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Tag: Emmanuel

  • Assembly to meet Emmanuel, security agencies on crisis

    The leadership of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is to meet with Governor Udom Emmanuel and heads of security agencies to seek a solution to challenges in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo local government areas.

    This was part of resolutions passed by the Assembly yesterday following a matter of urgent public importance raised by the member representing Ukanafun, Otobong Jonathan.

    Members urged the government to ameliorate the suffering and mitigate losses incurred by the people.

    Pleading with his colleagues to draw government’s attention to the destruction by criminals in his constituency, Jonathan told members that his council was engulfed in a protracted crisis, which affected its economic activities.

    He cited a recent attack on a popular market in Ukanafun, Urua Akpan Eshiet by hoodlums, who reportedly stormed the market and set the building on fire.

    “Ukanafun is plagued with security challenges. Hoodlums recently invaded the area and burnt down Urua Akpan Eshiet market. That market is a major source of livelihood and  revenue to our local government”.

    Speaker Onofiok Luke commended Jonathan for raising the matter.

    “We didn’t delay because of the nature of the matter. We had to give it the seriousness it deserves. We pledge our commitment to cooperate with the governor and security agencies to ensure the security of life and property of residents”.

     

  • 2019: Akwa Ibom Christians back Emmanuel for reelection

    Thousands of believers under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly at the weekend threw their weight behind the reelection bid of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    The governor, they said, has done creditably well and should carry on with his industrial revolution in the state.

    They spoke after a two-day conference tagged Dominion Mandate with the theme “One body, one voice”.

    It was put together by Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly and Fathers of Faith.

    Some of the prominent church leaders at the meeting were: Dr Uma Ukpai, Prelate Emeritus Sunday Mbang, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Akwa Ibom chapter, Reverend Ndueso Ekwere, Rev Ntia Ntia, Archbishop Emma Isong and Apostle Zilley Aggrey, among others.

    They all unequivocally said Emmanuel had done well and should continue the good works.

    Arrowhead of the organisers, Archbishop Cletus Bassey, explained why the church and Christian community were supporting Emmanuel for reelection.

    According to him: “Today, in Akwa Ibom State, we must take the tide when it serves. If we fail to take the current, we stand to lose our ventures.

    “We stand to lose all the good works and sterling achievements of this transformational administration. But the Church has seen the glory of the coming of the Lord in this administration.”

    He said the church was involved in politics because “our members pay taxes and every tax payer pays tax in the hope of good governance.

    “The Church is involved because we are commanded to watch and pray and faith without works is dead. The Church is involved because when evil reigns, it burns churches not casinos and nightclubs.

    “The Church is involved because the promise of Akwa Ibom is the legacy of our fathers, the hope of this generation and the treasure of our posterity.

    “We are involved because we are the foot soldiers of our fathers of faith, who have aligned with the popular saying that “All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”.

    He said the governor has played politics with the fear of God “which has culminated in the peace and steady progress we continue to enjoy in Akwa Ibom state.

    “You have been a worthy ambassador of the Church by promoting and exhibiting strong Christian values, ethics and sound moral principles in public office.

    “The Church, therefore, cannot remain silent in publicly supporting your second term bid as Governor to continue the good works you have started.”

    Emmanuel appreciated the Christian leaders for the resounding endorsement.

    The governor said:  ”I want to thank you for this wonderful endorsement  and I pledge to you today that I will continue to work for the advancement of our people, to run a Christ -centric government, to show compassion to the poor, the infirmed and the downtrodden while creating the atmosphere for all to strive and dare.”

  • 2019: Will Akpabio support Emmanuel’s second term bid?

    2019: Will Akpabio support Emmanuel’s second term bid?

    Despite several public denials, many political watchers are not sure Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, will support the reelection bid of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, reports Sunday Oguntola 

    UNTIL the New Year Eve, it was more or less a fait accompli. The reelection bid of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, appeared done and dusted as far as his predecessor, Godswill Akpabio, was concerned.

    Akpabio, who fought tooth and nail to install Emmanuel despite massive protests of heavyweight stakeholders in the state, was convinced the governor deserved a second term in office. He declared severally there was no vacancy in the Government House, clearly stating his successor was doing a fantastic job.

    But all that changed in December. It was at a get-together by Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo. In attendance were people of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District as well as other stakeholders. Akpabio ruffled feathers when he declared his support for the second term of Emmanuel would be conditional.

