Akwa Starlets sign new players BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

As the second round of 2013/2014 football season of the Nigeria National League begins across the federation and in line with a determined effort to gain promotion to the Nigeria Professional League next season, Akwa Starlets football club have signed four new players to strengthen the team.

Hon. Emmanuel Ibah who is the club chairman disclosed this last weekend during a chat with selected sports writers in the state. He noted that the team’s level of determination will tell their preparedness to qualify for the Premier League next year. For this reason, the team management had to drop four inactive players in replacement for four new players comprising 2 strikers, a defender and a mid-fielder.

The club Chairman while noting that the team is made up 95% local players, called on supporters as well as the people of Akwa Ibom State to always come out en-mass to cheer the team to victory particularly during home matches.

Latest Edition of The Ink Newspaper, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

Umana’s man drags Akpabio to court

If Governor Godswill Akpabio feels he will run the 2015 election as he expects then he has to have a rethink as there is a case filed against him at the FCT High court in Abuja over his position and that of the part on zoning. Barr Leo Ekpenyong while speaking with our reporter on phone last Saturday night informed that he has since filed a case in court against the state Chief Executive and the PDP over zoning. Ekpenyong said he intends to complete the filing process within the week as he couldn’t complete same earlier because of a public holiday. 

He noted that the zoning principle as preached by the Governor Akpabio and Akwa Ibom PDP is inconsistent with the constitution of the Federal Republic and observed that the Nation’s constitution has clearly spelt out that any law or principle that is inconsistent with it is to the extent of such inconsistency illegal and is null and void.

Assassins again: Hold Akwa Ibom hostage * Samuel Effanga, Sonni Udom escaped death

These are not the best of times in Governor Godswill Akpabio led Akwa Ibom state following renewed attacks on her by men of the underworld who are out to kill, destroy and maim. There have been some deadly attacks in the state leaving scores dead and many others injured very recently. The recent murder of the late Albert Ukpanah and the complications in the fight towards unraveling those behind it smacks of a high powered connection in it.

Last Tuesday. The man believed to be coordinating the gubernatorial ambition of the former SSG Obong Umana Okon Umana escaped death by the grace of God. Chief Sonni Udom who called a press conference in his office in Uyo to raise the alarm told newsmen near the uyo township stadium that he was surprised someone could attempt to take his life as according to him, he has done nothing to warrant anybody attempting to kill him.

Sonni Udom in his release made available to newsmen had observed that, he was saved by divine intervention.

That military training and my experience - Emmanuel Akpan

It is no longer news that I, Comrade Emmanuel Akpan, a practising journalist working with THE INK newspaper was amongst the two journalists selected and sponsored by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Chapter to participate on a joint training in Internal Security and Low Intensity Conflict (IS/LIC) a month ago.

The training which started from 8th April – 3rd May, 2014 took place at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State.

The joint training in Internal Security and Low Intensity Conflict (IS/LIC) which was nicknamed Exercise HASKE BIYU, was part of the senior course 36 curriculum of students of Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) which also involved the participation of Para-military agencies in Nigeria such as: Department of State Service (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Prison Service (NPS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Federal Fire Service (FFS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Supreme Court shun naked dance BY AKPANDEM

Indeed, it would be over statement to declare that no civilized nation can exist without law and competent court. In any society in which the judiciary fail, for any reason, to measure up to the standard expected, such a society is doomed to revert to the most primitive form of life which the political philosopher Thomas Hobbes described when he pictured a society lacking security, justice and power to regulate behaviour. 

If our aspiration for a good and prosperous nation is to come, judiciary should be honest, if not the prevailing condition of the society will be poor and nasty. Supreme Court should focus and build on what is already working. Norman Vincent Peale said, we’ve all heard that we have to learn from our mistakes, but i think it is more important to learn from our successes, because learning only from mistakes you are inclined to learn only errors. 

Prepare for healthy retirement - Info Comm.

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, has called on the leadership of Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, in the State, to educate civil servants on how to properly plan for a happy retirement.

Speaking while receiving executive members of the Council, on Wednesday, in his office, Mr. Umanah, said it was important and beneficial when workers plan on what to do after thirty-five years of active service to their fatherland.

He advised civil servants to always have it in mind that there is life after retirement, hence, they should be adequately prepared and embrace retirement with joy.

Governor Akpabio, the foundation you laid is rotten, it cannot work BY AKPANDEM

                                              

If the governor had thought that conducting town hall and other forms of deceitful meetings and negotiation will quench the flame of fire that is already on the way, he would have known better than to avoid the confusion, disorder and murmuring which has taken the centre stage of major political discuss of recent. The values of because of dashing Akwa Ibom hope to the ground also wrecked the State of some of her values due to his power of drunkenness, greed and self succession it threatened to extinguish the very existence of the State, following his political theory, procrastination and realised promises became his companions and became colossus among millions of Lilliputians Akwa Ibomites.

