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Tag: Akwa Ibom State

  • A’Ibom REC connived with PDP to rig polls, Enang alleges

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters(Senate) Senator Ita Enang has alleged the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini connived with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to rig the February 23 presidential/National Assembly elections.

    Enang, in a press briefing in Uyo, accused Igini of manipulating the elections, adding that the election results did not represent the true position of the people.

    “I have in the course of this campaign tried to personally avoid castigating the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “I have aligned myself with all the campaigns that we as a party made against the Resident Electoral Commissioner and I had thought that in the course of the election that he would display what I thought I knew about him in terms of integrity, but the last elections of February 23 is the lowest low that I could credit to Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State.

    Read also: Opposition parties in Oyo adopt PDP guber candidate

    ”I hailed him better than that, but it has been very disappointing that he descended into the arena of the election and appeared as if he was and indeed a player on the pitch and not a refree or umpire,” he said.

    Enang further said: “They were several irregularities, several efforts at rigging and results produced in Akwa Ibom State, does not in any manner reflect the true voting and will of the people of Akwa Ibom State because it was heavily and massively manipulated by the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State in collussio with and alliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission permanent staff and ad hoc workers”.

    Enang, however, congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice on their victory at the last general elections.

    “Let me use this platform to again congratulates the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the vice on their winning and being declared President and Vice president elect of the Federal Republic and indeed the All Progressive Congress” he said.

    He urged the members of All Progressive Congress in Akwa Ibom State and the entire citizens not to be weakened by the outcome of the election in the state, but they should rather be stronger and optimistic in the candidacy of Obong Nsima Ekere ,adding that the party is the one at the helm of affairs of the country.

    “Despite this, I urge the people of the All Progressive Congress , voters in Akwa Ibom State to maintain, sustain and keep up with the spirit that they had in the APC gubernatorial candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere and the running mate, and all the well elected candidates for the House of Assembly in the different state constituencies. I want to say that the road is actually better pointed by election of President and Vice, that the Federal government is controlled by the APC and that should strengthens them and all the voters in Akwa Ibom State to keep the faith with  APC and keep faith with the destiny of Akwa Ibom State”.he added.

    Reacting to the issue of vote buying featured during the last elections, allegedly linked to the Akwa Ibom PDP, he advised the public to take the money and resist from voting PDP, as the money spending is from the state treasury which was meant for the development of the state.

    “The way the PDP had sacrilegiously dealt with the treasury in this state, buying vote at great amount and have nothing to show on ground. I tell the people, when they come with your money, please it is the money that they ought to have paid your pensions, it the money that they ought to have paid the school fee and bursary of your children, is the money that they ought to have develop an infrastructure, it is the money that they ought to have completed some infrastructural projects, it is the money that they should have built some extra school to develop you and your future, please collect the money but vote to link Akwa Ibom back to the channel of federal government linking it with the core of the Federal government of APC” he said.

    He admonished the citizens to see the need of linking the state to the federal government as it will draw more developments to the state.

    “I want to reiterate again that, were we are today is that, we are the minority state, where we are today, is that because we were probably linked with the federal government under the government as it were: government at the center, the same government at the state level.

    “That was how we were able to get first the Niger Delta Development Commission past, because our colleagues and compatriots in the North and the intervention of the party leadership said Akwa Ibom  and the south south should be given a special privileges to develop because of what they are going through in suffering from the effect of the oil exploration and exploitation.

    “”It was on the account that were the PDP state as it were at the Federal level, that is how we were succeeded in getting the abolition of the on-shore off-shore dichotomy,” he said.

  • ‘Ekere still in the governorship contest’

    •PDP afraid of defeat, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has said the fear of losing the governorship election is pushing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to spread rumours of Nsima Ekere’s withdrawal from the contest.

    A statement by spokesperson of the APC campaign organisation, Eseme Eyiboh, reiterated that Ekere has no intention of backing out of the election as the APC was confident of winning.

    The statement reads: “Our attention is drawn to a petty drivel by agents of the PDP and its governorship candidate, Udom Emmanuel, saying APC’s governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere, has withdrawn from the contest.

