President Jonathan Promises Job Creation In New Year Message…Read Full Message

President
Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called on Nigerians to make national
unity, peace, stability and progress of the country a priority in the new
year.
The president also promised Nigerian youths more jobs in 2014, as
well as improved well-being for the citizenry through focused
implementation of the Transformation Agenda.
In a six-page New Year message, the President, who restated that the
amalgamation of the country exactly 100 years ago was not a
mistake but a blessing, however, said that the centenary of the
country’s nationhood was a moment for sober reflection.
Enumerating the achievements of his administration last year, the
president said he would this year “diligently carry forward the
purposeful and focused implementation of our agenda for national
transformation in priority areas such as power, the rehabilitation and
expansion of national infrastructure, agricultural development,
education and employment generation.”
Dear Compatriots,
I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the year 2014 which
promises to be a momentous one for our country for several reasons,
including the fact that it is also the year of our great nation’s
centenary celebrations. I join you all in giving thanks to God
Almighty for guiding us and our beloved nation safely through all the
challenges of the outgoing year to the beginning of 2014.
Exactly 100 years ago today, on January 1, 1914, the British
Colonial authorities amalgamated what was then the separate
Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria, giving birth
to the single geopolitical entity known as Nigeria. For us therefore,
today is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a
century of national existence and the beginning of another. It is a
moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that is great about
Nigeria.
Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may
have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed
country, a country of gifted men and women who continue to
distinguish themselves in all spheres of life, a country whose
diversity remains a source of strength. We pay tribute today, as
always to our founding fathers and mothers, and all the heroes and
heroines whose toil and sweat over the century made this country
what it is today.
As I noted, a few days ago, the amalgamation of 1914 was certainly
not a mistake but a blessing. As we celebrate 100 years of
nationhood, we must resolve to continue to work together as one,
united people, to make our country even greater.
I assure you that our administration remains fully committed to the
progressive development of our country and the consolidation of
peace, unity and democratic governance in our fatherland. Despite
several continuing domestic and global challenges, for us in Nigeria,
the year 2013 witnessed many positive developments which we will
strive to build upon in 2014.
We have diligently carried forward the purposeful and focused
implementation of our agenda for national transformation in priority
areas such as power, the rehabilitation and expansion of national
infrastructure, agricultural development, education and employment
generation.
You may recall that our 2013 Budget was on the theme, “Fiscal
Consolidation with Inclusive Growth”, and I emphasized the need for
us to “remain prudent with our fiscal resources and also ensure that
the Nigerian economy keeps growing and creating jobs”. I am
pleased to report that we have stayed focused on this goal.
Our national budget for 2014 which is now before the National
Assembly is specifically targeted at job creation and inclusive
growth. We are keenly aware that in spite of the estimated 1.6
million new jobs created across the country in the past 12 months
as a result of our actions and policies, more jobs are still needed to
support our growing population. Our economic priorities will be
stability and equitable growth, building on the diverse sectors of our
economy.
In 2013, we commenced implementation of the National Industrial
Revolution Plan (NIRP) aimed at industrializing Nigeria and
diversifying our economy into sectors such as agro-processing, light
manufacturing, and petrochemicals. We have also negotiated a
strong Common External Tariff (CET) agreement with our ECOWAS
partners which would enable us to protect our strategic industries
where necessary.
I am pleased to note that as a result of our backward integration
policies, Nigeria has moved from a country that produced 2 million
metric tonnes of cement in 2002, to a country that now has a
capacity of 28.5 million metric tonnes. For the first time in our
history, we have moved from being a net importer of cement to a net
exporter.
Foreign direct investment into Nigeria has also been strong. In fact,
for the second year running, the UN Conference on Trade and
Development has named Nigeria as the number 1 destination for
investments in Africa.
We are witnessing a revolution in the agricultural sector and the
results are evident. We have tackled corruption in the input
distribution system as many farmers now obtain their fertilizers and
seeds directly through an e-wallet system. In 2013, 4.2 million
farmers received subsidized inputs via this programme. This scheme
has restored dignity to our farmers.
Last year we produced over 8 million metric tonnes of additional
food; and this year, inflation fell to its lowest level since 2008 partly
due to higher domestic food production. Our food import bill has also
reduced from N1.1 trillion in 2011, to N648 billion in 2012, placing
Nigeria firmly on the path to food self-sufficiency.
The sector is also supporting more jobs. Last year, we produced 1.1
million metric tonnes of dry season rice across 10 Northern states;
and over 250,000 farmers and youths in these States are now
profitably engaged in farming even during the dry season.
This Administration is also developing our water resources which are
key for both our food production and job creation goals. In 2013, we
completed the construction of nine dams which increased the volume
of our water reservoirs by 422 million cubic metres. Through our
irrigation and drainage programme, we have increased the total
irrigated area by over 31,000 hectares creating jobs for over 75,000
farming families while increasing production of over 400,000 metric
tons of assorted irrigated food products.
Fellow Compatriots, I have always believed that the single greatest
thing we can do to ensure all Nigerians realize their potential and
play a full part in our nation’s future, is to invest in education. The
education of our young people is a key priority for this Government.
We take this responsibility very seriously and I urge all other
stakeholders in the sector to recognize the national importance of
their work, and to help advance the cause of education in our nation.
Between 2007 and 2013, we have almost tripled the allocation for
education from N224 billion to N634 billion – and we will continue to
vigorously support the sector. We have improved access to education
in the country with the construction of 125 Almajiri schools, and the
establishment of three additional Federal Universities in the North,
bringing to twelve, the number of universities established by this
administration.
In 2013, we rehabilitated 352 laboratories and constructed 72 new
libraries in the Federal Unity Schools; and also rehabilitated
laboratories of all the 51 Federal and State polytechnics across the
country.
In the Health sector, we are building strong safety nets and
improving access to primary health care under the Saving One Million
Lives programme. In 2013, we recruited 11,300 frontline health
workers who were deployed to under-served communities across the
country. Over 400,000 lives have been saved through our various
interventions. We have reached over 10,000 women and children
with conditional cash transfer programmes across 8 States and the
FCT and we intend to scale up this successful initiative.
Our national immunization coverage has exceeded 80%. And for the
first time in the history of the country there has not been any
transmission of the Type-3 Wild Polio virus for more than one year.
We have also eradicated the guinea worm that previously affected
the lives of over 800,000 Nigerians yearly. In tertiary health care, we
upgraded medical facilities across the country. Two of our teaching
hospitals – the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, and
the University College Hospital in Ibadan – commenced open heart
surgeries this year after the installation of new facilities.
Fellow Nigerians, I have dwelt on some of our administration’s
achievements in 2013 to reassure you that we are working and
results are being achieved on the ground. As we enter our Centennial
year, there is still much work ahead. We are determined to sustain
our strong macroeconomic fundamentals, to strengthen our domestic
institutions, and to invest in priority sectors. These investments will
create more jobs for our youth. Government will at the same time,
continue to scale-up investments in safety nets and the MDGs to
take care of the poor and the vulnerable so that they too can share
in our growth and prosperity.
In 2014, we will continue to prioritize investments in key sectors
such as infrastructure development, power, roads, rail transportation
and aviation. In the past year, the Federal Government completed
the privatization of four power generation companies and 10 power
distribution companies. We are also in the process of privatizing 10
power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).
We shall boost investments in transmission to ensure power
generated is properly evacuated and distributed. In this regard, we
have already mobilized an additional $1.5 billion for the upgrade of
the transmission network in 2014 and beyond. Government will also
strengthen regulation of the sector, and closely monitor electricity
delivery to increase this beyond 18 hours per day. We will complete
the privatization of the NIPP projects, accelerate work on our gas
pipeline infrastructure and also continue to invest in hydro-electric
power and clean energy as we monitor the effects of climate change
on our economy.
Our administration believes that the cost of governance in the
country is still too high and must be further reduced. We will also
take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages.
We have worked hard to curb fraud in the administration of the
pension system and the implementation of the petroleum subsidy
scheme. We have introduced a Pensions Transition Arrangement
Department under a new Director-General. This department will now
ensure that those of our pensioners still under the old scheme
receive their pensions and gratuities, and are not subjected to fraud.
Prosecution of all those involved in robbing our retired people will
continue. The Petroleum Subsidy Scheme is also now being operated
under new strict guidelines to tackle previous leakages in the scheme
and prevent fraud.
Foreign travel by government personnel will be further curtailed. This
directive shall apply to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of
the Federal Government. Our strategy to curb leakages will
increasingly rely on introducing the right technologies such as
biometrics and digitizing government payments.
I am therefore pleased to inform you that we shall complete the
deployment of the three electronic platforms in 2014 – namely, the
Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Government Integrated Financial
Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) – which are all
geared towards improving efficiency and transparency in our public
finances. Through these reforms, we have already saved about N126
billion in leaked funds and intend to save more.
To sustain Nigeria’s ongoing agricultural transformation, we have
planned further investments in the sector. We will provide input
subsidies to five million farmers nationwide using the e-wallet
system. This Administration recently launched a self-employment
initiative under the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme
(YEAP), called the Nagropreneur programme. This scheme would
encourage our youth to go into commercial agriculture as
entrepreneurs and we plan to develop over 750,000 young
Nagropreneurs by 2015.
We will also establish new agro-industrial clusters to complement
the staple crop processing zones being developed across the
country. In 2014, this Administration will continue to work with the
private sector to improve financing in the agricultural sector. For
example, we will launch the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria
(FAFIN) which will serve as a private equity fund to invest in agri-
businesses across the country.
Our Small and Medium scale enterprises (SMEs) will be the bedrock
of Nigeria’s industrialization. We have about 17 million registered
SMEs, and they employ over 32 million Nigerians. When our SMEs
grow, more jobs will be created for our youth. Therefore, in 2014,
this Administration will focus strongly on implementing the Nigeria
Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) to address the needs of
small businesses. Our interventions will include helping SMEs with
access to affordable finance, business development services, and
youth training. In addition, our new CET policies will enable us to
support our emerging industries.
We will also intensify our investment promotion efforts abroad, to
ensure we bring the biggest and best companies from around the
world to invest in Nigeria.
Dear Compatriots, the housing and construction industry is a critical
sector in most developed economies. When the housing sector
booms, it creates additional jobs for architects and masons, for
electricians and plumbers, forpainters and interior decorators, and
for those in the cement and furniture industries.
Today, I am pleased to inform you that this Administration is
reinvigorating our housing and construction sector. We have
established the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) which
will increase liquidity in the housing sector, provide a secondary
market for mortgages, and thereby increase the number of people
able to purchase or build homes at an affordable price in the
country.
In 2014, we will work in a number of pilot states where the State
Governors have agreed to provide fast-track land titles, foreclosure
arrangements, and serviced plots. This new institution will enable us
to create over 200,000 mortgages over the next five years at
affordable interest rates. In addition, those at the lower end of the
economic ladder will not be left behind as this new initiative will
expand mass housing schemes through a re-structured Federal
Mortgage Bank and other institutions to provide rent-to-own and
lease-to-own options. I am confident that very soon, many more
hardworking Nigerian families will be able to realize their dream of
owning a home.
In this our centenary year, we will continue our efforts, through the
Saving One Million Lives initiative to strengthen primary health care
services. We will scale up interventions in reproductive, maternal,
newborn and child health, nutrition, routine immunization, HIV/AIDS,
malaria elimination, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and
non-communicable diseases. We will pay greater attention to the
provision of universal health coverage. Besides the implementation of
new initiatives such as my comprehensive response plan for HIV/
AIDS, we shall continue to collaborate with global health partners to
deliver our health sector transformation agenda.
I am glad that the issues responsible for the long-drawn ASUU strike
have been resolved and our children are returning to their campuses.
We are committed to making our tertiary institutions true centers of
learning for our young people. We will therefore focus on upgrading
hostels, laboratories, classrooms, and halls. As the 2015 deadline
for the Millennium Development Goals approaches, we will continue
to expand access to basic education for all Nigerian children.
Working with State Governments, we shall decisively tackle the
problem of the large numbers of out-of-school children in this
country. We will also invest in technical and vocational education to
promote skills development for our youth across the country.
Nigerian entrepreneurs still lack access to affordable financing, with
medium-to-long-term tenors. To address this gap, a new wholesale
development finance institution will be established in 2014 to provide
medium-to long-term financing for Nigerian businesses. We are
working with partners such as the World Bank, the Africa
Development Bank, the BNDES Bank in Brazil, and KfW in Germany,
to realize this project. Our existing Bank of Agriculture and Bank of
Industry will be re-structured as specialized institutions to retail
financing from this new wholesale development bank.
In addition to the foregoing, our administration will also do all within
its powers to ensure the success of the forthcoming National
Conference. The report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on
the Conference is undergoing urgent review and the approved
structure, guidelines and modalities for the conference will soon be
published as a prelude to its commencement and expeditious
conclusion.
It remains our sincere hope and expectation that the success of the
national conference will further enhance national unity, peace and
cohesion as we move ahead to the 2015 general elections.
In keeping with our avowed commitment to progressively enhancing
the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process by consistently upholding
the principle of one man, one vote, our Administration will also
ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
receives all required support to ensure that it is adequately prepared
for the next general elections.
As peace and security remain prerequisite conditions for the full
realization of our objectives, we will also do more in 2014 to further
empower our security agencies who are working in collaborative
partnerships with our friends in the international community to stem
the scourge of terrorism in our country and enhance the security of
lives and property in all parts of Nigeria. The allocation of over N600
Billion to Defence and Policing in the 2014 Budget attests to this
commitment.
Fellow compatriots, the task of making our dear nation a much
better place for present and future generations cannot be left to
government alone. I therefore urge you all to be ready and willing to
do more this year to support the implementation of the Federal
Government’s Agenda for National Transformation in every possible
way.
Let us all therefore resolve as we celebrate the new year, and
Nigeria’s Centenary, to place the higher interests of national unity,
peace, stability and progress above all other considerations and work
harder in our particular fields of human endeavour to contribute more
significantly to the attainment of our collective aspirations. I urge all
Nigerians, no matter their stations in life, to rededicate themselves
to contributing meaningfully to further enrich our national heritage.
The time for that re-dedication is now, not tomorrow.
I wish you all a happy and rewarding 2014. God bless Nigeria.
Happy New Year.

