The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Emmanuel

  • Obasanjo: Emmanuel good for 2nd term

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo  yesterday endorsed Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term.

    He spoke at a  Qua Iboe Church in Uyo, the state capital.

    Obasanjo said “Akwa Ibom people, you have a good product and you can’t change him. He has no fears, please stand with him; he will take you to the Promised Land.  I am here to congratulate him. We should be celebrating good governance. I will be back here for a bigger celebration soon” the former President said.

    Explaining that he was in the state briefly to congratulate the governor, Obasanjo noted that out of the attributes of truth, forgiveness, love and continuity that God shares with man, continuity has been in existence since God created the world.

    He said God created us to tell the truth and not lies, to forgive so that we will be forgiven, to love because God is love and gave His son so that we do not perish, adding that we should not do any less than what God has done.

    “As the governor has said, I am here to congratulate him, and he himself asked the question, what is he celebrating? I will tell you what I know we should be celebrating. We should be celebrating good leadership. Unfortunately, I don’t have time but I will come back and when I come back, I will come back for a big celebration.

    “You have to be a strong Christian to be able to say, ‘God will find for me a successor that will do to me what I have done to my

    predecessor’. This man believes in his character, he believes in his value, he believes in his service to humanity and to God.

    “I always cherish the attributes of God. The wonderful God that we worship kept some attributes to himself, he doesn’t share with anybody: Omnipresence, Omnipotent, Omniscience, all that is kept for God and God alone. He has other attributes that he shares with us – kindness, generosity, compassion, truth, forgiveness, love and continuity.

    “God is a God of continuity since he created the world. I always say to myself and my family, if something is good, keep it. We have a good product in our hand and if I have a good product in my hand, I will not change it, I will keep it. This is a good product, let’s have him for continuity. I can assure you, this governor has no fear, he will stand still. Please stand with him and he will take us to the promise land,” he said.

    While speaking, Emmanuel who said Obasanjo was in the state on solidarity visit stated that the presence of the former President always brings about something good.

    He said: “Whenever you see him move, know that something is about to happen. As you see him move today, something good is about to happen in Akwa Ibom. He has spoken concerning Nigeria and I’m sure something good is about to happen in Nigeria.

    “Baba just came on a father – son solidarity visit and he chose to worship in my own local Church. I want to thank him for this show of love, this show of solidarity and I also thank God for everything”.

    Hinting that he is a good successor to the erstwhile governor, Emmanuel said, “May God give me the kind of successor I have been to my predecessor”.

     

  • Emmanuel retains Ekpo as running mate

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has picked Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo as his running mate for the 2019 governorship election.

    The Governor who presented him before the State Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Government House,  Uyo,  said his deputy had shown resilience and capacity in the discharge of his duties.

    Spotting his trademark Dakkada outfit, Emmanuel  described Ekpo in glowing terms as one whose deep commitment to the  Akwa Ibom project, had assisted the pace of development in the state since 2015.

    He added that it was important to keep a winning team and vowed to remain focused in consolidating on his achievements in office.

    Ekpo said he accepted the nomination as a responsibility to commit more to service for the people.

    “I accept this nomination as a responsibility, not for Moses Ekpo, but of service for Akwa Ibom people in interpreting the vision and dreams of Governor Udom Emmanuel for our people.”

  • Opposition can’t distract me, says Emmanuel 

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel  yesterday said he would not be distracted by the antics of political opponents.

    According to him, the opponents were allegedly planning to cause mayhem and disrupt the elections.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, he said that only God ultimately gives power and that he was not afraid of losing re-election next year.

    He said: “There is something you people must know. When it comes to power it is only God who determines and we are conscious of that. We are professionals who have made names in other places. So, when people just discuss some of these things we keep doing our own businesses.

    “At times, some of these things are to distract you but we refuse to be distracted. We play politics of development and our people are seeing that. So, whatever would have tried in any way to distract us we don’t want to be distracted. So, don’t be bothered about that. It is only God who determines what happens the next minute, not man. And no man is God.”

    He also said anyone planning violence and war in Akwa Ibom was wasting his time as the people have resolved to be peaceful,  pointing out that such threats were being noted at the Presidency.

    “At the moment , Akwa Ibom State is very peaceful. We only hear of those plots. I am sure you people heard where people were pronouncing that Warsaw, Warsaw, and that’s what they wish Akwa Ibom would be.

    “But we indigenes are saying no, we are peaceful and we want to maintain peace. Whoever wants to live by Warsaw, will also see war on his own, not within the state.”

