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Tag: Victor Attah

  • We must not destroy Nigeria’s image further, says Attah

    We must not destroy Nigeria’s image further, says Attah

    Former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah, has said citizens  should not destroy the country’s image further following the elections, adding steps should be taken to reconcile aggrieved parties.

    He said the elections damaged Nigeria’s image, exacerbated by insecurity, corruption, lack of basic infrastructure, among others, thus, it’s time for repositioning and collaboration for good governance.

    Attah spoke at 2024 Investiture of  Institute of Certified Sales Professionals (ICSP) at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

    The former Akwa Ibom governor, who spoke on “The imperatives of selling Nigeria to the outside world in post-2023 elections era”, stressed the need to sell Nigeria to  Nigerians through patriotic zeal, determination to reconcile the aggrieved and develop a national core value.

     Attah hailed President Bola Tinubu on the intention to launch a national values charter which, he said, would benefit everyone.

    “Selling Nigeria in the aftermath of 2023 elections is not an easy job.

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    ‘‘As has been shown, our actions and utterances up to the elections and still continuing, have left us with two major strikes. The first is we have a damaged product and the second is our No. 1 salesman, the President, has been badly disabled. But we must not give up,” he said.

    Attah said the country’s economic fortunes started dwindling with excessive dependence on crude oil and disregard for agriculture. He said as global demand for basic raw materials grew, Nigeria’s output declined in both in quantity and quality, thus leaving billions of foreign exchange for other countries.

    “The attempt to start exporting yams during Buhari’s first term ended in failure essentially because the quality of the yams was impaired by the time the consignment arrived at its destination,” he added.

    The former governor said Nigeria lost its competitive business edge as the largest producer of cassava in the world, and among the top nations exporting palm produce, cocoa, groundnuts,hides and skin, because there was no strategic plan, consistency and the will to provide what the world wants.

    He therefore, harped on the need for effective execution of policies, political will, quality leadership,and proper training to turn the fortunes of the nation around and sell Nigeria to the world.

     President of ICSP, Arthur Ozoigbo, described sales men as resilient, productive and goal-oriented despite the dangers they go through. He promised to work assiduously to ensure the institute remains active.

    Frontline columnist and Chief Patron of the institute,  Dr Dele Sobowale stressed the need to  sell Nigeria to the world in a professional way, adding that the country needs to be repositioned with everyone working collectively.

  • FG assures Akwa Ibom of support on Victor Attah International Airport

    FG assures Akwa Ibom of support on Victor Attah International Airport

    Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, on Wednesday played host to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who was on a working visit to the State to inspect facilities at the Victor Attah International Airport.

    A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh explained that the entourage had in attendance members of the State Executive Council, the Managing Director of Ibom Air, Captain Mfon Udom, the Chief Operating Officer of the airline, George Uriesi, the DG of the Campaign Organization, H.E. Assam Assam, SAN and other stakeholders, 

    Governor Eno in his remarks, thanked the Minister for leaving his comfort zone in Abuja, to pay a working visit to the State.

    He said: “What we have here is already an aviation ecosystem  that Nigeria can work with and compete with the rest of Africa  and indeed the world. 

    “We know and believe that whatever else remains to be done, the Honourable Minister will direct the appropriate agencies and departments under his Ministry to follow- through. 

    “We want to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for being a great father of the nation and we remain dedicated to supporting  and showing our loyalty  to his government”.

    The Chief Operating Officer of the Airline, George Uriesi, the Governor later led the Minister, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Captain Chris Najomo, and other top government official on inspection tour of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO,) facility, the first of the 10 Airbus A220-300 Series that was recently delivered by Airbus and the Smart International Airport Terminal.

    Keyamo in his remarks said: “This is an incredible facility you have here! One of the first things I identified when I came into office was the need for us to have a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria, a world-class one and what I have seen here, meets that need. 

    “The potentials of this place are huge. It’s about 90-95 percent complete and by the time it becomes fully operational, I am very certain it will capture the whole of the markets in West and Central Africa and even up to North Africa and that’s what we have been looking for.

    “One of the problems hampering the operation of the aviation sector in Nigeria has always been the lack of facilities such as this. Our aircrafts will go out of the country for maintenance and may be there for months. But with this facility, we can conserve foreign exchange so they may meet their international obligations.

