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Tag: Obong Nsima Ekere

  • Akwa Ibom and Buhari’s next cabinet

    Few people doubt the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership philosophy is rooted in integrity and transparency. It is for this reason that I am constrained to contribute to this piece as my token of making his next cabinet free of men with questionable characters. Even though my primary interest is my state, Akwa Ibom, it is also a pointer than anyone with a situation similar to ours should not be allowed near the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    President Buhari has a remarkable victory, ordained by the almighty God and the overwhelming support of the good people of Nigeria. This comes with higher expectations and bigger responsibilities.  All eyes will be on the president to see how he will translate his Next Level programme from rhetoric to reality.

    It is my fervent prayer that he should succeed in positively turning the fortunes of our dear nation around in line with his programme. And for him to do this, he needs to avoid unnecessary distractions, irritations, rancour and bickering. There is no better start to having no distraction than recruiting the right men to assist him in actualising his programmes. We all have not forgotten that the few controversies around his government in the first term were as a result of the insensitive actions of some of his ministers, whose conducts were contrary to his discipline and conservative nature.

    Ministers in this dispensation must be men and women of great intellect, characters and abilities. Men of war and men who believe in bulldozing their ways even into areas where they are not wanted should steer clear of this cabinet and if they want to wriggle their way in, they should be told in unmistakable terms that there is no space for them.

    In our dear state, distinguished Senator Udoma Udoma gave a good account of himself in the last cabinet. A gentleman to the core and a major pillar of the last cabinet, in my view, deserves a place in the next cabinet and if for whatever reason, the president deems it fit to replace him, he certainly should not be replaced by Senator Godswill Akpabio. My major reason for this is not different from the position of a group of activists from the state.

    Permit me to quote from a news story published in Monday’s edition of this newspaper: “His corruption case with the EFCC has the potential of exploding into national embarrassment and credibility question for your government, should he be made a minister in a government that prides itself as anti-graft champion. We wish to remind you of your famous words, that ‘if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us’.

    “Many had thought that his joining APC would bring a cool breeze of good fortunes to the party in the state, but rather, his highhanded nature and disrespect for internal democracy … became a raging storm that uprooted the recognised structures of the party … This overwhelming attitude, sadly, affected the chances of our governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere (ONE).

    “Akwa Ibom State has several other eminent persons… just as Chief Udoma Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, has done creditably … And in terms of loyalty to the party and contributions to its development in the state, we have credible people, including Chief Umana Umana and Senator John Udoedehe, among others …

    “Akpabio has become very desperate for a fresh political power from the back door of ministerial appointment, which we fear he may use with vengeance against us…

    “His notoriety for flippancy is well known…For instance, he has started … boasting that Mr President is even begging me to accept a ministerial position.”

    The letter added: “And we believe that he needs a period of catharsis…to reflect and purge himself of bottled up negative emotions. And you can help him achieve that. You already have enough security challenges on your hands…”

    The group, which described itself as “core believers in Mr President’s leadership philosophy …” said the state must help “our leader achieve enhanced performance in his second and final term…”

    It added that Buhari’s second coming “comes with higher expectations and greater responsibilities…’’ as “all eyes will be on you and your government… to see how you will translate your Next Level programme … to the reality of the genuine positive impact that would leave Nigeria better than you met it.

    “Especially in your patriotic desire to decisively tackle insecurity … revive the economy and create jobs…

    “But we caution that to achieve these objectives…the country needs an atmosphere of peace and you and your government deserve an environment devoid of unnecessary distractions, irritations, rancour and bickering…

    “And the choice of personnel you recruit … would be a huge factor. Note that the few controversies around your government in the first term were actually as a result of the unethical or insensitive actions of some of those you appointed into your cabinet whose conduct were contrary to your …discipline and conservative nature.”

    If the decision were solely mine, Udoma will have a smooth ride back into the cabinet, but as I pointed out, if Udoma needs to be dropped, there are many credible Akwa Ibom sons and daughters that can fit the bill. This government should not allow itself to be bogged down by Akpabio’s baggage.

