The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • ‘Akpabio still a member of PDP’

    The Senator representing the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Gershom Bassey, on Tuesday said Senator Godswill Akpabio, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in an elaborate ceremony in Akwa Ibom State, was still a PDP member on the floor of the hallowed chambers.

    Speaking with reporters in Calabar today, Senator Bassey however stated that the defection issue of the former Akwa Ibom governor was not a big deal.

    He said, “He has not defected on the floor of the Senate. His defection is outside the Senate. For now he has not carpet crossed in the Senate. So he has done nothing illegal or wrong for now. In the Senate he is still in the PDP. We have not seen his letter. He letter has not been read on the floor and his seat is still in the PDP fold. So as far as we know he is still a PDP man. Until he tells us in the chambers then we would cross that bridge.”

    Also commenting on issues about the the reconvening of the National Assembly, Bassey said there was never an official notice to that effect.

    “The news media may have gotten ahead of itself in announcing and reconvening because there was no official notice to that effect. Normally when the National Assembly reconvenes it is the clerk of the NASS that sends out the notice. That is the rightful person. I am sure there was no such information from his office. So I think that the media having listened to a press conference by I think by one of the House of Reps men. But if you listen carefully to that press conference he didn’t say anything definite but I think the media just took it that it was definite. There was no plan and there has never been any plan to reconvene. What they did after the meeting of the leadership last week was that they were going to consider it. There was no commitment towards any particular date for reconvening,” he said.

    He also condemned the recent taking over the National Assembly by men of the Department of State Services.

    “I have condemned the invasion of the NASS. It is absolutely unacceptable. It is a coup against our democracy and that is the way we see it. I have called for a comprehensive independent enquiry into the incident. We have to get to the root of it. It is not enough to fire the DSS boss. I have seen the DSS man as a highly professional person. Anytime he has come to the NASS he has always been extremely professional in his presentations. So I don’t think that man would just wake up on his own and act like that. Someone must have given him instructions. So we need to get to the bottom of it. Or he was misled, one of the two, but we have to get to the bottom of it,” the Senator said.

  • INEC urges collection of PVCs in Akwa Ibom

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Akwa Ibom has urged electorate in the state to mobilise themselves in order to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    Mr Mike Igini, Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), told our reporter in Uyo on Monday stressed “that without PVC one cannot vote in the 2019 general elections.“

    He further advised political stakeholders in the state to mobilise the electorate by providing them with transport to enable collect their PVCs at various local governments.

    “You all know how you assisted to mobilise the people to register by mobilising them from various local governments, using vehicles to bring them to the centres.

    “Please do well enough to mobilise them to various local governments, offices are open as a matter of fact because of the need to suspend the exercise on Aug. 17,“Igini said.

    The REC noted with concern that the state had not attained 50 per cent of PVCs collection in the state.

    “No individual can vote without PVC but unfortunately there has been very poor response to collection, this should be a matter of concern to all stakeholders.

    “So far, only 24, 420 have been collected out of 145, 737 PVCs printed and delivered to the state.“

    According to him, 17 per cent of PVCs has been collected in the state.

    He said that there was urgent need for critical stakeholders to sensitise and galvanise voters to collect their PVCs because “no PVC no voting” in 2019.“

    Igini said that the commission had earlier announced the extension of Saturday and Sunday for the collection of PVCs across the 31 local government areas to accommodate as many people as possible.

    He implored political parties to commence the process of identifying who would be their party agents at various polling units across the state.

  • Akwa Ibom small scale industrialists want inclusion

    The Chairman of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists in Akwa Ibom, Dr. Andrew Uwanta, has called on the state government to integrate small scale industrialists into the industrialisation blueprint of the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration.

    Uwanta bemoaned their continued neglect of small scale industrialists.

    He told The Nation that difficulties in accessing funds and lack of government support have remained the major impediment to industrial growth of the state.

    The NASSI chairman maintained that small scale industrialists remained the catalyst to economic emancipation and increased employment in any society regretting that most administration since the state creation of the state has done anything meaningful to encourage the sector.

    “The  problem here too is that people and even some government has failed to different NASSI from traders. NASSI is made up of small scale manufacturers and is well structured in Akwa Ibom for government to deal with.