    “There are two projects currently ongoing here:  The new International Terminal Building and of course the MRO. It’s not just a terminal building, what I am seeing here is a hub. It’s a proper hub where we can process international passengers and transfer them from one section to the ether for them to catch their international flights. 

    “What we have here is a hidden jewel, but it’s all for the good of our dear nation.

    “This is so beautiful. I have never seen a subnational that is so dedicated, so committed to a project of this magnitude as much as Akwa Ibom State and God has blessed this State with successive Governors who have put their minds to this, and Governor Eno is the finisher and perfecter of this race. 

    “I just want to thank God for the people of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria for blessing us with a facility such as this. By the time we do all our certifications, I am sure we will be ready for the world. This facility is not just for Akwa Ibom State alone, it is for Nigeria and Africa.

    The Minister further stated: “That the International Terminal has met all the standards to be certified an international airport. 

    “The dedication to this project has been phenomenal. I will mobilize all the agencies in my Ministry, all the regulatory bodies to make sure they give you 100 percent support and we are confident you will keep to international standards. 

    “The DG of NCAA is here and we stand ready to give you all our maximum support. I want to thank Governor Eno, for the passion he has shown towards this project since he came into office.”

    It would be recalled that Governor Eno, in his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,  late last year, had solicited among other prayers the support of the Federal Government towards the formal take-off of the MRO and the Smart International Airport Terminal. 

    The Governor had also earlier paid a courtesy call on the Honorable Minster of Aviation, in Abuja. The visit today by the Minister and other top officials of his Ministry was a culmination of that initial meeting.

  • Buhari’s victory good for Nigeria, says Attah

    EX-Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah has described the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the election as the triumph of the will of the people, and a death knell for the three power blocs that have  exerted their manipulative influence on the country.

    This, he added, would provide the opportunity for the President to set the stage for  restructuring.

    Obong Attah, who spoke at a news conference in Lagos yesterday, said Buhari’s second term would bring to an end the influence of the two major parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as that of retired military officers that had been directing the political game from behind the scenes.

    The ex-governor noted that Nigerians would not have been able to withstand the arrogance and excesses PDP would unleash on the country, if its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had won the election.

    He said it took Atiku in 2019 to galvanise the party to give Buhari a run for his money, and that with the ex-Vice President not likely to run in 2023, the party’s fortune would change for the worse.

    For APC, Attah said it was the President that had been holding the party together, and that soon Nigerians would be singing its dirge.

    Attah said nobody, in the last four years, could say  the President was a truly party man in the conventional sense, and that in his second term “it is my conviction that he is going to pay even less attention to the party.”

    He added: “There was yet a third group – the military bloc. They did not hide their support for Atiku and PDP. They openly showed their hand and have been spanked. Their influence is bound to wane. It is my prediction that from now we are going to witness less and less of those pilgrimages to Abeokuta and Minna.  With this loss of influence, it is also safe to say that the military oligarchy is dead.

    “These were the three power blocs that constantly exerted their manipulative wiles on the country. If they did not approve of you, be as wise as Solomon, as brave as David, as strong as Sampson, you will not get anywhere, and that is what has kept Nigeria down. The system has never allowed us to put forward our most capable.

    “Buhari’s victory is the death knell to these power blocs. It has started the process of dismembering these menacing behemoths, pulling out their fangs, blunting their claws and neutralising their sting. Buhari’s victory has returned power to the common man. Positions negotiated in Abuja and Lagos over the heads of the people can no longer be guaranteed. His victory has given Nigeria a long- delayed but much needed opportunity for a new life; an opportunity to chart a new course. That is why for me his victory represents not only the triumph of the common man, but also a great blessing for Nigeria.”

    With this state of affairs, Attah said an opportunity had been created for fresh hands to take over the leadership of the country. He said: “Nigeria can now look forward to a new birth. The phoenix can now rise out of the ashes and attain its destined glory.

    “If Atiku had won, it is possible he would have atikulated this country to the next level – to borrow from the slogan of both parties. But I also had the fear that if Atiku wins and PDP gets back in the saddle, this country would be plunged into an orgy of intolerable excesses.”

    The elder statesman said now that Buhari had won, he must put a stop to agitations to split up the country, by restructuring the polity. He said: “He must see to it that we re-enact and reinstate the terms and conditions of the agreement that caused various peoples, at Independence, to come together and form one country – federalism. Anything short of this is to court a disaster … The word today that describes this is restructuring. My prediction is that unless this is done, by the end of his tenure in the next four years, there may not be a country called Nigeria as we know it today.”