God so kind the constitution peg and limit the tenure of Governors in office, if not so he would have become a typical African ruler, who is not ready to disengage from power. Launching an ostentatious programmes means self-succession, it is clear he wants to rule in perpetuity that no one could prevent him, soon his devilish intention will be brought to an end, the dream killer will soon be disgraced out of office. Promised of handing over power to Ibibios who made him the Governor never fulfil, instead he become an enemy and subject of attack also cast away the treasure of the State, shudders with horror the terrible massacres and chain of murder to Ibibio. Patriots, wonders and mysterious deaths of perceived opponent, Mrs. Udonwa, Paul Inyang, Edidem Robert and host of others sent to the land of oblivion, many other citizens list their lives in a strange manner. A reasonable number were clamped down in prisons while lucky ones found themselves in self-exile. 

A case for our less privileged BY CHRISTOPHER PRISCILLA

A story is told in the Bible of how the disciples murmured about the pouring of a very precious Ointment on Jesus’ feet. They argued that the Ointment would have better been sold for much money, and given to the poor but, Jesus in His response, replied that the woman’s deed was commendable and worth emulating because His being with them was temporary but, the poor will always be around them.

Again in the Old Testament, God saw the vulnerable and helpless condition of the needy and specifically gave instructions to the privileged to extend their magnanimity to the poor.

 
In today’s society, the less privileged are often dreaded as a scourge in their environment. Many a times, they are treated by the privileged with such disdain; making them feel they are responsible for their situation. Such treatments include: restriction of some of their rights like the right to associate, belong and contribute ideas in their immediate place of belonging. Many of them are often snubbed, ignored and avoided, perhaps to prevent a spread of their misfortune on others.

My job as Deputy Governor’s aide

Gowdyn Mence is the special adviser to the State Deputy Governor, Valerie Ebe on Political Affairs. In this interview, he spoke on the specifications of his office, the challenges of office and other sundry issues, excerpts;  

 

CAN WE MEET YOU?
First of all let me welcome you to this lonely place where I stay, especially when we talk of community development am trying to say that if you want to be a part of your community, you try to live closer or live with your people, I am Godwyn Mense Umonyem (JP) I come from Atai-Ediene village in Ediene Clan in Abak Local Government Area. I own a diploma certificate in secretariat study from the Akwa Ibom State polytechnic, I am a fellow of institute of cooperate Administration of Nigeria, a Justice of peace, a Jerusalem pilgrimage, I hold a chieftaincy title from Ediene clan, “Uyoi Ediene” the voice of Ediene people and equally 1st January this year, I was awarded another chieftaincy title by the 5 (five) villages of Ukpom in Abak clan which is eventually my own ward am married with three wonderful kids.

Ekong Sampson: His lessons of humility in leadership BY VICTOR UFOT

To many, humble people can only be found among the poor and downtrodden in the society but some people in positions of leadership has gone a long in debunking such claims. One of such persons is Rt. Hon. Barr Ekong Sampson.

The member representing Mkpat Enin in the state constituency and Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petition Rt. Hon. (Barr) Ekong Sampson has not only given his people an effective representation but has serve as a symbol of humility to the people of Mkpat Enin especially the younger generation. He has enhanced the horizon of being a legal practitioner, a great community leader, lawmaker, a renowned and prolific writer of many books, journalist, and also a philanthropist who does not advertise his philanthropy.

In his political carrier, as a local government council Chairman and his current position as a lawmaker in the state House of Assembly, Barr Ekong Sampson has made humility his watch word. His humility can be seen as he often times chose not to advertise his philanthropy unlike many public office holders and leaving his gates and phone lines open for all to have access to him.

Kidnap girls: It is unacceptable

Nettled with the recent abduction of 230 Government Secondary School girls in Chibok, Borno state by the Boko Haram Militants, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Women and Youths Development, Senator Helen Esuene in an interview with some newsmen, has called for a beef up of the Country’s Security System. Excerpts:  

What is your thinking on the kidnap of the 230 Government Secondary School Girls in Chibok, Borno state?

It is very unfortunate that a thing like this should happen in our country even though we have been experiencing insurgency for some months now, to take it to this level is really not acceptable to anybody. A whole generation of girls from one community that have been carted away is very sad. The general populace including myself is not happy with the response from the authorities, from the governor of the state to the security operatives, the issue was kept quiet for too long, nobody told us anything and we did not know the modus operandi. Even up till now the exact number of the children is fluctuating between one number and the other. I just feel that security operatives could have handled more swiftly than what it did. I know obviously they have their own challenges because operating in an area like that cannot be very easy and Boko Haram you cannot identify them.