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Tag: Akwa Ibom State

  • Campaign billboards: APC set to confront A’Ibom govt over planned protest

    The fracas between the Akwa Ibom state government and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the alleged destruction of APC campaign billboards took a different dimension on Saturday.

    The APC in the state had risen against the People’s Democratic Party-controlled state government for pulling down campaign billboards of President Muhammadu Buhari and its governorship candidate, Obong(Dr.) Nsima Ekere.

    The state commissioner for environment and mineral resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien and the chairman of Uyo local government area, Mr. Okon Okon were last week arrested and detained by the police following a petition by the APC that its campaign billboards were destroyed by agents of the state government.

    At a press conference on Friday, the State Chairman of the APC National Youth Caucus, Mr. Iniobong John raised the alarm that the state government was planning to organize women in the state to stage a protest against the APC government at the center.

    The APC youth leader said the protest, planned to hold in major streets of the state capital on Saturday, remained one of the many plans by the PDP in the area to intimidate and misrepresent the President and the APC in the area.

    He threatened to stage a counter protest against the Governor Udom Emmanuel PDP government should it go ahead with the protest.

    Read Also: ‘I ‘ll not leave APC despite my loss in primary election’

    The party, therefore, called on security agencies to stop the planned protest as this, according to them, could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the area.

    “We wish to alert the security agencies and the general public of the street protest planned by the Akwa Ibom State government against Mr. President and the APC federal government. The protest is planned to take place tomorrow, Saturday, 20th October, 2018.

    “As we speak, mobilization has been done. Buses to convey PDP goons and thugs across the state have been mobilized. Funds have been disbursed to the different groups and individuals for mobilization. T-shirts and other logistics have been arranged. A meeting is ongoing now at the Government House to fine tune the plans.

    “The protesters are to march from the Ibom Plaza to the government house where the governor is billed to address them. The governor has shown that he is deceitful, unreliable and desperate. Just yesterday, he was summoned to the Presidential Villa to explain his government’s actions against the APC’s billboards in the state. And he apologized and begged for a lifeline from the president.

    “Such mischievous and wicked plots by the state government are capable of triggering crisis, tension and in the extreme case, breakdown of law and order in the state. The failed PDP government must learn to manage its frustrations.” John said.

    He described the plan as undemocratic and called for an issue based campaign adding that the party could be forced to organize a counter protest against the Governor.

    “We insist the governor must campaign based on his scorecard and not on sentiments and campaigns of calumny against Mr. President and the APC federal government.

    “As a people, we don’t deserve this and we never bargained for this. If the state government don’t desist from this mischievous street protest against our president and party, we’ll be left with no other option than to also plan a mass action against the failed, inept, clueless, rudderless and directionless government in the state.

    “This government has failed irredeemably and the people of the state can’t wait for the 2019 election to replace it with a better brand of governance.” he said

  • Senate in rowdy session over sitting arrangement

    …APC, PDP Senators square up for a fight

     

    For over 30 minutes Wednesday common sense took flight in the Senate.

    Tempers rose. Political party affiliation rather than national interest took better part of senators.

    It all started with a Point of Order raised by the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.

    Akpan (PDP) specifically raised Order 43 which deals with personal explanation under which a senator is allowed to speak about himself and his constituents.

    The Akwa Ibom North East lawmaker informed his colleagues about alleged looming crisis in Akwa Ibom State.

    He claimed that the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state was allegedly plotting to unleash mayhem in the state that would possibly lead to the cancellation of the governorship election in 2019.

    He further alleged that the aim of APC in the state was to instigate the cancellation of the governorship election in the state in order to deploy federal might to cause challenge of leadership in the state.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, ruled that the information given by Akpan was “well noted.”

    Senator Godswill Akpabio (APC Akwa Ibom North West) who appeared to be agitated by Akpan’s information was angling where he sat to respond to what Akpan said.

    Saraki asked Akpabio to go to his seat before he could be recognised to speak.

    The Senate President said that Akpabio cannot speak from a seat that is not his.

    Saraki added that there was no microphone were Akpabio sat.

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan reminded Saraki that there was no formal sitting arrangement in the chamber.

    He said that Akpabio has the right to speak from where he was since the leadership of the chamber has failed to ensure formal sitting arrangement.

    Lawan noted that he has raised the issue of a formal sitting arrangement with the Senate President without the expected result.

    The Senate Leader who insisted that the chamber must be guided by its rules added that “we must have sitting arrangement.”

    Lawan said that there had been movement across party lines with the possibility that more people would still move as they deem fit.

    Saraki said that the Clerk to the Senate, Nelson Ayewo, was directed to allocate seats to senator.