    Attah was categorical there would be no Nigeria without restructuring. He added: “What is going to happen is that agitation for break up is going to get more violent, more virulent and the country will scatter. Certainly, Buhari would not allow that to happen.”

  • If a harbinger is one that pioneers or initiates a major change, then Victor Attah is the harbinger of ‘Doctrine of Necessity’

    Architect Victor Attah, revered nationalist and leader of thought has just turned eighty. Attah, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and former President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects is one man born into a wealthy home but who, like many a prince has looked beyond personal comfort to also seek the interest of the people.

    Attah has received many awards and chieftaincy titles over the years including being made the Fiwagboye of Egbaland. He is a member of several professional bodies and was a participant in the 2014 National Conference in Abuja.

    Above all this though, Attah is a promoter of Justice, Equity and Liberty.

    Dike Chukwumerije, poet and son of Late Senator Uche Chukwumerije said, “If there are laws they should set us free”. Sadly in this nation, some of those we elect to lead us make laws precisely for the opposite reason. Eight years ago, after Victor Attah had left office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, a certain former Minister decided to run for Governorship of that state. Senator “J.J” Udoedehe’s legitimate ambition landed him straight into prison. The then Governor of the state made a law which was enacted and passed with lighting speed, giving the executive arm the power to detain certain individuals for up to fourteen days without trial.

    Senator Udoedehe knew he was the target of the law, but damning the consequences he went ahead with his campaign. To the chagrin and annoyance of the sitting Governor, Udoedehe was found to be “running things” even from his prison cell! Furious the incumbent then had him (Udoedehe) flown in chains and from Uyo to Lagos and finally to Abuja. The photographs of Senator ‘J.J’ in chains were splashed all over the media at the time. Senator ‘J.J’ was held, not even in the DSS holding cell but he was thrown into jail by the police, this time on purely trumped up charges. Victor Attah was never a man to sit back and wring his hands in despair. Attah swung into action immediately; he intimated a certain National Security Adviser on the matter, and a meeting was arranged with Nigeria’s Number One man in the Police Force.

    Attah called the then Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to release Udoedehe at once, insisting the man was innocent; was only being framed for political reasons. When this (the release) was not happening, Attah then demanded that he (Attah) be detained along with the innocent Udoedehe!

    The IGP at that point got up and bowed low before the men. He admitted that he knew the man in question was innocent; investigations had shown that he had been framed of the charges against him. But he admitted that he (IGP) was acting, in the Nigerian parlance, on “orders from above”.

    This incident is brought out here to reveal just how much of a lover of liberty and justice that the man Victor is. From state level to the national level, Attah’s position remains the same. At a certain time in the not too distant past of the nation’s history, Nigeria was faced with the national dilemma of an absentee president. Had the nation’s Number One Citizen been an army officer, at that time he would have been declared AWOL: Absent without Leave.

    Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was Nigeria’s (ailing) President at the time. President Yar’Adua suffered from a terminal condition, but this was kept top secret to all but a couple of close people. The Nigerian nation was definitely kept in the dark. But some illnesses are pretty difficult to conceal when at the centre stage, certainly nobody who was President could possibly hide all the symptoms. Therefore Nigerians knew he was quite ill, only that people did not know just how far gone he actually was.

    He suffered one of his crises again in November, 2009 and was immediately flown out to meet his regular doctor in Saudi Arabia. Nigerians were fed with a statement after the event that he had travelled to Saudi for the “Lesser Hajj”. This was in November, a fortuitous coincidence for the official untruths.

    The problem was, the Hajj later ended but long after, Yar’Adua was not forthcoming. Worse, he had left, as usual with no official communication of transmission of power to anyone. To absolutely concretize matters, President Yar’Adua was also incommunicado. Here is a sample of the oath of office of the President of the United State used here as an example because Nigerian practices the American Presidential System-

    “I _____ do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States”.

    Clearly President Yar’Adua was not in, on any of the counts. The man was simply too ill!

    Add so the country, which previously had come to a veritable standstill, began to literally roll backwards. Although Nigeria is said to be practicing a democracy, with separation of powers between all tiers of government; in reality the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wields enormous powers while on seat, and Yar’Adua’s absence brought this truth to the fore like never before in Nigeria.

