I will give Women, Youths priority if elected Governor - Helen Esuene

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

Governorship candidate of Labour  Party in Akwa Ibom State, who is also the Senator representing Eket Senatorial District, Senator Helen Esuene has promised women and youths in the state a pride of place in her administration, if she is elected governor on April 11th, 2015.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Labour Party’s mega rally at Ibibio Museum Park on Monday where she formally declared to run, Senator Esuene said women and youth will be given opportunity to contribute maximally in the development of the state. 

The stage is set for OBA to win Uyo senate race

BY ETORO-OBONG INYANG

With the 2015 electoral cam paigns in their crucial stages, one senatorial district that would attract particular interest of the people of Akwa Ibom is the Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) senatorial district because of the involvement of Obong Bassey Albert popularly called OBA.  

In the last one month, he has been campaigning across the nine local government areas that make up the senatorial district, moving from ward-to-ward, and door-to-door to woo the electorate to vote for him. From all indications, the stage is set for OBA to emerge as the senator for the area given his popularity and acceptability among the people of the district.

Latest Edition of THE INIK NEWSPAPER, uyo, Akwa Ibom State

Creation of Oil Rivers State: Clarification to the 2014 National Conference report

On March 19, 2015, the Punch Newspaper published an article on its page two under the caption, “FEC Approves National Confab Report,” and listed the states expected to be created as including the OIL RIVERS STATE from Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.

To clarify this issue and put the matter to rest once and for all, I hereby wish to unequivocally state as follows:

THAT at no point throughout the duration of the 2014 National Conference did the issue of state creation in Akwa Ibom Statec0ome up either in the plenary session or at the committee level as there was no demand by delegates or people from the state for another state to be created in Akwa Ibom.

Okon Uwah’s murder: Ukanafun Elders reacts

The Ukanafun Elders  Council has condemned in strong terms the gruesome murder of one of  them, Obong  Okon J. Uwah, immediate past deputy speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, by miscreants on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit to his brother-in-law in Nkek Village of our local government area.

The council made its position known in a statement in Uyo, signed by thirty eight persons including the commissioner for lands and town planning, Obong Eno Akpan, the special adviser, bureau of investment and industrialization, Chief Senas Ukpanah, the member for Ukanafun State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Elder Aniekan Akpan, the chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area, Apostle Sylvester Udokang, the ex-officio member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Mr Udo Ekpenyong, former commissioner for information, Mr Census Ekpu, former members of the House of Assembly, Obong Saturday Akpan and Barrister Idongesit Umoh, former chairmen of the local government area, Obong Ime Atakpa, Obong Aniebiet Odung and Prince Nsikanabasi Umoekpo, Mrs Iniobong Okongko, AkwaObonganwan Ikwo Udom and Bishop Moswill Umoh.

Okon Uwah’s murder: Bishop Akpan Campaign Organization condemns act

The gruesome murder   of the former  Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Obong) Okon Uwah by unknown assailants during a political meeting at Ukanafun, recently, has been described as an “Unwarranted act” and “Unacceptable setback” to our nascent democracy.

The Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bishop Samuel Akpan Campaigns Organization, Comrade Oton Akpan, who stated this in a release made available to newsmen on Friday, said the dastardly act was a complete breach of the recently signed peace accord by all political parties and candidates in the State.

As APC accuses Akpabio, Effiom Abai, Ukoette, ors for complicity

The Akwa Ibom state  chapter of the All   Progressives Congress (APC) have condemned in totality the assassination of Rt. Hon. Okon Uwah last Wednesday in Ukanafun by thugs suspected to be working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The late Okon Uwah was said to have gone on a campaign tour of his constituency ahead of the April 11 House of Assembly elections but came under the vicious attack of suspected PDP thugs in Nkek village.

