Some prominent Nigerians yesterday have condoled with Vice-President Namadi Sambo over the death of his younger brother, Yusuf.
The deceased, who was 58-year-old pilot, died on Sunday in a ghastly motor accident on the Abuja Airport Road.
Among those who visited Sambo at his Akinola Aguda House official residence in the Presidential Villa on Monday include the Senate President, David Mark, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio and his Delta State counterpart, Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Sambo received the male sympathisers inside one of the big halls while his wife, Hajia Amina attended to the female mourners in another hall.
Others who visited Sambo yesterday included other members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, and leadership of the ongoing National Conference.
Governors who visited the Vice President also included Idris Wada (Kogi), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) and James Ngilari (Deputy governor, Adamawa).
Speaking with State House correspondents, Akpabio described Yusuf’s death as a sad development for the country.
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary David Iyofor, said: “It is most painful to lose someone close and dear to you. I on behalf of my family and the people and government of Rivers state sympathise with you (Vice President Sambo).”
“We share in your loss and grief. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.”
Former Governor of Ekiti State Segun Oni also commiserated with Sambo over the death of his younger brother. He described the death as shocking and painful.
Oni, who reacted to Captain Sambo’s death in a statement, said he was still finding it difficult to believe that such a jolly good fellow and seasoned pilot could pass on very soon.
Tag: Akpabio
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Mark, governors, others condole with Sambo over brother’s death
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Akpabio sacks two commissioners
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom has relieved two commissioners of their appointment.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, in Uyo on Thursday.
It stated that the minor reshuffle was to reinvigorate the machinery of government and drive further the Uncommon Transformation Programme of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commissioners, who were directed to hand over to the permanent secretaries were – Mr. Bassey Akpan (Finance) and Mr. Effiong Abia (Rural Development).
The statement also announced the removal of the chairmen of six state-owned parastatals and agencies.
The chairmen are – Mr. Sunny Udom ( Akwa Ibom Property and Investment Company Limited), Mr. Patrick Ifon ( Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited) and Mr. Dan Akai( Akwa Ibom Newspapers Corporation).
The others are – Mr. Alex Nyong( Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation), Mr. John Asikpo (Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Management Board)and Mr. Tony Esu( Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development).
The statement said the governor appreciated the former commissioners and board chairmen for their contributions to the development of the state and wished them success in their future endeavours.
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Akpabio: Akwa Ibom doesn’t owe N400b
Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said yesterday that the state’s debt profile is not up to N400billion as claimed by certain individuals.
Akpabio ,who spoke at the State Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the state’s debt profile is a little above N50 billion.
According to the governor, the House of Assembly approved a loan of N80billion.
He said the government has started remitting N5 billion monthly to pay off the loan.
His words: “My role as governor is to let you know that the government is working and to allay your fears.
“The House of Assembly approved N80 billion for the government and of course, when we took the loan at that time, we started servicing it almost immediately. We have been paying about N5 billion monthly.
“As I speak with you now I am sure that this state owes a little above N50 billion.
“So when people write that we owe N400 billion, it is not true. Despite what we are doing, prudence remains the keyword. We don’t want to mortgage the future of this state.
“We work in line with the law. I cannot go beyond what the House of Assembly endorses. We operate within the ambit of the law.”
He said all what people are insinuating and writing were to malign the characters of government officials.
“If I did something outside the law, it would amount to impeachment. Please, disregard their lies.
“Some people take propaganda and falsehood as a strategy for 2015.
“All others like us have gone on our knees that God should lead this state well so that we don’t plunge it into crisis.
“The will of God for us is continuity, sustenance for what we have been able to put together in the last seven years and progress.”
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APC governors shun meeting with Jonathan
All governors under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were conspicuously absent when the meeting convened by President Goodluck Jonathan started by 2.00pm at the First Lady Conference Room in the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.
Jonathan had on Wednesday summoned all governors and National Security Council to a meeting over rising security challenges in the country.
After the President met the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar in his office earlier, they all moved to the First Lady Conference room where governors were already seated.
Governors who attended the meeting are – Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Isa Yuguda(Bauchi), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe).
Others are – Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu).
Also at the meeting are – Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Garba Umar (Acting Governor Taraba), Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, John Jonah and Deputy Governor of Kebbi State.