    Nigerians started asking serious questions and after all the bogus tape recordings of, and “official visits” to Yar’Adua in Saudi Arabia the questions turned to demands for the person of a leader.

    Victor Attah dived straight into fray. He announced that, going by the constitution, in the absence of the President, the Vice President is to sit in, in acting capacity. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was the Vice President at the time-practically in name only. Even his wife had made a retort to reporters then that: wasn’t it only reading newspaper that you people sent him to the office to sit and do?

    Well, Patience Jonathan’s rhetorical question was in fact the sum of the job description of the Vice President, as applicable at the time!

    However, Attah’s proclamation became a livewire to the comatose country. Many other individuals and pressure groups started speaking up loud and hard after him. This writer is one of those people. Let it be on record that Architect Victor Attah was the first Nigerian of prominence to declare that the right thing to be done in line with the constitution was to make the Vice President, the Acting President.

  • Eighty hearty cheers as Victor Attah clocks 80

    Attah is a nationalist to the core, mention anything at all of national interest; and he is interested

    His Excellency Architect (Obong) Victor Attah is a man of excellence not just in name but indeed. In two short days, the drums will roll as the nationalist and former state Governor clocks eighty. In style too, in sound health with great strength and a razor sharp mind.

    Born to wealth and some fame, his mother was a primary school teacher while his father, Chief B.U.A. Attah was the first Nigerian to have a Master’s Degree in Agriculture. As a child, the young victor Attah travelled round the country, as well as to other African countries with his father. Chief Attah, in addition to having his own plantation worked extensively at Moore Plantation Ibadan, in the Cameroons as well as doing some work with IIATA and at UNN. He was given the national honour of OON, in his lifetime.

    Victor Attah however remains modest and disarmingly warm and welcoming with his characteristic gap-tooth smile.

    That notwithstanding, Arc Victor Attah possesses a resolve of steel. Did his parents have a premonition of the tough battles their third son would have to face in life, to have named him Victor as a guarantee of the outcomes?!

    One was told once of how, as a young graduating student, Victor Attah literally passed out on the train ride when returning home from Zaria after submission of his final drawings in Architecture School.

    Architecture students usually draw at night, but Victor Attah was said to have put in his everything in his quest for excellence when leaving the then NCAST, Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, now Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

    Attah then travelled abroad and after working for some years, became a licensed architect in America, and in the Caribbean.

    On his return to Nigeria he set up his private firm in Kaduna, the Inter-Designs Partnership, IDP. In no time Victor Attah’s IDP became the go-to firm for Architectural works. If you were a man, a real man in the North, you had to have your building designed by Arc Victor Attah. Sadly, religious crises with increasing death tolls made Arc Victor Attah move from his beloved Kaduna, leaving behind his personal house and his horses, and relocate to Ikoyi, Lagos.

    As the notion goes, anywhere a man of excellence is, men will beat a path to his door. Arc Attah was called from Lagos to Abuja to design and build the headquarters of the NDIC which he did and delivered. and the building stands today as one of those dotting the landscape of the nation’s capital.

    Around the same too, Attah rose to become the President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects NIA. As Governor of Akwa Ibom State, he took the mantle of leadership of his peers when he became Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, before it was split along party lines.

    A little bit about Attah on a personal note: at first he might seem a little rigid, but the fact is, he is a ‘creature of habit’ which anyone just getting to know him will come to discover. During the time he lived in Lagos, Attah was known at his church, Church of Assumption Falomo because he was ever ready and willing to participate in all their charitable events and programs. It is true that those kind of things could be mere externalities, but what about the heart? Victor Attah is a committed family man to the core. He possesses a heart that loves, a heart that forgives.

    Attah is a lover of people, man or woman, young or old. He is not all work, work, work; for leisure, he does enjoy travelling, and watching his ‘Strictly Come Dancing”. However, engaging him in robust discussion on national issues will get him going any minute of the day.

    Attah is a nationalist to the core, mention anything at all of national interest; call it national and Attah is interested.

    Attah was one of those Nigerians who agitated for the early exit of military rule and the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria.