In a press statement released by the party and made available to newsmen, the party condemned the assassination of Rt. Hon. Okon Uwah in the strongest possible terms and called on the relevant authorities, including the police and the Directorate of state security to apprehend and bring his murderers to justice. “ the party notes with the deepest concern that the foundation for Uwah’s assassination was laid at a PDP rally in Oruk Anam in February this year when Hon. Emmanuel Ukoette, PDP member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal constituency on live television called on PDP supporters to kill whoever opposes the party in the state. Ukoette made this statement in the presence of Governor Godswill Akpabio, who clearly endorsed it.

Oro Traditional Rulers Council bans Essu Nlap Oro

The Council of Oro  Traditional Rulers,  Akwa Ibom State, Saturday, proscribed Essu Nlap Oro which was regarded as the apex organization for all Oro youths.
The Council also proscribed another youth body known as the Supreme Council of Akpakip Oro Youths.

The Chairman, Council of Oro Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Ovong E.O.Isemin while addressing a large crowd of Oro youths at the Oron Civic Centre said the prescription of Essu Nlap Oro and the Supreme Council of Akpakip Oro Youths became necessary because of incessant leadership tussle which has eroded their roles in uniting Oro youths and “rampant factionalization which engender violent confrontation and frequent threat to peace”.

Sack of Five AKHA Legislators: Effanga faults Ikon

The leading candidate for the seat  of Uyo Federal constituency and former commissioner in the Akpabio administration, Hon Samuel Effanga has faulted the decision of the speaker of the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly saying the action is undemocratic and did not follow due process.

Effanga said this over the weekend when he addressed newsmen in his OsongAma Housing residence. The seasoned politician said the action of Ikon against the five AKHA legislators leaves a lot to be desired and that it appears the speaker of the 5th Assembly have had one or two scores to settle with the affected lawmakers.

He however contended that the affected lawmakers had a similar case to that of the Speaker and some members of the National Assembly and that he sees no reason why the case in Akwa Ibom should be different. He maintained that at this point in the political history of the state, there is no need for unnecessary controversies and distractions.

Eket Ward 4 urban affirms support for Udom, PDP * Ayang Ayang preaches against opposition

The people of Eket Urban ward four has reaffirmed her position to vote for Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state. They took this position during a meeting of the ward called, hosted and presided over by the member representing Eket state constituency at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Ayang Akanimo Ayang.

Ayang while addressing the crowd that turned out for the meeting advised the ward not to remain in opposition as they have never been an opposing ward. He referred them to the last general elections were they voted the PDP all through. He said, it is not in the spirit of sportsmanship for anybody to return the ward or Local Government Area to the opposition after losing nomination of the party. He charged the Ward to vote massively for PDP at all levels.

The Eket lawmaker charged all indigenes and residents of the ward to ensure that they place all hands on deck to ensure the victory of PDP candidates during the forthcoming elections .

Udom’s man donates office to PDP

A die hard supporter of the PDP gubernatorial flagbearer Comrade Wisdom Godwin has donated a campaign political office to the PDP and Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for her numerous activities in the coming elections and beyond.

In a chat with newsmen Comrade Godwin who is the President General of United Peoples Forum said, the group having assessed the pedigree of all the candidates in the forthcoming elections decided to stay with the ambition of Mr. Udom Emmanuel which he described as God sent. He said, the PDP candidate is the man that has all it takes to take Akwa Ibom beyond dependency on oil and hence the reason they unanimously endorsed him. He countered the argument that Udom is a new man to the system by going scriptural saying for every calling, there is always a grace and so since God has called Udom, he will ensure he grants Udom the grace to serve Akwa Ibom People.

PDP and the blood of Okon Uwah: Matters Arising

BY DAN ETOKIDEM

-You can discover what your enemies fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you - Eric Hoffer

No man has the privilege of choosing  how and when he would die. If men         had such a privilege, Rt HON Okon Uwah, former member representing Ukanafun State Constituency and former Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly would not have chosen Wednesday March 18th 2015. He would have loved to stay beyond this month,at least, to see how the general elections will play out, an election in which he himself was a candidate of the APC for the Ukanafun State Constituency Seat, an office he once occupied.