    “The write up, which does not qualify as news or press statement, was allegedly signed by our spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh. But it is nothing more than the usual badly cooked up mendacious stories, which unfortunately has become the hallmark of the Udom administration and the PDP.

    “The write up shows the kind of men Governor Emmanuel has employed in governance – a mediocre government, populated by mediocre officials, which has led to the miserable and unfortunate performance Akwa Ibom people have witnessed.

    “The propaganda is coming out of a fear-stricken side, which already reckons with the certainty of defeat. Ekere has continued to enjoy the people’s support and endorsement; our people see him as the answer to the inept and incompetent administration of Governor Emmanuel. This is the fear that is driving them to such ridiculous and senseless propaganda.

    “We urge all APC members and our supporters to ignore the propaganda and focus on their resolve to elect Nsima Ekere as the next governor of Akwa Ibom State.

    “Our people must reject the shenanigans between the PDP and INEC aimed at denying them the right to vote and allow their votes to count. We appeal to our supporters to remain vigilant and vote for Ekere.”

  • Etiebet decries violence at Oruk Anam

    Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in Akwa Ibom state, Chief Don Etiebet, has decried widespread violence in most of the wards in his local government area of Oruk Anam.

    Etiebet said thugs allegedly brought into his local government area from neighboring states by chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had invaded polling units earlier today and disrupted accreditation and voting exercises.

    He said two persons were injured during the pandemonium and fingered a serving lawmaker for sponsoring thugs to cause mayhem.

    Read also: 2019: Large turn out of supporters at Akpabio’s unit

    The APC chieftain, who spoke with our correspondent at Ward 1, Ikot Ekpuk in Oruk Anam local government area, said he put a call to the police authorities who sent in their men to restore law and order.

    He, however, said normal voting continued thereafter which enabled him and other voters to cast their vote.

    Etiebet assured that President Buhari will get eighty percent of votes in Akwa Ibom as the state has benefited tremendously from the APC led federal government in terms of federal appointments.

  • 2019: Large turn out of supporters at Akpabio’s unit

    A large crowd of supporters are currently waiting for the counting of the ballot at Senator Godswill Akpabio’s polling unit at Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

    The senator is also anxiously waiting with a retinue of aides and security details.

    We just left his country home. It is like a complete community of its own, with a church, a basketball court, swimming pool, detachment of houses and several halls for meetings.

    He appears to be in control of his senatorial district, the Ikot Ekpene zone.

     

  • Udom Emmanuel’s aide abducted

    The Senior Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Capt Iniobong Ekong (Rtd) has been abducted.

    Ekong was said to have been picked midnight by soldiers.

    The Commissioner for Information, Akwa Ibom State who confirmed the abduction said Capt. Ekong is being held incommunicado at an unknown location in Port Harcourt.

    Read Also: Udom meets Akwa Ibom in Abuja

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Odiko McDon said the police was yet to receive such information. He however promised to make necessary contacts and swing into investigations

    Meanwhile election materials have arrived a few polling unit in Uyo, the state capital as INEC staff are seen waiting for 8am to commence accreditation of voters.

     

  • Akwa Ibom acquires three aircraft for Ibom airline

    As part of the industrialisation policy of the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration, the Akwa Ibom State has taken delivery of three aircraft for the take-off of Ibom Airline.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the aircraft at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo yesterday,  Emmanuel said the airline was a monumental achievement in the state.

    He said the aircraft, C-FWNK is only six years old with a sitting capacity of about 90 persons and constitutes the newest and modern fleet of the Canadian airbus.

    He said  that Akwa Ibom is the only state in the country to run a state-owned airport and run an airline, adding that the government is running Ibom Air as a business.

    He said Ibom Airline will operate routes that would give preference to Akwa Ibom people, and that the government would soon launch one of the best terminal buildings in the country.

    He said the government is  focussing on development of the economy on land, air and water, saying so far, the government has constructed over 1,000 kilometers of roads across the state.

    Governor Emmanuel said one other aircraft would arrive on Friday in addition to the already unveiled two, pointing out that the Ibom Deep Seaport will soon commence operations before the expiration of his second term in 2023.

    He said the launching of Ibom Air is a monumental achievement in Akwa Ibom and indeed Africa. The journey to achieve Ibom Airline started in 2016 and today, it is a reality.