    He was a part of the Constituent Assembly that took part in the shaping of Nigeria’s current constitution. After this he contested and won the seat of Governor of Akwa Ibom State. But not without a battle! No, they said, he is a Northerner, he cannot be Governor of Akwa Ibom. Then they said No, he is from Cross River, let him go contest the governorship there. But Attah is one person that greatness was already upon. If Akwa Ibom had missed him; he would still have been Governor of other willing states. He was to later become Chair of Governors. Akwa Ibom finally recognized his excellent spirit and voted him in as leader.

    Nigeria knows the great battle he faced, during his tenure. The then President, Olusegun Obasanjo OBJ literally brought Akwa Ibom State to its knees.

    Aside from exhuming the On shore- Off shore Dichotomy ‘Law’ which IBB had long dispensed with and even buried, OBJ went as far as exacting monthly deductions on all allocations to Akwa Ibom, for previous revenue that had been paid.

    The Americans have a saying, ‘You Can’t Fight City Hall!’

    But lion-hearted Attah knew that this was his destiny. Besides, he was a part of ‘City Hall’, a stake-holder too! Attah took all the bold steps required with demonstrable leadership and commitment for the realization of the abrogation of the obnoxious law. He refused to be cowed by all the forces of federal might. He did not for once compromise so that injustice would be inflicted on Akwa Ibom State. It took guts, it took years but at last, he was the Victor! And so also was the state.

    When the National Conference of 2014 was announced, Attah was the natural choice as representative of the people. He even co-chaired one of the most volatile yet salient committees of the Conference (Devolution of Powers Committee).

    Notwithstanding the frostiness with OBJ, Attah remains close to current and past Nigerian presidents, notably the incumbent President Buhari, former head of state Gen. Babangida, and even the late President Yar’Adua. Attah’s persona is a natural rallying point; Attah is a lover of unity.

    It is no surprise that no less a personality than Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will be the Special Guest of Honour on the Twentieth of November when Arc Obong Victor Attah presents his book to mark the occasion of his 80th birthday. Dignitaries from all walks of life will be in Abuja on Tuesday to witness the event.

    Titled “It Is Well with My Soul”, the book is a collection of excerpts of Attah’s best speeches.

    One can only expect a beautifully packaged book, one loaded with characteristic thought- provoking insights.

    In forty-eight hours, His Excellency will bring forth Excellence, once again.

    (07055547031)

     

  • Victor Attah is Western Delta Varsity chancellor

    The ex-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah, has been appointed the chancellor of Western Delta University (WDU), Oghara.

    A statement yesterday by Mr Tony Eluemunor, Media assistant to former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, said the appointment was made by the institution’s Board of Trustees.

    It added that Attah’s inauguration would take place on Friday at the university’s  permanent site, on the Benin-Warri Expressway, Oghara.

    Eluemunor noted that Attah’s inauguration will be one of the highlights of Western Delta University’s 10th year anniversary.

    The one-week event will end with a combined convocation on Saturday.

    “Obong Attah who governed Akwa Ibom State from 1999 to 2007 is not only a widely recognised architect but was the national president of the Nigeria Institute of Architects.

    ‘’He is also a practitioner of the National Council of Architects Registration Board, (NCARB), of the State of New York, and a member by qualification, of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

    “Obong Attah is not new to the developmental needs of a university. He developed the University of Calabar Master Plan as well as the University of Port Harcourt Emergency Campus Design. It was gathered that his experience in helping universities to take off effectively, informed the WDU’s Board of Trustees to choose Attah as chancellor WDU.”

  • Clarke sues for peace as FG, PANDEF unite for Niger Delta development

    Clarke sues for peace as FG, PANDEF unite for Niger Delta development

    The Federal Government and the Niger Delta Leaders under the aegis of Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) met for several hours at the Presidential Villa on Thursday and agreed to partner to actualize the FG’s new vision for the region’s development.

    The meeting, presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, was attended by the Ministers of Environment, Niger Delta Development Affairs, State for Petroleum, and the Chairman of NDDC, Sen. Ndoma Egba.

    Also in attendance were Chief Edwin Clarke, Alabo Graham Douglas, Chief Timi Alaibe, Chief Alfred Diette-Spiff, former Akwa Ibom Gov. Victor Attah and a host of other Niger Delta leaders.

    Elder statesman and leader of PANDEF, Clarke, who addressed state House Correspondents at the end of the meeting described it as very fruitful and called on the people of the region to maintain peace and await the implementation of the FG’s vision.