    I sincerely believe he ran into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in search of freedom from prosecution. He tried his best to return to the Senate; he failed. He did his best to get ONE to be governor, his best was abysmal. He also could not help the President to get enough votes in Akwa Ibom. He is, for me, a liability and the President should not allow him into his cabinet under any guise— no matter the pressure.

    It should not just be Akpabio. Anybody who is being tried by any of the anti-graft agencies should clear himself first and free the government from distraction. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is waiting patiently to see the calibre of men and women that will make the list of ministerial nominees and allowing individuals who are under probe or are being tried for graft will certainly make it easy for the party to rubbish the government.

    Please, Mr. President, your last lap deserves to be better than the first and staying far from men with queried characters is one of the ways to ensure this. I wish Mr. President all the best!

  • ‘Arrest Akpabio, Ekere now for electoral offences’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom yesterday called on security agencies to arrest the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere and Senator Godswill Akpabio for alleged electoral offences.

    It alleged that Ekere and Akpabio committed the offences during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections last Saturday.

    PDP spokesman Ini Ememobong made the call at a news conference at the party secretariat on Four Lane, Uyo.

    He said: “We were shocked yesterday by the press statement issued by the state Chairman of the broom-wielding party, Ini Okopido, and the subsequent press conference hosted by the duo of Obong Nsima Ekere and Godswill Akpabio alleging that they won in 26 local government areas of the state.

    “This is surely the best example of living in fool’s paradise. We must state that the APC lost in all the local government areas, including Essien Udim and Ikot Abasi local government areas.

    “In Essien Udim, materials in Ekpeyong Ward were hijacked by APC agents at the voting units in Independence High School, thugs and policemen sympathetic to Senator Akpabio mounted the gates and prevented PDP supporters from gaining access to the venue.

    “The thugs further unleashed physical attack on a reporter (names withheld) who was there to cover the elections. He  was severely beaten up and chased away.”

    The PDP alleged that an aide to the senator was accompanied by scores of policemen and thugs to disrupt the elections on Saturday.

    Ememobong went on: “As if that was not enough, the INEC office in the local government area was (allegedly) kept under siege by the senator.”

    According to the PDP spokesman, result sheets were filled and forced on presiding officers to sign.

    “These facts are alive and at the tribunal, we will avail the court,” he stated, adding: “The entire world noted the delay it took for Essien Udim to collate and transmit results, all because of Senator Akpabio’s unwholesome interference.

    “In Ikot Abasi Local Government Area,  APC thugs were on the rampage, carting away electoral materials and personnel and taking them to Ekere’s residence, where thumb printing was done.

    “Even in Nsima Ekere’s Unit, pictorial evidence abound to show armed soldiers arranging the voting queue to ensure that PDP supporters did not vote.

    “In units 2, 6 and other units in Ward 7, thugs led by Ernest Ntuk hijacked ballot boxes and electoral personnel, delivering them at the residence of Ekere.

    “We therefore call for the arrest of Godswill Akpabio and Nsima Ekere for the numerous electoral and criminal offences committed by them in the course of these elections.

    “The rule of law makes all men equal before the law.”

     

  • A’Ibom: Ekere optimistic of victory

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Obong Nsima Ekere, has said he is optimistic of defeating his opponent, Governor Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ekere, who cast his vote at about 10.49am at unit 004 ward 6, Ikot Oborenyin, Edemaya, Ikot Abasi LGA, hailed the peaceful conduct of the exercise in his polling unit.

    He was accompanied by his wife, Ese, who also voted. According to him, the governorship/assembly elections were more orderly and peaceful in the state than the presidential/national assembly elections.

    He, however, condemned pockets of violence in some areas in the state allegedly perpetrated by the PDP with assistance from hired hoodlums. The APC governorship candidate mentioned Ibiono Ibom local government area as one of the flashpoints of violence.

    Ekere revealed that he has already contacted security agencies on the threat to the exercise by agents of the PDP.

