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Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Group warns PDP against divisive politics in Akwa Ibom

    An Akwa Ibom leadership advocacy group, Ibom True Leadership Forum (ITLF), has cautioned that unless the discord following the December 8 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State is resolved, the peace in the state may be compromised.

    ITLF’s warning is in a statement it released yesterday in Abuja after presenting a letter at Wadata House in Wuse, the national headquarters of the PDP.

    The group urged the PDP leadership to address the grievances of the 22 governorship aspirants, who were protesting alleged irregularities and the lack of transparency in the party’s primary in Akwa Ibom State.

    The statement by ITLF’s Chairman, Dr. Uwem Effiong, reads: “Akwa Ibom, as a Niger Delta state, has enjoyed relative peace and unity, even at a period when the zone was boiling as a result of youth restiveness and widespread agitation. So, we plead with the PDP, under the leadership of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to exhibit responsible leadership by addressing the grievances of the 22 aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state to avoid jeopardising the peace and unity we enjoy in Akwa Ibom.

    “The views of 22 of the 23 aspirants should not be ignored as if they don’t matter. PDP, as a leading political party in Nigeria, should at all times be a unifying factor and not one to sow the seed of discord among its followers.

    “The simple requests of the aspirants, as was publicised, is a plea for fair play, equity and transparency in the process of electing who should fly the flag of the PDP in next year’s governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.”

    The group added: “Such harmless and civil request, which embodies the will of not only the aspirants but those of their teeming supporters and sympathisers, when swept under the carpet, would most likely result in a breach of the peace, but would also obviously be costly for the PDP in the general elections where our son, President Goodluck Jonathan, is seeking a re-election.”

  • Akwa Ibom: Not yet uhuru for Emmanuel

    Akwa Ibom: Not yet uhuru for Emmanuel

    An ex parte order and a petition appear to have become obstacles in the quest of former Akwa Ibom State Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Udom Emmanuel, to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next February’s elections, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU.

    When names of governorship candidates are submitted by political parties to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later this week, the name of Udom Emmanuel, former Akwa Ibom State Secretary to the State Government (SSG), is bound to be missing, unless the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Adamu Mu’azu does not mind being jailed for contempt of court. Last Thursday, Justice Y. Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) restrained Mu’azu and the PDP from submitting Emmanuel’s name or the name of any other person as the winner of the PDP governorship primary in Akwa Ibom State. After giving the order, Justice Halilu adjourned the substantive suit till January 5, 2015 because of the Christmas and New Year break.

    Until then, the propriety or otherwise of the December 8 primary in which Emmanuel was declared winner is suspect.

    The kernel of the suit filed by a PDP chieftain and governorship aspirant, Ime Effiong Ekanem, is also the subject of a petition by the 22 PDP governorship aspirants to Mua’zu and the PDP leadership. The petition dated December 9 described the primary, which produced Emmanuel, though broadcast live on television, as a “sham” and “scam”.

    In the petition, the aspirants, which include two men who served Governor Godswill Akpabio as deputy, Nsima Ekere and Patrick Ekpotu, said the primary violated the party’s rule on accreditation of delegates. They said no delegate was accredited at the venue of the primary, adding that they were told by the chairman of the Electoral Panel that the accreditation of delegates was done at the Government House, where the delegates were conveyed in buses to the venue of the poll. They alleged that unqualified persons were smuggled into the venue as delegates, thus rubbishing the process. The non-accreditation of delegates, they said, broke the 19th paragraph of the Electoral guidelines.

    The aggrieved men said the delegates’ list was contrived because there was no proper election of delegates from the ward level on November 1.

    Another issue the aggrieved have against Emmanuel’s emergence is that delegates were not given ballot papers in public glare to vote during the election. They said the delegates arrived the venue with already marked ballot papers and only deposited them in the boxes when it was time to vote.  They also alleged that their agents were not accredited to be part of the exercise. Their prayer to the court and the party is simple: cancel the exercise.

    They said: “It is our prayer that the fraudulent exercise, herein complained of, be nullified for the sake of the party’s credibility and a transparent process be deployed for the emergence of a gubernatorial candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State.