    “It is unfortunate that successive governments in the state have failed to deal meaningfully with us and that accounts for why the state has continued to remain a civil service state.

    “Except for ex Governor Victor Attah, most administrations since the state was created have done nothing meaningful to encourage the small scale industrislists. Attah’s experiment could have been the catalyst needed to revamp of the sector but the funds were not managed well and some of the beneficiaries did not refund the funds given them to enable others get too.

    “The present government is concentrating with medium and large scale industries  involving big time investors and huge funding  but I want them to also remember the small scale industrialists because they remained the catalyst to industrialisation of the state.”

  • PDP calls for unfreezing of Benue, Akwa Ibom accounts

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for immediate unfreezing of the official accounts of Akwa Ibom and Benue states  blocked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

    PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Wednesday in Abuja called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo  to immediately order the EFCC to unfreeze the  accounts.

    He described the action of the anti-graft agency as a direct attack on innocent Nigerians in the two states.

    Ologbondiyan described the action  illegal, unconstitutional, overtly wicked and unjustifiable under any laws and practice of Nigeria.

    He advised the Presidency not to hide under the EFCC to unleash punishment and hardship on the people in states perceived to be opposed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2019 re-election bid.

    “Nigerians are all aware that no section of our constitution or any law in Nigeria for that matter confers any agency of the Federal Government with powers to interfere or put any restrictions on funds belonging or accruable to states as federating units of our nation.

    “Apart from its State Assembly, no other government body or institution has the powers of appropriation or restrictions on any funds belonging
    to the state.(NAN)

  • Akwa Ibom NIESV gets new executive

    The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) AkwaIbom State branch has inaugurated its newly elected executives to run the affairs of the body for the next two years. The event which took place at R&R Events Centre, IBB way, Uyo, was witnessed by a plethora of estate surveyors and other professionals had ESV F.S. Ikpe as the chairman of the occasion.

    In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion ESV Francis Ikpe, FNIVS said estate survey as the oldest profession in the world.

    He hailed the founding fathers of the profession since the days of South Eastern State, Cross River State and the present AkwaIbom State.

    The immediate past chairman of the Association ESV Udo U. Egerton enumerated the achievements of his EXCO which includes contributing to making people friendly laws through presentations to the AkwaIbom House of Assembly; Job creation, assistant to Departments of Estate Management in tertiary institutions in the state amongst others.

    In his keynote address titled ‘The Role of Professionals in Sustainable Economic Development’ the state Commissioner for Lands, Arc. ImeEkpo after elucidating the concept of Economic Development called on Professionals of different fields of human endeavor to synergize so as to achieve sustainable development in the society.

    He saw the tragedy in Africa as the highest producers of raw materials and 10% of petroleum resources worldwide but lacking the technology to change these into finished products but depends on the individualized nations to process the raw materials, produce finished products and ship it back to Africa as a ready market.

    In his inaugural address, the chairman of the new executive ESV John Isangedighiappreciatee his professional colleagues for the trust and confidence reposed in him.

    He reinstated his commitment to the 10point agenda of his campaign which includes probity, accountability, and dedication with the NIESV constitution as his compass. He called for unity and cooperation of members as he promised to improve the welfare of members, create and sustain a synergy between the association and the state government.

    Members of the Executives sworn in includes ESV John Isangedighi chairman, ESV Akan Umo-otong Vice Chairman, EsvUyobong S. Etuk-Secretary; ESV Udeme Silas Abel, Assistant Secretary; ESV Anieotim Abraham Financial Secretary; ESV EfefiongAkpan Publicity Secretary and ESV (Mrs.) Mfon Jonathan, Treasurer.

    The event was graced by some eminent personalities including Hon. Barr. EtetimOnuk, chairman Itu Local Govt. Council, Hon. UbuoEffiongUbuo Chairman Okobo Local Government Council, Hon. Otobong Jonathan Akpan, Chairman House Committee on Lands, AkwaIbom State House of Assembly, Prof. Godfrey OkonUdo, Deputy Vice Chancellor Admin.University of Uyo amongst others.

  • Emmanuel sacks two commissioners linked with Akpabio

    Ahead of the defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has sacked two commissioners  loyal to Akpabio.