  • Prophet predicts victory for Ekere

    An elder in The Apostolic Church and a newspaper distributor, Mr. Effiong Etukudoh, has predicted the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer governorship election, Obong Nsima Ekere, will win Saturday’s governorship election in Akwa Ibom State “based on the word of God”.

    Etukudoh said in an interview with The Nation in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the Lord revealed to him as far back as 2017 that Ekere will emerge as the governor of the state in 2019, a time the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was not even in contention for the position.

    He said: “What I want to tell you is that when God says this is what is going to happen, nobody can stop it.

    “The PDP in Akwa Ibom plays politics of blindness, because they close their eyes to the realities of the day.

    “I got this revelation in 2017 and I told people here that Nsima Ekere would become governor of Akwa Ibom State on 2019.

    Read Also: Ekere loses council to Atiku, PDP

    “By that time, he had not even mentioned that he was going to contest in 2019.

    “So, when the primary came last year, everybody expected Senator John Udoedehe to win the ticket, because he is somebody that is well known.

    “But, I told them that the person that would emerge as the APC flag bearer is Nsima Ekere.”

    The prophet said the APC candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will carry the day just as his Sokoto State counterpart, Ahmed Aliyu, will triumph in the Northwest state.

    His words: “In Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will win. This is because Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the godfather of Lagos politics.

    “Tinubu is the only man that has played politics according to the rules of the game, hence he has succeeded so far.

    “In Sokoto, APC will win, but Delta State is a battleground. In Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha is insisting that his son in law, Uche Nwosu, will win, but I don’t know about that, because it is not even certain that elections will hold in Imo tomorrow.

    “The problem that will rear its head will be like that of Akwa Ibom State: the election will not be hitch-free like the presidential and National Assembly elections.”

    Etukudoh said when he predicted in 2018 that former President Olusegun Obasanjo would be retired from politics in 2019, because his candidate will not win, people did not believe him, because he is a commoner.

    “Nobody believed me, but it has come to pass,” he added.

  • APC will reclaim its stolen votes in A’Ibom, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom that the party’s votes which were stolen during the February 23 presidential/national Assembly elections would be reclaimed.

    Buhari gave the assurance on Monday in Uyo during a Town hall meeting to appreciate Akwa Ibom electorates for casting their votes for the (APC) party on February 23.

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who represented the President, encouraged the electorates to defend their votes during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    He stated that it was not possible for Senator Godswill Akpabio to have lost the elections, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) robbed him and the party of victory and that all the wrongs that were done during the Presidential and National Assembly elections would be addressed.

    “What happened on the 23rd of February was robbery. The votes of the people were stolen but we are not deterred. The President sent me to thank you today. We are going to make sure that everything that was stolen on the 23rd of February would be restored.

    “It is not possible that Senator Godwill Akpabio lost. We are in no doubt that Senator Akpabio is the elected senator of Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district. I and Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the party have been in the opposition for long and we cannot be defeated anymore.

    Read also: N3.97bn fraud: Court convicts Badeh’s firm

    “Everyone of you should go out to vote on Saturday and defend your votes, we cannot be cheated; not only you but tell your neighbours to vote for Obong Nsima Ekere and all APC candidates. Wait for your votes to be counted. It is the duty of the Federal government to provide security and we will do that. We will recover every one of our votes.

    Also speaking, the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole said the party was not in the state to lament but to thank the people of the state for doing their jobs and voting President Buhari.

    He alleged that INEC colluded with some of the electoral officers to deny the state of its electoral victory on February 23, even though the people voted for the party.

    “We have not come here to brag that our mandate was stolen last week. We have come to thank you that you voted for President Buhari, and all members of the party. You did your job but some armed robbers in INEC stole your votes.

    “You think that those who stole your votes will have peace? We have come to reaffirm our commitment to democracy. We have come to affirm that no robber will go unpunished but when an electoral umpire is corrupt and collude with the opposition, we have the witnesses and we have lawyers to deal with that.

    “On Saturday we are not going to wait for them to steal our votes. We call on Akwa Ibom people to protect their votes. We must maintain our sanity even in this hour of provocation. Those who committed democratic abortion would be brought to book,” he said.