    The governor, he stated, had neglected his senatorial district and legacy projects. He specifically pointed out projects he initiated, such as the multi-million naira Four Points by Sheraton Hotel at Ikot Ekpene and the dualised Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road, have become abandoned.

    According to him: “2018 is less than one year to election and all is not well. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you that all is well. If the hotel in Ikot Ekpene rots after so much money had been expended on the project, would that be a good thing? That road from Uyo to Ikot Ekpene is still the way it was.

    “In the 2018 budget, what is the percentage for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district? My job is to say the truth because if at this level I cannot say the truth, then I am not doing well.

    “So, please I want us to start the hotel. Please let us check the budget to know what has been earmarked for that place. I am not interested in what I did and what I did not do. I am only interested in what I am going to do.

    “The truth is that Godswill Akpabio expects us to set our path straight so that we can take one route. Even when you are going for communion, you must be in a state of grace.

    “So let us have something from the senatorial district to use in talking about election; to use in convincing the people to stand by us. We are in opposition, we don’t have government, we don’t have police; we don’t have INEC.”

    The governor’s camp didn’t take kindly to the vituperations from his political godfather. The attacks on Emmanuel, sources close to him said, were carefully planned and executed. They were intended to cause disaffection and portray the governor as ethnically biased, his camp told our correspondent.

    Besides, it was believed the former governor was cooking a plot to replace Emmanuel with someone from the Oron nation of Eket Senatorial District. The plot, it was gathered, was why Emmanuel quickly moved to sack the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sir Etekamba Umoren.

    Umoren is a die-hard Akpabio loyalist who served as Chief of Staff to the former governor. Aides close to Emmanuel hinted Umoren was more loyal to Akpabio than their principal, accusing him of leaking official secrets and details to the Senate Minority Leader.

    To counter the Oron nation option, as it is known among political hawks in Akwa Ibom, the governor settled for Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem as the new SSG to quickly rally the senatorial district to his sides.

    The Senator however moved very quickly to quell talks of rift with his successor. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong, Akpabio expressed pleasure with the performance of Governor Emmanuel.

    “It is obvious that the concerns raised by the senator during the end-of-year stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Deputy Governor, that all was not well, was misunderstood and political jobbers sought to feast on it.

    “What the Senator said was that their House should be put in order so that the votes from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District would be put intact for Governor Emmanuel in the next election.

    “Akpabio is satisfied that the areas of concern raised by the stakeholders, which were further explained by the governor during the follow-up meeting with him, to the satisfaction of the stakeholders present at the meeting, were receiving the attention of the government. Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District would stand by Emmanuel and pledged the support of the people towards the re-election of the governor with it’s over 500,000 votes.”

    But the denial will not suffice for the governor’s camp. Checks revealed that strategists close to him have advised Emmanuel to go for the broke once- and- for- all. A source in the know confided: “The governor is not taking anything for granted. He knows his predecessor still have a deep pocket and many political structures.

    “Besides, there are intelligence reports that he is working on another option for the governor. So, it is either the governor moves now or loses out. He has to become his own man. He has to break loose from the grip of godfatherism.

    “He won’t go far as long as there is still someone somewhere dictating to him. Akpabio had the peace of mind to do much because he had no political godfather in the state. He used federal might to get the ticket contrary to Obong Victor Attah’s wishes.

    “The governor needs that kind of political latitude too to survive and succeed. He is seeing reasons with us and will do much more in the coming days to consolidate his grip ahead of the reelection campaign.”

    It was further learnt that Akpabio reached out to the governor during the foundation-laying ceremony of the 8,500- seater capacity Akwa Ibom State International Worship Centre in Uyo, where they sat side-by-side.

    A source hinted the Senator reassured Emmanuel of his total support, declaring political columnists were not happy with the hitherto smooth relationship between them. He is also said to have stopped at nothing to pledge support for his successor’s reelection’s bid. Another source stated he had been sending mutual friends to the governor to drum home his unalloyed loyalty.

    But the governor’s camp is reportedly not buying the I-am-for-you moves of his predecessor. It is believed they are all ploys to send the incumbent into a false sense of security shortly before a deadly blow.

    A source in the governor’s camp said: “It is hard to trust Akpabio. Truth is he wants to remain relevant in the state. Yet he does not want to allow the governor build his own structure. We believe the constant assurances of support are just lip services. The governor has to take his own destiny in his hands.”