     

     

  • Clerics back Emmanuel’s re-election

    Church leaders under the aegis of Spiritual Fathers Forum yesterday reaffirmed their support for the re-election bid of Akwa State Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    The governor, according to them, has delivered quality governance in all critical sectors of the state.

    Led by Emeritus Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Sunday Mbang, the clerics said they would work for the governor’s second term bid and mobilise members to vote for Emmanuel.

    Speaking with reporters at his home in Uyo yesterday, Mbang, surrounded by prominent church leaders, reiterated that the Christian community had endorsed Emmanuel as its candidate for the 2019 governorship election.

    The 81-year-old former chairperson of World Methodist Council said: “Udom’s transparent Christian life in the governance of Akwa Ibom endeared him to us as Christians extremely significantly.”

    He described the governor’s performances in roads, industralisation, infrastructural upgrade, food security, sports development and health as “unparralled and second to none.”

    According to the ex-President of Christian Association of Nigeria: “The health sector has been given unprecedented boost and face lift everywhere.

    “Many of our state hospitals and institutions, which were moribund have now been given new lease of life with modern infrastructural facilities. Sooner or later, all roads will lead to Uyo for medical tourism.”

    In sports, he praised the governor for renovating the Uyo and Ikot Ekpene stadia as well as building modern sports centres.

    He also praised Emmanuel for prompt payment of salaries and pensions to retirees.

    Describing Emmanuel as “Christian governor in deeds and words,” Mbang said: “His time has been remarkable and exceptional and extremely gratifying to the glory of God and blessing of Akwa Ibom people.”

    For these and more, the retired priest said Christians in the state, who he claimed make up 99 per cent of the population, would vote for the governor next year.

    “Governor Udom’s second term is sacrosanctly assured. 2019 is a foregone conclusion; his victory is God ordained. The Christian community in Akwa Ibom is behind his re-election.”

    He dismissed insinuations he had been induced to support the governor, saying the Spiritual Father’s Forum’s position was informed “bv the obvious performances of Udom as well as his Christian credentials in the Government House.”

  • Emmanuel hails Atiku

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for the transparent nature of the party’s National Convention at the Garden City of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The convention was held last weekend.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh, Emmanuel described Atiku Abubakar as a consummate politician, a bridge-builder, a successful businessman and employer of labour; a man with pan-Nigerian bonafides who acutely understands how to create money. “In 2016, the American people turned to a successful businessman and billionaire, Donald Trump, and today, no matter the  opinion you may have of Donald Trump, he has run the American economy very well. Our Candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the Turaki Adamawa, will grow our economy, work to unify our country and create jobs for our teeming population.

    “I want to thank our former aspirants for the sense of unity they exhibited and for rallying behind our Candidate. Together, we will win for our people,” Udoh said.

  • Emmanuel to indigenes: fight against destroyers of our destiny

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has said the general election, especially the governorship poll, will not be an ordinary electoral contest, but a fight between the people and ‘destiny destroyers’.

    Speaking yesterday at the Uyo Township Stadium on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the state, Governor Emmanuel urged Akwa Ibom people to fight highly placed individuals, who wanted to mortgage the state’s destiny.

    Although he was not explicit on who he referred to as ‘destiny destroyers’, the governor said Akwa Ibom was and would remain a Peoples

    Democratic Party(PDP) state, which could not be subdued by the opposition.

    He said no individual from the state could play God and get away with it, adding that the gathering of ‘lions and bears’ against the political destiny of the state would be put to naught in next year’s elections.

    “Today, Akwa Ibom people have come together and the fight before us is Akwa Ibom destiny. We are taking our destinies in our hands. We

    will fight for our destiny. All destiny hijackers, we tell them Holy Ghost fire!

    “All destiny destroyers, we tell them Holy Ghost fire! In Akwa Ibom today we have development coming to Mbo, Ibiono to everywhere. There is nothing like Oro, nothing like Ibibio, nothing like Annang; development cuts across everywhere.

    “If you go to Ibaka road, people were dancing. A major economic road was abandoned over the years because of ethnic bigotry. Today what are we saying? Forward ever, backward never. If they like, let the lions and bears come together. Can they eat up our destiny?

    “The same God of yesterday is the same God today and is the same God of tomorrow. Never again can the destiny of Akwa Ibom be taken over by one man who has risen up to pretend that he is God. Did Goliath succeed?

    “We shall conquer the beast. No man will sell our destiny; no man will mortgage our destiny; no man will undermine our destiny. On our destiny we stand; our destiny is built on a solid rock and so shall it stand,” Emmanuel said.