    “The enormity of a combination of the above irregularities on the entire Gubernatorial Primary Election and the ultimate fortunes of the party in  general election cannot be over emphasized. We believe that your intervention , can save us from the avoidable cataclysm we are won’t to face if this fraud is condoned.”

    Instituting a court case after petitioning the party and the Appeal Panel, said a source, was borne out of their belief that they might not get justice from the party, which agreed with Akpabio to zone the governorship to Eket when elders such as former Governor Victor Attah and former Minister Don Etiebet were calling for open contest.

    The group, which has visited the Wadata House headquarter of the party severally to register their grievances, said they have only received “minimal attention” from the party’s leadership. This, said Ekanem, was why he headed for the court, adding that the PDP has not found it necessary to address their grievances with the urgency it requires given the time limit allowed by the Electoral Act for candidates to be forwarded to INEC.

    He said: “I cannot allow the will of majority of Akwa Ibom people to be swept under the carpet as if they do no matter. Democracy is the government of the people by the people. Therefore, we will not allow a few people to impose their will against the interest and the overall good of the people.

    “It is the will of the good people of Akwa Ibom that the process of electing their leaders must be transparent, credible and civil. That was not what was witnessed on December 8 in Uyo. We say no to a system that attempts to subvert the will of the people. This struggle is not our personal struggle but that of every Nigerian who believes in democracy, in the purity of its meaning and essence.”

    Akpabio has continued to insist the process which produced Emmanuel was transparent. He congratulated the Chairman of the Electoral Panel of PDP, Mr. Bola Ayebowale and members of the PDP for a successful conduct of the primaries, adding that Emmanuel’s victory was assured.

    The governor said more than 99 per cent of PDP faithful in the state came out to vote, stressing that the state would do the same by giving President Goodluck Jonathan their full support in 2015. Akpabio added that the transparency of the election was an indication that peace thrives in the state.

    Emmanuel said the people have ushered him into the next level, thanking Akpabio and the people for coming out en-mass to support him. He lauded the PDP for the peaceful conduct of the primary.

    Oyebowale also said the process was transparent, explaining that PDP believes in a level-playing ground for all aspirants.

    By their suit and petition, the aspirants have queried the process Oyebowale, Akpabio and Emmanuel have spoken so glowingly about. Will the court agree with them? That will be known on January 5. But until then and as a result of the injunction, the PDP cannot present a valid candidate from Akwa Ibom State to INEC. Doing so will mean risking having Mua’zu committed to the prison.

    The waiting game has started and while many will be busy enjoying the Christmas and New Year break, the aggrieved aspirants and the governor’s camp will be busy perfecting how to convince the judge to look their way.

  • Akwa Ibom 2015: Group hails Emmanuel’s emergence

    Akwa Ibom 2015: Group hails Emmanuel’s emergence

    A socio-political group, the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Initiative, has hailed the election of Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Akwa Ibom governorship race, saying it is a reflection of the wish of the people. Emmanuel is the immediate past Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government.

    In a press statement issued in Lagos, the group’s coordinator, Mr. Udoh Ekwere noted that the outcome of the primaries, which took place at the Uyo township stadium, is a reflection of the wishes of the people.

    Emmanuel polled 1,201 votes and was declared winner by the chairman of the election panel, Bola Oyebowale.

    Ekwere noted that as a technocrat with leadership and managerial skills, Emmanuel is unarguably the best candidate to sustain the tempo of developmental strides of Governor Godswill Akpabio in the state.

    “We believe that the choice of Udom Emmanuel by the Akwa Ibom PDP delegates is indeed in line with the wishes of the people. Emmanuel is a technocrat and we believe that he is capable of continuing the good work of our out-going governor,” he said.

    Ekwere appealed to the aspirants who lost at the primaries to work together with the PDP flag bearer to ensure the success of the party in next year’s election.

  • Akwa Ibom governorship aspirants denounce primary

    Akwa Ibom governorship aspirants denounce primary

    Following the emergence of Udom Emmanuel as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, 22 of the 23 governorship aspirants in the state have petitioned the chairman of the PDP Governorship Electoral Panel, Prince Bola Oyebowale, over what they described as fundamental irregularities that marred the recent governorship primary.

    The aggrieved aspirants, which wrote the petition under the platform of ‘Forum of Akwa Ibom State PDP governorship Aspirants’, warned that they would not consent to the legitimization of the charade that took place on Monday called the Akwa Ibom PDP governorship primary.