    Akpabio, on his part, is said to be seriously weighing his options. He knows to take on Emmanuel might amount to a political suicide. This, according to political watchers, is because of the fact that the governor is privy to some financial transactions by the former administration that may spell doom for the Senate Minority Leader.

    Should he move against his successor, it is believed he may lose out ultimately with his tracks blown up. Yet, Akpabio is uncomfortable with the fact that the governor is considering a second term without factoring him into reckoning.

    This possibility, it was learnt, is a big worry to the former governor who is determined to be the de facto godfather in the state. It is in fact a bigger worry to his loyalists in the cabinet of Emmanuel. Many of them, it was gathered, are afraid that the governor might do away with them. The fear of a clean-out for an electioneering cabinet is making many of them to avoid Akpabio and downplay their loyalty to him.

    The development, according to investigations, is working against the sustainability of the political structure of Akpabio, who more or less practically handpicked all the close aides of Emmanuel in return for the bankrolling of his election.

    Most Commissioners and political appointees with ties to him are said to be watching their backs and working hard to convince the governor of their loyalty as against Akpabio. This is because they are privy to the political advice to the governor to discard the political structure of his predecessor for a fresh one manned by die-hard loyalists.

    The Senator, on the other hand, is considering settling for Emmanuel’s reelection. This, according to a close aide, is because it appears like a “lesser devil for now”.

    The aide told our correspondent last week: “When you are boxed and cornered in a political game, sometimes you reevaluate and choose the lesser evil. Supporting the governor appears more or less like that now because to do otherwise might be seriously counterproductive.

    “Besides, you don’t fight to the point of irrelevance. So, it is better to give the governor a reality check like the Senator did on the New Year Eve, shake him a little to get attention and establish you are still a force to reckon with.”

    But the fighter he is, Akpabio might still choose to go against the runs of play for the unthinkable. Whether or not he supports the governor’s reelection bid will remain a constant debate until the contest is over.

  • Over 200 groups endorse Emmanuel for second term

    The re-election bid of Akwa Ibo State Governor Udom Emmanuel has received a boost, as over 200 quasi-political, women and youth groups have endorsed him for a second term.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and

    Water Resources, Mr. Ekong Sampson, spoke at the weekend at a get-together of Ibom Patriots, a political support group for the governor’s re-election.

    The event, held at Emerald Events Centre, Uyo, was attended by Emmanuel, Mrs. Helen Esuene, Mr. Okpulom Etteh, former governorship aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 general election, Senator Anietie Okon and other stakeholders.

    Speaking on the objectives and mandate of Ibom Patriots, the governor’s aide said the group was one of the mainstream organisations, which had guaranteed Emmanuel a second term.

    “As you know, I head the political bureau in Akwa Ibom State. We work with groups that support Governor Emmanuel. We have mainstream groups. I can tell you authoritatively that over 200 of these groups have endorsed the governor for a second term.

    “Their interest is driven by the vision that the governor has given them good governance. When over 200 mainstream groups have endorsed you, it means you are firm on the ground.

    “It underscores the strong support base Governor Emmanuel enjoys and shows Akwa Ibom people appreciate that he is doing well,” he said.

    Sampson said Ibom Patriots are distinguished Akwa Ibom political stakeholders who believe in the leadership qualities of the governor and have decided to support his re-election.

    “The patriots serve as a strong support base for Governor Emmanuel. You can see from the calibre of membership. These are distinguished sons and daughters of the state, who have come together to reinforce our support for good governance.

    ’’Ibom Patriots will advocate a number of measures that will advance the interest of Akwa Ibom State. As the name implies, this is a group of patriots driven by a larger interest of the state,” he said.

  • We’ll convert resources to wealth, says Emmanuel

    We’ll convert resources to wealth, says Emmanuel

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has assured the people of Oron of his intention to convert their resources to wealth.

    He spoke during a visit by the Oron Union to thank him for appointing their son, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    Referring to the project being done in the area, the governor solicited support from the people, to ensure its success.

    He hailed the SSG for keeping faith with the administration and accepting the call to serve.

    Emmanuel said the land identified for the project was a swamp housing reptiles.

    “It has provided no value for the land owners.”

    He said once the project is completed, billions of naira will be generated there.

    According to him, the union has a responsibility to sensitise the people on the benefit of industrial project and why everyone should encourage the success of its implementation.