The meeting was also attended by the Defence Minister, Brigadier-General Aliyu Gusau (rtd); Director-General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong; Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
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‘We haven’t surrendered Senate seat to Akpabio’
The people of Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika in Akwa Ibom State have said they are yet to surrender the slot of the Ikot senatorial seat to Governor Godswill Akpabio.
Instead of compensating Akpabio with the ticket as done by some elders in the district, the people urged indigenes to look out for a suitable compensation for the governor and not with the right of the people.
The people’s position was revealed yesterday by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Uwem Udoma, during a town hall meeting by elders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Uyo.
Udoma said: “We were excluded from Akpabio’s town hall meeting. I was in the hall but was not recognised. Those who said at the town hall meeting that they have conceded the position to the governor are not saying the truth.
“The people of Abak will never concede the Senate position to anybody.
“What we are saying is that everybody should come out to contest. We will not use the Senate position to compensate anybody.
“If anybody wants compensation, Akwa Ibom people should compensate you but not with our Senate slot.”
The ex-lawmaker, who bemoaned the level of debt in the state, warned the government not to leave huge debt behind for the incoming administration.
“Do what you can do with the resources available and leave the remaining projects for the incoming government to do it.”
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Akpabio: revenue shortfall stalling projects
Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday said the shortfall (44 per cent) from the federation account last year affected project execution in the state.
Akpabio spoke at a Town Hall meeting in Ikot Abasi.
The governor said he collected about 36 per cent revenue last year from the federation account.
He described the shortfall as a national problem caused by crude oil theft and bunkering.
Akpabio lamented that the shortfall has stifled redemption of some of his promises and execution of projects, especially roads.
According to him, the government completed 298 projects in Ikot Abasi.
He said: “In terms of other projects, we have done much for this Ikot Abasi. At the inception of this administration, we completed the first phase of the Ibom Power Plant, which we met at 65 per cent completion.
“We also built 12.9 kilometres of urban roads in Ikot Abasi. We handed the old Housing Unit to the Navy and donated land for a Navy secondary school.
“We built and inaugurated a General Hospital at Eastern Obolo with modern equipment. The Akwa Ibom State University is sited at Mkpat Enin and we invested in the development of its infrastructure. The school will graduate its first set of students. We tarred 13.5 kilometres of urban roads in Mkpat Enin.”
Akpabio said the government would build a girls’ secondary school in Ikot Abasi to immortalise women, who died in the 1929 Ikot Abasi women massacre by the British colonial masters.
The governor said the women’s names would be engraved in front of the school as a reminder of the British oppressive rule.
“The place of Ikot Abasi in our nation cannot be ignored. Lord Lugard lived here in Ikot Abasi and it was here that he signed the amalgamation papers.
“In other words, Nigeria was birthed in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. It was also here in Ikot Abasi that our women led the fight against injustice in what has come to be known as the Aba Women Riot.”
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Akpabio underdeveloped Oron, says ex-commissioner
Ita Awak, an Oron man, is a trained aircraft engineer and a former Information Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State under former Governor Victor Attah. He spoke with reporters on the politics of succession and the alleged marginalisation of Oron Nation in Akwa Ibom State. Kazeem Ibrahym was there.
Considering the massive cash inflow into Akwa Ibom State, how would you assess the performance of the state government so far?
You may not believe it, but I tell you that there is massive hunger in Akwa Ibom State. Like everybody knows, the annual revenue profile of Akwa Ibom State equals that of Lagos State. As a matter of fact, from 2007 till date, it will be interesting to know that Akwa Ibom State is one of the states that have grossed up to or about 2 trillion naira. Such vast volume of money has never entered this state since the creation of this state in 1987. It may also interest you further that what Akwa Ibom State grosses annually from the Federation Account equals the total amount of money that accrues to all the Igbo-speaking states of the Southeastern zone. It does appear also that it is equal to the total amount of money received by all the Hausa-Fulani North eastern states put together. As a matter of fact, in this year’s budget, what we have is about N500 billion, which is about four times the total amount of money that Cross River State is budgeting for this year. So,what are we trying to say? In terms of the revenue we have received compared to our recorded development, there is a wide gap. As it is, Akwa Ibom State is known to be one of the richest states in the country, but the vast majority of the people of Akwa State are pauperised, the economic class in Akwa Ibom State has been reduced to executive beggars. It is a tragedy, a supreme tragedy that we can have this huge amount of money, yet it is not reflected in an improved standard of living of Akwa Ibom people. It will be interesting to know what the current poverty index of Akwa Ibom State is, but I know for sure that there is hunger in this state. Very, very saddening, indeed. Thank you very much.
