Latest Edition of the INK Newspaper, Uyo

Akpabio declared wanted by Olumba Olumba Obu

 

LAST Tuesday a suspense filled atmosphere was created at the gate of the Akwa Ibom State Government House when a messenger dressed in a Brotherhood of the Cross and Star all white garment who introduced himself as a prophet of Olumba Olumba Obu stormed the place and asked to see the Governor as he has a message for the State Chief Executive from the sole Spiritual head of the Universe.

The messenger did not disclosed whether it was the Roland Obu faction or the sister to Roland Ibum Olumba Obu faction that sent him on the errand but he acknowledged that the Governor is being wanted by Obu at the headquarters of the Church located along Ambo Way in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital. He is said to have arrived in the early hours of the evening after the close of work. He was dressed in all white and carried a stick painted in the white and green colours as pictured and refused to mention his name when he was accosted by Security men attached to the Wellington Bassey Way end of the Government House. He responded to questions asked him using the Efik/Ibibio Vernacular.

Ikon in money mess * Fails to share pension bribe equally

* House recess was a protest against the Speaker, it was an emergency, says lawmaker

Strong indications have emerged that all is not well with the 26 members of the AkwaIbom State House of Assembly even while they are on recess.

This reporter can authoritatively report that the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Sam Ikon has continued to incur the wrath of his colleagues and this time it is due to his deliberate efforts in cheating some of the lawmakers over the money issued to them by the Governor on their recent acceptance to pass into law the vexed Governors and Deputy Governors bill which was later reconsidered by Akpabio.

NDLEA rehabilitates 137 drug peddlers in A’Ibom

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Eket, Akwa Ibom Command says that it has rehabilitated 137 drug peddlers in the state.

Mrs Imaette Umouman, the Unit Commander of NDLEA in Eket stated this during the sensitization rally to mark the World Drug-Free Day 2014, in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
She said of the 137 rehabilitated, 128 are males while nine are females.

According to her, in Akwa Ibom Command do partial rehabilitation.
“These are people that have been victims of drug abuse, some are brought in by their parents while some after the arresting the smokers we cancel them and rehabilitate them.
“We cancel some and take some to the hospitals for treatment and rehabilitate them for some months so that they can become useful again,’’ she said.

Eket oil spill war: The truth of the matter * How Aniekan Akpan, university Prof betrayed Eket people for ten million naira

* Unqualified consultant had bribed us, Prof Etie Ben admits

A university of Calabar Geology professor Etie Ben Akpan has openly confessed to receiving bribe to favour a non qualified candidate to handle the oil spillage palliative of Exxon Mobil, THE INK understands.

Prof Etie Ben who hails from OKON in Eket Local Government area is among those that have been accused to have sold out because of the bribe they received from Union Engineering Limited in Uyo and the bribe it was gathered came from a very well placed officer of Union Engineering Engineer Joe Inwang who is a former state officer of the now defunct ACN.

THE INK gathered that when some chiefs went to the clan Head Elect of OKON-Eket HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS OBONG AKPABIO EKPOTON INYANG demanding to know why the successful applicant Ultimate Power International Limited who emerged victorious after the examination in the order of those who bided for the job was denied the contract to clean up the mess, the OKON EKET Royal monarch is said to have informed the likes of Chief M. D Uwem that he heard rumoursly that Joe Inwang of Union Engineering Nig Limited had offered members of the oil spill committee some money to cause him to land the job.

Sen. Helen Esuene commiserates Ibanga Akpabio over death of mother

Senator Helen Esuene, member representing Eket Senatorial District on Friday joined thousands of sympathizers at Ukana in Commiserating Barrister Ibanga Akpabio, State Secretary of the P.D.P over the death of his mother, late Mma Atim Ime Akpabio.

The burial Ceremony of late Deaconess Atim Akpabio which took place at Independence High School, Ukana in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, become a Political Mecca of the “who is who” in Akwa Ibom State and beyond.

Esuene who arrived the venue as early as 10.15 a.m was received by the bereaved, Ibanaga Akpabio and other top party Chieftains in the State including the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon Sam Ikon.