PDP Publicity Secretary In Adamawa Resigns

The Adamawa State
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Umar
Jada, on Tuesday resigned his position.
Jada’s
resignation is contained in a letter dated Dec. 30 and addressed to
the state chairman of the party.
His letter, however, did not state any reason for the resignation.
“I, Umar Bello Jada, humbly write to formally inform you that I have
resigned from my position as the State Publicity Secretary of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamawa chapter.
“I very much thank you and the party for giving me the rare
opportunity to serve in that capacity.
“Thanks in anticipation of your kind acceptance”, the letter stated.
Confirming the development, the state Secretary of the party, Mr Tahir
Shehu, described Jada’s resignation as “something normal”.

Less Than 24Hrs To New Year, Man Sets Self Ablaze In Abuja

Less than 24 hours to the end of 2013, a middle aged man has
committed suicide by setting himself ablaze at his Gwarimpa
residence in Abuja on Tuesday.
The man, whose
identity is yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report,
was reportedly found by neighbours when the smoke coming from his
apartment became too thick to ignore. By the time they got to his
apartment, only his charred remains were found.
Meanwhile, the police have evacuated the corpse to the mortuary of
the General Hospital, Kubwa, Abuja.

Pope Francis is named Esquire’s Best Dressed Man of 2013

This is definitely ‘unconventional’ because the Head of the Catholic
Church mostly wears his Papal regalia, regardless Esquire Magazine has
named him their Best Dressed Man of 2013.
The magazine said he was picked because of his humility and his
simple manner of dressing, which has ‘signaled a new era and for many,
renewed hope for the Catholic Church’. Congrats The Holy Father!