But the Governor keeps talking of “Uncommon Transformation” of Akwa Ibom State. How then do you justify this statement with what you have just said?
In all fairness to my good friend, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Obot Akpabio, he has, to all intents and purposes, recorded some measurable structural development within the Uyo metropolis. Please note that Uyo metropolis only constitutes just one local government of the nine Local Governments that make up Uyo Senatorial District. This hyperbolised claim about uncommon transformation can also be seen in a section of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District where my dear governor hails from. That is where you see this so-called uncommon transformation. Have you taken a ride through Eket Senatorial District? It may interest you to know that the petrodollar that drives the economy of Akwa Ibom State all comes from Eket Senatorial District. When you get into Eket Senatorial District, what accosts your sight is the glaring and soulful evidence of uncommon neglect. Then, when you now go to the Oron Nation, where I come from, you will see stark reality of criminal marginalisation of both the natives and the communities. Further, when you get into the 31 LGAs of Akwa Ibom State, all you see is evidence of neglect, plunder and uncommon roguery. That is what is going on in Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom State is getting prepared to elect a successor to Governor Godswill Akpabio. The most current situation is that the Executive Council of Akwa Ibom State has recently nominated three persons…
(interjects)…Is it the duty of the Executive Council of Akwa Ibom State to tell Akwa Ibom people whom to vote for? When has it become the function of the Executive Council of any state in this country to decide those that are to go for election? For me, this is the height of absurdity. This is very absurd and unfortunate. The business of the state executive council of any rational honest government is to articulate, execute, and evaluate government policies in such a way and manner that the greater majority of the people of that state benefits from the activities of government. When we were privileged to serve in the executive council of this state, it was not our business to deliberate or even go to the absurd level of shortlisting those who were to contest as Governor Attah’s successor. It was chiefly our business to struggle for resource control and join our Governor Obong Victor Attah in articulating such enduring developmental projects such as the Akwa Ibom International Airport, the Ibom Independent Power Plant, Ibaka Deep Sea Port, and the Science and Industrial Incubation Center.
So, what then do you propose for the Oron people? Or do you have a particular Oro man you are supporting for this 2015 Governorship race?
In Akwa Ibom State, the Ibibios constitute 65 per cent of the population and they have 14 LGAs spread across the three Senatorial Districts and they are predominantly in Uyo Senatorial District of 9 LGAs. For the Oron man to become governor of this state, the Ibibios must bless that venture, they must support it. Without their support, we cannot unilaterally make ourselves governor of this state. Now, because of the current style of Government, the Ibibios feel alienated. Right now, we have a big crisis on our hands. All the ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom State are at daggers drawn with each other.
I think, and nothing has made me to doubt the uncomfortable feeling that I am having, that it is the determined intention of Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio to amputate the Oron ethnic group as the third leg of the tripod. His decision to completely isolate and exclude the Oro natives from his government is a part of that ploy to incapacitate us and render us totally irrelevant in the political arithmetic of Akwa Ibom State.
Is Oron really underdeveloped?
I have said so. The underdevelopment of Oron is the handiwork of the governor. Remember, he said that Oron did not support him. Second, our governor has seen the need to use state funds to dualise federal roads in his own senatorial district; and he gives no regard at all to the state of complete disrepair of the federal roads in Oron Federal Constituency.
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‘Akpabio can’t pick candidate for us’
Stakeholders from Eket in Akwa Ibom State yesterday said Governor Godswill Akpabio cannot pick a governorship candidate for them.
They said the governor would only assist the region to produce the next governor.
The stakeholders spoke at a Town Hall meeting with the governor in Eket Local Government Area.
They urged Akpabio to liaise with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to streamline the number of aspirants from the area to avoid any internal fracas.