    The APC governorship candidate in the State, Nsima Ekere encouraged the people not to be deterred by the February 23 elections but to go out and vote during the March 9 elections, saying the party is sure of victory.

    He said the people of the state were in need of change and proved it during his campaigns across the 31 local government areas of the state, and assured the President that after March 9 elections, Akwa Ibom state would not be in the opposition but will be reunited with the centre

    He said, “Thank you for what you are doing for APC. The people voted for you, that vote is a revalidation of what the people want. You put Nigeria’s economy back on track.

    “We are here because we have faith in you and Mr President, the opposition and INEC have no choice than to give us back our mandate. Whosoever shall attempt to work against the collective will of Akwa Ibom people, we shall collectively resist.

    “We send a message to the electoral umpire and the other party that they must respect the votes of the people, every vote must count. Akwa Ibom people love APC”.

  • Ekere loses council to Atiku, PDP

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Obong Nsima Ekere has lost votes from his local government to the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Read also: Nwosu, AA candidate delivers Buhari

    PDP’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar polled 8,343 to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC with 5,710 votes from Ikot Abasi local government.

    In the senatorial contest, PDP polled 8552 to APC’s 6,066.

    In the House of Representatives, PDP bagged 8,539 to defeat APC with 6,119 votes.

  • APC, PDP at war over shut out of Ekere from peace accord

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state are trading blames over the shut out of Obong Nsima Ekere from the signing of peace accord on Wednesday.

    The APC accused the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving to prevent Ekere from accessing venue of the ceremony.

     Its state chairman, Mr. Ini Okopido, alleged its governorship candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere was prevented from accessing and participating in the peace accord event by INEC officials and security details to Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    Okopido, in a statement, said: “On arrival at the entrance of the venue, Obong Ekere was stopped from entering the hall by the protocol and security officials and thugs of the Governor Udom Emmanuel, who had arrived earlier.

    “Obong Ekere’s entreaties to be let in to participate in the ceremony, including his explanations that he first had to attend a previously scheduled prayer summit for peaceful elections at the Methodist Church, Itiam Etoi, Uyo, were turned down by the government officials. Our candidate had to turn back.”

    He added: “I was present inside the hall and I saw clearly that the whole ceremony was turned into a state government event. The Master of Ceremony was Mr. Raphael Edem, the governor’s special assistant on Public Affairs, and yet this was supposed to be an INEC event for all Governorship Candidates.

    “The entrance was manned by the government’s protocol and security officials.

    “It must be emphasized that Mr. Udom Emmanuel attended the event as a governorship candidate of the PDP and not as Governor.

    “We, therefore, do not understand why government officials and thugs were allowed, if not encouraged, by INEC to harass another candidate.

    “This incident is most unfortunate and demonstrates once again our position that INEC in Akwa Ibom State should show impartiality to all candidates and maintain neutrality in its conduct”.

    But the PDP publicity secretary, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, accused Ekere of breaking official protocol by sauntering in hours after the governor was already seated.

    “Today, at the signing of the Peace Accord organized by INEC,

    Ekere exhibited his consistent, habitual and unrepentant show of rascality by coming hours after the event had started and sought to stroll across the main aisle of the venue.

    “Of course by all protocol standards, he was advised to enter from the front door but use the middle aisle to his seat which was at the other end of the hall.

    “He resisted and insisted on swaggering pass the front. Protocol officers of INEC offered to take him to his seat but he left boasting that Igini must be removed.

    “Long before his arrival, his state chairman Ini Okopido had arrived and was seated on his designated seat. The INEC REC asked about the whereabouts of his candidate, to which he replied that he (Nsima) was coming, that he had other engagements.

    “All responsible Akwa Ibom Stakeholders including Obong Victor Attah attended the event in good time and participated effectively but APC and their candidate Nsima Ekere can never conform to normal etiquette.”