IBIBIO AND ANNANG ARE SETTLERS BY TOROBONG EKPO

Timid politicians who feel intimidated by the antecedent of renowned
aspirants in the forthcoming governorship and general elections have
started resorting to Blackmail and character assassination in a bid to
tarnish the image of those aspirants they perceived constitute a threat to
their success at the pool.
In recent times, it is common to hear some political jobbers branding a
contender as a cultist, novice, and settler. Some of the avenues employed
by those timid politicians in propagating this barbaric act include; political
gathering, unregistered tabloid, bulk text messages, social network, blog
etc.
I read in a blog christened ‘Ibibio Political Forum’ where an Ibibio political
stalwart accused the State Governor Chief Dr. Godswill Akpabio of
spearheading crises between the Ibibio and urged the Ibibios to rally round
and produce a governor from the Ibibio tribe, in order for the person to
revenge the Annang tribe of its Governor misdeeds.
One of the commentators remarked that, soon after the expiration of the
present administration, the quest for the creation of Itai State by the
Annang will continue, as the Ibibio governor will make things too difficult
for the Annang nation.
One Mrs. Edidiong Akpan wrote this ‘AKPABIO'S GRAND PLAN FOR 2015
REVEALED ‘Folks, The grand plan for 2015 by Gov Akpabio has just been
revealed. Akpabio is set to handover to an Oron person. He had vowed
that no Ibibio person will ever have the temerity to govern the state after
him. He has Barr Effiong Abia, Larry Esin and Barr Ntekim to choose from.
The SSG is just porn in his succession gambit using him as a
smokescreen and will later claim that the ibibios did not want him. His
detaste for the ibibios has finally reared its very ugly head. This is a
wakeup call to the ibibios.’
I perceived from this nebulous propaganda that, upon all the good things
the present administration have done in terms of good roads, education,
health, sports among others, tribal blind politicians tend never to
appreciate.
I wonder why, a politician should insist on promoting Ibibio/Annang crises
after the expiration of this government in 2015. In order to ensure that, no
other tribe except Ibibio occupies the Hilltop Mansion in 2015 upward, this
political hoodlumps have ventured into labeling other contenders early
settlers.
I wept, when a governorship hopeful, openly called a chairman from Ikot
Abasi Federal Constituency a settler. It is a height of insult for Ibibio tribal
motivated politicians to think that an Obolo, Oro or Ekid man is an early.
If early migration is synonymous with settler, then, the Ibibios and
Annangs are the core settlers in the state.
Historically, It is pertinent to note that, the original homeland of Ibibio is at
Usak Edet (Isangele) in Cameroun, its migration into the present stay,
commences in 7000 B.C. as a fact, Ibibio Language is the most ancients of
all the semi Bantu languages.
Ford and Jones, a renowned anthropologist said ‘Ibibio settlement in
Isangele forms a small tribe in the Kumba division of Cameroun’ upon,
leaving Cameroun, Ibibio arrived at present location in 8000 B.C via
Arochukwu and Ikono (Ntippe Ibibio the origin of Ibibio) Oral history
reveals that Annang has its origins in Egypt and settled in Ghana before
arriving in the present area. The name Annang in Twi in Ghana means
fourth son. It is believed that Annangs started their migration from Egypt
around 7500 BC. The Abiakpo came to the northern range of Annang from
Eka Abiakpo. They were quickly followed by the Ukana clan, the Utu, Ekpu,
Ebom and Nyama.
The same oral tradition has it that their ancestors were Israelites (Jews)
of the Northern Kingdom who left Israel to Egypt before the Babylonian
captivity and that the ancestors of the Annangs and other people of Akwa
Ibom and Cross River States (the Efik, the Ibibio, etc.) of Nigeria were the
products of marriages of the people of Israel and Egyptians who migrated
from Egypt to their coastal southeastern land in Nigeria via Ethiopia and
Sudan.
Another evidence of their Egyptian origin is found in the burial customs and
veneration of the dead. Migration brought the groups to live among the Twi
of Ghana where the name Annang means fourth son. From Ghana, the
group moved eastward into present day Cameroon. It was in the Cameroon
highlands that the group broke off but later arrived at same territory in the
Coastal Southeastern Nigeria.
It is believed that upon their arrival at the virgin coastal southeastern
Nigeria the groups took an oath of solidarity to be together and bonded to
fight whatever was seen as a common enemy. Lineages were recognized
and the groups organized themselves into clans based on old family
origins known as Iman, a similar structure extends into the land of their
northern neighbors.
It is crystal clear from the analysis that Ibibio, Annang and other tribes
migrated from a foreign land to the present place, it is useless to call the
Obolo, Oro or Ekid man, a settler, whereas, the Ibibio and Annang migrated
from other parts of the globe and settled here in Akwa Ibom State.
The quest for the next governor should be devoid of blackmail and
character assassination, after all it is impossible to know a pregnant
woman womb that will give birth to a king via its physical look.
Prior to swearing in of the State Chief Executive in 2007, Who had believed
that the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah will
denied the privilege of hosting his birthday at Le meridien Ibom Hotel and
Golf resort- a five star inn he laid the foundation and erected structures, or
who had imagine that, the only surviving civilian governor of Akwa Ibom
State will not witness the cutting of silver jubilee cake of the state?
I am sure, nobody would have believe such, even the State Governor, Chief
Godswill Akpabio whom Obong Attah became his destiny helper by
appointed him into the state executive cabinet in 1999 would have joined
the doubting ‘Thomases’.
Obong Victor Attah, was an Ibibio son who devoid of political sentiment,
prudently used as low as 800 million naira federal allocation to build
International Airport, Ibom Power Plant, le meridian hotel and golf resort,
among others. None of the contracts were given to his brothers, nor
projects cited in his hometown- Ibesikpo.
He strongly advocated for power shift to Annang speaking local
governments of the state (not Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District), at the
detriment of his kinsmen. One wonders why such a person name should
be abandon so soon by an administration he laboured for.
Maybe, he would have been relevant to the government of the day, if he
did not make mistake of supporting his son in law-Dr. Udoma Bob
Ekarika, at the detriment of the incumbent governor- Chief Dr. Godswill
Akpabio. However, during the 2007 election, the incumbent was blackmail
by other aspirant, one of the Annang governorship hopeful called him an
Igbo Man, yet the almighty God made him the governor.
We should shun all this vices, but work in accordance with the zoning
principles as entrenched in section 7 (c) of the PDP constitution. This
zoning entails that, Oro federal constituency should produce senator, Uyo
Senatorial District should produce the first Deputy Governor and Eket
Senatorial District should produce the first Governor since the creation of
Akwa Ibom State.
However, I want to suggest that, for fairness, justice and equity, since
Ibibio is the only occupant of Uyo Senatorial District, it will not be proper
for an Ibibio to deputize Ibibio, hence, we should select a credible
governorship candidate from other minority tribes in Eket Senatorial
district, at least we have, the Oro, Obolo, Ekid and other minority tribes.
(This is my candid opinion)
TOROBONG EKPO, IS A CORE IBIBIO LAD, HE IS A NATIVE OF IKOT UDO
ABIA, IN ETINAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE.

MASS EXODUS IN URUAN: -As ACN Chairman, others defect to PDP By Henshaw NYONG, Uyo.

As the preparation and race for 2015 hots up, the kingpin of opposition in
Uruan Local Government Area, Mr Ekong Asuquo Etim, has taken a swipe
on Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) by offloading not just himself, but
also, a hundred ACN members into the ruling Peoples' Democratic Party,
(PDP).
The cross over ceremony took place over the Weekend at St Gabriel's RCM
Primary School ground, Nnung Oku Uruan, and was witnessed by political
bigwigs in the area, led by the PDP chapter Chairman, Obong Emmanuel
Etim Atakpo.
Others who witnessed the historic event were: Member representing Uruan
State constituency in the House of Assembly, Obong Kufre-Abasi Etuk,
Executive Chairman of Uruan Local Government council, Rt Hon Tony Akan,
alongside the vice chairman of the council, Israel Etim, State Commissioner
for Transport, Prince Godwin Ntukudeh, ward chairperson of PDP, Alice
Effiong Imoh and the entire leadership of Central Uruan Ward 3.
However, our findings reveal that all the defectors were members of the
PDP at a point in time but defected to the opposition party to pursue their
political ambitions.
Speaking at the elaborate occasion, the leader of the party in Central Uruan
Ward 3, Alice Effiong Imoh, said she was very happy to welcome back the
defectors as they were former members of the PDP who left due to some
misunderstandings in the past.
The Woman PDP boss emphasized that, now that they have remembered
their first home by returning back, the umbrella party "is very much ready to
work and make good use of their enormous political experience to move the
ruling party forward in the ward and chapter in particular and State at
large".
Speaking, the Executive Chairman, Uruan Local Government Council, Rt Hon
Tony Akan, expressed joy that the once notorious den of opposition parties
(Uruan) is now dominated by the ruling PDP.
The council boss noted that with the help of the Commissioner for
Transport who hails from the area, Prince Godwin Ntukudeh, as well as
maximum support from the mouthpiece of Uruan Inyang Atakpo in the State
House of Assembly, Obong Kufre-Abasi Etuk, the PDP has now taken its
bride of place in Uruan and as well received more members on daily basis.
Tony Akan, recalled three ocassions of late, where himself, the
Assemblyman and Commissioner had witneseed defection of opposition
party members into the umbrella party in the area and however, called on a
few others to join the bandwagon, assuring them that the PDP will ensure
they are carried along.
On his part, the member representing Uruan State Constituency, Obong
Kure-Abasi Etuk, who was ecstatic to have the former ACN Chairman back
to PDP, pointed out why a horde of politicians in the area abandoned the
ruling party in the past.
According to Etuk, himself, Chairman, House Committee on Environment in
the State House of Assembly, "our leaders were not united that's why the
followers went astray"
The lawmaker who for the umpteenth time streseed that "there's money in
government", charged political office holders in the area to share the little
they have with those in need, positing that by doing so, there would be no
room for anyone to ruminate opposing the government of the day.
Obong Etuk also used the occasion to divulge a mega party to empower
youth, elders, women and physically challenged at his instance and the
council boss slated for the first week of January 2014 in Idu Uruan.
He however thanked God for the unity and tranquility among them ( the trio
of the council boss, commissioner and lawmaker), and dedcribed it as
"uncommon in this part of the world".
The Commissioner for Transport, Prince Godwin Ntukudeh, commended the
ACN kingpin and his followers for having faith in PDP, noting that the
Peoples' Democratic party is a party that is accommodating and has
prospect for the state and nation at large.
Receiving those who 'cross carpeted', PDP Chapter chairman, Obong
Emmanuel Atakpo, Zonal leader, Central Uruan Ward 3, Colonel Ededet
Bassey(Retd.) and Ward Chairperson, Alice Imoh, in their separate remarks,
assured that they will work together with the new members while
commending the lawmaker, the Council chairman and commissioner for
their dugged efforts in winning the ACN boss and members over to PDP.
Earlier, the ACN boss confirmed that their decision to join PDP was not
egocentric, but out of the fact that they were fascinated and attracted by
the generosity, vision and kind gesture of the trio (council boss,
commissioner and lawmaker), noting that their affection to the less
privileged has transversed all boundaries while commending them for taking
Uruan Inyang Atakpo to the next level.