    He listed the renovation and upgrading of general hospitals in Ituk Mbang, Etinan and Ikono as well as attraction of industries such as a toothpick factory, a metering assembly plant, fertiliser blending plant and syringe factory, among others, as some of his administration’s achievements.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said PDP would reclaim power from All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal and state levels.

    He said: “In 2019, the forces of darkness and oppression will be repelled across the 36 states.”

    In attendance were Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Dino Melaye, among others.

  • Akpabio’s men root for Emmanuel, says aide

    Senator Godswill Akpabio’s kinsmen, relations and foot soldiers are campaigning and working for the re-election of Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel, it was learnt yesterday.

    Special Adviser Bureau of Political, Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, Mr. Ekong Sampson, who spoke with The Nation yesterday in Uyo, said Akpabio would be unable to deliver the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

    Sampson said Akpabio might have ‘overrated’ himself when he declared a few weeks ago at his defection rally at Ikot Ekpene Stadium that he was going to deliver the state  to his new party.

    According to him, even the former governor’s relations, kinsmen and supporters like Prince Akpabio, Sir Emem Akpabio, Chief Michael Afangideh, Chief Emmanuel Ibokessien, National Legal Adviser of PDP Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, and others are supporting Emmanuel’s second term bid.

    “Udom Emmanuel is where the mass of our people are. Those gentlemen that you have mentioned are well known to us. We have had cause to work together in the past. The distinguishing feature today is that Udom is with the people.

    “Senator Akpabio is well known in our state but I think his defection must have been on personal grounds because I was at the rally in Onna few days ago where the people of Eket senatorial district lined up for Udom Emmanuel’s re-election even under heavy rain.

    “Thousands sang and danced; they defied the downpour to demonstrate their love for Governor Udom Emmanuel. In that crowd I saw a lot of associates of Senator Akpabio. I saw the political leader of Essien Udim, Chief Michael Afangideh. Akpabio calls him my political leader. I saw a number of relations of Senator Akpabio. They were with us in Onna. I saw his (Akpabio’s) local government chairman. They were with us. They are campaigning for Udom’s re-election so when people outside Akwa Ibom State ascribe so many undercurrents to Akpabio’s defection, I am left with the opinion that may be they do not know what is on ground in Akwa Ibom State. I think Akpabio’s defection hype is misplaced.

    “I think Akpabio has wrongly gauged the mood of our people.”

     

     

  • Akpabio, Okon disagree on Emmanuel

    Former Senate Minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio and a ex-senator representing Uyo, Anietie Okon, have disagreed on Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    Akpabio yesterday described Emmanuel as his greatest political mistake.

    Okon said the election of  Emmanuel as governor in 2015 was not a mistake.

    Akpabio, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), asked Akwa Ibom people to forgive him for the mistake.

    He spoke at Ikot Ekpene  Plaza to youths and supporters, who welcomed him back to the state from Enugu where he had gone for the his mother in-law’s funeral.

    Akpabio described Emmanuel as a mistake he made in a hurry, insisting his successor has underperformed.

    “Udom is a mistake that must be corrected in 2019”, he told the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, who he represents at the Senate.

    According to Akpabio, “all hands must be on the deck to ensure the mistake is corrected for a people-oriented leadership is enthroned under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),  at the centre.

    “I want to thank you for defying the rain to honour me as your leader and troop out in this multitude even at short notice. It goes to show the level of love and confidence you have in me your leader, and I promise to also reward you for your time and energy in this all important project”, Akpabio said.

    According to the former Senate Minority leader, the administration of Emmanuel has failed the people, forcing him to take steps to correct the anomaly “so that posterity would be fair to me”.

    He spoke of the prevalence of hunger and deprivation in  Akwa Ibom since the administration took over on May 29, 2015, saying it was time to liberate the state from mis-governance.

    The state, he noted, should never be allowed to wallow as a ship without shepherd, adding that this informed his intervention to key the state back into central politics.

    Speaking at an endorsement rally in honour of Governor Emmanuel and his wife, Martha by the people of Eket Senatorial District at Onna Township Stadium, the PDP chieftain described Akpabio as a coward.

    He queried Akpabio’s Annang ancestry, adding that the Annang are courageous and resilient, qualities, which Akpabio lacks.

    Okon said a man of Emmanuel’s worth and integrity would never have come about by chance, but  a divine  gift from God.

    “We don’t know where they brought Akpabio from, he is a coward! I was angry yesterday when I heard Akpabio call Udom Emmanuel a mistake; God cannot be mistaken. That is the last insult the people of Akwa Ibom State would take from a man of such antecedent”.