    In the petition signed by the group, which is led by former Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere and Senator Helen Esuene, it alleged that all the purported delegates from the state were invited to Government House Uyo where they were addressed, threatened, intimidated and induced with one million each to vote for the governor’s preferred aspirant, Emmanuel.

    The aspirants said the list of contrived ad hoc delegates is populated by political appointees of the state government and civil servants.

    They alleged that the government doctored the delegates’ list and that there was indeed several lists of purported delegates. The forum said the first list emanated from the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance and was denounced as fake by both the state government and the state chairman of the party.

    But, ironically, they said the list which was earlier denounced was the same one that was used in inviting delegates to the congress, going by the announcement broadcast on the state-owned Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC).

    “Recently, another list emerged carrying the imprimatur of the National Organising Secretary of the PDP and which list is totally at variance with both the list earlier signed by the state chairman of the PDP and the one announced on radio this morning (Monday December 8, 2014),” it said, adding that the lists are contrived, as no ward congresses took place in any of the wards in the state and at the National headquarters of the party.

    The group said despite the plethora of lists, there was no accreditation of delegates by Prince Oyebowale’s electoral panel “to certify the individuals who are being trafficked in heavily-guarded buses to the venue of the congress from the Government House, Uyo.”

    In his individual capacity, Ekere also petitioned the chairman of the party’s Governorship Election Appeal Panel in Abuja, saying unqualified persons were smuggled into the venue of the congress, “with accreditation cards on their necks, without proper prior ascertainment of their status as the first business of the day, either as purportedly elected ad hoc delegates or statutory delegates known to us, having been consulted in the course of the campaigns for the exercise.”

    According to Ekere: “Because the purported delegates were fake, they could not be accredited at the venue of the congress; their accreditation tags/numbers were not given there, nor their names announced to the hearing of all present at the State Congress by the Electoral Officer, thereby breaching the clear provisions of paragraph 19 (e), (f) and (g) of the Governorship Guidelines of the party.”

    Given the magnitude of the irregularities on the entire process, the former deputy governor is calling for the cancellation of the exercise and the organisation of fresh primaries that would conform to the guidelines issued by the party and the law.

  • Akwa Ibom: Udom Emmanuel clinches PDP ticket

    Akwa Ibom: Udom Emmanuel clinches PDP ticket

    Akwa-Ibom – Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, former Secretary to Akwa Ibom state government, has emerged winner of the ruling People’s Democratic Party’s primary election in the state.

    At the primary election held at the International stadium in Uyo, the state Capital, 23 PDP aspirants were represented yet Mr. Emmanuel clinched the ticket to fly the party’s flag in the 2015 general election.

    The former secretary to the state government, who hails from Onna Local Government Area of the state, clinched the governorship ticket after gathering a total of 1201 out of the 1266 votes casted by delegates but 6 votes were void.

  • Why I want to rule Akwa Ibom, by Etuk

    Why I want to rule Akwa Ibom, by Etuk

    Hon. Michael Sabastine, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, explains why he wants to rule Akwa Ibom State.  He spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE.

    How do you intend to compete with an obviously “preferred” candidate?

    People tend to forget history, so that history can repeat itself. In 2006, we had some other anointed candidates and the incumbent was not ranked amongst the first 10. But, people were with him who believed in his project and kept working towards the actualisation of the dream. Well, over here, we trust a lot in God and we believe that God controls or sits in heaven and affects a lot of things that happen in the affairs of men, especially in ruler ship. We believe that at the end of the second term tenure of the present administration, whosoever was marked by God to be the next governor of Akwa Ibom State will emerge and not one who was tipped by any individual. Politically, we know that human factors are important, but God uses the people. The human factor in politics are those God waits to use to actualize His plans for the people. And so, whether anybody is anointed or supposedly anointed or not makes no meaning to me, because I believe in destiny and there is nothing that happens in life that is not pre-destined. Whosoever is blessed to be anointed by man is fortunate enough, but the person that is anointed by God to become the governor of Akwa Ibom State is the most favored.

    Can your coming on board put  an end godfatherism in the state?