#(Photo Up: Uruan political bigwigs; Rt Hon. Tony Akan, Obong Kufre-
Abasi Etuk, Prince Godwin Ntukudeh & Hon Israel Etim. DOWN: ACN Boss &
his followers being received by Uruan PDP chapter)#

Akpabio should support an Oro Candidate...My Mission as PG is to Actualize Oro’s 2015 Interest in AKS …. Zoning was a seed planted by Ibibio, nurtured by Annang, and growing, Oro must harvest it -Dr. Edet Ekerendu

The Crown Prince, Dr Ekerendu entertaining the press during the interview
The Crowned Prince of Afaha Ubodung was recently on a hot seat
answering questions on his aspiration for the president general of Oron
Union and what he hopes to achieve for the Oro people when voted into
that office. He however spoke glowing on a number of issues as they
affect the Oro people in the conglomerate called Akwa Ibom State. He
spells out his action plan and strategies toward ensuring that an Oro man
emerges the governor of Akwa Ibom State come 2015. “I want to take that
platform, and like NAFDAC used to say, to shine our eyes and make sure
that every effort –the AFANGI philosophy of Oro will be mobilized on that
platform to make sure that we reach out to all political interests in Nigeria;
because this time around, having governorship in Akwa Ibom transcends
the interest of Akwa Ibomites alone, it involves that of the dominant
parties in government and in Nigeria, and we are capable and we believe
we have what it takes to reach out to those political interests outside Akwa
Ibom, outside Oro, so that we are sure that the sympathies that we will
articulate… will be sufficient to turn the groundswell of opinion in favour of
the party supporting a candidate from Oro extraction”. Offong Okodio,
News Editor with Insight Newspapers and chairman, Media, Research and
Strategy Committee –Democracy in Action, alongside a prominent member
of the committee, Barr. Emem Benson, were there to interview the Crowned
Prince. Read on.
Dr, you are welcome to our media platform!
Thank you. I appreciate your efforts so far.
You are Chief (Dr.) Edet Ekerendu, as we know you. Could you tell us more
about yourself?
No, I am the Crown Prince; I am not a chief, because my dad was a clan
head and automatically I am from that royalty. I can’t take a chieftaincy
title; you will get to know the difference as we go on.
Alright sir! Certainly our audience will want to know who the Crown Prince
is; tell us.
It was in the year 2000; I was already a Federal Permanent Secretary when
the clan head of Afaha Ubodung, His Highness, late Chief Etiese, gave me
the title “Crown Prince”. Crown prince simply means when there is a
vacancy in the clan headship in Afaha Ubodung, I don’t need to struggle
with anybody; I simply step in. I have what they called the first right of
choice. I will be the one to say sorry, I don’t want it, as indeed I have done
so far; but it will come. When I was also a permanent secretary, I made
sure Akwa Ibom State as a whole was electrified, during the time of Arc
Victor Attah, that no Akwa Ibom money was invested in rural electrification
. That was left to me to pool federal resources to the tune of 1.5 billion for
rural electrification in Akwa Ibom. That was not a small feat, as indeed the
ex-governor of Gombe State was taking care of Gombe State, and then the
late Minister of Power, Agagu, was also taking care of Ondo State, with
particular reference to Ejele area. So, the three musketeers, if you like, in
the Ministry of Power made sure that power got to the rural areas of
Nigeria, but they needed to redeem their own states and communities
based on past neglect of the military in that sector. Now I am retired for
the past thirteen years and half. I have devoted my time to community
service, especially in Oro and other platforms. I have a foundation with
which I am rendering services to humanity. But then, I also was a
candidate for the senate seat of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District under
the platform of the then ANPP as it was called. We had two strong political
parties. I had a chance to win because it was Oro turn, as our people said,
but the regime then had the politics of allocating votes and of course we
rested it at that. So, for that senate thing, we put it on the side line, and we
are focussing on one thing now, which is the 2015 governorship, then after,
every other things will follow.
Is like you are very passionate about politics?
Well, politics in the sense that my community, Oro, is a minority in Akwa
Ibom, minority in Nigeria. If you make reference to the Wellington
Commission in the ‘50s, special prescriptions were made for remedying the
situations of the minorities; and that is why we have states created in
Nigeria. It was on the basis of the Wellington Commission’s reports; and
in any case, my late father was strong in politics, with Barr. O. O. Ita, and
of course they carried the day through out because they were pursuing the
creation of states in Nigeria, especially for the minorities; that is what they
used to call COR –Calabar, Ogaja Rivers States. Everybody is pleased that
these states have been created but they don’t remember how many people
fought for them to be created. So, I am indeed passionate about politics
until that minority, unfairness and marginalization are removed; we will
continue as long as we have the breathe in us to pursue doggedly. You
know the politics of Oro and Akwa Ibom within the federation of Nigeria. It
is not just by chance that we are the number one oil producing state in
Nigeria but it is because we had also fought for it. I think we will talk in
detail about that.
Sir, you tried to say something about your father. Who and what was your
father?
My father was the His Highness Chief Jackson Antai Ekerendu. He was a
school teacher; he was a lay preacher; he was a counsellor; he was a
politician.
You must have been a regular visitor to Akwa Ibom and must have seen
the on-going development there in the state. Looking at Akwa Ibom State
generally, what is your thinking or opinion?
When talking about development, we only hear of the uncommon
transformation of the state; and that is, as you rightly said, with particular
reference to the northern part of Akwa Ibom State, but what we called
Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, part of it, because of its standing on
oil matters, it has been also partially developed. But when you come to the
five local government areas of Oro, there is no development; we can even
say that there is a decay; that is why we are saying nobody else develop
his own area than the person in the saddle of governance. Nobody will do
it better for you than you, as they say he who the shoe pinches will know
what to do. So, that development issue is at the back of our mind, why we
say 2015 must happen, and will surely happen, by the grace of God.
Looking at the on-going agitation for Oro to produce the next governor of
Akwa Ibom State, a lot of people have argued in some quarters that the
Oro people are looking at it from the narrow prism of an Oro governor and
not a governor of Akwa Ibom State of Oro extraction. That is to say the
agitation by the Oro people is simply based on ethnic sentiments, that they
want to produce the governor of Akwa Ibom State just to satisfy the Oro
Interests. I would want you to comment on this.
My comment is simply that once there is an idea, that idea is always very
difficult to die until it takes its full bloom. I can compare it to a seed;
when you plant it, you have to nurture it; when you nurture it, you have to
harvest. And I will say the rotation principle in Akwa Ibom was planted the
then Governor Victor Attah; it did not matter what his motives were, but it
was nurtured by Governor Godswill Akpabio because he became the
beneficiary of that principle. Then the harvest of that idea or seed planting
must come to Oro because they are now the third largest indigenous
ethnic nationality in Akwa Ibom State. So, if it is said to be sentimental, it
is not, because that is the root of Oro agitation; it has its own origin, if you
like, history. You can say 16 years can be counted as a long period and
some political ideas that had been planted is blossoming and you believe
that Oro people would not see, and as part of Akwa Ibomites they have to
reap the fruits of that idea. So, what we are saying is that the tripod
principle puts Oro into the ratio of 5, 3, 2; and that means whoever is the
governor of Akwa Ibom State will not put this ratio, the basket and the
principle aside. He will have to implement that to the letter. But you will
see that an Oro man becoming a governor, he will stop the marginalization
of his people that has openly been implemented in the past 16 years. That
is what we are passionate about. We are saying that other majority groups
will always get what they deserve and what their strength and population
in the state will give to them; nobody can take that away from them. But
for Oro, something has been taken away from them, which is development,
and they will make sure, if they produce a governor, they will not only
develop the entire state but they will develop that neglected area.
Judging from the 5, 3, 2 ratio that has been in place for a long while,
would you say Governor Godswill Akpbio has been fair in applying that
principle?
You can say that it is worse during Governor Akpabio’s tenure. Arc Victor
Attah actually tried his best because it was the beginning of the
implementation of that idea. When it came to physical development, Arc
Attah did not do anything other than what Akpabio is doing -marginalizing
Oro. When it came to the ratio principle of 5, 3, 2, politically, occupying
political offices, Attah did try because at that time we had a speaker, we
had also a chairman of party and we had about 3 or 4 commissioners, but
now we don’t have a speaker, we don’t have party chairman, we don’t
have up to 4 commissioners out of 21. Now, we are saying that that
principle is almost dead during Governor Akpabio’s tenure, and the
marginalization in the development sphere has heightened our agitation;
and it makes that agitation fair and acceptable; and we are saying, by
God’s grace, it will come to pass.
Presently, there seem to be a dichotomy between the Ibibio and Oro
because of the mismanagement of the political situations in the state by
Governor Akpabio. Now, the Ibibios are laying claim to the 2015
governorship as against the zoning principle. What is your take on this?
My take is that those who want to contest have the right to contest. But
you know in politics, there are structures, there are party platforms, and
there are gentlemen agreements. Those are what will help Oro. But if you
say nobody in Ibibio land should come out, that is not correct. They will
come out, but we are saying that the gentlemen agreements reached by
whatever platform Oro candidate is going to pursue his governorship
interest must be understood by all concerned. You can see the difference,
the interest of the minority has to be agreed to at the caucus and at the
party executive level. But individuals will always have the right to step
forward; that means you will be running against the current, so to say,
because unwritten agreement and the party’s thinking will not favour you;
but as an individual, nobody stops you from aspiring. Indeed, when Arc
Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio became governors, nobody was stopped
from coming out to buy form and to run for governorship, because those
individuals had the right to do so. But what we are saying at the
governmental and party levels is that that acceptance, that unwritten
agreement by the party platforms, a consensus of opinion is that
whichever candidate we have coming out, we will zero in; we will do
everything to ensure that the delegates will deliver it to a particular
candidate of a particular extraction. That is what everybody, no matter
what you say, should understand; because the issue of consensus on party
platform to produce a candidate is actually in making sure that a
candidate who emerges comes from the unwritten code. But the party’s
