The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akpabio

  • PDP will win elections in all states in the south – Akpabio

    PDP will win elections in all states in the south – Akpabio

    The Governors forum of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has on Monday said that the party would win elections in all the states in the south of the country including Lagos.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Chairman of the Forum and Akwa Ibom state governor, Gooodswill Akpabio said this at a meeting of the forum in Lagos.

    Speaking to newsmen before the commencement of the meeting Akpabio said that the PDP would win on first ballot because it was a national party.

    “Forget the propaganda you see. We are on ground and we believe PDP will win.

    “PDP is the party to beat. We are not panicking because we have presence across 120, 000 polling units across the nation.

    “We are in Lagos because Lagos is a strategic place. we have to re-strategise to ensure free, fair and credible elections. We came to brainstorm on how to win the election” he said.

    He re-assured Nigerians that the party would ensure that the elections were credible.

    “We intend to discuss everything concerning the election. We have a responsibility to ensure the stability of Nigeria and Nigerians because we are the party in power.

    “PDP is not callous to create problems in Nigeria” Akpabio said.

    Also Speaking, Gov Jonah Jang of Plateau called on INEC to be sure of the effectiveness of the card reader before using it.

    “INEC said they could not use the card reader in the Osun election because it was sensitive but between the national election and Osun election, which is more sensitive” he queried.

    Other Governors in attendance include Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Seriki Dickson of Bayelsa, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo states.

    Others are, Govs Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe, Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna and PDP governorship candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje.

     

  • Akpabio’s wife seeks more roles for women in governance

    Akpabio’s wife seeks more roles for women in governance

    The wife of Akwa Ibom Governor, Mrs Unoma Akpabio, yesterday advocated for adequate involvement of women in the governance of the country at all levels.

    Mrs Akpabio spoke at a thanksgiving held at the Apostolic Church, Uyo, as part of activities marking the 2015 International Women’s Day, said that women should not be seen as house wives only.

    The wife of the Governor said that the theme for this year which is “Empowering Women- Empowering Humanity: Picture it!” was apt, and needed to be implemented by everybody.

    “Empowering womanhood will not only mean progress for women, but also progress for humanity in general because when women are well positioned economically, socially and politically, the family and the community are also empowered,” she said.

    She said that the women of the state had broken gender barriers to emerge as trusted partners with their male counterparts in the business of governance in the state.

    “Today, we have an unprecedented number of Akwa Ibom women in elective and appointive positions, a tribute to the gender-responsive disposition of the Akpabio administration.” She added.

    The wife of the governor also said that the current administration had significantly reduced maternal mortality through its free medical care programme for pregnant women.

    She also noted that thousands of women had benefitted from empowerment programmes, such as the Women Agro-Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WAEDEP) and several loans and grants .

  • Akpabio to Akwa Ibom youths: don’t sacrifice for APC

    Akpabio to Akwa Ibom youths: don’t sacrifice for APC

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday warned the youth not to sacrifice their lives for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor said the lives of the youth were too precious to be wasted by the opposition.

    He noted that if youths give their lives for APC’s course, they would be misguided.

    Akpabio spoke in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally for the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

    The governor noted that in the face of the political season, selfish politicians would want to use their positions to deceive youths into sacrificing their lives.

  • Akpabio happy over Ibaka deep seaport

    Akpabio happy over Ibaka deep seaport

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has disclosed that Ibaka Deep Seaport in the state has not been abandoned as being rumoured following the presentation of the final Outline Business Case (OBC) on the project to him.

    Governor Godswill Akpabio, who stated this on Thursday when members of the Ibaka Project Steering Committee, led by Dikko Bala, paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Office, Uyo, noted that the seaport would become a major trans-shipment port to other surrounding nations and a gateway to industrialization.

    Akpabio remarked, “The Ibaka Deep Seaport, which will be the best in the country, would become a major trans-shipment port to other surrounding nations. It would be a gateway to industrialization and when realized, it would assist Nigeria a lot and will have positive multiplier effects to the country’s economy.

    “Port development will help to consolidate on government economy, and the emergence of the Ibaka deep seaport will be a gateway to decongest activities in the Lagos port. It will attract foreign shippers into the country. The Ibaka deep seaport is like a seed that must be sown to create major industries in the country and create employment opportunities for our teeming youths,” he said.

  • Akpabio and his Legacies

    Akpabio and his Legacies

    By the time Godswill Obot Akpabio steps aside from the Government House, Uyo, as Governor of Akwa-Ibom State come May 29, this year, the story, if fair and honest, shall be “A man was here”.