    He declared that the people of Uyo Senatorial District had concluded the debates surrounding the 2019 elections as they consider Emmanuel’s re-election as the fastest gateway to return power to Uyo in 2013.

  • ‘Emmanuel not planning to defect to APC’

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State will not defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Charles Udoh, has said.

    He said the stories trending on the social media that Emmanuel intends to dump the PDP for the APC was not true.

    Udoh, who was guest on a radio programme, said the governor was too principled to jump ship as many others did.

    He added that Emmanuel, as a trustworthy and credible man, cannot speak from both sides of his mouth.

    The commissioner stressed that Emmanuel will not allow political manoeuvres to taint his image which he spent years to build in the corporate world before his foray into public service.

    He said: “For a man who has worked to the position of a Chief Financial Officer in Zenith Bank, one of the high flying financial institutions in Nigeria, his integrity cannot be taken for granted.

    “He is trusted with money and enormous capacity. And, again, for Akwa Ibom State to be rated as the second best in Nigeria on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), then investors must have trusted the integrity of the governor before sinking huge foreign currency into their investments in the state.”

    On the freezing of Akwa Ibom State Government accounts that made news recently, Udoh said the  accounts were frozen on the orders of the EFCC without any prior notice or court summons. He said they were unfreezed, following the directives of the Vice Present. He added that the counter reaction on the issue by the EFCC was merely a face-saving ploy by the commission.

    On the Ibom Deep Sea Port (IDSP), Udoh said work on the project is on the final stage on paper and that work on the super-highway leading to the seaport is ongoing, while tender for bid has already been made public for legitimate and qualified bidders.

  • No plan by Emmanuel to join APC, say PDP chiefs, others

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has no plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), leaders of the Peoples Demcratic Party (PDP) and some opinion leaders in the state have said.

    The runmour mill has been agog that the governor would follow his predecessor Senator Godswill Akpabio to the APC, causing disquiet in some quarters.

    Many groups and individuals, including Ibom Patriots, former governorship aspirants and other leading political and opinion leaders have raised issues on the alleged defection pan.

    The Ibom Patriots made up of leders like the immediate past Commissioner for Transport Godwin Ntukude, Chairman of Ibom Power Etido Inyang, Commissioner for the Environment Eniobong Essien, Special Adviser Bureau of Political and Legislative Affairs, Ekong Sampson, Usenebong Akpabio, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof Comfort Ekpo, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Ekpenyong  Ntekim, Mr.  Okon Emah, rose from a meeting in Uyo at the weekend where they dismissed the defection plot as “impracticable.”

    The Chancellor of the group Obong Bassey Inuayen said: “We believe those peddling the rumours are hallucinating. He revealed that last week, stakeholders from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District met with the governor and he told them he had no plan to defect to the APC.

    “At the meeting, the governor said he would rather go home and rest, instead of defecting to the APC.

    “As far as we know, Governor Emmanuel is not defecting to the APC. The day he is defecting, the Patriots will let you know.”

    Commissioner for Information and Strategy Charles Udoh also at the weekend said stories trending on the social media that Emmanuel intended to defect to the APC were not true.

    Udoh who was guest on a Planet 101.1FM Radio programme, said the governor was too principled to jump ship as many others, adding that the governor as a trust worthy and credible man cannot speak from both sides of his tongue.

    Udoh said Emmanuel would not allow political maneuvers to taint his image which he spent years to build in the corporate world before his foray into public service.

    “For a man who has worked to the position of a Chief Financial Officer in Zenith Bank, one of the high flying financial institutions in Nigeria, his integrity cannot be taken for granted.

    “He is trusted with money and enormous capacity. And again, for Akwa Ibom State to be rated as the second best in Nigeria on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), then Investors must have trusted the integrity of the Governor before sinking huge foreign currency into their investments in the state.”

    But despite the denials from the state government and other supporting groups and individuals, sources from both parties insist that the governor planned to defect before the plan crumbled.

    Commissioner for Works  Akparawa  Ephraim Inyang- Eyen  had then debunked the rumour saying “ Now, saying that  Governor Emmanuel will defect to the APC  in his second term, I think is a conjecture and let me sound it very clearly, the governor is a man of character and principles.

    “He is not one of those politicians who would want to jump all over the place because of what they think they could get. The time to have done that could have been when the system was trying to hold him to ransom and not now that he has performed and Akwa Ibom people are happy. A political platform is just a platform, but the critical thing is the candidate. Udom won election beyond political platform and given his performance, platform for his second term will not be too relevant”.

    Senator Anietie Okon also described the defection rumour as the handiwork of “those who have mis-stepped and overrated themselves. They are finding a way to dig back and be relevant.”