constitution says you can buy a form and see how far you can go during
the primaries. So, I want to use this medium to make sure that everybody
understands the distinction between the consensus by the party organs or
party platform of which candidate they want on the basis of rotation as
against all candidates that have the freedom to come to the field.
There is currently an unfortunate argument from some quarters that the
Oro people never support the creation of Akwa Ibom State and as such
they have no moral justification to aspire to produce the governor of Akwa
Ibom State. Apart from that, they have also argued that Oro has no
number and also no politician in Oro has the financial weight to aspire to
that position. I want you to also speak on these issues.
Well, as I have already said, when you are talking of consensus, when you
are talking of agreement, when you are talking of rotation, when you are
talking of principle of fairness, numbers don’t come in, because those
numbers will be galvanized to reach the consensus which is on the table.
Now, if you say Oro did not support the creation of Akwa Ibom State, I
have just told you about my father; we had our own house burnt down
during Okpara’s time in the defunct Eastern region, simply because we
were asking for a state. As a basis of electioneering, my father and others
were saying -vote Action Group because it was the only party that desired
state creation. If you vote for NCNC, they did not want state creation. So,
we continuously won elections on the basis of state creation. On states,
what did General Gowon do with the opportunity he had to counteract the
secession plan of the late Ikemba Nnewi, because those were the majority
groups that did not want states to be created, they preferred the status quo
while the minorities referred to in the Wellington Commission will remain
under political under-development. So, to that extent, historically, Oro
people were in the vanguard of state creation. General Gowon found that
agitation and consistent votes by our people in Oro for Action Group which
stood for states creation -to create the first 12 states in Nigeria, which
included the then South Eastern State. And when other military authorities
continued to look at state creation, they then came to Akwa Ibom State.
Nobody had any more agitation other than the original agitations for
creation of states. General Babangida in particular, this time not Gowon,
created Akwa Ibom State based on the principle that Nigeria must be
divided into states in such a way that minorities would not be hugely
created; we would not have people who are Ibibio or Oro or Annang
languishing under the majority who are called Igbos. So, they also created
their own states for them as they have: it was East Central State created
by General Gowon and later split into 5 states. So, when Akwa Ibom State
was created, it was created on the principle of state creation by the
military, to reduce minority domination in Nigeria. So, those who don’t
know that history must go and read it. In fact, the history of state creation
is not a recent thing, nobody campaigned for the recent ones. Nobody
could say Oro did not support the creation of Akwa Ibom State. That is my
take on that.
Let’s get back to Oro proper. We are made to understand that you have
interest in running for the office of the President General of Oron Union,
what inspires you to seek for election into that office.
That’s a good question. You know, for every community, they have to have
a cultural platform with which they can pursue certain interests. Culture is
for the entire people; if it were politics, you would have differences; but
culture –the fact that you are Oro makes it all inclusive. Though that
platform is not political, but at least they have political interest that they
can understand is the desire of the people of Oro. It may not be 100%
interest by Oro people but the majority interest of Oro, politically, will be
the stand of Oron Union. So, come 2015, we believe there are a lot of
things involved. 2014 will be too important for you to leave Oron Union in
the hand of somebody who don’t believe in the interest of Oro people,
because so far we have even heard that there are certain interests and
individuals who are trying to subjugate the overall and collective interest of
Oro people to the background, as they prefer to have the deputy
governorship position under another governorship candidate. To make sure
that does not happen, I want to take that platform, and like NAFDAC used
to say, to shine our eyes and make sure that every effort –the AFANGI
philosophy of Oro will be mobilized on that platform to make sure that we
reach out to all political interests in Nigeria; because this time around,
having governorship in Akwa Ibom transcends the interest of Akwa
Ibomites alone, it involves that of the dominant parties in government and
in Nigeria, and we are capable and we believe we have what it takes to
reach out to those political interests outside Akwa Ibom, outside Oro, so
that we are sure that the sympathies that we will articulate and will be
using your medium, will be sufficient to turn the groundswell of opinion in
favour of the party supporting a candidate from Oro extraction.
We have just been informed of your aspiration for the office of President
General of Oron Union. As you rightly said, 2014 and 2015 governorship
are very paramount to Oron Union, as far as Oro interest is concerned. I
want you to speak specifically on your action plan for Oro to actualize its
dream of producing a governor of Akwa Ibom, assuming you are elected
the president general of Oron Union.
They say we don’t have the majority and I say when you preach fairness,
you can bring majority to queue behind you. So, my strategy is to get the
majority in Akwa Ibom to accept that the 5, 3, 2 ratio has been established
and nobody will lose out when Oro candidate for governorship emerges
from that part of the state. It will be an article of faith that development
also in that ratio will take place. But if you follow that same ratio, it
means that a governor of Oro extraction will make sure that the 2% ratio
for its own people will be faithfully implemented, because you cannot take
a knife and stab yourself. We will make sure that your own ratio comes to
you, so that nobody will say they have been cheated. You can’t cheat
yourself. The other one, they say we don’t have money; and we believe
from our cultural platform, we will reach out to other Nigerians to see that
fairness and rotation are very important; even as Nigerians also pursue it
to make the siting president – a president. We are going to mobilize Oro
people one-on-one. All stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State will be reached;
we are not going to leave any stone unturned without reaching out to
opinion leaders on this matter. What do we have at hand to speak to them,
you have to have written words which I learnt the think-tank has
developed. We will improve on that, make it less voluminous and concise.
Now, traditionally, you don’t visit people without carrying drink. So, as part
of that strategy, we will need resources; when we visit the stakeholders, we
must drop something on the table so that they can listen to us; and when
we must have finished talking and would have left, they will understand
that Oro people are cultural people, that they understand how to talk to
people. That is where we are talking of persuasion; we are not talking of
numbers in the ballots that we don’t have. We are talking of the majority
that we are going to persuade to support us not only at the primaries but
also when they votes are being dropped in the ballot boxes. We should not
forget that there are other political platforms that Oro are not going to use
and other Akwa Ibomites are going to use. So, you are not talking about
just Oro candidates; we are talking about all candidates from other
political parties. But thank God, we have the majority of a particular party
in Akwa Ibom, and it is that platform we are talking so convincingly about
and we can have the majority to elect a candidate of Oro extraction who is
going to successfully win the primary and subsequently the governorship
seat in Akwa Ibom State
Dr., generally, the body language of the Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief
Godswill Akpabio, tends to favour an Ibibio of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial
District extraction. What is your reaction to this?
Today, that is his body language, and we are saying, in recognition of
whatever interest he is pursuing at the moment, we will also work, just as
you had asked, what is your strategy?. As president general, we will reach
out to the governor; we will reach out to the people the governor listens to;
we will reach out to the party headquarters; we will reach out to Mr
President, to make sure that Governor Akpabio does what some other
person had done to make him the governor of Akwa Ibom State, which he
is. So, our first gratitude to God is that he has zoned the governorship to
Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. So, there is one more step for him to
take, we believe he will take that step in 2014, no matter what he is doing
at the moment; and that is why some of us have stepped out to be the PG
of Oron Union; because there is no other elected political person with the
clout so far; even if there is, the cultural platform, like I told you at the
beginning, is inclusive in principle of all Oro people, and that interest is
what we will use to tell the governor this is what Oro people want and if he
is not doing it, others who are also in the same political platform with him
will tell him on our behalf. That is the most important aspect on this
campaign. The most important aspect is that we are going to tell the
governor that if his colleague could support a candidate successfully in
Anambra State, that he should support Oro candidate to become governor
of Akwa Ibom State. The basis of all that we have is fairness, rotation, and
5, 3, 2 ratio. On uncommon transformation, we will make sure that our
candidate has the eye and mind of development like Governor Akpabio, so
that the uncommon transformation will not end in his time but will be
taken far more beyond what he is considering as uncommon
transformation, to make Akwa Ibom one of the state in Nigeria that will
become a destination not only for development in Nigeria but for the whole
world to come and see the Akwa Ibom wonders.
For the first time in the political history of Akwa Ibom State, two important
political positions, the governorship and the senate, appear to be due in
favour of Oro, the senate position, given the fact that for over 30 years now
an Oro person has not taken the senate position and has never taken the
governorship position of Akwa Ibom State. Now the argument has been
that Oro cannot aspire to the two positions at the same time, they must
chose one, and Oro people are saying no, it is our right; we can as well
take the two. What is your comment on this situation?
Personally, I told you in 2013, I ran for senate simply on the belief that Oro
turn had come, and if they had allowed one man one vote, I believe I
would have been a senator for Akwa Ibom South in 2003 against Senator
Udoudoama. Luckily, between his father and my father, they had worked
together for the state creation. People have said since he was 4 years in
senate, he did not bring any development to the senatorial district; and of
course it was time for him to be voted out when I aspired to replace him. I
am now saying if we have our eyes for governorship position, which of
course is a prize to be won by Oro, I would have said let us go
governorship. Except yiou are selfish before you will want to be a winner
takes all and unless you are not considering the political interest of others
within the senatorial district. You would remember the serving Senator of
the district was saying that she will support us for senate while she would
be aspiring for governorship; and I think there was a near booing on that
statement.
TO BE CONTINUED.