    He would be likened to a poor wrestler that sent giants crashing vis-à-vis the level of development he engendered for the well-being of his people.

    Three distinct periods or eras could be realized since the creation of the state. They are BA, AE, and AA. While BA stands for before Akpabio; AE stands for Akpabio’s Era; and AA stands for after Akpabio.

    Godswill Akpabio, variously referred to as the emerging African Tiger shall occupy the Akpabio’s Era (2007-2015AE). Governments and Administrations that went before Akpabio, shall be classified as the BA Era (1999-2007) while Governments and Administrations that came after Akpabio shall be classified as the AA Era (2015-2019).

    Akwa-Ibom is both a state on course and one taking shape. The opening up of the state and moving it forward in terms of progress and development are some of the project areas in view.

    The new road networks, free education, free health care delivery, the pipe-jacking or the underground tunnel technology drainage system, the independent electricity power plant, with the largest capacity for job and wealth creation which is the catalyst for small, medium and large cottage industries, general infrastructural development and urban renewal, the revamped Akwa-Ibom State Transport Company (AKTC), the modern International Stadium, described as one of the world’s best, among others are some of Akpabio’s unsurpassable achievements.

    In the process of achieving these goals and more, records are broken and new ones created; some of which may be difficult to meet if not impossible to beat. This gives a cause of worry about the kind of succession that must definitely raise standards.

    While most projects require extra time to accomplish, continuity, in most cases, is the way out.

    Successive administrations in Akwa-Ibom State had failed to imbibe the spirit of continuity, a situation that had left most lofty government projects abandoned. Here is the root cause of our fears and worries. It is said that the employee is as efficient as the employer. It may also be the contrary though. Succession makes sense and must be both realistic and attainable.

    I believe that a leader should be found faithful. Public policy and administrative initiative characterized by transparency and accountability are reasons for my support for the people-driven policies and programmes of the Godswill Akpabio-led administration which have already taken Akwa-Ibom State to greater heights. The leadership element therefore should not be under-rated.

    Quality leadership which engenders robust policies and programmes must be dynamic, effective and efficient.

    There are only a few things that the administration of Godswill Akpabio did not successfully realize. This is so because no one is perfect and man does better than his best. The industrialization of Akwa-Ibom State therefore becomes the priority programme on his hand over note to his successor.

    It is this priority area that whoever succeeds him as governor of Akwa-Ibom State should focus attention on in order to ensure that the level of socio-economic and political developments already attend in the State are sustained

    •Ekong was Travel Manager with Daily Times Limited

     

  • Akpabio, keeping governorship in the family?

    Akpabio, keeping governorship in the family?

    SIR: But for the memo to Governor Godswill Akpabio by the Forum of Akwa Ibom State PDP Governorship Aspirants signed by the 22 aggrieved governorship aspirants, Akwa Ibom people would never have known that Emmanuel Udom, the man who is bearing the PDP flag for the 2015 governorship elections, is the incumbent governor’s maternal cousin. The memo in question that revealed Akpabio-Udom relationship, appeared as an advertorial on page 71 of the The Nation On Sunday of December 21.  If Udom succeeds Governor Akpabio it would be the second instance that such a dynasty would occur in the South-south of Nigera: namely when Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan succeeded his cousin, former Governor James Ibori in Delta State.

    Barrister Godswill Akpabio was the same person, at the heat of the primaries, that produced him as PDP’s flag bearer for the governorship election in 2007, accused then Governor Victor Attah, his mentor and benefactor, as scheming to install his (Attah’s) son-in-law, Dr. Bob Ekarika, as governor of Akwa Ibom State. In the words of Akpabio, ‘that would amount to creating a dynasty in Akwa Ibom State’. By imposing his cousin, Emmanuel Udom, on the party and on the state, Akpabio is promoting the very ‘sin’ that he roundly accused his predecessor of in 2007 and he is trying to achieve this forcefully through a gubernatorial primary that was everything but democratic. With this attitude of Akpabio, he can be described as “pot calling kettle (Attah) black”.

    Akapbio had, after forcing the former SSG Umana Okon Umana to resign, invited and appointed his cousin, Emmanuel Udom, in his place.

    I recall that former Governor Victor Attah, in 2002, appointed Akpabio his commissioner in the Ministry of Petroleum. Few months later, when the PDP asked Attah to replace his deputy, Chris Ekpenyong, Akpabio having come from the same senatorial district as Ekpenyong, was handy, but for the refusal of the elders of Akwa Ibom PDP. Attah then moved Akpabio to a grass-root ministry –Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs – with the intension of grooming him to succeed him. But Attah shifted his support the last minute.