    The governor thanked the people for their visit, saying he was overjoyed by the calibre of personalities in the delegation.

    He promised to look into the requests of the union, especially in rehabilitation of the civic hall.

    President-general of the union Mrs. Janet Amba said they were happy that the governor’s drive to “put the state on the pedestal of growth and greatness,” had led him to design and execute policies to actualise his Dakkada philosophy.

    Expressing the support of Oron people for Emmanuel’s re-election, she praised him for his penchant for political inclusiveness, equilibrium and fair play.

    This, she said, he demonstrated through appointment of an accomplished Oron son, Dr. Ekuwem.

    Amba hailed the governor for roads he had built in the five Oron councils, namely Oron township road projects, Oron –Uyo dualised highway, Udung Uko-Edikor–Ekim road and Enwang– Ibaka road project.

    She appealed for the actualisation of the deep seaport project and the appointment of more eminent Oron people into positions.

  • Emmanuel appoints new SSG

    Emmanuel appoints new SSG

    The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has announced the immediate appointment of Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem as Secretary to State Government.

    A statement from the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh said the appointment of the new SSG was part of a continuous effort to rejig the governance structure of the state.

    “This appointment is part of a continuous effort to rejig the governance structure of state which started with the swearing-in of 2 new commissioners less than two months ago”, the statement said.

    Dr. Ekuwem; who replaces Sir Etekemba Umoren, holds a Bachelors degree in Engineering Physics, Masters Degree in Physics, Masters Degree in Electronic & Electrical Engineering (Microcomputer-based Instrumentation and Control Engineering) and a PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering (Computer-based Instrumentation and Control Engineering).

    Until his appointment, Dr. Ekuwem was the Founder and CEO of Teledom Group, a former National President of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and a former President of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG). He is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority ( NEPZA ), NEPZA.

    He hails from Ofi Uda in Mbo Local Government.

    According to the statement the newly appointed Secretary to State Government will be sworn-in today(Tuesday) at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo.

    The state government thanked the erstwhile Secretary to State Government Sir Etekemba Umoren for his services to the state and wished him well in his future endeavours.

  • Emmanuel has abandoned my projects, says Akpabio

    Emmanuel has abandoned my projects, says Akpabio

    Senate Minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio has given Governor Udom Emmanuel conditions for supporting his re-election.

    Akpabio, who alleged that his successor neglected his Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in terms of development, said he might not support Emmanuel’s second term bid, if the injustice continued.

    Speaking at the annual get-together organised by the Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Ekpo, to fete the people of Ikot Ekpene at Independent Hall, Abak, Akpabio warned that the era of carry-go politics is gone and urged the governor to brace itself for the big task.

    The former governor said he would only endorse Emmanuel’s re-election, if the policies and programme were not discriminatory against Ikot Ekpene.

    He said some projects embarked on by his (Akpabio’s) administration, including the multi-million naira Four Points-by-Sheraton Hotel at Ikot Ekpene and the dualised Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road had been abandoned by Governor Emmanuel.

    However, Information and Strategy Commissioner Mr. Charles Udoh warned against playing politics with development.

  • Emmanuel vows to prosecute defaulters of state’s assets

    Emmanuel vows to prosecute defaulters of state’s assets

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has vowed to prosecute defaulters of state’s assets.

    This followed the closure of Ibom Specialist Hospital (IBH) last month, due to alleged mismanagement.

    The governor spoke during the October edition of the Government House prayer at the Latter House Chapel, Governor’s Lodge, at the weekend.

    According to him, operations at IBH were suspended because the management did not live up to terms of the agreement.

    Emmanuel identified lopsidedness in the management, saying the managers could not offset the operational cost or declare profit.

    “If, as a businessman, I receive 50 per cent of the support given the person managing the hospital, I will declare profit. Ask him if he has paid anything to the government since he started managing the hospital?

    “It got to a point where I asked if what the patients pay can be used to pay salaries. I took over paying the consultant from my imprest. I have the vouchers; and even with that, the consultant left because I don’t know how he managed them.

    “I took an oath that I would not place my interest above that of the state. If people don’t know certain things, let them ask questions and not castigate the governor. I don’t play politics with the development of the people,” Udom said.

  • Is this Emmanuel’s final onslaught against Akpabio?

    Is this Emmanuel’s final onslaught against Akpabio?