I Will Commission Tropicana, Stadium, Specialist Hospital in 2014 -Akpabio

Akwa Ibom Government has reiterated its determination to inaugurate
some mega projects worth billions of naira next year.
Governor Godswill Akpabio, who gave the hint in his 2013 radio and
television broadcast Christmas message to the people of and residents in
Akwa Ibom State, listed the projects to include Ibom Tropicana
Entertainment Centre, Ibom Specialist Hospital and Ibom International
Stadium, among others.
According to him, "We have eased the burdens of our people with various
economic incentives. We have tarred over 320 roads; executed over 4,000
people-oriented projects in our rural communities across the entire State
under the Inter- ministerial Direct Labour Scheme; attained about 90 per
cent coverage in electricity supply; commenced work on the main terminal
building of the Ibom International Airport while work on the international
stadium is nearing completion. We have turned Uyo into a modern,
beautiful and sophisticated metropolitan city".
The Governor, however, stated "Work is on-going on the third pipe-jacking
underground drainage system which will serve the Tropicana Complex, the
environs of the State Secretariat and our newly-completed dualized Nung
Udoe/Ibesikpo Asutan Road; a road that has caught the fancy of our
nation".
Akpabio observed "We started this journey in 2007 with a firm
commitment to positively change forever, the lives of our people. The God
who brought us this far will not abandon us in the New Year. We have
proved that a united Akwa Ibom can only grow from strength to strength
and stronger and stronger each passing day. Let us never succumb to the
forces of divisiveness, for such forces are obstacles to stop us from living
the rich promises of our forefathers.
"We set out to change Akwa Ibom State, but now we appear to have
become the bellwether of hope for a new Nigeria. The wave of development
in our State has elicited great commendation and praise from within and
without our Country. Our State has become the destination of choice for
conferences, workshops, seminars and retreats in Nigeria. Thanks to God,
we have become a reference point in good governance and a paragon of
development.
"As this year draws to a close, we can count our blessings and know we
have a lot to thank God for. As a People and a State, we have moved from
the shadows of national life to the centre of national attention. With God
on our side we have recorded great successes in infrastructural
development, human capacity building, economic growth, educational
advancement and health care services", the Governor stated.
He urged the people to embrace the spirit of Christmas by striving to keep
it throughout the New Year, resolve not only to show love to one another in
this wonderful season, but also to let love guide every action in the
coming year, saying "It is only in this way that we shall realize that
ancient, wondrous and angelic proclamation of “peace on earth and
goodwill towards men”.
Akpabio, who recalled that a few days ago, Akwa Ibom children drawn
from the 31 Local Government Areas coalesced into a 9,999 Choir to sing
Christmas Carols in praise and honour of our God, pointed out that the
historic event was a watershed in spiritual rebirth, thanking those who
attended the event or followed it in the media, and hoping that next year,
the festival of carols would hold at the ultra-modern 30,000 capacity
international stadium.

Another God’s Will for Akwa Ibom By Eventus EDEM

This man I intend to write about is my boss. His name is Godswill and he
believes so much in the will of God and not the will of man.
In 2006 in the heat of the gubernatorial campaigns, championed by the
then octopus Akwa Ibom Peoples Forum AKPF and its affiliates across the
state, Chief Akpabio roared like an angry lion thus, AKPF, and an
appreciative crowd responded, let’s Godswill be done! And vice versa.
And the entire state was in a state of frenzy welcoming the then
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr.
Godswill Akpabio as a beautiful bride, who was sent by God to unite the
State, heal the wounds and thereafter bring about socio-economic
eldorado in all parts of the State.
Little wonder therefore, Chief Akpabio later triumphed at the PDP
Governorship primaries beating about 57 other contestants that spread
across the three senatorial districts of the State.
What am I trying to say? In a nutshell, Chief Godswill Akpabio CON was a
product of the people and indeed the will of God for Akwa Abasi Ibom
State.
But the big question is, what is wrong, if we allow the wishes of the people
to prevail so that we can jointly produce another God’s Will for our dear
state in 2015?
In my opinion, I don’t see anything wrong in the Governor seeking to know
who succeeds him or giving rehearsals to those who are in preparatory
class or waiting on the wings to step into the big shoes as the State Chief
Executive in 2015.
But what I feel unacceptable is the activities of certain influential
personalities, groups or cabal who have wielded so much power in
governance in the past six years who are probably boxing the governor to
a corner to ensure that he anoints their preferred candidate(s) or
ultimately subsumes his political cum economic interest in theirs.
When we the early disciples of Gov. Akpabio nicknamed him the promise
keeper, it wasn’t to flatter him but to confirm what we had personally and
collectively witnessed that the governor keeps his promises to the people
who voted massively for him in 2007 and repeated same in 2011
sometimes against all odds.
Early this year, I wrote about the search for Akpabio’s successor in 2015
which I entitled “the big scramble”. There I chronicled the activities of
certain influential persons and groups. In that piece, I drew the attention of
the public to the huge pressures the governor was going through by certain
groups notably, Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio led by Ntisong Engr. Essien
Ekidem, Eket Senatorial District Forum led by Senator Etang Edet Umoyo,
Uyo Senatorial District Elders council led by Otuekong Sunny Jackson
Udoh and the inner power brokers championed by ‘I’ Eleven, the list is
endless. They all came in different uniforms but had one message for the
governor, “show us the senatorial district that would produced your
successor in 2015”.
To be very honest to you, none of the governorship aspirants
masquerading to take over from Akpabio, can give him the Chief Rotimi
Amaechi/Dr. Peter Odili contraption currently witnessed in Rivers State
and the attendant political crises witnessed in our neighbouring oil riched
state; since almost all the contenders are directly or indirectly his
products.
It was perhaps to buttress this fact and to give a level playing ground to
all the contestants that Gov. Akpabio reportedly said thus, during the last
good governance tour of the state led by Information and National
Orientation Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku.
“If you ask me, I will tell you that I am not a product of zoning but a
product of the people. In 2006 57 people from Uyo, Eket and Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial Districts all contested the primaries…”
After that incident, there was palpable political tension in the state as
some leaders of socio-political groups and political chieftains particularly
from Eket Senatorial District notably, Senator Etang Edet Umoyo and
former South South National Vice Chairman of the ruling PDP, Chief Edet
Nkpubre made provocative statements alleging that there will be crises of
unimaginable proportion if Gov. Akpabio and the PDP leadership fail to
hand over the 2015 governorship diadem to Eket Senatorial District.
Moments later, Gov. Akpabio reportedly held a town hall meeting at Eket
where he announced that he has no anointed candidate for the race, an
action insiders in the corridors of power said jolted the former Secretary to
the State Government, Mr. Umana Okon Umana whom many had dubbed
as the preferred candidate owing to the body language of the Governor
then for 2015.
That political confrontation had a major casualty in the person of Umana
Okon Umana, a man many called the engine room of Gov. Akpabio’s
uncommon transformation agenda, had to resign his exalted position as
SSG for a new entrant in the person of Mr. Udom Emmanuel, another
technocrat from the Zenith Bank Group.
After that episode, the print media and the social media have been
awashed with a plethora or cacophony of messages, communiqués etc,
each canvassing support for or against zoning of Governorship position in
2015.
At a point, I was wondering if the contest for 2015 is restricted to only
Akwa Ibom State as events in other states especially in the South South
zone did not receive similar attention.
Akpabio also had another cross to carry as the pioneer chairman of the
PDP Governor’s Forum, whose primary responsibility was to instill unity,
Comradeship and party discipline amongst fellow PDP Governors but with
the formation of the G7. Governors and later the New PDP, led by Alhaji
Abubakar Baraje, a former Acting National Chairman of the party,
Akpabio’s problems became rather cumbersome.
And on October 25, 2013 or there about, Gov. Akpabio together with a few
other Governors, some Ministers and officials of Christian Association of
Nigeria, CAN led by its President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor led other Christian
Pilgrims to join the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to pray for our
troubled Nation, Nigeria.
Gov. Akpabio, a known prayer warrior who had organized other religious
carnivals to bless the state in the past visited mount Sanai, Bethlehem
(where Christ was born) and many other holy sites to pray for Akwa Ibom
for unity and for a successful political transition programme in the state.
On coming home, Gov. Akpabio told airport correspondents at Enugu that
the Federal Government should declare a national day for prayers in the
Nation. We also gathered that during the visit of Bishop David Oyedepo of
Living Faith Church, Winners Chapel to Uyo last Sunday, Gov. Akpabio
basking in the euphoria of his prophetic anointing from Jerusalem has
been very methodical in his prophesies to the people of the state.
It is perhaps because of the influence of the direction of the ‘holy ghost’
that Gov. Akpabio on Monday 4th November, 2013 made another
“dramatic u-turn”, some of his critics called it “diplomatic gaffe” on the
2015 political debate.
Addressing a select group of media executives and Editors in Uyo, Gov.
Akpabio said unequivocally that the contest for 2015 Gubernatorial race is
open to any prospective candidate, that left for him, he would have
preferred to produce a candidate from Eket adding that he will allow the
people to decide what they want.
Hear him: Why have all my SSG’s been described as my successor?
Initially, it was the former SSG and now it is the present SSG. Let me tell
you gentlemen, I have no candidate in the gubernatorial election. The Next
Governor would be a product of the people and the will of God”, Akpabio
said with his philosophical calmness.
He appealed to newsmen not to fan the embers of ethnic disunity as the
state is one indivisible entity but to return to the glorious days of
responsible reportage.
The media briefing was watched by the State PDP chairman, Mr. Paul
Ekpo, some members of the State Executive council and some media
executives in the state.
My take on all this is simple. Gov. Akpabio the apostle of uncommon
transformation should be left alone to finish strong, end like a hero and
move on to provide service in another capacity to the nation. Just as it
was in 2006, the people of the state should be passionately interested in
who steps into the big shoes vacated by our Governor on 29th May, 2015.
The next Governor should take the entire state as his constituency by
ensuring even distribution of amenities popularly called democracy
dividends to the people and I repeat, no section of the state or ethnic group
should arrogate to itself the next Chief Executive of the State, thereby
giving undue prominence to the “turn by turn” or “our son” syndrome,
Enough is Enough!

