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Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Akwa Ibom Police commissioner condemns Assembly crisis

    •Meets with political parties

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Commissioner, Musa Kimo, has expressed dismay over the crisis rocking the House of Assembly. He urged political parties to strive for peace during next year’s election.

    Kimo, who spoke yesterday when he met with leaders of 20 political parties in the state, described the crisis as ‘ugly and worrisome’.

    He enjoined the political parties to maintain peace before, during and after the elections by playing by the rules. The police boss asked leaders of the political parties to rein their supporters and loyalists, by advising them to eschew violence, thuggery and other social vices capable of tarnishing the images of their respective parties.

    Kimo assured the people that the police would be professional and follow the rules of law in the discharge of their duties, but warned that it would deal decisively with trouble makers.

    He said: “Let me praise and congratulate the parties for successful primaries. But the recent happenings, especially at the Assembly, are worrisome, excruciating and disturbing.

    Read also: Akwa Ibom: Economic evolution through industrialisation

    “I feel it is important and expedient to invite you to meet in search of peace. Peace is essential because without it, it will be difficult to do anything meaningful, especially political activities. I enjoin you to have a peaceful political environment to enable you go about your activities. I advise you to play by the rules as you did during your primaries.

    “The Police would be apolitical, neutral, fair and just to everybody. The Inspector General of Police (IG) has given us the order not to be partisan and be fair and professional in dealing with the public. So, you have nothing to fear because we are going to work together.”

    Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ita Udoesen was confident that Kimo would not go out of the rules of engagement, saying the party would play according to the laid down rules.

    Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Harrison Ekpo congratulated the police boss for his posting to the state, and hoped he would ensure effective policing of the state and be fair to all.

     

  • ‘I want to see more Niger Delta youths play golf’

    The Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, His Excellency, Obong Nsima Ekere, has affirmed the commitment of the Commission to developing golf talents in the region to be enlisted in the league of professional golfers.
    Ekere, who made this known at the Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, shortly after performing the ceremonial tee-off of the NDDC sponsored Pro-Am Golf Championship, noted that if successful, the talents discovered would not only help in creating jobs but would also add value and boost the economy of the Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general.
    The NDDC boss while fielding questions from newsmen also noted with excitement the emergence of a Niger Delta youngster as the best in Amateur golf tournament, stating that he would like to see more youths of the region play golf.
    Ekere said “The truth of the matter is that we have a lot of talents in the Niger Delta and when these talents are developed, it will not only create jobs, but will also help in boosting the economy of the region. And you know most of the wealthiest people today in the world are sports men and women. So we will like to see Niger Delta sons and daughters fall into that category of people.

    Read Also: ‘How to end building collapse in Niger Delta’

    And I was so impressed when I saw the young girl of twelve years who did the best in an Amateur Golf Tournament in the country. That is very important. She is an Akwa Ibom girl; a proud daughter of the Niger Delta. Those are the kind of talents we will like to fish out; these are the kind of talents we will like to develop and promote because we know that ultimately, they will add value to the region and the country”.
    Obong Ekere, who is the 2019 APC governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom state, also noted that the essence of the tournament was for the interest of the community and not the Commission.  “For us, we are not really looking at returns for the NDDC, rather, returns for the community. We want to be sure that whatever investment we are making will bring out talented and employable citizens”, the NDDC boss noted while assuring that the golf tournament would be sustained beyond his tenure as Managing Director of the Commission.
    Also speaking, Coordinator of the tournament, Barr Edidiong Idiong, thanked the NDDC for sponsoring the event expressing the hope that the aims of the tournament would be achieved.
    Idiong noted that with the NDDC’s backing, a platform has been created for the youths of the Niger Delta region to take golf as a sporting career which would not only help in keeping them out of restiveness but also guarantee a blissful future.

  • Akwa Ibom gets new Commissioner of Police

    Mr Musa Kimo, has assumed duty as the new Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom.

    He succeeded Bassey Abang, who had been redeployed from the state, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko Macdon, said in Uyo on Friday.

    “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, has approved the posting of a new Commissioner of Police to Akwa Ibom State Police Command.

    Read also: Akwa Ibom protest transfer of police chief

    “He is CP Musa Kimo. The new CP takes over from CP John Bassey Abang.