  • ‘I want to see more Niger Delta youths play golf’

    The Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, His Excellency, Obong Nsima Ekere, has affirmed the commitment of the Commission to developing golf talents in the region to be enlisted in the league of professional golfers.
    Ekere, who made this known at the Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, shortly after performing the ceremonial tee-off of the NDDC sponsored Pro-Am Golf Championship, noted that if successful, the talents discovered would not only help in creating jobs but would also add value and boost the economy of the Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general.
    The NDDC boss while fielding questions from newsmen also noted with excitement the emergence of a Niger Delta youngster as the best in Amateur golf tournament, stating that he would like to see more youths of the region play golf.
    Ekere said “The truth of the matter is that we have a lot of talents in the Niger Delta and when these talents are developed, it will not only create jobs, but will also help in boosting the economy of the region. And you know most of the wealthiest people today in the world are sports men and women. So we will like to see Niger Delta sons and daughters fall into that category of people.

    Read Also: ‘How to end building collapse in Niger Delta’

    And I was so impressed when I saw the young girl of twelve years who did the best in an Amateur Golf Tournament in the country. That is very important. She is an Akwa Ibom girl; a proud daughter of the Niger Delta. Those are the kind of talents we will like to fish out; these are the kind of talents we will like to develop and promote because we know that ultimately, they will add value to the region and the country”.
    Obong Ekere, who is the 2019 APC governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom state, also noted that the essence of the tournament was for the interest of the community and not the Commission.  “For us, we are not really looking at returns for the NDDC, rather, returns for the community. We want to be sure that whatever investment we are making will bring out talented and employable citizens”, the NDDC boss noted while assuring that the golf tournament would be sustained beyond his tenure as Managing Director of the Commission.
    Also speaking, Coordinator of the tournament, Barr Edidiong Idiong, thanked the NDDC for sponsoring the event expressing the hope that the aims of the tournament would be achieved.
    Idiong noted that with the NDDC’s backing, a platform has been created for the youths of the Niger Delta region to take golf as a sporting career which would not only help in keeping them out of restiveness but also guarantee a blissful future.
  • Cheers for NDDC over harvest of projects

    Cheers for NDDC over harvest of projects

    Obong Nsima Ekere’s time as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is causing excitement in Akwa Ibom State and other parts of the Niger Delta.  Stakeholders recenly rolled out the drums to celebrate what the commission has done for them.

    They applauded the interventions of the commission.

    Community leader in Mbo, Akwa Ibom, Chief Effiong Eduno, said the NDDC has really touched the lives of the people.

    He said the commission has built  model schools in nine  states of the Niger Delta, Akwa Ibom inclusive. This is in addition to the provision of scholarships to students of secondary and tertiary institutions from its catchment areas.

    Available records also indicated that the NDDC had  committed itself to 890 projects and 62 emergency repair works across the state. Official of the commission noted that of the 890 projects, the agency has completed and inaugurated 160 while 281 already completed are waiting commissioning.

    Some of the major projects of the commission in the state include the 12.5km Okoita-Itu-Mbak Atai-Ikot Ntuen-Mkpeti-Oku Iboku road in Itu, the 10.125km Ididep-Ekpenyong-Ikot Etim Afaha Itiat road in Ibiono Ibom, the 30km Nsasak junction-Akon road in Essien Udim and 6.7km Iwuochang-Okorutip road project with 600m bridge span bridge.

    Others are the 4.9km Oku Iboku internal roads in Itu, construction of a community centre at Ibiaku Ishiet along Airport road, renovation of hostels, dinning and kitchen at Methodist Boys High School, Oron, maintenance/dredging of creek at Esit Eket and Okoroitak in Ibeno, on-going construction of a specialist hospital at the main campus of the Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin local government area.

    Comrade Ndarake Eshiet, a native of Iwuochang in Ibeno local government area, said  the construction the 6.7km Iwuochang-Okorutip road project with 600m bridge span bridge had opened the council to new opportunities.

    Eshiet added that  life was hellish and unbearable for his people before the bridge was constructed.

    ‘’I must confess that before this bridge was built life was very difficult for us. We didn’t have access to other places. There many villages around here besides my village but movement of people and goods were impossible.