    Governor Udom Emmanuel has been waging a closet battle against his predecessor, the man he describes as his ‘great teacher,’ the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio for a while now. But events shaping up around the upcoming local government elections suggest that for the governor the gloves are all off for the final demolition work on Akpabio.

    Sources close to Udom’s inner circle told this reporter that the governor’s plan is to have an all-exclusive local council leadership that is made in his image and likeness, without any iota of doubt as to where their loyalty lies. The idea is to do away with a situation where some of the leaders at the grassroots would retain loyalty to Akpabio.

    To help Udom achieve this grand design against Akpabio is the governor’s political structure called Transformation, which has the governor’s man Friday, Ephraim Inyang, commissioner for works, as the guy who calls the shots. As we write all roads lead to Udom’s country home in Awa for office seekers and influence peddlers at the grassroots-the way it used to be for Ukana Ikot Ntuen when Akpabio was governor.

    The job of the Transformation structure is to vet and ensure that only Udom’s diehard loyalists get the nod to contest and be elected chairs of the 31 local councils in the state. They would then work as Udom’s field commanders for his reelection bid in 2019.

    Things are not going the governor’s way without a fight, though. Leading the opposition to the governor’s total takeover strategy are Monday Eyo Okon, popularly called Murray; Idong Ituen Aniekan, Udo Kirian Mark, who are all members of the State House of Assembly, and Mike Enyong, a member of the House of Representatives, apparently representing the remnants of Akpabio’s troops in the battle field. They are the naysayers and are insisting on an open political space, arguing that such would ensure internal democracy as was widely preached at the reconciliation convention of the PDP in Abuja earlier in the month. The naysayers have held meetings with Akpabio and Senator Albert Akpan (OBA), both of who appear to have encouraged the putative opposition group. Pundits suggest that they intend to oppose Udom for the PDP ticket with a candidate of their own.

    Things are only just about coming to a head, but Governor Udom Emmanuel’s gripe against his benefactor, Godswill Akpabio became a public spectacle the day the governor held his first thanksgiving service after he was sworn into office. On that day in an open church the governor brought out a bottle of water and sprinkled it as he declared himself the spiritual leader of Akwa Ibom State. Those familiar with spiritual issues say that Udom was performing an assignment with the water episode at the thanksgiving, and that the assignment was to neutralize whatever spiritual bondage he had ensnared himself in (at the hands of his great teacher) on his way to power. Ever since, to the discerning, Udom’s every action has been to minimize and humiliate Akpabio.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel campaigned for power on the platform of continuity. Throughout the campaigns he constantly told Akwa Ibom people to elect him governor so that he would continue with the “good works Akpabio is doing.”

    Most people, including yours truly, understood him to mean that if he were elected governor, he would continue with and complete the projects Akpabio could not complete because of time and/or money.

    Such projects include the Tropicana Entertainment Centre, the Ibom Airport MRO, international terminal building and the taxiway; the e-Library (which has actually become a white elephant), the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene-Aba Road, the 20th Anniversary Specialist Hospital, which was not ready though it was commissioned; the 4-Point Hotel in Ikot Ekpene; Etebi-Enwang Road, Enen Nsit Road, etc.

    A fortune from the state treasury had been spent on these projects before the contractors stopped work on them. In keeping with his campaign rhetoric that his government would be a continuation of the Akpabio administration, the expectation was that Governor Udom Emmanuel would simply start from where former Governor Godswill Akpabio stopped with respect to the ongoing projects.

    But more than 2½ years into the Udom Emmanuel administration, it has become obvious that there is not even a pretense at continuity by the current government with regard to uncompleted projects started by Akpabio in the state, which would now have to be treated as abandoned projects.

    So, why has Udom Emmanuel turned his back on the legacy of his great teacher? Many critics would be quick to rush to the easy conclusion that the governor is not up to the job; charitable commentators would blame paucity of funds.

    Neither of these explanations would be correct. If the governor wants to get a job done, he would get it done. See the speed at which he built his personal palatial mansion in Awa, his village in Onna local council area, within a few months of assuming office as governor. The excuse of lack of funds is really a gratuitous insult to the intelligence of Akwa Ibom people.

