The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Godswill Akpabio

  • ‘Buhari’s victory dependent on Akpabio’s second term’

    The victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC), specifically that of President Muhammadu Buhari in Akwa Ibom state in the 2019 general election, is dependent on the reelection of Senator Godswill Akpabio into the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

    A chieftain of the APC, Uduak Okpo stated this on Thursday at Etim Ekpo local government area of the state during a mobilization campaign for Buhari and Senator Akpabio.

    According to him, the APC in the state would emerge stronger and more united if Akpabio wins election into the Senate next year, adding that the former senate minority leader’s victory at the polls will earn Buhari more votes in the state.

    Okpo said the dislodgement of the People’s Democratic Party government in Akwa Ibom was a task that needs to be accomplished.

    The one-time House of Representatives candidate for Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika federal constituency in 2007 and aspirant for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district in 2014, said the APC party primary election in 2014 but surrendered it for the interest of the party.

    He said, “We have a formidable party now in Akwa Ibom capable of winning election. Therefore, we have to align with the former senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio and President Muhammadu Buhari and Hon Emmanuel Ekon for the federal House of Representatives. Let us unite to fight our common enemy and win Akwa Ibom for the APC”, he advised.

    Read Also: 2019: Group drums support for Buhari

    Okpo appreciated the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole for the option of direct primaries as a means to enfranchise all card carrying members of the party to participate in the primary election.

    He lamented that he was robbed of his victory in the past by the ruling PDP in the state and implored all members to shun divisive tendencies and embrace Akpabio despite all differences with APC when he was the governor of the state.

    Okpo, who is also the Akwa Ibom caucus member of the APC endorsed Precious Effiong as the aspirant for Etim Ekpo/Ika state constituency in pursuance of 35 percent affirmative action for women by the APC and party members not to stop galvanizing around greedy politicians for favour as all members are delegates in the party primaries.

    He faulted the previous delegate primary election where a few members of a cabal took decision to nominate party flag bearers against the wish of party faithful.

     

  • Group sues Saraki, others for defecting to PDP

    A rights group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), has sued Senate President Bukola Saraki and other lawmakers who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It is praying the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare that they are no longer members of the National Assembly by virtue of their defections from the political parties that sponsored their election.

    LEDAP is urging the court to determine whether any lawmaker who defects from the party that sponsored him before the expiration of his term does not automatically lose his seat unless there is a division within the party.

    In a supporting affidavit, the plaintiff said there was “no division in any of the political parties the said defendants defected from”.

    LEDAP further argued there was “no mergers involving any of the parties the defendants defected from”.

    There are 55 defendants in the suit, including Senators Dino Melaye, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Barnabas Gemade, as well as House of Representatives members.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is also named as a defendant in the suit filed by LEDAP National Coordinator Mr Chino Obiagwu.

    The plaintiff’s reliefs are based on section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    Read Also: Saraki: Nigeria is at crossroads

    The section provides: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if, being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected, provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

    LEDAP, in the suit filed on September 14, is praying the court for an order of mandamus compelling the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare the defectors’ seats vacant.

    According to the plaintiff, pursuant to Section 8(2)(d) of the Legislative Houses (Powers And Privileges) Act, it is a criminal offence for any of the defectors to continue sitting in the National Assembly. 

    LEDAP, a non-profit organisation, said the suit is in furtherance of its core mandate of promoting the rule of law, good governance and accountability in Nigeria.

    No date has been fixed for hearing.

  • Police kill four hoodlums linked to alleged attack on Akpabio’s residence

    The police in Akwa Ibom have killed four persons linked to Tuesday’s night alleged attack on the residence of former governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio at Ukana Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim local government area.

    Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi in a press briefing at the weekend the hoodlums, robbed petrol attendants and customers at Golf Safrin filling station close to Senator Akpabio’s house, forcing security details of the Senator to immediately respond.

    The CP who explained that no one was hurt during the attack said the police had launched a manhunt leading to their subsequent killing by police operatives.

    However, luck ran out of them when the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Ikot Ekpene, Benjamin Achebani, acting on a tip-off, led a massive operation where four of the hoodlums were shot dead and the ring leader, fatally wounded and captured alive.