    “If we were to search the minds of people, this day would have been frustrated but we give glory to God for making this day a reality.

    “I want to charge my people that we can achieve a lot if we come together. This is the only state across the country that runs and operate an international airport. We are the only state that runs a category two runway.

    “I want to reassure the former governor, Obong Victor Attah that very soon the MRO will be a place that will maintain fleet of aircraft across the country,” he said.

    We are running Ibom Air as a business, paying particular attention to Akwa Ibom people,” he said.

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was the first passenger that arrived the airport in the new aircraft, unveiled the airplane and commended the leadership qualities of the state governor, noting that he has been able to create an environment viable for development.

  • Election: PDP, APC disagree over Obot Akara mayhem in A’ Ibom

    The Ikot Ekpene Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of masterminding the attack at Obot-Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Two people were killed while 13 INEC vehicles meant for election duties were set ablaze.

    APC alleged that the PDP in the state on Saturday before the cancellation of the polls allegedly hired armed thugs from Cross River and Rivers States to cause havoc and unleash the mayhem in Obot Akara.

    Chapter Chairman of the party, Mr Etebong Udoh, while speaking with our reporter accused some stakeholders from the area, including the serving Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Monday Uko, member House of Assembly, Idongesit Ntekpere and the Local Government Chairman, Mr Anietie Akpaetor of hiring armed thugs to unleash the mayhem

    He said ”it is the PDP that is to blame for the crisis that happened in our community. Some of the thugs arrested by the police confessed that they were hired by the PDP leaders in the community”

    Reacting to the allegations the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Monday Ebong Uko accused men of the Nigeria Police force of shielding miscreants who perpetrated act of violence in Obot Akara on the eve of the postponed presidential elections.

    Uko said the police had earlier been alerted of plans by APC to hire thugs for the elections, but took no proactive step to arrest the situation before it escalated.

    He said “Credible intelligence from reliable sources reveal that a plot has been hatched to plant incriminating items in my premises and car in order to arrest and detain me. Also, there is another plot to hire some thugs who will be arrested with arms and on interrogation name me as their sponsor”.

    Uko explained that the reported violence in Obot Akara occurred when some thugs allegedly sponsored by the APC, attacked INEC office in Obot Akara, venting their frustration on some INEC buses, and setting them ablaze.

    Describing Obot-Akara as a PDP stronghold, Mr. Uko, said members of the opposition were very much aware of this fact, hence their resort to violence.

    “I want to call on the Inspector General of Police and indeed the entire security agencies in the country not to allow themselves to be used by desperate APC politicians who will stop at nothing than to tarnish my hard-earned reputation.

    “I request them to conduct a thorough investigation to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime, with a view to bring them to book and exonerating those who are innocent”.

    “Is it not astonishing that it could even be contemplated that the PDP, that is in complete control of Obot Akara could turn around to attack an electoral process when it is sure of victory”

  • Buhari will get 80 percent votes, Enang boasts

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, on Wednesday expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will win Saturday’s presidential election with about 80 percent of the votes.

    He spoke with State House correspondents in Abuja as he based his verdict on the achievements of President Buhari’s administration; the vigorous campaigns of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC); and the president’s fair treatment of all parts of the country.

    He said “From the campaigns on the field, all the fillers we had, the support we had from the East, the West, the South, the North and all parts of Nigeria and the words of the president, the capacity of the campaign team and campaign machinery, the intellectual and intelligent words, words that hold and convince Nigerians that President Buhari is the best person to go for a second term as president.

    “This makes us confident and I am sure that in every state of the federation, President Buhari was able to show what he has done for that state.

    “In every state of the federation the president showed that he was not partial, that he is not in any manner tilted against one state of the country or favoring another part of the country.  He has shown that he is president for all and exclusively for none.”  he said

    The presidential aide said that President Buhari has identified with all, including the poor, the rich, the disabled and even those who could be called the low of the society.

    “With this, we are sure that we will win the election and the APC will come up with the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, great majority in the Senate and President Buhari of the APC will be declared as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Senator Enang said that President Buhari has exhibited the character of a true democrat by not interfering in the work of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

    Read Also: Buhari swears-in eight permanent secretaries

    He said that the president and the electoral body were not “working in tandem to postpone the election.”