    “The message is that everyone should maintain peace,’’ Clarke said adding that the group had seen the commitment of the federal government to pursue its development agenda in the region.

    ““The meeting was excellent.  We met with Mr Acting President and he was very honest, truthful, forthright and we were very satisfied.”

    Clark denied an ultimatum was issued to the federal government on the vision’s implementation but added that the parties agreed on many things with PANDEF and the ministers presenting their separate addresses and Osinbajo rounding off.

    “We saw his genuineness, truthfulness, forthrightness; he is a gentleman and we support him and we are satisfied,” he said.

    The PANDEF leader stated that the region would withdraw from its former position and embrace the path laid by the federal government for the development of the region.

    According to him, the region and FG have agreed to work together noting that the issue of dialogue will also take place.

    He assured the Niger Delta people that the 16-point agenda they presented to the FG was fully discussed as well as the government’s 20-point agenda.

    On why the Niger Delta leaders were not speaking with one voice, the elder statesman said there were no other leaders in the region with dissenting voices.

    He said that MEND was represented at the meeting noting that the group’s acclaimed spokesman did not exist.

    “Jomo Gbomo does not exist as a human being. That is a ghost name and a fake name. MEND was here, all other organizations were here.

    “I am the leader of the Niger Delta and every leader you can think of from Cross River to Edo state was here,’’ he stated.

    Buttressing the points, he minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, acknowledged that there was no ultimatum from any part of the region to the federal government.

    He said that the meeting was to find solutions to the Niger Delta issues adding that it was basically to explore how government had gone ahead with the fulfillment of the parties’ undertakings on the 16-point agenda raised during the tour of the region.

    He said several issues including the University at Okerenkoko, issues related to the development of the Niger Delta generally, amnesty programme and how well it was working, and NDDC operations were discussed.

    “Today was an environment of calm, peace and friendliness and mutual dialogue of the issues for them to understand where we are coming from and understand the most pressing problems that we have,’’ he said.

    He acknowledged that PANDEF pledged commitment to work with the federal government to find solutions to the problems confronting the region.

    He said that the alarm that was generated was that government should hurry up with the projects as the people were getting worried and tired and wanted to see positive actions on all the items.

    He said that PANDEF was convinced with  the explanations of the Acting President and had realized that the government was not playing about the vision to correct the wrongs in the region for over 30 years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as the meeting was on the Acting Presidential Spokesman, Laolu Akande, released a fact sheet on the vision showing that the FG had set aside an initial one billion dollars for the clean-up and environmental remediation of Ogoniland.

    According to the fact sheet, 200 million dollars will be disbursed yearly for the first five years and work on the project will be conducted in line with international best practices.

    Akande stated that already soil and water tests had been done in preparation for the clean-up and 15 technical assistants from Ogoniland hired to be part of the work.

    He said that to drive infrastructure, the FG has released funds for the continuation of various sections of the East-West Road adding that as at March 2017, the overall project completion was substantial with some sections reaching 99 per cent completion.

    Akande stated that the FG had plans to construct health centres in the states and communities of the region which on completion would be fully equipped to address some of the health needs of rural dwellers.

    He added that FG had started the process of replacing illegal refineries in the region with modular ones, including options on how to involve the communities as shareholders in the proposed Modular Refineries.

    He said that the ground-breaking of the first set of such refineries were expected in the 4th quarter of 2017 and the government  would supply crude to the local refineries at reasonable price.

    Akande stated that the measure was to serve as an incentive to stop the current practice whereby illegal refiners vandalised and stole the crude adding that each Niger Delta state was expected to host two modular refineries.

  • Attah, Etiebet declare support for APC candidate

    Former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah, and former Petroleum Minister, Don Etiebet yesterday declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Umana Okon Umana.

    Attah while addressing APC supporters at a campaign rally in Uyo, the state capital, warned the electorate that a surrogate of Governor Godswill Akpabio, Udom Emmanuel should not be allowed to govern the state.

    He said: “I do not need to add anything to that. I am a leader of my people. My people do not want anyone imposed on them as Governor, they want Umana Okon Umana and that is why I am here.”

    The former governor also asked the people from Ikot Ekpene to team up with their brothers from Abak and make Inibehe Okorie from Abak as the next Senator from the district instead of Governor Akpabio.