    Displaying the remains of the criminals on Friday at the Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, headquarters of the  Police, Ogunjemilusi, said the criminals were engaged in exchange of fire with the Police, around the banking area of Ikot Ekpene, after random shooting and stealing of shops along Aba Road.

    “At about 5:00PM (Thursday), five notorious armed robbers led by one Kingsley Peter, a.k.a., ‘Morale’, who is one of the gang leaders, using three motorcycles robbed some persons along Aba road by Ikot Osurua before proceeding to a banking area to disposes ATM customers and shop owners of cash.

    Read Also: Akpabio, Police differ over gun attack at senator’s home

    “The DPO, trailed and engaged the hoodlums in a fierce shootout, four of the armed robbers were shot dead, while one Akwaowo Daniel Umoren, was arrested with A-K 47 with 60 rounds of 7,62mm live ammunition”, he explained.

    The arrested leader of the gang, Akwaowo, 27, who hails from Ikot Ineme village in Essien Udim Local Government, admitted being part of the operation, saying “this the first time to participating in armed robbery activity”.

    He explained that the A-K 47 rifle he used in the operation was issued out to him by the Village Council, adding that “the village has its vigilance group and armoury since my village is at war with the neighboring community”.

    “The gun was given to me and other boys to protect and secure the women and other villagers harvesting palm fruits at the disputed palm fruits plantation”, he added.

    Speaking to Journalists, the DPO, who said he sustained injury in the operation, urged motorcyclists in Ikot Ekpene, to purge their ranks of criminal elements, warning that the ban placed on commercial motorcycle operations from 6:00PM will not be lifted

  • Lawyer Seeks Buhari’s Intervention on security situation

    An Abuja based Human Rights lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the security situation in Akwa Ibom state.

    The activist said there was urgent need to address the situation before it escalated.

    Ekpenyong was reacting to an alleged attack on the country home of Senator Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, in a statement in Abuja.

    He said the level of insecurity in the state was becoming worrisome, and showed failure on the part of the state governor.

    According to him, with the humongous security votes accruing to the state government, there is no excuse for the worsening security situation, which he said has degenerated.

    He said the incessant attacks showed the failure of governance by the state government, and called on the governor, Emmanuel Udom to immediately resign or be voted out of office in 2019.

    The statement reads: “The fundamental responsibility of any government is the protection of the lives of its citizens. When this is not guaranteed, when security votes accruable to the state cannot be justified, then there is no need to allow such a government to continue.

    “Where a public servant, a leader who holds an office in trust for the people fails in the discharge of his responsibilities, the right thing to do is to bid him farewell.

    Read Also: Expert advises Buhari to engage Chinese investors in power sector

    “We cannot continue to lose lives and properties in scores, in large numbers without any remedial measures on the part of government to check these anomalies.

    He expressed concerns that the situation might be taking a political twist, following the recent defection of senator Akpabio to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the state government should be held responsible should anything happen to the former senate minority leader.

    “The recent attack on the country home of Senator Godswill Akpabio leaves so much to be desired. The security situation in the last two years has gone from bad to worse.

    “It’s a clear signal that there is need for urgent federal government intervention. The governor of the state, being the chief security officer of the state has failed in the maintenance of law, order and protection of lives and properties.

    “It is on this note that we call on Mr. President to wade into the security breaches in Akwa Ibom state with a view to ensuring safety of lives and properties, until normalcy returns,” the statement said.

    While urging the youths to eschew violence, Ekpenyong said the people cannot resolve to self-help, but have resolved to follow the constitutional process of calling on the federal government to take drastic action to avoid recurrence of the attacks.

    “We call for peace and calm among the indigenes of the state. Some of the youths are worried with political hostilities that are budding in Akwa Ibom.

    “We call on the youths to eschew all forms of violence and to resist the temptation to be used by desperate politicians to be used as agents of violence,” the statement added.