OF BLIND APC AND FALLING PDP By Utitofon Morgan Morgan_soul2003@yahoo.com

The event occurring in recent weeks have prove that Nigerian Politicians have permanent interest with no permanent friend or enemy. The Massive Exodus from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Party by 5 Governors and their followers, 49 House of Representative Members and expected more deflection of Senators of the Federal Republic and former Governors.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a political party formed on 6th February 2013 to wrestle power from People Democratic Party (PDP). APC was formed out of the conglomeration of  the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The All Progressive Congress (APC) is presently leading the majority in the National Assembly with about 182 legislators, gives the People Democratic Party (PDP) and Presidency a lot to worry about. Even as the APC has moved a call for President Goodluck Jonathan to be impeached for range of many issues which Federal Government has label the call treasonable.

Issues which call for impeachment of the President by APC are gross misconduct by the President. Such Gross misconduct as explained by APC publicity secretary are high level of corruption, non-prosecution of corrupt public officials, involving in politics of divide and rule, and frittering away the nation's resources through unprecedented cronyism and clannishness, and for a total failure of leadership.

The recent deflection by 5 governors and their followers, 49 legislators and their followers, New PDP members and its members and many aggrieved members of the umbrella party PDP to the All Progressive Party could be attributed to wide range of issues especially aspirants and delegates loyal to G7 Governor's and other political leaders whose's nominated names were nowhere to be found in the PDP Mini Convention List which was held 31 August 2013.
Another fundamental tussle leading to the blind movement to the All Progressive Party is the may 2013 election of the illegal Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), where Governor Ameachi of Rivers State was seeking re-election as Chairman of NGF but meet with stiff opposition by some PDP governors who believed he was seeking re-election as NGF Chairman so as cajole support for Governor Lamido of Jigawa state or Governor of Kano State who were touted as Presidential Aspirants while Gov Ameachi would deputise any of the who succeed.

Other reasons are inflammatory statements credited to Godswill Akpabio Governor of Akwa Ibom State, such as,  "Those betraying President Goodlcuk Jonathan and PDP are like Judas who betrayed Jesus" and 'Judases' Will Be Sent Packing From PDP'. Who did Godswill Akpabio call Judas? They Judas are those who are presently deflecting from the PDP to APC.
The forceful taking Soku oil wells from Rivers State to Bayelsa State and
 41 oil wells from Etche, Rivers state to Abia State, Gov Ameachi accusing the President of 2.3 Trillion subsidy fund missing and six members of the State House of Assembly who are opposed to Gov Ameachi because they are getting encouragement from the Presidency are catalyst to the present exodus of PDP faithfuls to APC.

Nevertheless, the recent deflection to All Progressive Congress is not people appealing, as it doesn't mean that with the deflection, APC has become Nigeria's saviour from its woes of bad leadership. This is so because the PDP members who are moving to APC are the same leaders who has been looting our treasury and making Nigeria take its step rearwardly. The deflection to APC could be termed as Blind Movement as its all to achieve personal interest of removing the President and not in anyway of advantage to the masses in Nigeria.

In the same vein, People's Democratic Party is heading to the ruins, with members who only urge to serve their selfish interest. Such interest include request for sacking of the PDP's National Chairman because some PDP governor's believe he is a threat to their Senatorial District Representation aspiration following the resolution for automatic tickets to present legislatures if the support President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election.
Finally, I believe all electorates must ensure their vote count, in the same vein we the electorates must vote personality not party because the contents of the party called APC isn't different from that of PDP especially with the recent deflection and more expected deflection.

Frank Edoho & new wife Sandra expecting first child

Frank Edoho and his new wife Sandra Onyenaucheya are expecting their
First child.
Mother of one, Sandra, and father of three Frank got married last year
and were even rumoured to have quietly done their traditional wedding
two weeks back. Sandra shared photos from her baby shower, which
held on Sunday December 22nd, on her Facebook page.

SSG Udom's Aides, Sunny Ibanga Security Brutalize Journalist

Barely a week after he was alleged to have mobilsed men to block the
private visit of former SSG, Mr Umana Okon Umana, chapter chairman of
PDP in Ikot Ekpene, Chief Sunny Ibanga is in the news again. This time, a
journalist, Mr. Osuini-Abasi Alfred, was the victim of the violence that has
become the trademark of the PDP henchman.
The publisher and Editor in Chief of Akwa Ibom based Eagle Eye
Newspaper, while narrating his ordeal in the hands of aides to the present
SSG of Akwa Ibom state and security men working for Chief Ibanga, said he
had gone on a visit at the invitation of the Ikot Ekpene strong man, when a
PA to Mr Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom SSG, pointed at him accusing him
of being the man that use to "write nonsense against oga". He said that the
PA who accompanied a Hilux car carrying hampers meant for chapter
chairmen of PDP delivered to Chief Ibanga, descended on him, punching
him on his head and every part of his body.
He stated that at some point during the attach one of the men attached to
the SSG used his car key to punch his eyes leading to his blanking out. He
narrated that Ibanga's security operatives joined in the beating which lasted
until they thought he was dead. HE said that the SSG men fled and
abandoned the Hilux and the hampers when they thought he was dead.
It was at that point that he said that Chief Ibanga came down and made a
"show" of berating his men. And requested he came up to his office. He
said that after some minutes, policemen from the State Special Anti-
Robbery Squad came in and further manhandled him and took him to Ikot
Akpan Abia. It took the intervention to the second in command of the squad
to let him go, he told Weekend Insight.
Mr. Osuini-Abasi Alfred expressed surprise at the brutality meted to him,
saying he had not provoked any person to the point of trying to take his
life. He said he had in the past related very well with Chief Sunny Ibanga
and therefore had no fears he could be set up by the man to be so beaten.
Asked why he thought Ibanaga was behind his ordeal, Alfred said that the
fact that he invited SARS and even got to the Police HQ before his (Alfred)
arrival with the police showed that there was something serious with the
whole sordid drama.
The publisher promised to pursue the matter by approaching the courts to
seek redress for the wanton abuse of his rights.
Attempts to reach Chief Ibanga was not successful as the mobile number
provided this paper kept ringing engaged.

2015: SEN. ITA ENANG DECLARES SUPPORT FOR UMANA OKON UMANA -SAYS HE SPEAKS THE VOICE OF UYO SEN. DIST.

By Emmanuel Silas

The Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District in the National Assembly,
Sen. Ita Enang has vowed to lend his support to the former Secretary to
the state government, Obong Umana Okon Umana in his gubernatorial
ambition in 2015.
Addressing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders comprising
party executives, elders, women, youths and others in Etinan Federal
constituency on Tuesday, December 24, 2013, in Nkana, Etinan Local
Government Area, Sen. Enang emphasized that he will not work against the
wish of Uyo Senatorial District to produce the next governor for the state.
Sen. Enang who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Business, Rules
and Ethics, assured the people of Uyo Senatorial District that no senatorial
district or ethnic group in the state would be excluded from contesting
election maintaining that prohibiting anybody from voting or being voted
for, is legally wrong.
On the defection of some PDP members to other political parties, the law
maker noted that they were not originally rooted in the party, and that
genuine members have faith in the party despite the crisis rocking it
maintaining that the party will be re-positioned.
He thanked the people of Etinan federal constituency for their support and
solidarity stating that he has elevated the status of the senatorial district
in particular and the state in general to go as par with other segments of
the nation through sponsorship of bills and meaningful contributions to
motions raised on the floor of the senate.
Sen. Enang who stated that he has attracted reasonable life-touching
projects to the nine local government areas of the senatorial district,
highlighted some of the projects to include; the construction of lecture
blocks and water projects at College of Education, Afaha Nsit, Nsit Ibom;
solar power supply at Nkana, Etinan; rural electrification and completion of
all the projects embarked upon by his predecessor as well as collaborating
with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to construct three
stadia in the three federal constituencies making up the senatorial district.
Earlier in his speech, the political leader of Etinan, Otuekong Sunny
Jackson Udo commended Sen. Ita Enang for visiting the federal
constituency and as it has given the people a sense of belonging stressing
that his (Enang) effective representation of the Uyo senatorial district at
the national assembly has made the people proud.
Otuekong Udoh who disassociated himself from any other arrangement
other than that of supporting a candidate from Uyo Senatorial District for
governorship position, reaffirmed the position of Etinan federal
constituency in supporting Obong Umana Okon Umana in the 2015,
stressing that he would disagree with anybody who supports zoning.
Speaking on behalf of Nsit Ibom and Nsit Ubium people, the former
commissioner of education, Dr. Nseabasi Akpan and former deputy
speaker, Akwa Ibom State house of Assembly, Hon. Aniefiok Thompson
respectively corroborated Otuekong Sunny Udoh’s position maintaining
that the people in the two local government areas would abide by the
earlier decision of Uyo Senatorial District to support Obong Umana Okon
Umana.
In their separate speeches, a youth leader, Mr. Ebong Raphael and women
leader, Obonganwan Grace Inyang urged Sen. Ita Enang to carry them
along in the scheme of things and reiterated their support to the 2015
gubernatorial ambition of Obong Umana Okon Umana.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of Christmas gifts including
bags of rice, cows and cash to stakeholders.
Present at the event were the former commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr
(Mrs.) Helen Ukpabio, former chairman, Nsit Ibom local Government Area,
Elder Joshua, Hon Ekpeowo, among others.