    I have never believed in godfather ism from the onset or else we wouldn’t have been key supporters of Gov. Godswill Akpabio in his heydays. And if you also look at god- fatherism in the history of politics in Akwa Ibom State, there is no way Obong Victor Attah would have been governor because there were people supposedly more grounded than he was, and rooted in the system who were also supposedly anointed. But, came out tops and changed everything. Same thing happened in the time of Obong Akpan Isemin. You may recall a slogan accredited to him saying that election is not a fashion parade. There were people who were more handsome, more educated and had people, had men behind them, but God had tipped Obong Isemin for the job. And so the few men he had saw him through. So, godfatherism in Akwa Ibom politics has never been the thing. Only in second term elections can you talk about god fatherism where the incumbent will definitely return fora second term and the people that lined up behind him will also go back to their offices or get elected into offices as the case may be, if favored. In Akwa Ibom politics, first term election is always a totally new ball game. It never goes the way do people’s prediction.

    What would be the focus of your government?

    My key focus will be in the area of job creation. And as I speak, we have designed a number of ways with which we will use to push this idea or programme forward. Industrialization, in fact, will be a key part of Akwa Ibom development come 2015 because other infrastructure are on ground. Agriculture is something we cannot overlook, same for human development. There are ways a government can create an enabling environment that will enhance human capabilities and potentials. People will have a platform and the ability to express themselves economically, and so will create employment. We are also looking at our coastline. Anyone who wishes to develop the state must also look along that line. We have swamp forest would be used for rice cultivation. I remember way back then when I learnt that a friend’s father earned as much N1m a day from fishing. So, we will be looking into fishing, seriously. We, therefore, have all the opportunities to develop that industry in Akwa Ibom which will definitely enhance the welfare of the people of the state. We also need to develop transportation along our coastline, that is marine transportation.

  • Okoko: Why I ‘m candidate to beat in Akwa Ibom

    Okoko: Why I ‘m candidate to beat in Akwa Ibom

    The ambition of Benjamin Enobong Okoko, a governorship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State, has unsettled the kingmakers.  In the party, there is lack of internal democracy. The acrimony in the party is among some of the stakeholders, who brought the party to the state, managed and nurtured it effectively.

    The party’s primaries for the selection of candidates to represent the party in the elections are another test case between the founding members and those who joined the party.

    Incidentally, in the 2015 governorship race in the state, the only founding member of the party in the race is Mr. Benjamin Enobong Okoko, who co-founded the PDP in 1998 alongside seven other patriots. The others are Chief Don Etiebet, who was the state leader, Obong Victor Attah and Senator Anietie Okon as conveners from Uyo Senatorial district.

    Dr.  Ime Titus Okopido and Sen Emmanuel Ibok Essien as conveners from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District while Eket District had Benjamin Enobong Okoko and the late Dan Etukudoh. As conveners of the PDP, they were charged with the responsibility of establishing the party.

    Among the founding members of the party, Okoko is now the only one aspiring to the Akwa Ibom Hill top mansion. At the age of 37, he contested the party primary in 1998 and won but the leaders intervened saying he was still a young man with prospect in future. Since then he had made two other attempts stalled through the party’s intervention.

    Okoko expressed his feeling thus: “It is said that greatness is not in how many times you fall, but being able to rise each time you fall. 1999 is a story everybody knows. The 1999 election was supposed to have been a coronation for me as everything was set. But some leaders of the party approached and prevailed on me to withdraw my candidature for the governorship election in 1998/1999 election. I accepted it without any condition.

    “In 2003, I ran and the party decided that the incumbent should have a second term. In 2006 we had a crowd of about 60 aspirants. There was complete confusion, but the party decided it was Governor Godswill Akpabio that should have the ticket. He got the ticket and ran. In 2011, I didn’t run because I became wiser, I came to understand my party better knowing that it is not easy to run against the incumbent seeking a second term.

    “In 2015, Governor Akpabio is finishing his second term. So, I feel I have to come out. With the experience I have the previous times, I really understand the politics better this time. I am quite optimistic to be successful this time and four is my lucky number.”

    Since launching his campaign in the state, Okoko’s strategy to pick the party’s ticket has totally put other aspirants in a tight corner and confusion especially when he was not expected in the race. He remains the first aspirant in the state to consult the party both at the local and state levels.