    Attah said: “In this state, everybody knows that it is the turn of Abak Federal Constituency to produce the next Senator. So why is Governor Akpabio, insisting on contesting that position if at all he believes in zoning.

    “This is a perversion that is totally unacceptable. I therefore urge all of you from Ikot Ekpene to team up with your brothers from Abak and make certain that Inibehe Okorie from Abak is the next Senator from your district.

    “Today we support Obong Umana Okon Umana because of a number of those other compelling determinants critical among which were that we shall collectively make a succession plan and that the collective will of all of us, and only our collective will shall prevail in this matter.”

  • Report: Attah didn’t get 100m medical allowance

    Report: Attah didn’t get 100m medical allowance

    Former Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah did not get N100million medical allowance, it was learnt yesterday.

    Governor Godswill Akpabio, it was gathered, twisted public records to justify the case for jumbo payouts provided for former governors and their deputies in the state’s 2014 Executive Pension Law.

    Records from the governor’s office showed that contrary to the administration’s claim that it paid more than N100 million yearly in medical expenses to Attah, the average amount paid to Attah per year was N13 million.

    According to the records, the Akpabio administration paid N93 million in medical expenses to the former governor for seven years, 2007-2014.

    If the expenses, which added up to N93 million in seven years, are annualised, the amount comes to N13 million yearly.

    In the wake of the huge public outcry that trailed news of the provisions for lavish payouts, including N100 million annual medical allowance, for former governors, Akpabio said he was prompted by excessive medical bills from former governors to impose a cap of N100 million on medical allowance yearly.

    However, records from Akpabio’s office showed that in 2007 Attah received N5,898,457 for medical expenses; N19,437,991 in 2008; and N7,752,953 in 2009.

    The records also showed that Attah received N56,750,348 in 2010 and 2011; and N3,165,954 in 2012. Sources said about half of the expenses was the cost of evacuating Attah’s late wife, Nnenyin, by air ambulance at more than N41 million in 2010.

    Akpabio had tried to justify the pension law, following a protest by saying that what he did was to protect public resources from excessive demands by past leaders.

     

  • Conference releases list of committees

    Conference releases list of committees

    •Delegate slumps

    The list of Committees for the National conference was released yesterday with no youth delegate represented in the Committee for devolution of power.

    However, delegates could not comment on the list as a result of debate on the abdication of over a hundred female students in Borno State on Monday night.

    The Committee is made up of elder statesmen like Malam Tanko Yakasai, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, activist Annkio Briggs, former governor, Victor Attah and Prof. Jubrin Aminu.

    Others in the 28-member committee include Chief Ayo Banjo, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Muhammad Junaid, Prof. Rose Onah and Sen. Jack Tilley-Gyado, among others.

    Pastor Tunde Bakare and former Governor Peter Odili were drawn in the Commitree on Political restructuring and forms of government.

    Others in the Committee are Chief Olu Falae, Sen. Mohammed Dansadau, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), publisher Nduka Obaigbena and Amb. Philips Tapgun.

    In the 24-member Security Committee are Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader, Gani Adams, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gambo Jimeta, Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni and Gen Zamani Lekwot.

    Other committees include Environment, politics and governance; Law; judiciary, human rights and legal reform; Social sector; Transportation: Science, Technology and Development; Agriculture; Covil society, Labour and Sports; Public service; Energy; and Religion.

    Others are Public Finance and Revenue; Immigration and related matters; Economy. Trade and Investment; Land Tenure and National boundaries; Foreign policy diaspora matters; and Political Parties and Electoral matters.

    Disaster was averted yesterday evening as a delegate Amb. Abudlmumin Abubakar slumped shortly after plenary was adjourned.

    The former Assistant Inspector General of Pilice (AIG) and Commissioner of Police in  Borno State was grating interview to reporters when he suddenly collapsed.

    He was immediately attended to by medical personnel who tried to revive him.

    When it was discovered that his health was deteriorating, with the revival therapy seemingly unsuccessful, the retired AIG was taken away in a police ambulance for proper medical attention at an undisclosed hospital.

    A medical expert said the cause of the collapse might be as a result of exhaustion, “I don’t think it’s serious because, as you can see, he was just coming from the secretariat after the plenary.

    “He is an elderly man, its nothing serious,” he said.

    It will be recalled that a  delegate on the platform of Retired Police Officers, former  AIG Mamman Misau died a few weeks ago.