Do not insult Governor Udom again - Onofiok warns Akpabio, APC ...As Etinan declares Udom Governor come 2nd March

BY ABASIFREKE OBOT

The Speaker of  Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke has challenged and warned Senator Akpabio and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), putting it point blank, “Do not insult the Governor again and do not send media hirelings.”

The PDP candidate, Etinan Federal Constituency, who gave the warning on Tuesday at the Campaign rally of His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel which took its turn in Etinan Local Government Area, dared, “Any day I hear them insult Governor Udom again, I will drop it. I had listened yesterday, they didn’t insult him. Otherwise, I would have dropped another one on this podium.”

Luke, who frowned over the demeaning utterances of the opposition party against the Governor, hinted that his ears are down in utmost readiness to hear the opposition spew reckless speeches at the person of the Governor, adding, “People cannot behave as hypocrites. Our responsibility is to tell the world the truth”. 

He made it known to the people that the State and the South South as a whole is on the top hate list of the APC, stressing that those from the South South who have been opportuned by providence to represent the people have shortchanged the interest of the people for their personal interest.

While he advised the people against throwing their support and votes behind the opposition, whom he noted have used their symbolic broom to sweep away the prosperity of the State, he expressed optimism that  Governor Udom will return to the Hilltop Mansion come 2019. 

“I am convinced that Governor Udom by the Grace of God will return as Governor because he is defending our interest and the interest of the masses,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Etinan, Hon. Cletus Ekpo enumerated some of  road construction projects embarked upon and completed by the  Governor to include:The Ekom Iman road to Etinan Circus; from Etinan Circus to Uwa Ndon and Eket.

On the health and eductional sector, he lauded the Governor for the Army Science School and the General Hospital in Etinan. He told the Governor not to be frightened because the people will deliver him and he will return Governor come 2nd of March.

Rt. Hon. Inemesit Itina, the Chapter Chairman, maintained, “We are satisfied with all he have done for us. He has made us proud, we have no regrets lending him our support. We have enough to point our fingers to what he has done for us.”

On behalf of the youths, Comr. Ndanti, who noted that he was convinced the emergence of the Governor marked the beginning of a new era for the people, commended the Governor for appointing the youths of the area into different government offices, emphazing that 95% of the youths have been appointed.

 While declaring their absolute support for the Governor, he assured the youths will resist any form of intimidation by the opposition and will defend their votes.

On the part of women, The Chapter Woman Leader, Ekatte Enoch added, “We are women of courage, we are ready to defend our votes even if it’s now, we are set. We will support you to emerge as governor as well as other candidates of the party.”

The State Party Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo who also hails from Etinan reiterated, “PDP is one and we are intact in Etinan.” He assured the governor that Etinan is no opposition zone and the people, because of his landmark phenomenal strides in the area, will vote him into power.

Reminding the people of the party’s choice candidates, he said, “We have five elements which is, on the 16th of February, we will vote for Atiku Abubakar,  for Senate, we will vote Obong Bassey Albert and then  Barr. Onofiok Luke. On the 2nd of March, you will vote your brother Gov. Udom Emmanuel and also vote for Hon. Dennis.”

Governor Udom Emmanuel used the opportunity to thank the people for their support and assurances to deliver him at forthcoming gubernatorial elections, assuring the people that when next he visits the area, he together with his team will come for thanksgivings.

Briefly on the standards of his strides in the area, Governor  Udom stated satisfactorily, “The best Technical College in Akwa Ibom State is in Etinan, precisely Mbioto 2 and it is well equipped. The only Nigerian Army Science School is in Etinan. The best General Hospital in Nigeria that attracted even the Vice President to come and commission it, is in Etinan.”

He pledged that on completion of the ongoing bridge construction project in  Ekpene Ukpa, the bridge will not march any standard obtainable in Nigeria. He urged to keep faith with the party, promising that he will consolidate on his good works in the area when he returns as governor.

Opinion: Speaker Onofiok Luke and the days to come

BY N.TA. EFO

I join millions of Akwa Ibom people to say finally – yes, finally – the people’s choice for the Speakership of the State House of Assembly has – again, finally – emerged. Grammarians will call the use of finally in the above text a tautology, repetition and so on. I agree. But you do not celebrate the emergence of Speaker Onofiok Luke without using the word finally. Finally – yes, finally – because prior to the inauguration of the 6th session of the State House of Assembly, Luke was the song on every lips of the people – the real owners of the mandate which members of the House of Assembly hold in trust. If a referendum had been done on the Speakership, Luke would have scored over 90 per cent of the votes. Never in the history of the legislature in the state has the leadership been a subject of controversy, divided interests and political brinkmanship as that of the 6th Assembly.