  • Akpabio, police disagree on gunmen attack at Essien Udim

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Leader in Akwa Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio and police authorities have disagreed on their account of Tuesday night attack by gunmen in Ukana, Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

    While Senator Akpabio claims his residence was invaded by gunmen numbering 10 while he was having a political meeting with his supporters, the police on the other hand said the hoodlums only attacked a petrol filling station close to the former governor’s residence.

    Akpabio’s media aide, Mr. Anietie Ekong in a release issued to our correspondent  in Uyo via Whatsapp said, “Attempts by unknown gunmen to attack the Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area residence of the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senator Godswill Akpabio have been repelled by gallant policemen attached to the former Senate Minority Leader”.

    Ekong said the Senator was holding political meetings on Tuesday night at his country home when unknown gunmen numbering about 10 stormed his residence and shot sporadically causing stampede.

    According to him, the incident brought the meeting into a temporary halt as those present in the meeting scampered for safety while the shooting continued unabated.

    He said a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Udom Ekpoudom who was also present at the political meeting at the time of the incident had made frantic calls for security beef up to help repel the attack.

    Speaking further Ekong said the security men attached to the Akpabio’s residence after recovering from the initial shock reportedly responded gallantly with superior fire power which forced a retreat from the invading attackers.

    However the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunyemilusi, has denied allegation that suspected gunmen attacked former governor Godswill Akpabio’s residence, disrupting a high profile political meeting held there Tuesday night.

    Read Also: Akpabio, Okon disagree on Emmanuel

    The marathon meeting, according to the CP, lasted till the early hours of Wednesday, August 22, amid tight security following gun scare about 200 metres to Senator Akpabio’s residence in his hometown, Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government Area.

    Although there was exchange of gunshots from security officials at the meeting, the CP explained that “six hoodlums on two motorcycles invaded a feeling station near Akpabio’s house and robbed the pump attendants of the day’s sales and customers”.

    “It was just a mere coincidence that the incident happened at about 7:30PM, on Tuesday, August 21, when the meeting was ongoing at His Excellency’s residence.

    “Immediately the hoodlums attacked the filling station, somebody at the meeting called me. The Area Commander and other policemen were drafted to the scene and within minutes, security was restored.

    “You know how Ikot Ekpene is with these hoodlums on motorcycles. So it just a flash incident of petty thieves robbing a filling station near the residence of His Excellency.

    “Even our quick response was applauded by His Excellency when he came out of the meeting to see our men heavily on guard around the area, so nobody should overheat the polity because of politics”, the CP warned.

     

  • No shaking over plot to declare my sit vacant – Akpabio

    Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Monday declared that he is not perturbed over alleged plot to declare his seat vacant.

    Akpabio also said that he was not aware that the Senate would reconvene on Tuesday.

    The Akwa Ibom North west senator insisted that if the Senate President, Bukola Saraki declares his seat vacant, Saraki’s seat should also be declared vacant, especially when there is no division in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Akpabio described as “rumour” the reports that his seat was likely to be declared vacant.

    Asked specifically if he is perturbed about reports that his seat might be declared vacant due to his defection to the APC, Akpabio said: “Even as you are looking at me, do I look perturbed? I have not heard the report. Because the reason why I think that is a rumour is that there is, at the moment, no division in the APC.”

    “The APC is one family. If you hear about R-APC that was not really a political party, that was not a division, has since been consumed in what they call Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

    “So, there is no division. And so, any defection from APC to PDP, we will like to declare those seats vacant.”

    On the insistence of the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole that Saraki should be impeached if he refused to resign and whether they are mobilizing for the impeachment, Akpabio said: “I just came in from Ikot-Ekpene, (Akwa Ibom State) where I decided with my people to join APC. I’m yet to be briefed on any of those items.”

    “I have not heard anything. And what I am hearing now is what you are telling me. But why don’t you wait for me to formally talk to you. I believe that when the National Assembly resumes you will hear from me directly. So, exercise patience.”

    On his defection, Akpabio described it’s a big event that attracted the high and mighty in the country.

    Read Also: INEC budget: Saraki, Dogara yet to decide when to reconvene NASS

    Prodded to say more Akpabio said “I have noted all your reports. We are also in Abuja. So, thank you for the reports.”