    The state has not suffered too much in terms of revenue receipt since Udom Emmanuel came into office. The reason for this is not hard to grasp. Unlike other oil producing states whose derivation revenues have been cut from both ends of the value chain-production volume and sales revenue-Akwa Ibom has suffered basically only from a cut in sales revenue because our production volume has not been disrupted, mercifully, either by sabotage or natural causes.

    We are still the top earner from federal allocation. Revenue from all sources that have hit the state treasury since Udom Emmanuel came into office amount to N500 billion. So money is not the problem, which explains why the governor wants to build a N9.1 billion second official lodge in Lagos and is out and about in market places throwing cash around in a manner never seen in the history of political rascality in Nigeria.

    This is really why Udom Emmanuel has turned his back on Akpabio. A decision was taken early on in the current administration to erase Akpabio’s influence in the state and shift the locus of power and influence from Ukana Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udom local government area to Awa in Onna local council area. Udom is from Awa in Onna while Akpabio is from Ukana Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim. In the reasoning of Udom’s strategists, continuing with the uncompleted projects initiated by Akpabio would keep the man in the limelight and continue to give him credit for the development of the state. The best way to eclipse a political opponent is to cut off the oxygen of publicity from him and thus deny his political existence, Udom’s strategists seemed to have reasoned. But who loses in the end as these projects are abandoned? It is Akwa Ibom people. Thus, Udom’s efforts to humiliate his great teacher are at the expense of Akwa Ibom people.

    This policy of “Let’s beat Akpabio to the ground” does not show up only in the abandonment of projects, but also in personnel deployment and exercise of power within the administration. A good illustration in this regard is what has happened to the office of the Secretary to the State Government. The current occupant of that office, once so powerful, Sir Etekamba Umoren, recently complained to a friend that the office now exists only in name, a mere formality, divested of all power. Sir Etekamba was reported to have said he does not even see key memos on policy issues.

    The reason Sir Etekamba is not allowed to wield the power and influence traditionally associated with the office of the SSG is that he is an Akpabio man. A decision to neutralize him by taking all the power away from his office is seen by the Udom administration apparatchiks as less problematic compared with kicking him out of the government. Such frontal attack would rile the Lion of Ukana and possibly provoke a political backlash, hence the decision to keep the form and take away the substance.

    Other efforts aimed at erasing Akpabio’s place in the state have been less strategic but no less humiliating. An example of the mundane type to take down the former governor was Udom’s instruction that Akpabio should not be allowed to use the state official aircraft. On the day the instruction was implemented, Akpabio had informed the pilot that he should get the plane ready for a trip by the former governor and his wife. On getting to the airport Akpabio discovered that there was no crew to operate the plane. He called the pilot, but the man asked Akpabio to call Udom for authorization. Akpabio tried several times to reach the governor but his lines were switched off for the day.

    Akpabio got the message and travelled by road to Port Harcourt to board a commercial flight.

    As Udom polishes his game plan against his great teacher, the final humiliation of the Senate Minority Leader in the hands of his hand-picked successor may be just days away.

    • Ekperikpe writes from Uyo

  • Emmanuel explains audit of Ibom Hotel

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has explained why his government is auditing the Le-Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.

    He said the essence of any investment is profit, and as such government should assess its gains and losses.

    Emmanuel spoke during the monthly  prayer meeting at the Government House, Uyo.

    He said the state took a logical decision of examining the return on investments after years of putting up the hospitality outfit and making major investments.

    Emmanuel said the choice of a reputable audit firm, Price WaterHouse  Coopers, was because government wants to do a standard and transparent audit.

    He said the intention of Marriot in abandoning the resort because of the auditing is unacceptable to the government.

    “I had a meeting with them yesterday (Friday), and I told them you are not going. I am going to take a trip to their regional office in Dubai and tell them that this marriage cannot be separated now.”

    He said since the hotel management reported it had made no gains, it should wait for the auditing to be completed.

    The governor said those complaining about his recourse to accountability and probity have no choice, as he won’t compromise integrity.

    He said those criticising him on the social media should rather ask themselves if they would invest in a facility for several years without asking for gains.

    Emmanuel,  who said he was guided by his conscience, asked: “When they say that the government is not giving money, I ask them, how can you keep giving money like that for several years, without any dividend?”

    He recalled his contributions to the hotel maintenance to include a 1500KVA generating system and a refurbished lighting system; refurbishing of the toilets; and servicing of the cooling system.

    He said the management continued asking for money, citing its agreement with the government, which prompted his decision to appraise its account.