State Govt angry over non remittance of counterpart funds

Akwa Ibom State Government has expressed displeasure over the non remittance of its counterpart revenue by some public Agencies operating in the State, describing the trend as inimical to sustainable development of the State.

The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akan Okon made the declaration when he met with Management of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and top officers of Federal Road Safety Corp(FRSC) at the conference Room of the Ministry ,within the week.

The Commissioner who termed as worrisome , failure on the parts of some of these Agencies to comply with Fiscal Responsibility Act which stipulates  remittance of certain percentage of their Internally Generated Revenue to the State’s Consolidated Revenue Funds said, such violation has affected the projection of the state Government.

UNIUYO set for 2013/2014 matriculation BY CHRISTIAN MOSES

The management of the University of Uyo UNIUYO has announced the date for her 2013/2014 academic session matriculation ceremony.

The matriculation ceremony is scheduled to hold on Friday, July 11, 2014.

According to the release from the management, all fresh students, that are properly registered as required by the management shall be formerly admitted into the university at the matriculation ceremony on the date announced. As such it is compulsory for all fresh students to take the matriculation oath, allotte a matriculation number and sign the matriculation register on the matriculation day.

All newly admitted students in the 2013/2014 session are advised by the management, to complete their registration exercise to enable them participate in the matriculation exercise. THE event is billed for the University’s permanent site at USE OFFOT and will begin from 10.00am

600,000 barrels of crude oil burnt in Mobil facility

About 600,000 barrels of crude oil was burnt in Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), Operator of NNPC/MPN Joint Venture Qua Iboe Terminal facility in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
The fire was caused as a result of leakage of crude oil from one of ExxonMobil’s platforms.
A source who claimed anonymity disclosed this to the Newsmen in Ibeno.

He said that the incident started about 9 a.m on Friday, adding that there fire did not extend outside Mobil facility.

ICA inaugurate chapters

Vehicular and human traffic came to a standstill along Mbo Road in Oron on Thursday as Ibom consolidated Assembly (ICA) inaugurated Oron, Mbo, Udunguko, Okobo and Urueffong /Uroko Local Government Area Chapters of the organization.

Thousands of people mostly members, thronged out at the Government Primary School Playgroup Iquita Oron to witness the epoch making event, courtesy of the Clement weather and the gladiators behind the group.

In his opening speech, Hon. Imowo Udobia, who is the Eket Senatorial District Coordinator of the group and former Local Government Chairman of Mkpat Enin said that Ibom Consolidated Assembly is an Organization of homogenous minds with a focus on good governance, justice, equity and consolidation of the achievement of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration.

Traditional Rulers, don’t misplace your responsibilities for a token BY AKPANDEM

Traditional institutions are as old as history. They are established by tradition and hallowed by custom.  When the white men first introduced their tenets into Nigeria, they were quick to discover that, although the people were primitive, their traditional institutions followed due process of law and order, and provided stable administration and good governance. It is therefore regrettable that an institution which ought to be a reliable and dependable repository of wisdom and advice is fast becoming a ‘mere’ glorified club.

Today’s traditional rulers indulge in bribe-taking after taking secret oaths to pervert the course of justice.  The political atmosphere in the state is nothing short of commotion and breakdown of law and order, and this is not far from the fact that the social order and economic life of the community has been paralyzed by our traditional rulers.

Flood control: Individuals/communities approach BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER

The subject of flood usually comes to discuss whenever rainy seasons prevail and the effect of the natural disaster is usually unmanageable. From the Biblical age when God used the element of water as a means of destruction, water has never been a good master. Though a good servant, water serves a definite purpose in our everyday lives; helping to maintain the sanitary and domestic aspect of our houses.

Over the years and especially in contemporary times, flood and flooding have formed the central theme of public discuss, publications and journals with different agencies proffering diverse thoughts on the dreaded environmental disease. 

The government has in times past devised various means of managing and controlling flood and, even launched several programmes to address the seasonal scourge yet, there seem to be no change.  When the Flood Preventive Measures was flagged-off last year, the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Prince Enobong Uwah, had appealed to citizens to help the government in her bid to control the flood epidemic.