    As a bonafide party man, Okoko made history by making his first point of contact to be the party.  It was like a presidential directive or an order from the national headquarters of the party that the state party leadership both at state and local government levels should open their doors and receive to Okoko’s campaign train.

    Out of the number of aspirants in the state, none ever deemed it fit to consult the party, until Okoko made the move. After consulting the state executive, Okoko, did not stop there but embarked on a state-wide consultation of 31 local government local government chapters of the party where he addressed the executive members and party faithful.

    His reception by the chapters was another homecoming of an original party man. The leadership urged Okoko, who started his political career as a chapter officer, to restore the supremacy and dignity of the party officers as key players of Government.

    The plight of PDP officers at these levels was described as pathetic especially after serving the party judiciously. “There is nothing to show for our loyalty to the party. Our mandate as trustees for the party is with an empty stomach,” he said appealing to Okoko to remember that he started his politics as an officer of the party and should therefore reverse the trend his colleagues are passing through in the state

    To the PDP members, it was like a dream come true; that the restorer has arrived and from their disposition, mostly characterised by intermittent smiles and outburst of joy, it was obvious their hopes have been rekindled.

    Okoko,  promised that with their support, the party will be returned to its proper place of pride.  He admonished them to join hands and ensure that only a true party man becomes the next governor of the state.

    With his sincerity of purpose and track record, it was not totally surprising that the entire 31 local government chapters of the party  were unanimous in accepting, confirming, agreeing that Okoko would emerge the PDP standard bearer of the party and shall go ahead to contest the 2015 governorship election and succeed Akpabio, as the next governor.

    They took this decision because they decided to go back to history and trace the root of the party. Having glanced into the immediate past, they resolved that justice should be the foundation for political stability. They remembered that Okoko did not join the party but co-founded the party in 1998.

    They remembered his sacrifice to the party when he was told to let go the ticket to pave the way for Obong Attah to become governor from Uyo senatorial district. They also remembered that he obeyed the party unconditionally and has remained a loyal, faithful, committed and dedicated party man under the umbrella.

    In addition, they remembered that he has not left the party since its formation. They remembered that in spite of the fact that he is yet to  benefit from the party he co-founded, he has held on to the party.

    Okoko conducted the first  state and local government congresses of the PDP  in 1999, which saw the emergence of party executives. He was the second National Publicity Secretary of the PDP; former Member, PDP National Working Committee (NWC); former Member, PDP National Executive Committee (NEC); former Chairman, PDP National Electoral Panel, Kwara State; former Member, PDP National Convention Committee and pioneer Secretary, PDP South South/South East Caucus.

  • Umana’s defection alters 2015 calculations in Akwa Ibom

    Umana’s defection alters 2015 calculations in Akwa Ibom

    Former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government Umana Umana has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a ceremony in Uyo, the state capital, witnessed by APC leaders and a large crowd of supporters. Correspondent KAZEEM IBRAHYM writes on the implication if the defection for the ruling party and next general elections. 

    Brooms fill the air In Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State. The large crowd of supporters had a message for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): the party will not remain the same, following the defection of former Secretary to Government Umana Umana to the All Progressives Congress (APC). No fewer than 30,000 supporters across the three senatorial districts defected along with the politician.

    Many believed that the defection of Umana will define the political direction of the state, ahead of next year’s polls. The Asan Ibibio Ground, the venue of the cross-over rally, was filled to the brim. As early as 10am, party faithful had converged, singing and dancing.

    Big wigs who defected along with the former SSG include two former ministers, Dr. Ime Okopido and Obong Rita Akpan, who are founding member of the PDP. Other  defectors include  Otuekong Sunny Jackson from Uyo Senatorial District, former treasurer of the defunct All Nigeria peoples Party (PDP) and member of the House of Assembly, Dr. Morris Ebong, Linus Akpan, an engineer, Obong Cyril Ekiko, a former lawmaker, Okon Uwa, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly; Uwem Udoma; Dr Chris Ekong, a former commissioner, Chief Sonny Udom, a the former member of the House of Representatives and Obong Imo Isemin, wife of the former governor.

    Others were former Commissioner Dr. Emem Wills, former Special Adviser Sammy Frank, Clement Bassey former commissioner and former member, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly; Emmanuel Obot, former member of House of Representatives, Chief Okon Ekanem, a former Permanent Secretary; Chief Victor Iyanam, and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Bishop Asuquo Ekanem.