    The commissioners were sacked with immediate effect for what was called “act of disloyalty”.

    Read Also:Osinbajo, Tinubu, others welcome Akpabio to APC

    They are the Commissioners for Labour, Productivity and Manpower Development, Mr Ibanga Akpabio, and Culture and Tourism, Mr Victor Antai.

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh, said  the two commissioners had to be removed from the State Executive Council for disloyalty to the governor.

    Ibanga, who is a younger brother to Sen. Godswill Akpabio was sacked alongside Antai for receiving Akpabio, a former governor of the state and Emmanuel’s predecessor, at the Ibom International Airport on Tuesday.

    Akpabio flew into the state preparatory to his plan to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Udoh said the commissioners had to be removed from the state executive council following their “reluctance to comply with good governance processes.’’

    “With the development, they have been mandated to handover to the Permanent Secretary in their respective ministries before close of work on Wednesday August 8,’’ he said.

    The commissioner stressed that the duo showed complete disloyalty to Emmanuel and therefore could not continue to remain in the state executive.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akpabio on Tuesday tendered his resignation as the senate minority leader and will formally defect to All Progressives Congress Wednesday.

     

  • Derivation: ‘Fed Govt not fair to Akwa Ibom’

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of deliberately withholding derivation funds due to his state for political reasons.

    Emmanuel said within two months, “they have dropped the allocation of my state by N6.8 billion all in the name of politics; that is what is going on.”

    He described the Federal  Government’s action as ‘political witch-hunt’ against the state, and urged Nigerians to be careful who they elect as President in 2019.

    The governor spoke yesterday at the Government House, Uyo, when a presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kabiru Aminu Turaki, led his campaign team on a visit.

    On the preparation for next year’s elections, Emmanuel said PDP governors would not interfere with party primaries in their states.

    “Governors elected on the PDP platform are determined not to influence the party primary election but to ensure that the exercise is free and fair,” Emmanuel said.

    He hailed the quality of PDP presidential aspirants seeking the ticket, and suggested that aspirants should present their manifesto to Nigerians on live television.

    “All power belongs to God. If you must get there, no power can stop you. Whoever God destined to be the president of our country will be and God will use us to bring that person to power,” he said.

    Emmanuel noted that  everything will be done to ensure success of the party at the poll.

    The governor described the purported notice of impeachment to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom by eight APC legislators as regrettable and undemocratic.

    Turaki  described Emmanuel as the most performing governor in the country, whose achievements should be replicated in other states.

    The presidential aspirant said: “When you want a government that will permeate all the strata of human society, when you want the people to feel the positive impact of democracy dividends, you do not just get anybody into elective position, you look at their pedigree, background, accomplishments and what they stand for and that will determine what they bring to the table.”

  • Power will shift in Akwa Ibom, says Eta

    •Etiebet: Ekere will be governor

    The Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Hilliard Eta, has urged party members in Akwa Ibom Stateto gird their loins, saying that power shift is possible in the Southsouth state.

    He said APC will build on its feat in Ekiti State to prove that it is a party to beat in next year’s poll.

    Eta spoke in Uyo, the state capital, during ‘President Muhammadu Buhari’s endorsement rally, where a chieftain, Nsima Ekere, was endorsed for the governor by party faithful.

    Observers described the rally as a defining moment for the main opposition party in the state. It took place a week after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hosted chieftains for a rally. APC leaders said the rally was held to reinforce the fact that there is vacancy in the Akwa Ibom Government House in 2019.

    Also, the APC rally was significant because some big wigs who have defected from the PDP to the party were firing salvos and pushing for power shift. To them, the opposition party is better positioned to form the next government, adding that the PDP structure is ebbing away.

    The rally was attended by former Secretary to Government Umana Umana, former Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere, former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator James John Akpanudoedehe, Presidential Assistant on National Assembly Matters Senator Ita Enang, and former PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member Chief Don Etiebet.

    The occasion was also witnessed by Senator Aloysius Etok, former House of Representatives member Eseme Eyibo, the Chairman of Cross-River Basins Development Authority, and former House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Uwem Udoma.