    “The new Police boss holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Political Science from the University of Sokoto,” Macdon said

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the official statement from the PPRO announcing the assumption of duty of Kimo has laid to rest rumours that three commissioners were posted to the state within one week. (NAN)

  • Army begin inter-formation sports festival in Rivers

    The Nigerian Army, 6 Division, has commenced the annual Nigerian Army Sports Festival (NASFEST) for officers and soldiers under the division.

    Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, inaugurated the three-day exercise on Friday in Igwurata, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers.

    He said that officers and soldiers from formations and units in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers would compete in half marathon and combat road race events.

    He added that “the competition will serve as opportunity to promote mutual cooperation and comradeship among participants.

    “It also adds to the training and re-training of troops, which is crucial to achieving the required regimentation, professional responsiveness and combat efficiency needed to tackle various security challenges.”

    The GOC said that officers and soldiers needed to have sharp minds to enable them to effectively carry out their constitutional duties.

    Read Also: Army donate equipment to hospital in Akwa Ibom

    According to him, the competition is to bridge the gap between officers and soldiers through requisite level of proficiency and professionalism in their cadre of ranks.

    “The competition could not have come at a better time when there were growing concerns on combat-proficiency and endurance issues as it concerns the formations and units.

    “More so, the various experiences encountered in the conduct of operations in the North-East and Niger Delta, among others, brought to fore some gaps in our training and execution of operations.”

    Sarham urged the participants to take advantage of the competition to enhance their fitness and combat proficiency on the job.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that participants were drawn from Army 2 Brigade, Akwa Ibom; 16 Brigade Bayelsa; 63 Brigade Delta and 6 Division headquarter.

  • Dana Air extends Akwa United sponsorship deal

    A Nigerian carrier, Dana Air, has extended its multi-million naira sponsorship deal with the Uyo based Akwa United FC of Akwa Ibom for the 2018/19 Nigeria Premier League season.

    The airline’s Media and Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, confirmed the development on Friday in Lagos.

    Ezenwa said that the deal was inked recently during a brief ceremony at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

    He said: “We are back again to extend what we started last year. We believe in Akwa United and the club actually did well last season and looks good for the next season.

    ”We are also committed to developing sports, particularly football in Nigeria.

    “We are the first airline to have taken this step toward making our league glamorous, and we hope other credible organisations will follow because we believe that our league can actually get to that level.”

    According to him, Dana Air is not just about flying to Akwa Ibom, but contributing positively to the growth and development of the state.

    Read Also: Dana Air partners group for Nigerian economic summit

    He also congratulated Nigerians and the Super Eagles on their qualification for AFCON 2019 in Cameroon.

    “We are proud of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for bringing glory to our country and for encouraging us to continue to believe in our greatness,” Ezenwa said.

    Also, the Chairman of Akwa United, Paul Bassey, described Dana Air as worthy partners and expressed delight that the contract had been extended for another year.

    “We are particularly grateful to Dana Air for this amazing partnership with our club.

    “This partnership has relieved us of the stress of tedious road travels to league matches, especially the Northern and Western parts of this country.

    “The success story of Dana Air in the Nigerian air space in the last 10 years is a clear testimony of your commitment to Nigerians.

    “We are proud to be associated with Dana Airlines through this sponsorship agreement.

    “We will be going into a new NPFL season confident that we will do well to bring glory to all our fans, supporters as well as Dana Air for identifying with and staying by us,” Bassey said.

  • Army donate equipment to hospital in Akwa Ibom

    As part of activities marking the end of Operation Crocodile Smile 111, the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has donated equipment to the General Hospital, Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom.

    The equipment are hospital beds, mattresses, rolling chair, cylinders with oxygen and consumables among others.

    Presenting the equipment to the management of the hospital in Ikot Abasi on Thursday, the Commander, 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Abdu Hassan said the action was to give back to the community.

    Hassan said that Operation crocodile smile 111 was to reach out to the host community to ensure the success of the exercise.

    The commander said since the Operation was officially launched in 2016, it had been able to flush out criminals and other bad elements operating within the Niger Delta region.

    He said that the military would continue to collaborate with the civil society in the discharge of their constitutional duties, noting that the collaboration been a huge success.