    On whether there should be sanctions for the INEC for postponing the elections despite the long period it had to prepare and the support given to it by the President, Enang said the best that could be done was to move forward and let the elections be conducted.

    “The best we can do is to make sure that we consciously give maximum support to the INEC.

    “The best we can do is speak less of hard words against them and give them comfort so that all Nigerians, the international community and the product of the election will be taken as the best decision. So, we will not talk of sanctions now.“

    Enang also said that all international protocols concerning diplomatic relations must be respected by all.

    “There is what we call diplomatic protocol and when you are in a country, you are subject to the laws of that country.

    “There are limitations and red lines, which you must not cross.  When you cross the red lines in diplomacy, you are capable of being declared persona non-grata.

    “But Nigeria has not gotten to that stage and that is why it is issuing simple reminders as to what is the best international practice in diplomacy.”

    Dismissing allegations that the Resident Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State could be working in the interest of the government of the state, Enang said it did not matter and would not affect the outcome of the election.

    “Knowing that we will the election, I had occasion to say that even if it were Secondus, chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that conducts election in Akwa Ibom State as REC, APC will win the election.

    “As we are confident that we will win the election, we will speak less of the electoral body.

    “If we want to concentrate on that we will lose focus because what the opposition intends to do is to make us go after some issues while they prepare to attack with all kinds of things,” Senator Enang said.

  • Two killed as thugs burn buses conveying electoral materials in Akwa Ibom  

    Two persons have been killed reported killed in Akwa Ibom State after suspected thugs set buses carrying sensitive electoral materials to Obot Akara local government area of the state.

    The buses which were also conveying election personnel were set on fire and some of the drivers wounded with machetes.

    Read also: EU, AU, UN, other observation missions urge INEC to adhere to new dates

    The personnel and drivers escaped and  found  their way  to the  INEC office to report the incident.

  • Hospitality: Firm to open ninth property in Nigeria

    Multinational hotel brand Marriott International, Inc. said it is on track to open the Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State, this year. It will be its ninth property in Nigeria.

    Marriott International, based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, encompasses a portfolio of more than 6, 900 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 130 countries and territories.

    The company, which operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world, said it expects to grow its current footprint in West Africa by 75 per cent with the addition of nine new hotels and more than 1, 800 rooms by the end of 2023.

    Currently operating 12 properties across Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Guinea, Marriott International plans to enter Benin and Ivory Coast as a part of its development pipeline.

    In 2019, the company said it is on-track to open the Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, its ninth property in Nigeria, and the Protea Hotel by Marriott Accra Kotoka Airport in Ghana.

    This announcement came as the international hotel brand said it continues with its expansion across Africa with three new deal signings across North and West Africa, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its presence across the continent.

    The company in a statement made available to The Nation during the weekend said the new deal signings highlight its growth in Morocco and Ghana, while marking its debut in Liberia.

    The signings were announced during the Forum de l’Investissement Hôtelier Africain in Marrakech, Morocco. The Forum unites North and West African countries in a bid to develop their economies and support hospitality investment.

    The Forum connects business leaders from international and local markets – driving investment into tourism projects, infrastructure, entertainment and hotel development across the region.

    “New and established markets across North and West Africa continue to present us with immence opportunities to further enhance and diversify our portfolio in the continent,” Chief Development Officer, Middle East & Africa at Marriott International, Jerome Briet, said.

    Briet further said: “The new deal signings further strengthen our robust development pipeline, which is a result of our long-established presence in Africa and the trust owners have in Marriott International and our compelling portfolio of diverse brands.”

    The three new hotel signings announced during the Forum de l’Investissement Hôtelier Africain include Four Points by Sheraton Monrovia, Residence Inn by Marriott Accra Kotoka Airport, The St. Regis Marrakech Resort.

    Marriott International, which targets strong growth momentum across North and West Africa, said it is on track to expand its footprint in Africa to 200 hotels by the end of 2023. The North and West African regions play a pivotal role in the company’s overall growth strategy for the continent.

    The company specifically said in West Africa, it expects to grow its current footprint by 75 per cent with the addition of nine new hotels and more than 1,800 rooms by the end of 2023.