    HOW A SENATOR’S SEAT CAN BE DECLARED VACANT IN LINE WITH THE CONSTITUTION

    68(1) A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if –

    (a) he becomes a member of another legislative house.

    (b) any other circumstances arise that, if he were not a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, would cause him to be disqualified for election as a member;

    (c) he ceases to be a citizen of Nigeria;

    (d) he becomes President, Vice-President, Governor, Deputy Governor or a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of the Government of a State or a Special Adviser.

    (e) save as otherwise prescribed by this Constitution, he becomes a member of a commission or other body established by this Constitution or by any other law.

    (f) without just cause he is absent from meetings of the House of which he is a member for a period amounting in the aggregate to more than one-third of the total number of days during which the House meets in any one year;

    (g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected;

    Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored; or

    (h) the President of the Senate or, as the case may be, the Speaker of the House of Representatives receives a certificate under the hand of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission stating that the provisions of section 69 of this Constitution have been complied with in respect of the recall of that member.

    (2) The President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall give effect to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, so however that the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the House concerned that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of that member.

  • PDP receives over 1,000 APC defectors in A’Ibom

    Despite the defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, over 1000 members of the APC in Oron federal constituency of Akwa Ibom state joined the PDP on Thursday.

    The state PDP chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, who received the defectors into the party, urged Akwa Ibom people to remain unshakeable in their support to Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP.

    He said despite the gale of defections of key members of the party to the ruling APC, the party is remained a religion of the people of the state and by extension, Nigerians.

    Obong Ekpo stressed that; the party’s commitment to the provision of good governance as demonstrated by the governor should stimulate all well-meaning Akwa Ibom people to vote for the governor in 2019 so as he continue in his good works.

    ”Akwa Ibom state over the years matched promises with action, as demonstrated in the developmental strides of the Udom Emmanuel administration; so I call on Oro nation to deliver one hundred percent vote to governor Udom and the PDP in the 2019 election.

    The party boss thanked the party leaders in the federal constituency for their loyalty and steadfastness to the PDP, the decampess for returning to their base having realized their mistakes, calming that, the PDP was the only party for anybody to seek for elective office without rancor.

    In her remarks, the former minister for housing and urban renewal, Akon Eyakenyi, thanked the party for accepting the decampees and assured the chairman that, Oro nation would vote PDP for 2019.

    Read Also: Why I defected to APC, by Akpabio

    Earlier, the Oron chapter chairman of PDP, Mr. Murphy Esin, assured the state chairman of the party that, the federal constituency would not disappoint the PDP, noting that, those that left the party before have leant from their mistakes and would guide against repeat of such actions.

    Some of the returnees include, Alice Ekpenyong former house of assembly member, Remigius Asukwo, Sunday Ating, Asuquo Awana, Victor Anwankak, among others.

    Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel has said that, he was not perturbed by his predecessor defection to the APC.

    Speaking after solidarity visit by local government chairmen from the 31 council areas of the state, vice chairmen and councilors, the governor noted that every person was entitled to exercise his fundamental human rights and free association.

    “The political atmosphere is helping to deepened democratic governance and reinvent the consciousness of the PDP that every member would be proud of”, he said.

    He thanked the various group for the show of solidarity and charged the council leadership to ensure their subject collects their PVC’s in their various wards and units.

    “I therefore urged you to reach out and show love among your kith and kins and also sustain your support for PDP which is the only party that has brought development to the state since the inception of democratic governance”.

  • Why I defected to APC – Akpabio

    Former Senate minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday pledged to take the people of Akwa Ibom state and the South South to the centre for meaningful visibilty.

    The 55-year-old former governor of Akwa Ibom formally defected from  the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) at a mega rally held at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium.

    He told the huge crowd that he decided to join APC because he discovered that President Muhammadu Buhari “is a man of integrity and a nationalist’’.

    Akpabio said that he decided to join a party that would sweep away poverty and impunity.

    He said that he joined APC to help salvage the country.

     

    Read Also: The many battles of Godswill Akpabio

     

    “The country is at war and all the hands must be on deck to salvage the situation and not to aggravate it.

    “As keepers of national emergency, everyone should put heads together. I decided to join to emancipate the people and provide succour for the people.’’