    Governor Akpabio may be feeling that he has succeeded in making his maternal cousin, Emmanuel Udom, the PDP’s flag bearer, while former SSG, Umana Okon Umana, is the APC’s flag bearer for the 2015 governorship elections. Worthy of note is that Akpabio ignored all other aspirants, including some that have been with the PDP since 1998 and preferred his maternal cousin. All other aspirants are shouting foul. The people of Akwa Ibom state have vowed not to allow the impunity to stand hence their rooting for the APC candidate.

    • Obong Akpan Koko

    Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

  • Akpabio, keeping governorship in the family?

    Akpabio, keeping governorship in the family?

    IR: But for the memo to Governor Godswill Akpabio by the Forum of Akwa Ibom State PDP Governorship Aspirants signed by the 22 aggrieved governorship aspirants, Akwa Ibom people would never have known that Emmanuel Udom, the man who is bearing the PDP flag for the 2015 governorship elections, is the incumbent governor’s maternal cousin. The memo in question that revealed Akpabio-Udom relationship, appeared as an advertorial on page 71 of the The Nation On Sunday of December 21.  If Udom succeeds Governor Akpabio it would be the second instance that such a dynasty would occur in the South-south of Nigera: namely when Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan succeeded his cousin, former Governor James Ibori in Delta State.

    Barrister Godswill Akpabio was the same person, at the heat of the primaries, that produced him as PDP’s flag bearer for the governorship election in 2007, accused then Governor Victor Attah, his mentor and benefactor, as scheming to install his (Attah’s) son-in-law, Dr. Bob Ekarika, as governor of Akwa Ibom State. In the words of Akpabio, ‘that would amount to creating a dynasty in Akwa Ibom State’. By imposing his cousin, Emmanuel Udom, on the party and on the state, Akpabio is promoting the very ‘sin’ that he roundly accused his predecessor of in 2007 and he is trying to achieve this forcefully through a gubernatorial primary that was everything but democratic. With this attitude of Akpabio, he can be described as “pot calling kettle (Attah) black”.

    Akapbio had, after forcing the former SSG Umana Okon Umana to resign, invited and appointed his cousin, Emmanuel Udom, in his place.

    I recall that former Governor Victor Attah, in 2002, appointed Akpabio his commissioner in the Ministry of Petroleum. Few months later, when the PDP asked Attah to replace his deputy, Chris Ekpenyong, Akpabio having come from the same senatorial district as Ekpenyong, was handy, but for the refusal of the elders of Akwa Ibom PDP. Attah then moved Akpabio to a grass-root ministry –Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs – with the intension of grooming him to succeed him. But Attah shifted his support the last minute.

    Governor Akpabio may be feeling that he has succeeded in making his maternal cousin, Emmanuel Udom, the PDP’s flag bearer, while former SSG, Umana Okon Umana, is the APC’s flag bearer for the 2015 governorship elections. Worthy of note is that Akpabio ignored all other aspirants, including some that have been with the PDP since 1998 and preferred his maternal cousin. All other aspirants are shouting foul. The people of Akwa Ibom state have vowed not to allow the impunity to stand hence their rooting for the APC candidate.

    • Obong Akpan Koko

    Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

  • Malaria: Akpabio flags off distribution of 2.7m treated nets

    Malaria: Akpabio flags off distribution of 2.7m treated nets

    Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, has flagged off the distribution of 2.7 million insecticide treated nets to households in the state.

    Performing the flag off on Thursday in Uyo, the governor said elimination of malaria in the country demanded the concerted efforts of government and the private sector.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the distribution exercise of the nets is expected to last for five days.

    Akpabio, who was represented by his Health Commissioner, Dr. Emem Bassey, also said his administration with the support of World Bank had commenced free distribution of malaria drugs in the state.

    “Malaria is a global problem that has existed with us for ages. The unfortunate thing is that malaria does not discriminate between rich and poor and is not religion inclined.

    “Akwa Ibom is a peculiar state with lots of rivers and coastline that favour mosquito breeding, thus the need to deploy all proven anti-malaria interventions.

    “The state government is determined to create a favourable environment for effective use of these nets for malaria prevention and control in the state,” Akpabio said.

    He urged residents of the state to ensure that all family members sleep inside the nets every night for maximum protection against malaria.

    Akpabio commended the Federal Government, the Global Fund, Society for Family Health and other development partners for their efforts at eliminating malaria in Nigeria.

