Akpabio’s administration has redefined Akwa Ibom people – Umanah

BY NSEOBONG DAVID

Countdown to the transition of Governor Godswill Akpabio in office as the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Deacon Aniekan Umanah has described the Governor Godswill Akpabio – led administration as a people-focused administration that has changed the landscape of the state and redefined her people to become more relevant in the politics and economy of the country.

He made this assertion during an interactive session with journalists on Sunday at the NUJ Secretariat, Uyo.  Umanah stressed that Akpabio’s eight years administration has brought to the fore amazing and remarkable accomplishments in all sectors and encapsulated into what has been generally referred to as the uncommon transformation of our dear state.

Deacon Umanah further highlighted some of the uncommon transformation strides of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration which according to him “has been made possible by channeling the resources of the state to areas of critical needs such as education, infrastructural development, rural development, electricity and power, as well as human capital development.

Aniefiok Dennis promises better deal

The House of Assembly Member-elect  for Etinan State Constituency, Hon. (Barr.) Aniefiok Dennis has vowed to turnaround the fortunes of the people of Etinan State Constituency during his in-coming administration. He gave this assurance in a brief interaction with some newsmen recently, after receiving his certificate of return from the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Austin Okojie in Uyo. The astute law practitioner turned lawmaker while commending the electorate for their supports during the just concluded elections, reassured his constituents of quality representation and better payback. 

Akwa Ibom State College of Education graduates 3000

BY VICTOR UFOT

The Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit last Saturday graduated a total of 3000 students of the institution in a well attended 6th combined convocation ceremony of the institution held at the main bowl of the institution, Etinan.

The provost of the institution Dr. Patrick Uko in his address congratulated the graduating students and urged them to be good ambassadors of the school; He reminded the students that they should see themselves as role models of the citadel of learning in their entire endeavors in life.

Dr. Uko applauded the state government for ensuring that the institution is not found wanting, he listed the projects executed by the Gov. Akpabio to include, accreditation of courses, erecting of perimeter fence, renovation of administrative blocks and provision of standard convince block for use by the students. He also used the occasion to inform the general public that the institution has been upgraded to a degree awarding institution with collaboration with the University of Uyo.

Any hope for Ibom Science Park?

BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER

The Akwa Ibom Science Park was one important element of a comprehensive strategy to elevate Akwa Ibom’s economy and society from the 1950’s to one that is, according to the State’s mission statement, “technologically driven by 2010.” That the second science park in all of Africa should be established in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria was a testament to the vision of the then state’s executive governor, Obong Victor Attah.

Located along Afaha Oku on the way to Uyo capital city, the abandoned site of the Akwa Ibom Science and Technology Park had a computer training component and facilities for incubating new ideas, new industries; and software development. It was indeed built thoroughly with an up-to-date technology to raise the calibre of manpower for the immediate and long-term needs of the state economy.

Take a break

BY SAMUEL EKEKERE

There’s this attribute I noticed amongst my students as a teacher  in a secondary school some years back. I remember also having this attribute as a student. The students often anticipated break time. If I dared stole into the break time, my students would scream and move for an adjournment of the class. They valued break time as it allowed them time away from serious work to relax, refresh, and have fun with their friends. For the more serious ones, it was time to find solace in the library or challenge other gifted talented friends to academic duels. The beauty of the break time was that the students solely managed it.

We can’t continue hour-in hour-out without taking time to relax our minds over the task that we are handling. One may consider himself superman, but even superman often found time to rest. The value of rest cannot be overemphasized. Our body needs enough rest to make us stronger and healthier.

Between the bastard and the rich man

BY NSEOBONG DAVID

I read a post recently on the  internet where our former Minister for Petroleum, Mr. Don Etiebiet said that the Executive Governor of this state and of course my Governor is a bastard.  At first I was ashamed at how my leaders could have misunderstandings to the extent of publicly using abusive words on one another; and I wondered what they expect me to emulate from them.  But when I looked at the other side of Etiebiet’s abuses on Governor Akpabio, I was challenged and encouraged that if Godswill Akpabio who is a bastard could become a governor today, then everyone of us could take a leaf from there and be rest assured that there is always a better future for anyone who determines to succeed in life.

Don Etiebiet’s assertion reminds me of Joseph and Queen Esther in the Bible.  These were people that were written off as far as societal relevance was concerned, but through divine favour, they were sought out and made as personalities to be reckoned with; and their past could not follow them to their greatness

Unoma Akpabio commissions new council secretariat in Esit Eket

The wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor   Mrs. Unoma Godswill Akpabio yesterday commissioned a new council secretariat built and equipped in Uquo the Esit Eket capital by the council Chairman Deacon Ibanga Etang.

Cutting the tape to commission the ultra modern building, the Governor’s wife praised Deacon Ibanga Etang for what she described as quality leadership for the people. She maintained that Etang has proven to be a good student of the Akpabio leadership school of thought.