    “As part of activities marking the end of Operation Crocodile Smile 2018, and as part of our civil military responsibility, we deem it fit to come here so that we can give back to this community.

    “The need for us to collaborate with our host community cannot be overemphasised.

    Read Also: Army offers free medical treatment in Kaduna

    “We have chosen Ikot Abasi because we have been operating here for the past three weeks, having been around this community, we realised that this hospital lacks some equipment.

    “So we decided to donate some of these equipment to this hospital as part of our civil-military relationship,” Hassan said.

    In his remarks, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom Hospital Management Board, Dr David Umoh, said that the action of the military had endeared them to the people.

    Umoh commended the military, adding that programme like that would cement military-civil relationship across communities of operations.

    According to him, the more the people and communities connect and provide information to the military on crimes and criminal elements, the better for the society.

    “On behalf of the government of Akwa Ibom, I want to welcome you to the sunny beautiful city of Ikot Abasi.

    “I want to thank the military, one more time, because if they did not think it through, we will not be here today.

    “I want to assure you that on our own part, we shall put these equipment to use for the interest of all our patients. Thank you very much for the donation,” he said.

    The Village Head Ikot Obong in Ikot Abasi, Chief Obong Etukeren, on behalf of his people, also thanked the Army for remembering the community.

    He said,  “The equipment is going to affect the community positively and we are very happy about it.

    “We are very grateful to the Nigerian Army for what they donated to this hospital for the benefit of this community.”

    NAN

  • Akwa Ibom protest transfer of police chief

    AKWA Ibom State government, yesterday, decried the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Mr John Abang.

    Commissioner for Information Charles Udoh said some members of the opposition party posted the transfer on the social media.

    In a statement in Uyo, the state capital, he said the Police commissioner was withdrawn from Akwa Ibom for doing his job.

    Udoh said: ‘’Apart from the fact that the outgoing commissioner of Police barely spent a month in the state, the circumstances surrounding his removal is a mockery to the nation and a contrast to the insecurity battle of the Federal Government.

    ‘’Why should an officer who successfully resisted the invasion of hoodlums, and professionally protected an institution of  government be rewarded with unceremonial removal from office? Ordinarily, such feat in other climes would have attracted promotion and commendation.

    ‘’This is a sharp pointer to the sad narrative that the force is tilting its political pendulum to favour a particular political divide.

    ‘’The danger this portends to our democracy is better imagined than seen. We are shocked to see this action from the Police that should unbiasedly serve the interest of all.

    ‘’Sadly, the precedent the force has set now encourages anyone to take laws into his hand, ostensibly because the power from ”above” is strong enough to shield the culpritS.

    ‘’We are aware of the APC’s plans to simulate insecurity in Akwa Ibom State…

    The commissioner  said  the inspector general of Police and other security agencies should not be drawn into gimmicks and pranks by APC to instigate crises in the state to disrupt the elections.

    Udoh added: ‘’We demand a fullscale investigation on what transpired in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Monday, November, 19, 2019. This is the only way to discourage further impunity by few individuals and squeeze the fragile peace caused by the rampaging opposition elements in the state.’’

    The state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to create insecurity so the governorship election will be postponed.

    Publicity Secretary Ini Emembong said the postponement would allow the concentration of security forces leading to intimidation of PDP supporters in the state.

  • Akwa Ibom: PDP should show restraint, says Eyiboh

    All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain, Eseme Eyiboh has called on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Akwa Ibom State not to further stoke the tension in the state through what he yesterday cited as the unnecessary tension in the state legislature.

    At a press conference in Lagos yesterday, Eyiboh, a former member of the House of Representatives lamented the recourse to lawlessness in the state House of Assembly saying that the expulsion of five members of the House by the PDP leadership was a violation of existing laws. He affirmed that only nine members sat in the House of 26 members to effect the expulsion of the five APC members.

    He thus appealed to Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP leadership in the state not to further stoke crisis in the state even as he claimed that the governor had not done enough to deserve a second term.

    “Last year, the only APC member in the State House of Assembly defected to the PDP and nothing happened and no seat was declared vacant. But just recently, five members of the PDP defected to the APC and attempt was made to declare their seats vacant,” Eyiboh alleged as he decried what he said was the double standard on the path of the state legislature.