    Umana and other defectors were received by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, the National Leader, his deputy, Chief Segun Oni, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu,  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, presidential aspirants former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    The rally was witnessed by Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso, his Rivers State counterpart,  Rotimi Amaechi,  the Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and Vice Chairman (Southsouth) Hilliard Eta.

    Oyegun his in address to party faithful said APC is confident of victory in the next year poll in Akwa Ibom State, saying with the coming of APC on board, the development which has eluded the people for long, would come.

    Oyegun told the electorate to equip themselves with their voter’s cards, which he described as  the only instrument needed to  sweep PDP out of power. He said that with the coming of Umana and others into the party, the train of change has begun in the state.

    He critisised the PDP-led government for abhorring corruption and using the security agencies to attack the opposition. His words: “Many of you who don’t have the voters’ cards must go and have the voters’ cards. The voter’s card is your weapon for change. How many of you are happy with the level of corruption in this country?

    “Corruption is the sole reason that education has collapsed, that health is collapsing, it is the sole reason that our roads are not looked after. It is the sole reason for the problem we are having in the country today. In APC we have zero tolerance for corruption.

    “Another duty we owe to the youth of this country is to provide them with jobs. We have worked out our programmes to achieve these.

    “Now we are going to have a third colossus like Umana in APC after having former Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Senator James Udoedehe and former Military Administrator of both Ogun and Rivers state, Sam Ewang.  Strong people like Umana are just discovering that they have been working for a party that is destroying this country. Umana should demonstrate how he can use the broom to sweep the destroyer.”

    Even the Akwa Ibom State APC chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, in his speech, bemoaned the level of corruption in the PDP-led government, saying the last seven years of PDP in the Akwa Ibom state has been fraudulent and traumatic for the people.

    Attai decried that despite the oil-money, Akwa Ibom is still one of the poorest states in the country, this he said, would stop as soon as APC takes over the mantle of leadership in 2015.

    He said: “We have been suffocated by the government of the PDP. The state is the richest but the people are the poorest since Akpabio took over the mantle of leadership.

    “The ruling party and the Presidency have failed to listen to the concern of the elders. Governor Akpabio wants to install himself as a third term governor through a pseudo arrangement. Today’s event has proven that APC is on the part of winning Akwa Ibom State in 2015.”

    In his remarks, Asiwaju Tinubu, called for ‘common sense revolution’  to end  the PDP ‘misrule’.

    He said that when God wanted to deliver the people of Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh  He gave the Israelites instructions through their leader, Moses and they took their destiny in their hands and their deliverance from the Egyptian bondage of over 400 years was secured.

    He said the way to start the revolution is for the people getting their voters’ card from INEC  and be ready to vote for the agent of change symbolized by the APC in the coming general elections next year.

    He said: “Your voters’ card is the weapon for common sense revolution. The common sense revolution is not by bloodshed. It is about voters’ card. Ensure that you get it from INEC to change the government in Abuja and other states not controlled by the APC.

    Tinubu explained that with Umana and his supporters joining  APC and  working with people like Senator John Udoedehe, Captain Sam Ewang and others, the Akwa Ibom people are on the way to delivering  the state from impunity that has rocked the state all these years.

    The national leader also said APC would make the people the cornerstone of their policies and programmes.

    Tinubu also recalled how Senator James Udoedehe went to jail in the hands of the PDP-led government in the state during the 2011 general elections.

    He said: “John Udoedehe suffered, he went to jail and almost got killed in the hands of the PDP government. I am happy to see him stand here today with another of our brother Umana. Both of you must join hands together in Unity.”

    Also, the APC Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, urged Nigerians and Akwa Ibom people to unite and rescue the state from the ruling PDP next year.  He said: “Make sure there is a change in the next election. Whoever is you candidate, the persons who wins should be supported.”

    Another APC Presidential aspirant, Sam Nda-Isaiah, said it has become necessary for Nigerians to ensure they vote out PDP in the next general election.

     

    He said presently, there are 48 million young Nigerians without jobs.  He asked Nigerians to vote for APC candidates as the party, saying the party is ready to turn the misfortune of Nigerians caused by PDP miss-governance around with god policies.