    The Senate President said that he believed that the new sitting arrangement would be completed next week.

    As the exchange of words between Saraki and Lawan continued, Akpabio was visibly boiling where he sat.

    He insisted on being allowed to speak. Saraki stood his ground that Akpabio should go to his seat before he could be allowed to speak.

    Senator Dino Melaye came into the picture.

    The Kogi West Senator attempted to shout Akpabio down.

    Akpabio got irritated and was also shouting on top of his voice.

    Confusion descended in the chamber as other senators joined the fray.

    Chamber decorum momentarily became casualty.

    Attempt to restore decorum was made by Senator Emmanuel Paulker who reminded his colleagues that Akpan raised Order 43 (personal explanation) which did not give room for contribution or discussion by other senators.

    The Bayelsa State senator added that by relying on Order 43, Akpabio was not entitled to respond to what Akpan said.

    Attempts to calm frayed nerves failed.

    Lawan moved to confer with Saraki apparently about the way forward.

    Saraki explained that his position was that Akpabio should go to a seat where there is a microphone.

    He said that Lawan was not fair to him by insinuating that he did not want Akpabio to speak.

    Lawan said that APC must not be discriminated against on the floor of the Senate.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, raised Order 11(1)(2).

    Ekweremadu said that every senator has the right to speak for himself and the people he represents.

    Senates Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC) and Kabiru Marafa (APC) began to shout on top of their voices.

    Ekweremadu was forced to sit down. He later explained that the rules of the chamber made provision for sitting arrangement.

    Akpabio took the floor and said that the seat he sat was allocated to him by the Senate Clerk.

    He added that the embarrassment he received was uncalled for.

    Saraki disagreed and asked the Clerk to confirm if he allocated the seat to Akpabio.

    The Clerk said that when Akpabio requested to sit on the seat, he informed him that there was no microphone on the seat.

    Ayewo said that Akpabio insisted on sitting on the seat.

    He said that he had no choice than to allow Akpabio to sit where he wanted.

    After Ayewo’s explanation, Saraki gave Akpabio the floor to speak.

    The former governor of Akwa Ibom State promptly demanded for an apology “for the unwarranted embarrassment I received today.”

    He added that even the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) apologized to Nigerians.

    He concluded that “until the Senate sitting arrangement is properly constituted I rest my case.”

    That appeared to be the end of the matter until Ndume revived it by tendering apology for preventing Ekweremadu from speaking.

    Ndume said that he has nothing against anybody.

    Lawan also apologized for the altercation on the floor.

    He said that his position should not be misinterpreted as if he took side with APC senators on the issue.

    Lawan noted that they should always see themselves as one body working for the good of the country.

  • Making Akwa Ibom work

    The worst thing to happen to anybody, state or nation is to be in a place of opportunity and not recognise it. Akwa Ibom State is increasingly becoming an attractive hub for investors in light of various economic, political and social policies and programmes that are sweeping through the state resulting in much improved business opportunities and entrepreneurial environment conducive for foreign and local direct investments. The state is now seen as an economic frontier in terms of economic growth for the present and future. There is widespread development of critical social and physical infrastructures and there is an increasing pool of population on daily basis as well as well-educated people (based on Nigerian version of education) and enterprising workers across the state.

    Undoubtedly, there are lots of amazing business investment opportunities in the state. However, it can get confusing if people don’t know where to look for opportunities. For instance, as the state’s population increases, agriculture production must rise in greater proportion to feed the growing numbers. The opportunities in Nigeria’s food and agribusiness space remain huge and will not go out of fashion anytime.

    Also, Nigeria and Africa as a whole is a pharmaceutical market where genuinely high growth is achievable and very possible. Huge business investment opportunities are present in the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceutical products, market and sales and investment groups. Between 2013 and 2020, prescription drugs are forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of six percent, generics at nine percent, over the counter medicines at six percent, and medical devices at 11 percent. The pharmaceutical and medical industry has great potential for boosting economic growth and creating job potential of essential drugs that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. Production of raw materials is essential. There is high opportunity for local production of raw materials for pharmaceutical industries in the state.

    Africa is going through a construction boom, opportunities that will certainly create a lot of wealth for entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom State abound. The demands for residential, commercial and all kinds of real estate are increasing on daily basis. These sectors have numerous varying products and that can be diversified into such as nails, saw, hammers, nail caps, tiles production, roofing sheet/zinc materials, ply woods, aluminium frame productions, glass, etc.

    The economy of a nation is measured by the development of the productive manufacturing industry. It is manufacturing that is basically one of the major vehicles that drive and develop the economy of a country and ensure employments. So it behoves on Akwa Ibom citizens to think out of box and think in line with the economic policies of Udom Emmanuel’s government.