    According to him the declaration of the seats of the five legislators was done against procedure as he said that only nine members of the House sat on a Monday which he said was not a normal sitting day. He further said that they sat without the mace and other needed legislative gears.

    “When the nine members did their own, the five APC members had to sit on their own to carry out their own expulsions,” he said.

    Affirming what he described as the superiority of the APC in the state, he said that Akwa Ibom which was once 100% PDP has now tilted towards the APC.

    He put the nation on notice that what he promised would be the victory of the APC in the state should not be ascribed to the use of the APC’s federal might.

    “Akwa Ibom State was before 100% PDP before now but if you have seen from the defections and all the things that have happened since, things have since changed. They are saying it is federal might, but the world should be put on notice that it is not federal might,” the former legislator said.

    Affirming that a second term is not a done deal for the governor, he said:

    “Second term is not a constitutional right, it is a privilege. There are legacies other governors have put on ground but as I speak to you same cannot be said for our governor.”

    Noting spurt of violence in some sections of the state particularly in Etim Ekpo, he said:

    “We want to appeal to the PDP in the state, want to appeal to the governor that until recently when the present government came in that the state used to be at peace.”

    Concluding, he said:

    “We don’t want PDP in the state and they are going. I expect the PDP to submit to the will of the people,” he said.

     

  • Thugs invade A’Ibom Assembly as five APC lawmakers lose seat

    There was pandemonium on Monday at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as armed thugs invaded the premises of the assembly complex to stop the sitting of the House.

    The hoodlums numbering over a hundred arrived the assembly complex situated at Udo Udoma road, Uyo in the early hours of yesterday and blocked the main entrance to the complex.

    The thugs, our correspondent gathered, were mobilized by the five lawmakers who had recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was also learnt that the invasion of the Assembly Monday by the hoodlums was aimed at preventing the House from sitting to declare the seats of the five APC lawmakers vacant.

    The thugs blocked the main entrance of assembly complex and also disrupted vehicular and human traffic in and out of the complex. They made bonfires and shot sporadically into the air.

    But for the intervention of the security operatives, the thugs would have gained entrance to the Hallowed Chamber of the House. However, the hoodlums succeeded in smashing some doors and windows of the assembly complex.

    Amid the tension, the assembly, however, went ahead to hold its plenary during which it declared the seats of the five APC lawmakers vacant.

    Read Also: Over 100 cultists surrender arms in A’Ibom

    The affected legislators include Idongesit Ituen (Itu), Gabriel Tobby (Etim Ekpo/Ika), Victor Udofia (Ikono), Otobong Ndem (Mkpat Enin), and Nse Ntuen (Essien Udim).

    The Speaker of the state house of assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke said the House took the decision in line with section 109 sub. 1G of the 1999 constitution as amended.

    The House also passed a motion urging Governor Udom Emmanuel to name either the Akwa Ibom state University or the Ibom International Airport after a former Governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah in commemoration of his 80th birthday today.

  • Speaker slams lawmakers for poor representation

    Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke has slammed some members of National Assembly for not providing quality representation to their constituents.

    Luke, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium in the 2019 election, said “it is disturbing that great men and women who are voted into the National Assembly have lost their voices on the floor of the National Assembly”.

    The Speaker spoke yesterday at a church service organised by his campaign organisation, “Amazing Grace” to kick off his campaign at Qua Ibo, Etinan, Etinan Local Government.

    He said he would change the narrative, adding that “God had endowed me with everything in life including the voice to speak for the people”.

    Luke asked the church leadership to pray for him not to lose his voice when he got to the House of Representative.

    “God has given me everything to speak for the people. I have the heart to give. I will give back to the people the dividendS of democracy.

    “I have the voice to partner with Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, to attract the good things at the federal to our state”, he said.

    State Chairman of PDP Obong Paul Ekpo said “it is with great joy that I urge you to join our Speaker and candidate of our party for the Etinan Federal Constituency seat as he launches his campaign.

    “The primaries have come and gone, and we must all rise up to defend the interest of our party by supporting the candidates of our party.

    “I have absolute confidence in your capacity and competence to represent our people. I wish you a successful, issue-based campaign.

    ‘’Again, be assured of my support in all spheres. To our party faithful in Etinan Federal Constituency, I urge that we do the needful to market our candidates sincerely”