Nobel Laureate Soyinka’s Daughter Dies

Iyetade Soyinka, a daughter of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, has
died. Ms. Soyinka, who was born June 6, 1965, died at the
University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital where she was being treated
for an undisclosed ailment.
The death was
disclosed in a statement signed by Jahman Anikulapo, an aide to Mr.
Soyinka, one of the world’s foremost dramatists and winner of the
1986 Nobel Prize in literature. The statement noted that the late
Iyetade Soyinka was a student at the Staff School and Queens School,
Ibadan before she studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan.
Mr. Anikulapo’s statement described the deceased as “affable,
intelligent and sometimes capricious,” adding that she “struggled with
her health in recent years.” Despite her health woes, the late Iyetade
Soyinka “greeted every day with a smile and doted on her two
children.”
The statement, which was issued on behalf of the deceased’s family,
revealed that Ms. Soyinka “took ill quite suddenly and passed away
while being treated at UCH, Ibadan.
“Iyetade leaves behind two children, both parents, numerous siblings,
nieces and nephews.”
No funeral arrangements were announced in the statement.
SaharaReporters was unable to reach Professor Soyinka before press
time.
Source: SaharaReporters

UMANA APOLOGISES TO EFFIONG BOB

Says, we were victims set up to fight and destroy each other.
For the first time after his disengament from the government of Akwa Ibom
State as SSG, Mr. Umana Okon Umana spoke to the press. He has been
press shy since he left office,but recently the technocrat-turned politician
decided to break his silence. The reason for doing this underscores the imp
ortance he attaches to the main reason for the request for the interview,
which is his recent reconciliation with his Nsit Ubium brother and top-
notch politician, Senator Effiong Dickson Bob. During his constituency
briefing recently in Nsit Ubium, the member representing the area in the
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon Onofiok Luke, tried a
reconciliation gambit. He called on Apostle Isaiah Isong to lead a prayer of
reconciliation that would mark the breaking of the proverbial ice on the
frosty political relationship between the two key politicians in the area.
Prayers said and signs of forgives exchanged, the press went to town with
the historic reconciliation. Days later, a post was made on Ibom Forum
and Ibibio Nation, two prominent yahoo groups of Akwa Ibom people on
the Internet. Mr. Thompson Essien, Oregun-based Akwa Ibom political and
social commentator, said in the post that he spoke on telephone with
Senator Effiong Bob and went on to reproduce the content of his telephone
conversation with the Distinguished Senator. Among other things allegedly
said by Bob was that the reconciliations only exist in the imaginations of
those who reported them. He accused the former SSG as being a part of
the ills of the Akpabio era and distanced himself from both men. In his
response Umana maintained that whatever was the problem between him
and Senator Bob was nothing personal, rather than political differences
that should in the spirit of "No permanent friend and no permanent
enemies" are forgiven and reconciled.There is a statement credited to
Senator Effiong Bob, now trending on the internet, saying that the
reconciliation effort initiated by the member representing Nsit Ubium state
constituency, Hon Onofiok Luke was a ruse and the figment of people's
imagination. What is your reaction to that?First, I must say that I have the
greatest respect for my brother, Senator Effiong Bob. He is a distinguished
personality and a very successful politician from my local government
area. What people thought was a frosty relationship was nothing personal.
It was political. Having said that, I will also add that I respect what the
man of God did at the event organized by Hon Onofiok Luke. He prayed for
peace and reconciliation. As a politician I know that in politics there are no
permanent foes but permanent interest. As Christians we must embrace
peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.In the statement, Senator Bob clearly
distanced himself from the reconciliation, why do you think he would do
that?I am not the one to answer that question. The Distinguished Senator
is in a better position to answer that question.You did not support his
ambition to return to the senate for a third term; could this be the real
issue that is causing disaffection between both of you?Senator Effiong Bob
is my brother, as I have earlier told you. I supported him fully in his first
senatorial contest. When he wanted to contest for a third term, he did not
seek my support. Senator Ita Enang sought my support and I gave him my
support. Maybe Senator Bob felt my support was of no consequence. But
that was purely a political contest. It had nothing to do with my personal
relationship with my brother. The Distinguished Senator is an experienced
politician and so, he understands that in any political contest there will be
a winner and a loser. We are all living witnesses to his political
conquests. In his first term, he confronted and won against Senator Anietie
Okon in very controversial circumstances. In 2006/2007 he also won
against Chief Ime Albert Akpan in another contentious and controversial
circumstance. Are we then to suggest that Senator Anietie Okon, Chief Ime
Albert and their supporters should never forgive Senator Efffiong Bob and
his supporters? Should they remain eternal enemies of Senator Bob? No!
Politicians view election support as the right to choose and that does not
constitute reason for perpetual enmity. Besides, in 2011, the powers that
be had endorsed both Ita Enang and Senator Effiong Bob. It wouldn’t have
been easy for me to give my full and open support to Senator Ita Enang if
he had not been endorsed by the powers that be. Similarly in Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial District such multiple endorsements were also noticeable.
Obong Bassey Inuayen, Professor Ini Udoka and Hon Iquo Minimah were
endorsed by the powers that be. At the end of the day, Senator Aloysius
Etok was nominated; should all those who lost remain in eternal enmity
with the supporters of Senator Etok, especially as they were all victims of
conspiracy and manipulations following the multiple endorsements?
Similarly, it is now clear that I and Sen Bob have been victims of
conspiracy and manipulation. We were set up to fight and destroy each
other.The Senator was also quoted as saying you have not called to
apologize to him. Do you think you owe him any apologies?I hold Senator
Bob in very high esteem and I don’t have any quarrel with him. We have
been talikng. But if he feels hurt or has any misgiving against me, I use
this opportunity to apologize to him and appeal to him to let bygone be
bygone. As good Christians, we must toe the path of peace and
reconciliation at all times.The Senator accused you in the said statement
of having a hand in his arrest in connection with the murder of the late
Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium. What is your reaction to this?That aspect
is one of the reasons I doubt the authenticity of the purported interview
with Senator Bob. I am not sure he could say such a thing. As a former
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, I am sure he
knows better than what was credited to him. In the state, we have a
governor, who is the chief security officer of the state; we have the
commissioner of police and the Director of SSS, as well as the Attorney
General, who is the Chief Law Officer of the state. These are the people
concerned with criminal justice system. I was the SSG; my brief did not
include criminal investigation. I had no knowledge of what the police do
when they investigate crimes. I was not in any position to interfere with
police investigations. That was not part of my job as SSG. As a former
Attorney General, I am sure Senator Bob knows how these things are done.
No appointee of government goes beyond his brief without the prior
instruction and authorization by the governor. I was not part of the police
investigations and therefore in no position to ask the police to arrest the
Distinguished Senator or any person for that matter.Recently a group came
out to accuse you of being the richest man in Akwa Ibom state. Are you
that rich?I will not lose sleep over such weird and baseless allegations. I
don’t know how they came about that. But that is part of politics. But for
the sake of argument, how do you determine how much a man is worth?
The answer is through his assets and liabilities. If therefore you judge me
by what you think are my assets, do you know my liabilities?The group in
the advertorial also said you were at the helm of affairs at the FGPC and
you did not use your position to award contracts to Oro people. Why did
you not award contracts to Oro People?Thank God that when I was
chairman of FGPC, an Oro man was the secretary. He was the one who
issued all the letters of award of contracts. For the avoidance of doubt, I
did not award a single contract as chairman of FGPC. All the letters of
contract award were issued y the FGPC secretary. It is expected that the
FGPC secretary issues those letters after the necessary clearance with the
governor. If you award any contract that is not approved by the governor,
there is no way the contractor would get paid because the Accountant
General would never process any payment not backed by the governor's
approval. I consider it an insult to the person and office of the governor of
this state for people to be making such statements. I was a mere political
appointee. The buck stops at the governor's table in all matters. He takes
full responsibilities for all actions of government. It is becoming more and
more fashionable to pass the buck. I was the SSG, I merely carried out
assigned roles and the credit and blame go to the man elected to govern
the state and not his subordinates. That is how government works. I was
not in a position to award any contracts and so I never awarded any
contract to anybody.Recently a newspaper report had it that the Ibaka
Seaport was not included in the Federal Government National Integrated
Infrastructural Master Plan, nor in the list of similar projects planned in
partnership between the federal government and state governments with
expectations of private investor collaborations. Some are accusing you as
the chairman of the implementation committee of not doing your work.
What is the state of the project?The state set up the Ibaka Seaport
Implementation Committee under my chairmanship with a defined work
plan. The committee was saddled with the responsibility of acquiring the
land, and producing the necessary survey plan for the location. We were
also to develop the concept master plan of the project. We had done all of
that and submitted our report to government. We had also recommended
the construction of an access road to the site. We had no powers to award
any contract or embark on any further development. The submission of the
report would have led to the second phase of the project; which would
have covered provision of access road, identification of investors and the
commencement of actual physical development. This was not to be
because shortly after our report was submitted, the state entered into a
memorandum of Understanding with the federal government, who now took
over from there and appointed another implementation committee, chaired
by a federal government nominee with other members made up of mainly
federal agencies with the specific mandate to develop a seaport.There is
this story making the rounds that you have concluded plans to join the All
Progressive Congress, APC. How true is this?The story is absolutely false
and baseless. I am a committed and loyal member of the PDP. I have no
intention to leave the party to APC or to any other party. I am working
hard with other committed and loyal party men and women to make the
party even stronger at all levels.How about your governorship ambition,
what is going on? Are you still interested in the race?All I can tell you now
is that my political future is in the hands of God.
SOURCE: INSIGHT NEWSPAPERS