    Akwa Ibom has produced three governors in the last 19 years. The governors-Obong Victor Attah, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel-belong to the PDP.  The question is: can the Adams Oshiomhole-led APC change the equation? Can Akwa Ibom APC leaders pull the rug off the feet of Akpabio and Udom?

    To Etiebet, change is possible, if the party can field the right candidate. Hailing the endorsement of President Buhari and Ekere, he said: “Today is not a day of speech making. The crowd has said it all. The crowd has spoken. It shows that the people of Ikot Ekpene are ready for Nsima and Buhari.”

    Urging Ekere to prepare for leadership, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources added: “Nsima, go and consider our own call. We have called you to run for Akwa Ibom governor in 2019. With your benevolence and programmes for this senatorial district, consider the plea and resign in due time and run for the governor on the APC platform.”

    Etiebet’s remarks raised some issues. Although the rally was meant for the endorsement of the president for a second term, it also endorsed Ekere, who defected to the party, for governor. A fresh wound was opened over the battle for the ticket between Ekere and Akpanudoedehe, an aspirant.

    Akpanudoedehe once coordinated the battle against former Governor Akpabio in 2011 as governorship flag bearer, but without success. Since he defected to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), he has been consistent and loyal to the progressive camp.

    In 2015, following Ekere’s and Umana’s defection from the PDP to the APC, Akpanudoedehe complained that he was being edged out. Some chieftains alleged that the senator shunned party activities, owing to the fact that his former foes in the PDP came into the party to outwit him. The bitterness was compounded by the fact that the sharing of positions in the APC did not favour him. Many of the positions allocated to the state went to those who met him in the party. Thus,  when Etiebet endorsed Ekere, there was apprehension and controversy over whether Akpanudoedehe had given up on his aspiration.

    Akpanudoedehe, according to sources, is indifferent to Ekere’s endorsement. He explained that he attended the rally to identify with the president and Oshiomhole.

    The endorsements of Esere, however, in the view of some stakeholders, was a reward for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) boss’ support for the party.

    Oshiomhole’s message to the rally was germane. Against the background of the intrigues that played out, prior to the APC national convention, the national chairman tried to correct the insinuation that he was opposed to some leaders of the chapter. Eta, who represented him, predicted victory for the APC. He said the party will repeat its feat in Ekiti in the Southsouth state, urging members to work in unity.

    The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Etok, said President Buhari deserved re-election because he has tried to reposition the economy.

    He added: “The President has repositioned the economy. Although the enemies of progress have decided to kill people here and there, just to distract him, we in Ikot Ikpene Senatorial District are behind him. We must support him  in 2019. That is why you see everybody here. Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District is APC and nobody can challenge that.”

     

     

     

     

  • 4,000 get free health care service in Akwa Ibom

    As part of its corporate social responsibilities and support for host communities, Oriental Energy Resources Limited carried out free comprehensive medical services in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    About 4,000 patients drawn from five communities, namely Enwang, Ebughu, Effiat, Uda and Udesi benefited from the exercise at the Primary Health care Operational Base, Enwang, the headquarters of the local government area.

    Deputy Manager, Community Relations of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, Anslem Okere explained that the programme was part of his company’s efforts to impact positively on the host communities and also complement government’s efforts, adding that the firm has also provided other social investments in the host communities to enhance the living conditions of members of the host communities.

    His words: “We operate in Mbo and this programme is part of our social investments to our host communities. The impact has been tremendous and the people can attest to it. We must commend the host communities for providing very good environment conducive enough to work.  We have an excellent relationship with them. Although Akwa Ibom is part of the Niger Delta, the area is peaceful and we don’t take their peaceful disposition for granted.

    “So, as part of our Corporate Social Responsibilities, we carry out this outreach, among other social investments we have provided for them such as the 100 units Oriental Village and the state-of-the-art skill acquisition centre at Enwang, the science laboratories for Biology, Chemistry and Physics at Ebughu Grammar Secondary School. We work with the Community Relations Committee (CRC) which represents the various communities. We do need assessment for every project to know what they want and we provide exactly what they want for them. As such, there is no friction.”

    Managing Director, Faith Optical and Medical Services Limited, Dr. David Ehimhen expressed delight over the massive turnout of patients and praised them for their orderly conduct, even as he listed the various diseases treated to include hypertension, diabetes, malaria, cataract and hepatitis B, among others.