The first lady while commending the cooperation of the people of Esit Eket described Ibanga Etang as a performing council Chairman. She said, “Ibanga Etang is a performer and will continue to perform”

Udom Emmanuel: New wine, new skin

BY EMMANUEL JOHNSON

New wine has been poured into the New Akwa Ibom Skin. The long drawn search for the future leadership and the hope for a sustained development of the state have come to a head. In the words of Governor Godswill Akpabio- the Great Teacher who taught Udom Emmanuel; “We have to demonstrate the core values of democratic governance and set the pace in the national development agenda.”

Towards the end of his administration, Governor Godswill Akpabio had admonish that; ‘it is time we begin to distinguish between politics and governance because they are not the same thing’. That admonition came on the heels of his experience over the harm that bad politics can wrought on the development of the state. The great teacher had politicked with the strong and mighty and in the process, the proud was humbled in the imagination of their hearts and had come to realize and share the experience that ‘governance’ not ‘politics’ is the key to development. Udom is the distinguishing factor of the past pedestrian Akwa Ibom and an industrialized future of the State, he is the dividing line between the drudgery of professional politicians and professionals in politics.  

Udo: Strong and reliable

BY EMMANUEL JOHNSON

This quintessential politician is not only  strong in his looks but in character and approach towards issues. No wonder many who come in contact with him describe him as a strong-willed individual exuding strength of character, focus, integrity, yet amiable, affable, humble, philanthropic, filled with milk of human kindness. No wonder these virtues always stand him out each time the people desire a leader with abundant qualities needed to improve mankind and the society they live within.

Followers of his leadership evolution should be very familiar with, the time when he led the workers in the State under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as their State Chairman which he proved his substance, rich with ingredients of a great leader. He left his mark on the sands of time as the era recorded industrial harmony and great achievements within the workforce in the state.

However, posterity fetched him out again as he was called by the Executive Governor of the State  Chief Godswill Akpabio to bring these rare qualities  to bear in his government as the Special Adviser on Labour/ Productivity Matters as he advised him (the Governor) on Labour and Productivity matters.

Udom won’t join issues with fabricated innuendoes - Ekerette Udoh

Ekerete Udoh may not have practiced journalism in Akwa Ibom State, but in the National and International Media, he is a colossus, a trailblazer and a thorough- bred professional worth his onion.  He is a total Akwa Ibom man that oozes a friendly and courteous aura wherever he steps in. Mr. Udoh who remains the Director of Udom/Moses 2015 Campaign Organization Project has travelled far and wide and has paid his dues appropriately while building an enviable niche for himself. In this interview with THE INK crew, he speaks passionately about the Akwa Ibom State Governor-Elect, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, his five point agenda and what Akwa Ibom people should look forward to in the incoming administration. He also denies allegations whether real or imagined that Udom Emmanuel will be vindictive, noting that the Governor Elect will rather run an all-inclusive government while also promising a better deal for journalists in the state.  It was a vintage Ekerette Udoh on a Thursday afternoon. BY EMMANUEL AKPAN AND KENNETH JUDE, Excerpts: 

 

Sir, you came from the Unites States of America  to emerge the Director of Media and Publicity  for the then candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Udom Emmanuel, how were you able to land that position?

Well, without sounding immodest I don’t think the name Ekerete Udoh is such an unknown quantity. For those of you that are seriously related to the media world, I am sure you would have known that there’s a man by name Ekerete Udoh and he happens to come from Awa clan in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state and he has done quite a large body of work in journalism, and he’s also a member of the National Mainstream Media. He got his first piece written in 1985 and shortly after, in 1986, he became one of the youngest columnists in any mainstream newspaper in Nigeria. I wrote a column for Sunday Times, now defunct, under the Editorship of Achike Okafor.

Science Park is a failed project from past administration – Gov Akpabio

Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has described the Science Park, Uyo inherited from the previous administration as a failed project.

Akpabio, who stated this Saturday during his valedictory State Executive Monthly Prayer meeting at St. John’s Chaplaincy, Government House, Uyo hinted that “The Science Park, to me, was not an abandoned project. The Science Park was a failed project. A failed project is a project that money has been paid for and the person neglected to do  it.

“The Science Park was contracted at about N5.6b and from the records about N5.3b had been paid upfront to the contractor, a South African Company and nothing was done. But the Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort and Akwa Ibom International Airport were, to me, ongoing projects and I went in and completed them”, he remarked.

Abuja induction was a success - Usoro Akpanusoh

The member elect for Esit Eket/Ibeno state constituency, Hon Usoro Akpanusoh has said that the legislative studies which members of Houses of Assemblies across the nation were treated to last week was an eye- opener and a step in the right direction towards effective legislative business.

Usoro spoke to THE INK reporter from Abuja shortly before they departed from the nation’s capital. He said the event which was organized by the National Institute for legislative studies was declared opened by the President of the Senate, David Mark.

He also observed that the resource persons who gave lectures at the four-day event were tested and trusted, adding that the members were drilled on effective law making and how to ensure a smooth and cordial relationship with members of the Executive.