     

    • By Udom Dominic Bassey Calabar.

  • ‘Buhari’s victory dependent on Akpabio’s second term’

    The victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC), specifically that of President Muhammadu Buhari in Akwa Ibom state in the 2019 general election, is dependent on the reelection of Senator Godswill Akpabio into the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

    A chieftain of the APC, Uduak Okpo stated this on Thursday at Etim Ekpo local government area of the state during a mobilization campaign for Buhari and Senator Akpabio.

    According to him, the APC in the state would emerge stronger and more united if Akpabio wins election into the Senate next year, adding that the former senate minority leader’s victory at the polls will earn Buhari more votes in the state.

    Okpo said the dislodgement of the People’s Democratic Party government in Akwa Ibom was a task that needs to be accomplished.

    The one-time House of Representatives candidate for Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika federal constituency in 2007 and aspirant for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district in 2014, said the APC party primary election in 2014 but surrendered it for the interest of the party.

    He said, “We have a formidable party now in Akwa Ibom capable of winning election. Therefore, we have to align with the former senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and President Muhammadu Buhari and Hon Emmanuel Ekon for the federal House of Representatives. Let us unite to fight our common enemy and win Akwa Ibom for the APC”, he advised.

    Read Also: 2019: Group drums support for Buhari

    Okpo appreciated the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole for the option of direct primaries as a means to enfranchise all card carrying members of the party to participate in the primary election.

    He lamented that he was robbed of his victory in the past by the ruling PDP in the state and implored all members to shun divisive tendencies and embrace Akpabio despite all differences with APC when he was the governor of the state.

    Okpo, who is also the Akwa Ibom caucus member of the APC endorsed Precious Effiong as the aspirant for Etim Ekpo/Ika state constituency in pursuance of 35 percent affirmative action for women by the APC and party members not to stop galvanizing around greedy politicians for favour as all members are delegates in the party primaries.

    He faulted the previous delegate primary election where a few members of a cabal took decision to nominate party flag bearers against the wish of party faithful.

     

  • Mad man attacks school, destroys cars in A’Ibom

    There was pandemonium on Wednesday as a middle-aged man suspected to be mentally deranged attacked a private secondary, MC’intire Secondary school in Utu, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

    The mad man chased away staff and students of the school with a matchet and went ahead to destroy no fewer than three vehicles parked in the school premises, it was learnt.

    Our correspondent learnt from eyewitnesses that the incident which occurred after the morning devotion caused students and staff members to run helter skelter for their lives as rampaging mad man chased everyone with his machete.

    Angry that he could not succeed in killing or inflicting injuries on anyone, lunatic is said to have descended on the cars, believed to belong to members of staff of the school.

    A staff of the school while narrating the incident to the Nation on Wednesday disclosed that the mad man who took over one of the classroom blocks during the long vacation, may have angry that he was being displaced upon the resumption of staff and students after the holiday.

    The staff, who spoke on ground of anonymity for fear of the unknown described the action of the mad man as a serious threat to the lives of students and staff of the school, recalling that the mad man burnt down a classroom last month, August.

    Read Also: Akwa Ibom 2019: Second term is no birthright

    “Aside the destruction of the vehicles, staff, students, parent and children seeking admission in the school also escaped death from the mad man’s sharp matchet as he brandished it seeking to harm anyone that dared come near him.

    “The same mad man had on August 18, 2018 at about 9pm, set fire and burnt down Senior Secondary One (SS1) classroom that accommodates no fewer than 200 students”, our source noted.

    Another source in the school said he was shocked to witness the incident appealing that security should be beefed up within the school premises and completion of the ongoimg perimeter fence in order to ensure safety of lives and property.

    He equally appealed to the State Government to not to hesitate to renovate the classroom block destroyed by the mad man in the school so that the affected students would not be stranded.

    Also narrating her experience a student who gave her name as Idorenyin Etim said she was frightened when they saw the mad man in their classroom especially when he started chasing them with a sharp matchet.

    “I and my classmates were heading to our new class when surprisingly saw the mad man coming out. At first, we thought that he was pretending but when he brought out a matchet and threatened to kill anyone that came close we decided to run away.

    “And the mad man after we ran away went to where vehicles belonging to our teachers were parked and smashed the glasses. This was when we knew that we were not safe. Everyone including parents who came to seek admission for their wards were afraid and shocked”

    It was gathered that the state government had visited the school on Tuesday to ascertain the level of destruction and take appropriate action to address the problem.