    He said:  “The time to change has come and Nigerians must seize the opportunity to vote out PDP government.”

    Another chieftain of the party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said with the coming election, time has come for Nigerians to deliver themselves.

    Onu  said nobody is happy the way things are in the country and prayed for God’s grace to enable the party win next year and turn things around for the good of all in the country.

    In his words, the national Vice Chairman of the party for the South/South region, Prince Hillary Etta, said majority in Akwa Ibom have taken a stand to secure change for the suffering of the people.

    He said though President Jonathan is from the Southsouth, he has failed to impact Akwa Ibom and indeed Nigerians in any meaningful way.

    Umana, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, asked PDP to return his N11million he used to purchase the nomination form for the governorship race.

    Umana said he decided to seek the mandate of Akwa Ibom people to serve as governor on the platform of the APC because the party offered the people the freedom to elect leaders of their choice without the undemocratic practice of imposition by a single person or a political cabal.

    He promised to lead an administration, if elected, whose priority would be job creation, industrialisation, war against poverty and unemployment; investment in quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and other forms of people empowerment.

    With Unana and others PDP bigwigs finally in APC, the coming months will be interesting politically in the oil-rich state between the party and PDP.

  • Eleven drown as bus plunges into river

    Eleven persons, including two children died on Thursday night in

    Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom State when a bus conveying
    passengers from Port Harcourt to Uyo, plunged in river near the
    Nigerian Army Barracks, Ibagwa.

    All, except two of the occupants drowned.

    It was gathered that the Toyota Hiace bus with registration number
    Lagos, FJK 911 XE belonging to To & Fro Transport Company was hit by a
    Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) making it to plunged into the river.

    Witnesses told The Nation that the SUV was on top speed and its
    driver was apparently trying to avoid a bad spot leading to its
    collision with the bus.

    On realizing the calamity he caused, the driver abandoned his vehicle and
    took to his heels while the helpless onlookers could do nothing about
    the bus which had sunk immediately it fell off the bridge.

    It was not until Friday afternoon that the state police command in
    conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) went with a crane
    from the construction giant, Julius Berger to haul out the vehicle
    with all the dead.

  • Boosting SMEs in Akwa Ibom

    Boosting SMEs in Akwa Ibom

    SIR: Recently, Akwa Ibom state came out in flying colours at the Abuja International Trade Fair as the Best Government Exhibitor. Not only was the state able to showcase its rich potentials and heritage, it stood out exceedingly in its organization and exhibition of small and medium scale enterprises.

    The State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Elder Ufot Nkangude, who led the state delegation was all smiles as he narrated that Akwa Ibom was celebrated because of her excellent display of a wide range of products realized through Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

    Such products rank high in terms of packaging and quality and they range from the best palm produce, raffia, shoemaking, fabrication, garri processing machines, palm oil processing machines, the best sea foods, among others.

    Since the arrival of Governor Godswill Akpabio on the scene in 2007, youths and women of the state have been empowered through micro credit facilities. First in 2007, Chief Akpabio introduced a N100m scheme to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to be accessed by Christians in the state for their small businesses.

    Since then, several thousands of youths from the 31 local government areas of the state have been trained, equipped and empowered with N500,000 each under the integrated farmers scheme. The women were also encouraged in their various trades through the Women in Agriculture Entrepreneurial Development Programme, WAEDEP which empowers each participant with N250,000 each.

    The result, as expected, has been stimulation in the economy of the rural communities, as many subsistent businesses have flourished thereby providing employment opportunities for the people. The numerous small and medium scale enterprises have now become readily raw materials for anticipatory large scale industries.

    Under the present administration, the Central Bank of Nigeria has reached a memorandum of understanding with Akwa Ibom State as one of the pioneer states to access a N260m facility under the CBN-sponsored Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Fund. The state’s emergence as the initial beneficiary of this fund comes as a result of the excellent framework and implementation of small and medium scale initiatives in the state.

    Governor Akpabio has constantly given opportunity to the growing entrepreneurs in the state to boost their capacity by sponsoring them to trade fairs and other exhibition fora, where they have been able to showcase their ingenuity and compete with their peers from other parts of the world.

     

    • Essien Ndueso

    Uyo, Akwa Ibom State