    He said that the PDP of today has no vision and  the leadership is replete with arrogance.

    Earlier, the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), Mr. Nsima Ekere, said that change had come to Akwa Ibom and SouthSouth.

    He said that Akwa Ibom has joined the progressive states because the people were dissatisfied with the long misrule of the PDP.

    He said that Akpabio built the people and provided them with infrastructure but the present PDP government was a failure.

    Ekere said that the people have agreed to re-elect  President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

  • Akpabio’s defection, beginning of the end of PDP, says APC chieftain

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described the defection of Senate Minority Leader, Obong Godswill Akpabio, from the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC, as the beginning of the end of PDP.

    He noted that the two-term Governor of Akwa Ibom State (Akapbio) deserved commendation for acting wisely and jumping out of the crashing PDP train, before it would finally crash.

    Eze said: “Knowing Akapbio very well, he is a one-man Tsunami and with him in the progressive train, PDP’s end is only a matter of time. What is more, with Akpabio now in APC, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who recently made the mistake of defecting to the PDP, can be sure that his Presidency of the Senate is only a matter of weeks.

    “The present sorry state of PDP, under the control of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Prince Uche Secondus, is most unfortunate. Wike, who was a mere local government chairman in 1999, has through deft political scheming, turned many key Nigerian leaders still in the PDP into his disciples.

    Read Also: PDP jittery as APC, Akpabio parley

    “I wonder how great leaders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambwual and National Chairman of PDP (Secondus) will now be taking orders from Wike, whose brand of politics is retrogressive.”

    The APC chieftain also congratulated the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers governor, on his reappointment as the Director-General of the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    Eze expressed confidence that Amaechi would, once again, mobilize Nigerians to re-elect President Buhari, whom he described as a divine tool, to bring sanity and development to Nigeria.

     

  • CAF Confed Cup: Akwa United chief urges players to defeat Gambian side

    CAF Confed Cup: Akwa United chief urges players to defeat Gambian side

    Mr Paul Bassey, Chairman, Akwa United FC of Uyo, has urged the players to sustain the club’s winning tempo against their Gambian opponents in the CAF Confederation Cup encounter in Uyo.

    Bassey made the appeal in an interview with the News men on Friday in Uyo.

    The News men reports that Akwa United will host Banjul Hawks FC in the first leg fixtures of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Sunday.

    Akwa United are currently on top of the league table with 16 points after seven games.

    The club won the AITEO Cup, formerly called the Federation Cup by defeating Niger Tornadoes 3-2 on penalties at the Agege Stadium in October, 2017.

    Bassey said the club should ensure it was not only known in the country but also on the continent by defeating the visiting Gambian side.

    “This year is good because the season started early enough. This has given us good match practice ahead of our CAF Confederations Cup game against our Gambian counterpart.

    Read Also: Akwa United   to reverse Nigeria’s failure in CAF Confederation Cup – Coach

    “We are not worried about playing the first leg at home; the most important thing is to be able to showcase ourselves whether at home or away.

    “We just need to play well and score some goals before going to Banjul for the second leg,’’ he said.

    Bassey said that though the club had little information about the Gambian side, the players should defeat them.

    “The truth is, we have little information about our opponents as we had difficulties in laying our hands on any of their videos either in training or competitive matches.

    “However, from the little scouting we have done, we know that they are a formidable side and always try to slow the momentum when in possession.

    “But they often look vulnerable at the back against more young and energetic teams like ours who play quick attacking football.

    “We are not intimidated by their style of football as our boys have been equipped by the matches they have played in the league and we will be ready to crush the Gambians’ defensive tactics and formation,’’ he said.

    “It was also very important that we won our last game at home against Wikki Tourists by a convincing 4-0 margin last Sunday as it was our final preparatory game before the continental tie.

    “I was impressed by the way the players and technical crew responded and I am confident that the goals we recorded will give us the necessary confidence and boost ahead of Sunday’s continental tie.’’

    The Hawks, who arrived in Uyo from Banjul on Wednesday will host Akwa United in the return leg scheduled for Feb. 21 at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Gambia.

    NAN