  • My heart with Buhari in 2015 polls, Says Akpabio

    Says PDP didn’t do even one kilometre road in Akwa Ibom

     

    The former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Monday said that his heart was with President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election despite being a member of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

    He spoke with State House correspondents after leading elders and leaders from his state to visit President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Akpabio, was the Senate Minority leader before his defection to the APC, in August.

    He alleged that throughout the PDP’s 16 years in office at the federal level, there was not even one kilometre road project by the federal government in his state.

    He was optimistic that Akwa Ibom will be the first state from South South that will be won be the APC in the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: I sacrificed my Presidential ambition for Buhari – Ribadu

    According to him, what remained of the PDP in the state was mere carcass as the body and soul of the party had joined the APC.

    He said that over two hundred and sixty six thousand new members have registered with the APC after him and some other people dumped the PDP.

    He assured President Buhari that no single indigene of South South will vote against President Buhari in 2019, even as he said that there would not be any defection from the APC that will affect the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.

     

    Details later

     

  • A’Ibom Govt. identifies twelve new cult groups

    Despite the proscription of 23 secret cult groups by the Akwa Ibom state government early this year, no fewer than 12 new ones have emerged in different parts of the state.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko disclosed on Thursday this while delivering his speech at the 3 day seminar for investigation Police Officers at the State Police headquarters, Ikot Akpan, Abia, Uyo.

    Nwoko said the emergence of new cult groups negated the Anti-Cultism law enacted by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly four months ago.

    Addressing participants at the closing session of the seminar on the theme: “Diligent prosecution of criminal cases, “Nwoko told the Police Officers that another group of cultists with different names from the ones earlier outlawed by the State have emerged.

    He noted that the nefarious groups operated from different council areas of the State, adding they recruit and initiate new members daily.

    Although the Attorney General did not mention the names of the cult group, he said his office was compiling their names and would soon take legal steps to arrest the situation.

    “The Police would need enough time to investigate these new cult groups and knew their operation before the their clampdown”

    He encouraged the police to utilize all the knowledge acquired during the 3 days seminar to relying investigation machinery of the state.

    Read Also: A’Ibom to improve child eye care

    In a chat with correspondents, Barrister Nwoko said out of 113 Cult related cases in the State, the Police have secured 49 convictions while the rest are pending in court.

    He charged the police to use all the lectures in the seminar to sharpen their skills in crime investigation so that they have excellent prosecution in court.

    Nwoko further appealed to investigation Police Officers to back up their case files with the passport photographs of suspect for identifications in Court.

    He narrated an incident where Cultist was sentenced to death and they went berserk in court threatening law officers during the Court sitting.

    Also speaking at the seminar, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Godwin Abraham has appealed to the Federal Government to employ more lawyers into Nigeria Police to strengthen crime investigation as a base for prosecution of criminals across all the states in Nigeria.

  • Two feared dead as bus crashes into truck pushers in Rivers

    A commercial bus suspected to have suffered brake failure on Thursday lost control and ram into two wheelbarrow pushers killing one and living the other seriously injured.

    The incident reportedly occurred at mile one market, in Diobu area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital about 8 am, today.

    An eyewitnesses account narrated that the 18 seat bus marked with  blue/ white (state colour),  was heading towards mile 3, area  from Lagos (Port Harcourt township axis), when it overtook another commercial bus which was equally facing the same direction with speed and suddenly lost control, crashing into the labourers who were sitting by the streetlight pole on the pavement of the dual carriage road,  killing one on the spot and seriously injuring the other who was rushed to the hospital unconscious  for possible resuscitation.

    Although the state Police command could not confirm the news,  but the sources reliably said that men of the Federal Road Safety corps(FRSC), arrived the scene in good time and rushed one of the victims to hospital and evacuated the remains of the other to the morgue.

    Read Also: The Rivers State we need

    He said,  “A commercial bus driver coming from Lagos bus-stop heading to Mile 3 was suddenly overtook a vehicle also going the same direction with high speed before he started struggling with his brake.

    “Efforts to bring the vehicle under control was futile, to avoid crashing into other road users, the driver diverted the steering towards an electric pole at the pavement dividing the road for a brake, not noticing the presence of these truck pushers sitting on the foot of the pole, he overran them killing one instantly and injuring the other person seriously.

    “The driver is at large while the road safety men took the corps away.” he said.

    The victims are said to be indigenes of Akwa Ibom state and are well known by mile one market traders as always sitting at that spot for easy location by those who often need their services.

  • EFCC investigates oil firm over alleged N184m fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun investigation into alleged N184million fraud involving Rock Marine Services Ltd, an oil servicing firm, while exonerating four officials of the Akwa Ibom state government.