    ‘’We are fishermen; getting our fishes outside our communities for people to buy was a herculean task. There was no development of any kind. Before the bridge, it was very difficult to access medical treatment for our sick because you can’t even leave this place to get treatment in hospitals in Ukpenekang or other places. Due to this challenge, so many of our people died.

    ‘’But the story has changed now. The bridge has brought visitors and development to our communities. Our sufferings have been substantially reduced and all I can say is that we are grateful to the NDDC’’.

    David John Ikwo, another native of Iwouchang, said with the NDDC bridge, accidents resulting to deaths and other losses from boat mishaps are now a thing of the past.

    ‘’The bridge has really helped from boat tragedies which usually occurred in the past. Boats used to capsize leading to deaths and loss of valuable properties. And before dead bodies are recovered it takes up to three days to four days. I thank God because we don’t have such sad experiences again.’’

    Idem Alexander, from Oruk Anam Local Government Area, said he relocated back to Iwuochang because the NDDC had brought a  lease of life to the people.

    ‘’Before NDDC constructed this bridge, visitors were not coming to this part of Ibeno. Now visitors from different areas in the state and beyond are pouring into this community and other villages around. I am welder and decided to open up my workshop here because people now have access to this community.

    ‘’My appeal to the NDDC is that it come complete the sections of the road, that is from Okorutip to Ntafre and from Iko to Atabrikang-Ntafre. This stretch of road is supposed to lead to Akpaden in Mkpat Enin but work on these sections of the road has delayed for too long and that has also affected my businesses and other businesses in the area’’, Ikwo said.

    Chief Ntekpere Akpanusoh, a resident of the street, said: ‘’It won’t be wrong if one says that the repairs of Nsentip Street deserves a testimony in the church. The road has been abandoned for so many years.

    ‘’The first day we saw caterpillars and tractors moving into the street for work to start, residents filled up the street in jubilation, all praise to the NDDC for coming to our rescue.

    ‘’The NDDC intervention has erased the memory of our suffering over the years. The Commission has done extremely excellent for us.”

    At Udo Eduok/Itiam Street in Uyo, a resident, said: ‘’Before now the entire stretch of the road and adjoining streets used to be waterlogged and that made life extremely difficult for us.

    ‘’It was one of the worst roads within Uyo, the state capital.”

     

  • Monarch to NDDC: Execute projects on basis of oil quota

    Monarch to NDDC: Execute projects on basis of oil quota

    The paramount ruler of Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom, Edidem Etim Abia, has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to use oil production quota as basis for projects execution.

    Abia stated this Monday in his palace in Eket when the Managing Director of NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere, paid him a courtesy visit following his coronation on Friday.

    The monarch noted that NDDC had not done much in Akwa Ibom, which he noted was the highest producer oil among the Niger Delta states.

    He further noted that Eket local government had not felt much impact of NDDC and as such he requested that the Managing Director should consider Eket for projects next year.

    Abia said that before NDDC came into existence, much of the projects were handled by ExxonMobil and the company had relaxed before the compulsory contribution of oil companies to NDDC.

    The monarch said that his people deserved more development projects especially in the area of skill acquisition to equip themselves for sustainable living.

    His words: “Oil exploration has driven away fish from the shore, river and the sea. We are witnessing acid rain now because of gas flaring. The soil here is not fertile. We cannot have fruits here.

    “So we need viable skill acquisition centres not ad hoc arrangement, to train people in all manner of skills.”

    He advised the NDDC Managing Director to liaise with the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities (TROMPCOM) in the execution of projects in the region.

    Earlier, the NDDC Managing Director, Obong Nsima Ekere, congratulated the paramount ruler on his installation as the foremost traditional ruler in Eket local government area.

    With Ekere was the Managing Director, Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), Onne in Rivers, Mr Umana Umana.

    The NDDC boss described the enthronement of the monarch as well deserved, adding that he had known the royal father as a foremost industrialist.

    Ekere recalled that the monarch used to run a soft drink producing company, Dr Pepper Bottling Company, in the 80s.

    He pledged to work with the royal fathers to ensure even distribution of projects across all the Niger Delta states.