    In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Health, Mrs. Stella Usah, noted that malaria was a disease of public health significance.

    Usah commended government at all levels and donor partners for the resources committed over the years to reducing morbidity and mortality due to malaria.

    She said the distribution of the nets in the state would help to replace the old ones earlier given out in 2010 which had lost their potency.

    In his goodwill message, the State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Sylvester Agwai, said malaria intervention programmes had reduced the incidence of the disease by 30 per cent globally.

    Agwai said such interventions between 2000 and 2013 had reduced the incidence of malaria by 34 per cent in Africa.

    He, however, said achieving universal coverage of rural communities with life-saving malaria interventions was still a challenge in Nigeria and other African countries.

    Agwai reiterated the commitment of WHO to the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) programme in the state.

    Mr Emeka Okafor, who represented the Society for Family Health, said that it had been proved that sleeping inside the nets consistently reduced incidence of malaria by 50 per cent.

    Okafor, who is the Deputy Director of Logistics in the organisation, said that this year’s net distribution exercise in the state was intended to reach 4.8 million people.

    He explained that at least two persons were expected to sleep inside one net.

  • Akwa Ibom primary: Oro to defect to opposition party

    Akwa Ibom primary: Oro to defect to opposition party

    Irked by the alleged manipulation of the Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship primary, the people of Oro, the third largest ethnic group in the state, have threatened to defect to another party.

    But they promised to put their threat on hold, if the party’s national leadership cancelled the primary.

    The Oro had threatened to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), if PDP upheld the result of the primary.

    The position of the Oro, who occupy five of the 12 local government areas in the oil-rich belt of Eket Senatorial District, spoke through their apex socio-cultural organisation, Oron Union.

    In a statement yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, by the former Nigerian Ambassador to Greece, Dr. Etim Uye, the vice-president, Chief Ulo Ante Uye, among others, the Oro said their defection plan was a way of showing their grievances against the Goodswill Akpabio administration.

    They presented a three-point demand to PDP’s national leadership to consider.

    These include the cancellation of the “flawed PDP governorship primary conducted in Akwa Ibom State” and the constitution of a new panel comprising men and women of integrity, who could be depended on to act according to the law.

    They said: “In the alternative and considering the limitation in time imposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) election time-table, a consensus candidate be sourced from the list of Akwa Ibom State aspirants with special attention on aspirants of Oro extraction, taking into account the issues concerning zoning and sharing of political power in Akwa Ibom State.

    “An issue, which has been a subject of passionate memoranda and agitations by the Oro, is to be accorded their merited turn to occupy the governorship seat in Akwa Ibom State. In the event of the neglect of our position by the national leadership of the PDP to correct the obvious anomaly perpetuated against us, the people of Oro will be left with no alternative than to join a political party and platform we believe will accommodate our interest and aspirations.”

    They decried the alleged impunity and callousness with which Akpabio orchestrated, organised and implemented the unconscionable deprivation of their fundamental and democratic rights during governorship primary.

    According to them, the event was televised live to the world to give credence to the fraud unleashed against Oro people.

    The statement reads: “In the said Akwa Ibom State PDP governorship primary, every Oro candidate was denied the opportunity to be chosen as the standard-bearer of that political party. In the light of this deliberate alienation, Oro is now routed and considered irrelevant in the scheme of political activities.

    “Oro people have been loyal and active participants and contributors to the success of PDP since its inception in 1998, in Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State in particular till date. It will therefore be calamitous if the PDP national leadership condones the mindless and grave injustices visited on Oro by an ingrate governor.”

  • Akpabio wins PDP Senatorial seat

    Akpabio wins PDP Senatorial seat

    A Senator representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District took the honourable path yesterday as he withdrew his aspiration, drumming support for Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    Announcing his decision shortly before the beginning of the election, Etok, who claimed that he was the candidate to beat 30 minutes before the election, said the decision to step down for his brother was to promote peace within PDP.

    Etok, who noted that history was repeating itself at the same venue, Ikot Ekpene Stadium, where Akpabio persuaded 19 others to step down for his second term, said this afforded him the opportunity to feel what his opponents felt then.

    He called on his supporters to channel every support earlier intended for him to Akpabio.

    Reacting, Akpabio congratulated Etok for his show of spirit of statesmanship and advised him to consider himself privilege to have been given the opportunity to represent the people twice.

    Akpabio, who floored two other opponents, Ekperikpe Ekpo and Chief Inibehe Okorie with 423 votes, promised to restore dignity to the National Assembly.