    The Managing Director of the firm, Engineer. Essien Elijah had earlier petitioned four officials of the state government namely the Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Orman Esin, the Technical Assistant-Bureau of Technical Matters, Mr. Victor Akai, the Director of Administration, Ministry of Transport and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ekerete Edo, and the Finance Consultant accredited by Bureau of Technical Matters, Mr. Idongesit Bassey.

    Read Also:EFCC to investigate $3.8b Egina FPSO project, says Magu

    In the petition Elijah had accused the government appointees of swindling his company of over N184m under the false pretence of concessioning Marine Terminal at Oron to Rock Marine Services Limited-a call for investigation.”

    However, the EFCC, after thorough investigations, was said to have exonerated the state government officials but rather subjected the CEO of the company to further investigations.

    The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum, Mr. Orman Esin in reaction said the firm could not handle a project of such magnitude.

    He hinted that Essien had approached the state government with a proposal for the development of Oron Jetty in Oron Local Government Area of the State, but failed to meet the government’s demand to produce technical partners and other evidences of competence to handle to job.

    Esin said the state government turned down the plan to sign a MoU with the company due to the company’s inability to convince the state of its genuineness.

    Reacting to the allegation contained in a report on page 4 of the Sun Newspaper of Wednesday, August 29, 2018, that officials of Akwa Ibom State Government obtained N 184,235,450.89 under false pretence of concessioning the Marine Terminal at Oron, the Akwa Ibom State government in a release by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh states; “That the Akwa Ibom State Government is In no way committed or indebted to Rock Marine Services”

    “That the said allegation is a desperate attempt by Rock Marine Services to slander the State Government in a bid to circumvent due process and unduly influence the legal process”

    “That Rock Marine approached the state government for the concessioning of the Marine terminal at Oron, but was unable to show adequate proof of capacity to embark on a project of such magnitude
    including proof-of-funds and evidence  of competence and technical partnership”.

    “That the State Government has petitioned Rock Marine Services to the EFCC for thorough investigation and prosecution”.

    The Akwa Ibom State government however reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that Akwa Ibom State remains a safe haven for foreign direct investment and genuine investors.

  • Akpabio is not God, he can’t stop me – Udom

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state has said that his predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio is not God so cannot stop his second term aspiration.

    Emmanuel, who said this on Friday during his declaration for second term at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo dismissed Akpabio’s declaration of war on the state as unrealistic.

    He said the senator’s analogy of using Hitler-styled invasion of Poland during the World war to depict how the All Progressives Congress (APC) intends to capture Akwa Ibom State would be grossly resisted by the people.

    “No man is God”, he stressed, adding, “I submit myself for consideration to continue with the good works that I have done and I seek your support for my candidature as governor for second term”.

    He assured that the migration of his former boss, Senator Akpabio, into the ruling APC, at the centre, would not stop his re-election, saying he would work with the people to continue with his superior performance during his second term.

    “No man is God”, he stressed, adding: “I submit myself for consideration to continue with the good works that I have done and I seek your support for my candidature as governor for second term”.

    The governor said he was banking on his superior performance to return to the Government House, Uyo, in 2019, adding that he has worked hard and honestly to deliver on his 2015 campaign promises.

    He mentioned industrialization as the major plank of his achievements in the last three years, pointing out that the conglomeration of industrial clusters including toothpick, pencil, syringe, electric metres, coconut factory, peacock paint, fertilizer firms and several kilometres of roads, would recommend him for re-election.

    The Akpabio administration, he noted, had left behind some uncompleted projects including the Sheraton by Four Points Hotel at Ikot Ekpene and the Uyo – Ikot Ekpene road, saying his administration has been working hard to ensure the completion of those legacy projects of the immediate past era.

    Read Also: Buhari yet to receive 2018 Budget – Udoma

    “Who said they had completed the Sheraton by Four Points Hotel?”, he asked, adding that “it is only today that we are negotiating with Starwood Group for the retainership of the name, which some surreptitiously put up on a building, is building a hotel?”.

    He, therefore, enjoined the people to rally round him in his quest to sustain the tempo of good governance he enunciated in his first term in 2015.

    In the same vein, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke; the former Military Governor of the State, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, who chairs the governor’s re-election committee and the State PDP chair, Obong Paul Ekpo, charged supporters and stakeholders of the PDP to work towards ensuring the PDP retain Akwa Ibom with Udom Emmanuel, in 2019.

    Solidarity messages from neighbouring governors of River State, Nysom Wike and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, assured governor Emmanuel that he would be returned based on track-record of quality works in the last three years and enjoined the people not to allow external influence to alter the already political arrangement ably directed by the PDP since 1999 in Akwa Ibom.