A former Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Renewal, Nduese Essien, praised the governor for zoning the governorship to Eket.
But he said the governor had not fulfilled some promises he made to the constituency.
Essien said Akpabio failed to deliver the Qua River Hotel, the beautification of Eket Town, dualisation of Eket roads and the security village.
The former minister said: “The governor is not going to pick anybody for us. We are only asking him to assist us to produce a governor.
“Those who want to be governor should go out and campaign.
“Akpabio, during his time, campaigned in all the nooks and crannies of the state.
“This is why when he became a governor he knew many people and the terrain he was going to govern.
“Nobody should think that the governor is going to anoint him. I am saying this to the aspirants from Eket.
“We have many aspirants from Eket. Many of them have consulted us and consulted you. If they have not, they will come but I can assure you that the best material that you will have will come from Eket.”
Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette, who represented Akwa Ibom South, thanked Akpabio for zoning the governorship to Eket.
Mrs. Ekaette said merit and service must be the major criteria for choosing the next governor.
She said: “We have the right to choose based on the ability of the people and consultations so that we do not have fracas on our hands when it is time.”
Akpabio said his administration was committed to good governance for all areas of the state.
He said 466 projects were completed and inaugurated in Eket.
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Akpabio: Nigeria could have been better
Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has described 100 years of Nigeria’s existence as a chequered history, due to frequent military incursions.
He said the country would have fared better without the “interruptions”.
Akpabio said this while fielding questions from Government House correspondents in Uyo.
He said: “My impression of Nigeria is that of a chequered history in the sense that if we had democracy all along without military intervention in the country, we would have been better.
“We have achieved a lot in the last 14 years than we did in 35 years of military rule. That is my opinion and now we have opportunity to build. We should look forward to the next 50 to 100 years.”
Akpabio said the ethnic, lingual and religious differences should form part of the country’s strength as a nation with multi-diversity.
He hoped that Nigeria would make it, despite the differences.
According to him, “We should learn from Egypt and the Nile River. People from all over the world came together and lived there because the land was fertile and the first civilisation in the world was born from there.”
“So, Nigeria despite our large size and differences (since we are together), we have come together, we can make it work.”
Akpabio called on Nigerians to cement on the lapses for the good of the nation, saying “We should look forward to the next 50 to 100 years- what would happen to Nigeria, we should start today.
“If we look backward, we will have regrets. We must go back to the basis; we must love one another, and every Nigerian must feel free in any part of this nation. We must de-emphasise tribe and religion, emphasise our ‘Nigerianness’ and give everybody equal opportunity.”
On the exclusion of Akwa Ibom State from the Nigerian centenary celebration, the governor said Nigeria’s existence should be the basis for the celebration and not where the amalgamation figurines are situated.
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Akpabio seeks quick delivery of justice
Akwa Ibom State Governor Godwill Akpabio has vowed to end slow justice delivery in the state.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting, he said the government would address issues that hamper smooth administration of justice.
At the meeting were members of House of Assembly Committee on Justice and Public Petitions, and a representative of the police.
The governor observed that prosecution of cases had been slowed down by judiciary budgeting impediments.
He said he would implement suggestions from the meeting as the government continues to seek better ways of improving judicial operations.
Akpabio praised the judiciary for doing justice despite challenges.
According to him, the aim should always be to ensure that “it is better for one criminal to be set free than for hundreds of innocent people to suffer a crime they did not commit.”
The state Chief Judge, Justice Idongesit Ntem-Isua said the Judiciary would continue to collaborate with the executive and the legislative arms towards a better society.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Ekpenyong Ntekim told reporters: “The meeting was to address issues that militate against smooth administration of justice in the state. We looked at a number of areas ranging from congestion of the court, inadequate court facilities and general funding of the judiciary.
“Certain steps have been taken and to be implemented, certain committees have been setup to ensure the implementation these policies. Also, the budgetary provision of the judiciary would be looked into by the legislative arm with a view to enhancing their operation generally.
“Hopefully, when these are brought to bear, we are going to have smooth operations in the justice system.
“There was no conflict between the executive and the judiciary. Issues that related to the three arms of government were smoothly addressed. All these arms of government belong to the same government, so you cannot be in conflict with yourself,” he said.