions.

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    One other lesson the senators should learn from the unfortunate episode is that Nigerians want transparency and accountability in all their actions. They are representatives and servants of the people, and should thus be open to public scrutiny, especially of financial dealings. Paying senators recess allowance is not new, neither is it condemnable as such, after all, workers receive leave allowance and some are paid to take their families out on holidays. What angered the people was the presentation and non-disclosure of the amount paid. It was only after the controversy broke out that some lawmakers disclosed that it was N2 million. 

    Mercifully, the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly later clarified that “lawmakers are entitled to a recess allowance which is 10% of the annual basic salary of each legislator and is paid once a year” and it was budgeted for.

    This shows that Senator Akpabio only said what the lawmakers were entitled to and was not necessarily a show-off. It is the optics that worry.

    Nigerians have often called on the federal lawmakers to disclose all their allowances. Are they in accord with the statutory emoluments approved by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission? Soon after it was inaugurated, it broke into the open that N70 billion had been approved for the National Assembly as palliative to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. While, as expected, this has been denied, the assembly has not fully explained what the money is for. While some have said it is for renovation of the building and furnishing of their offices, others said it is not meant for the people’s representatives only, but also the bureaucracy and other agencies attached to the National Assembly.

    All eyes are on the three branches of government at every level. What Nigerians want are leaders who empathise with them and demonstrate that in all ways. It is in the enlightened self interest of leaders to keep the fact that they have a duty to douse the tension in the land so that the bubble does not burst. Senator Akpabio, in particular, should take heed of the warning by his colleagues. His apology is well taken.

  • Witness presents documents confirming Akpabio’s victory

    A mild played out at the elections petition tribunal in Akwa Ibom State when a witness, Mr. Godwin Afangideh, presented a document confirming that Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial election.

    Lawyer to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Solomon Umoh had given Afangideh a document presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to read to the tribunal.

    The document was an exhibit presented by INEC in a petition by Akpabio, challenging the declaration of Christopher Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the Senator for Akwa Ibom North West.

    Afangide, reading from the document given to him by Umoh, said: “My Lord, even from this document, APC scored 61,329 and PDP scored 9,050 in Essien Udim council, and it is recorded here.”

    Umoh had attempted to shout Afangide from reading that part of the document.

    Afangide had earlier tendered results collated from wards in Essien Udim as given to him by the party agents, which clearly showed that Akpabio won with a wide margin.

    Read Also: ‘Those fighting Akpabio will fail’

    The witness expressed surprise at the voters’ register tendered in court, saying it was different from the one used on election day. According to Afangide, the elections in Essien Udim were peaceful, as attested to by security agencies, local and foreign observers.

    Two policemen, Commander of Ikot Ekpene Area Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi and the Divisional Police Officer of Essien Udim, Samuel Isiek, on subpoena tendered situation reports on the conduct of the National Assembly elections.

    The reports were duly admitted as exhibits despite the initial objections of Umoh, respondents’ lawyer Chief Kanu Agabi and INEC’s lawyer Robert Emukpoeruo. They reserved their objections till final addresses.

    Another Witness, Chris Akpan, who was a ward collation agent, told the tribunal that the results declared by INEC in Uyo did not reflect collated results from the units and wards.

    He was also surprised hearing about violence, saying they were hearing of violence for the first time at the tribunal.

    Akpabio had so far called 14 witnesses, mostly ward agents, who have tendered duly collated results. Results so far tendered showed he had led his opponent with a wide margin before INEC cancelled the results in Uyo.

  • ‘Those fighting Akpabio will fail’

    Associates of former Akwa Ibom State Governor Senator Godswill Akpabio have warned his opponents against making unfounded and unguided statements against the former Senate Minority Leader.

    The associates, who fingered members of the Ibom Integrity and Servant Leadership Culture Group Initiative for alleged plots to stop Akpabio’s ministerial appointment, warned that all evil plots against him would fail.

    They urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deal with those engaging in activities inimical to the growth of the party in Akwa Ibom.

    A statement by Cyril Gabriel Essien and Comrade Emmanuel Amama accused the group of “hatred for the APC and acting a script to see it fail”.

    Read Also: Witnesses: INEC cancelled Akpabio’s results

    The statement reads: “One can only see that the members of this self-acclaimed integrity group hate the party to its marrow. To a discerning mind, they and their cohorts have grumbled for a long time, and have now exposed themselves as those who worked against the interest of the APC in Akwa Ibom State.

    “We pray they come out in the open wherever they are hiding; let them expose themselves as the Akwa Ibom chapter of the group has done.

    “They are opposition members in APC garments. If the opposition had won the presidential election, one would not be surprised to see them being offered a ministerial slot.

    “We know that the party will follow the recent Zamfara example for those discovered to be agents of antiparty activities. They should be brought to book.”

  • Akpabio serves Ekpenyong petition to appear at tribunal

    Senator Godswill Akpabio has served declared winner of the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district election, Chris Ekpenyong, a copy of the petition to appear before the election petition tribunal.

    Ekpenyong acknowledged the receipt of the petition from the tribunal’s secretary on Tuesday at his EEMJM hotel, Uyo, the state capital.

    But Ekpenyong, who last week received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said he was not perturbed by Akpabio’s summon.

    ”He (Akpabio) is only embarking on a futile journey to change the course already designed by God,” he said.

    He told his teeming supporters to “remain calm as your mandate has been rescued by the divine arrangement for peace, development and even spread of the dividends of democracy to thrive.

    “You should not be afraid of Akpabio, your mandate is secured in me. The God that allowed your votes to be counted will stand by us to get justice at the tribunal and in various courts.

    “We are ready to defend the will of the people of the people of Ikot Ekpene at all times,” he stressed.

    Akpabio, who currently represents Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-West), has taken his petition to the state elections petition tribunal.

    Read Also: Akpabio challenges loss at tribunal

    Counsel to Akpabio, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN), filed the petition on the embattled Senator Akpabio’s behalf on March 16, 2019.

    Ameh, had penultimate week withdrawn the earlier suit filed at Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja high court, seeking the invocation of an order of mandamus, ordering INEC to review the results of the poll in his Senatorial District due to improper process.

    The tribunal sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, would soon begin hearing on all post 2019 general elections’ matters.

    Akpabio, former Senate Minority Leader, according to a statement by his Media Aide, Comrade Anietie Ekong, is seeking to upturn the outcome of the February 23 National Assembly poll, for which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Ekpenyong, winner.

    In announcing the winner, the Returning Officer (RO), Dr. Nsikak Senam of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Department of Communication Art, said Ekpenyong polled 118, 215 votes as against Akpabio’s over 83,158.

    But Akpabio faulted the results, claiming however, that “incontrovertible result sheets from INEC office showed different figures that I secured 138, 256 votes over Ekpenyong’s 123,843”.

    He alleged the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who superintended over the exercise, colluded with the PDP to pre-determine the outcome in favour of Ekpenyong.

    However, the former Deputy Governor, who had last Thursday obtained Certificate of Return (CoR) from INEC in Abuja, maintained he won the poll through a free, fair and credible process and urged Akpabio to accept defeat in good faith.

    His counsels, he said, would be at the tribunal to disproof all the allegations that would give the clean bill to effectively discharge his legislative responsibilities at the Red Chamber.

    Working with other federal lawmakers, Ekpenyong said his immidiate task would be “to ensure Nigeria works again by allying with the Executive and other arms to address challenges of fixing the country”.