Ini Ememobong: The portrait of a true humanist

Ini Ememobong

BY  SAMUEL AYARA

This might be one of the most tasking adventures to embark on, since writing about some people requires more than words, especially when they mean different things to different people. I will however seek in my own way to acquit myself of selfishly keeping to myself what I have come to know of Ini Ememobong Essien. This may pass for every other consideration but sycophancy, as more of what will come here are things known to a lot others, I would wish chief amongst what this piece shall pass for, would be lessons geared towards making the world a better place.

Foundation hosts Unity Football tournament * Onofiok Luke to perform kick off

Ambassador Ukai Foundation, a socio- political organization based in Uyo, will hold a unity marathon on Saturday 18 January, 2014, this weekend. The President of the foundation and the Youth President of Itiam Etoi, Ukai Udeme Emmanuel, stated this in a chat with newsmen in Uyo.

According to Ukai Udeme Emmanuel, the unity Marathon will kick off from Methodist Primary School, Itiam Etoi and will have the commissioner for Youth and Sports Mr. Monday Uko as the key personality to kick-start the marathon. Others expected include Prince Ekerette Ekpenyong, the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Mr. Enobong Uwah, the Commissioner for Environment AKS; youth groups socio political organizations, civil societies and the general public.

Akpabio did not supervise assault on me - Onofiok Luke

Chairman of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly committee on Finance and appropriation and member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency Hon. Onofiok Akpan Luke has broken the ice on his recent harassment by Mr. Nse Ntuen and Emmanuel Ekon with a position that Governor Godswill Akpabio never supervised the attack by his assailants 

Onofiok Luke in a press statement titled that lies may fade and truth remain, said; “I must state here, now and for the records that the governor did not supervise any of the act that was done against me, infact the Governor on immediately being informed of the incidence by the state chairman of the PDP Obong Paul Ekpo, intervened and summoned a peace meeting at the country home of the Honourable commissioner for special duties, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem where he caused the persons involve to apologize to me.

How Uyo Senatorial District Youth Consultative Assembly meeting ended in fiasco

It started on a good and impressive note with a mammoth crowd in attendance; the Udo Udoma House of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio was filled to capacity with youths from all the local government areas that make up the Uyo Senatorial District.

The youth gathering was called at the instance of the Uyo Senatorial District Youth Consultative Assembly with Isantim Kenneth Okon who is also the Executive chairman of Etinan Local Government Area as the convener.
Notable among the youth leaders in government who attended the political gathering was the member representing Nsit Ubium state constituency at the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Barr. Onofiok Luke, State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, Commissioner for Environment, Prince Enobong Uwah, Obong Kufre-Abasi Etuk, member representing Uruan State Constituency in the State House of Assembly.

AKHA has lost its sanctity – ex lawmaker

Hon. Asuquo Udo Darby is not a happy man at the moment. This is not because he is in need of food, shelter or clothing. But the aged ex Assemblyman who represented Nsit Atai at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly from 2007 to 2011 is unhappy because the House which he once belonged to had lost its sanctity.

Darby spoke on phone to our reporter last Tuesday in his own reaction to the manhandling of the member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency Barr Onofiok Luke by a combined force from chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area, Mr. Nse Ntuen and member representing Abak/Ika/Etim Ekpo Federal Constituency Mr. Emmanuel Ekon.

Onofiok Luke; the future is brighter

It was last Tuesday; my phone rang at exactly 10:08pm. I had just finished watching Chelsea’s thumping victory over Steaua Bucharest in the Champion’s League. It was not only a sweet victory, it was also a massive for yours truly after the shocking lost to Basel in the opener at Stamford Bridge.

Recently, my mum has renewed her struggle – a struggle to liberate me from the claws of bachelorhood. I have, or rather, my case has become her main prayer point these days. My kinsmen have paid me a courtesy call on the same matter; the elderly women in my village have offered a collection of spinsters for me to choose from without a charge. They say I am the oldest bachelor in the history of the village. My case is that pathetic, hence, they are giving me a waiver on bride price.