    He said: “It has been a peaceful and successful exercise and the turnout has been massive and challenging. In a programme such as this, you will expect massive turnout, but we ensured that everybody was attended to.  We had security personnel on ground and other community youths to control the crowd and ensure everything goes on well.

    “The Community Relations Committee co-operated with us and Community Liaison

    Officer was around all through to ensure that there were no hitches.

    “We gave out 200 ante-natal kits and over 1,000 mosquito nets. We carried out malaria and hepatitis B tests, and we treated a lot of malaria cases. We discovered a lot of diabetes, cataract and hypertension cases. The few HIV/AIDS that were reactive, we followed a channel to manage it. This health centre is HIV centre and we just collaborate with them to continue the investigation and if it is confirmed, they will take up the management’’.

    People of the area were overwhelmed by the firm’s magnanimity, even as they urged it to carry out the exercise frequently and provide other social amenities in their communities to give them a sense of belonging, pledging to always protect the facilities of the company in their domain.

    Expectant mothers also expressed their appreciations to the firm. Helen Russel from Uda and Mercy Bassey from Ebughu who spoke on their behalf said: “We thank the company for the kits to enable us cater for our babies. We commend you and we pray God to continue to ensure hitch-free operations and well-being of your workers’’.

    Chairman, Effiat Council of Chiefs, Matthias Nta, praised the company for following its policies on community relations to the letter and pledged that the Effiat people would continue to play their role as good hosts to the firm.

    Chief Nta also advised the company to work with the Committee constituted by the Council of Chiefs, urging it to provide more social amenities to make lives comfortable for the people in the riverside community.

    Also speaking, His Royal Highness, Ovong Savier Edet Ekpe, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from Udung Eyo in Unyenge commended the firm for the gesture.

    ‘’From the look of things, I have seen a lot of people and it is something worth doing because health is wealth. I am highly impressed by the way the company is carrying out the outreach. I have been treated and my message is that this should be a continuous exercise so that many people can benefit from it’’, he said.

    Hon Etim Okon Abang, the village head of Apranpran Uda, described the turnout of patients as unprecedented and equally praised the firm for coming to the  aid of the people in her area.

  • Navy arrests petrol thieves in Calabar

    …seizes 20, 000 litres of product

     

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Cross River State, have arrested four suspected Premium Motor Spirit thieves with 20, 000 litres of the product.

    The suspects, who were arrested along the Calabar channel, were coming from Oron in Akwa Ibom State and heading to Bakassi with the product commonly known as petrol.

    Handing them over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution, Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, said moves were on to also arrest the kingpins behind the crime.

    Nwagu said, “We are handing over eight drums of PMS that was seized by my men while on patrol along the Calabar channel. The said products were laden in a wooden boat with four men on board. My men were able to arrest the suspects and the products in the darkest time of the night.

    “This is coming less than one week after we handed over some smuggled rice worth N61m to the Nigeria Customs Service. We cannot continue to allow these perpetrators go free. Any product they put on water, we are going to go for them.

    “PMS is currently available in filing station outlets and depots, so, why the smuggling? Why would they go about destroying Federal Government installation through sabotage? Why follow this backyard?

    Read Also: Navy destroys 1500 illegal refineries in Delta

    “We would stay here and continue to arrest them. We are not going to get tired no matter the pressure. Our targets are now the owners of these products. We are going to get them, they cannot go free.

    “What I have done now is that whenever we handover, we give a copy to the headquarters of NSCDC for them to be aware. I have also written to other security agencies informing them of the arrests that we have made so far. We are synergising to ensure that we rid off the state of criminals.”

    Sate Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Stephen Lar, said his agency would form collaborative intelligence with the Navy to arrest the sponsors of the crime.

    “We would continue to prosecute them in the court after thorough investigation. We would be having a combined intelligence to make sure that we get the real owners because these are errand boys. We would fish out those behind the crime and we shall have them prosecuted in the court of law,” he said.

    Those arrested were 26-year-old Okon Ekpo from Akwa Ibom State, Jeremiah Iyohokwa (25) from Akwa Ibom, Israel Tabi (30), from Bayelsa State and Raphael Etim-Philip (25), Akwa Ibom State.