Before Etido Inyang is dragged down the mire

BY OTOBONG SAMPSON

My friendship with Engr.  Etido  Inyang, Governor’s Adviser on Technical Matters compels on me a responsibility to speak up honestly for him at a time like this when those who know him are well certain that he will, as usual, adopt a characteristic quiet which, admittedly, could be disturbing sometimes. My interest in this piece however lies not in putting up a defense to a recent media outing by a “youth”, a native of Ikot Ikpene Local Government Area in an Akwa Ibom-based tabloid in which Etido Inyang was virtually defined as an oppressor and land-grabber. Instead, I will attempt to deconstruct the mischievous mis-construct of a man by a “youth activist” who for several years and until December last year was a most fortunate and consistent beneficiary of his victim he is seeking to prey upon today. 

Akpabio felicitates former President Shehu Shagari

 

 

Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum Chief Godswill Akpabio has felicitated a former president of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

The Governor, in a statement by his Commissioner for Information and Communications,  Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said the momentous occasion of the birthday celebration provided Nigeria and indeed Nigerians the opportunity to appreciate and thank God for a statesman, patriotic leader and detribalized Nigerian.

God did not give me connections to carter for my family alone – Udom Emmanuel

AKS Dep Gov Lady Valerie Ebe (left), Chairman Obot Akara LG Council (middle) and wife, Emem (right) during a Meet the women tour to Obot Akara by AKS Gov's wife Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, Monday

The Peoples Democratic  Party governorship  candidate in Akwa Ibom State Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has reiterated his desire to govern the state with the fear of God if elected into office as the next Governor of the state, and to harness his connections in the international business community to create wealth for the state. 

Udom gave the assurances Thursday evening when he had a special interactive session with the entire youths of Uyo catholic diocese at St Joseph’s catholic church, Ifiayong Usuk in Uruan local government area.
The PDP standard bearer noted that he is an ambassador of the Christian community in the state and will not go below the standards prescribed by the Lord Jesus in the discharge of his obligations and responsibilities as Governor from May 29. 

Akwa Ibom Transporters drum support for Udom, PDP candidates

It was a attractive procession of assorted vehicles  all over Uyo the Akwa Ibom state capital as all fifteen transport unions and affiliate groups in the state assembled to unanimously endorse the governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Mr Udom Emmanuel as well as all the Senatorial District candidates of the Party for the general elections.

Addressing the mammoth crowd of transport operators at Ibom Hall ground, the governorship standard bearer Mr Udom Emmanuel said that he is overwhelmed by the massive support and confidence reposed in him.
He maintained that the coming together of all stakeholders, unions and their members in the transport business to support the PDP candidates, came as a result of the monumental achievements of the PDP led administration especially in infrastructural development which has made transporters in Akwa Ibom to do their businesses with ease.

Armoured Personnel carrier factory: …Udom fools Itu /Ibiono Ibom- Expert

An automobile engineer, Mr Mfoniso Daniel said the promise by the PDP governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state, Mr Udom Emmanuel to build an armoured personnel carrier factory in Itu and Ibiono Ibom federal constituency if elected into office was  deceitful, a political gimmick and an insult on the people of the area. Speaking in an interview with Global Post, Mr Daniel who is currently working with a car assembly plant in Lagos expressed disappointment that Udom, a financial expert with many years of experience could make such a promise when he had not carried out feasibility studies on the proposed project. 

Umana’s N50,000 bursary: Great relief to parents, students

BY EFFIONG USORO

Since Akwa Ibom state was  created on September, 23 , 1987 it has had leaders , the good the bad and the ugly. Some of the leaders were prepared or ill prepared but had leadership thrust on them . Each of the leaders had his own concept of leadership and what constitute development. Today, Akwa Ibom has a person who prepared adequately to manage the affairs of the state as its chief servant . 

 

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Obong Umana Okon Umana has the ideas on how to provide meaningful development in all sectors of the state . Recognising that education is both a goal of development and means of achieving overall socio- economic growth, Obong Umana has promised that his administration would accord top priority to the educational sector. This is  explains why he has promised to pay each student of Akwa Ibom studying in tertiary institution in Nigeria the  sum of N50,000 as bursary every academic year. 

 

2015: What next for Hon. Mrs. Eunice Thomas?

BY DAN ETOKIDEM

You may love or loathe her. You may adore or abjure  her. You may hate or honour her. You may vilify or venerate her. You may detest or deify her. But what you surely cannot do it to ignore Hon. Mrs. Eunice Thomas, former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Education, Akwa Ibom State.

 Indeed, ages and epochs normally define people. But there are exceptional individuals who define their age, who steer the tumultuous and tempestuous course of history by stamping on it the badge of their powerful personalities or power ideas.

Hon. Mrs. Eunice Thomas has in recent years become an object of curiosity as her meteoric rise into the nation’s consciousness is nothing short of a phenomenon. Her story is that of a lady who stands out in a crowd, having beauty, fame and wealth as assets. She is a paragon of beauty no doubt. Whenever she goes, she’s a head turner. Her physical attributes are complemented with the beauty of her character. Her ever young good looks a source of envy to some. At 41, she could pass for 18.

I may not be going back to the Senate Chambers but am not going out of politics - Sen. Ita Enang

Sen. Ita Enang is the Senator Representing Uyo in the National Assembly, in this interview with newsmen, he bares his mind on a range of issues including the 2015 polls, PVCs, Jega’s fate and other several issues of National discourse.  Hear him speak, excerpts: 

As a ranking senator in the National  Assembly, we will like you to tell us more about what Jega briefed the Senate on when he appeared in the Red Chambers as regards the postponement of elections and the preparedness so far by INEC
Well, I want to thank you for this interview as I just came back. I also wish to appreciate Nigerians for the understanding they showed over the postponement when Jega came; I’m sure anyone who watched it both on television, the live streaming on the social media and other platforms saw that he assured everybody that elections would hold. Secondly, that the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) will be used; thirdly, that they are ready for the election; fourthly, that there will be no excuse on the part of the security that the election will not hold.

Between Ubong and Don Etim-who’s lying?

BY DAN ETOKIDEM

 

Ubong had alleged that he took Don Etim to see  Governor Akpabio for the first time which facilitated Don’s appointment  as a commissioner.

True or false? This we all know is true. Before now, Akpabio has snubbed Don Etim severally at Bekado’s house and the residence of the Late Chief F.E.J. Etim. It took Ubong’s interaction for Don to have audience with the Governor which paved the way for Don’s appointment into the State Executive Council.
Don Etim has been accused of collecting passports of some Ikot Ekpene indigenes in 2011 with the promise to send them abroad for Foreign Scholarship which he never did- True or False?. 

Mr. indestructible, Mr. immortal: Hear this

BY ANIEFIOK ESSAH

That we all shall die is a granite fact and glaring reality. As time changes everything, including mountains and kings, no material thing else lives forever. Be you who or what, one day, you must obey nature’s final call – death. I wonder if you ever paused and pondered over this.

This election time, I want to talk to Akwa Ibom youths, because, once upon a time, I was a youth as they are. Not every youth, anyway. I want to talk to those ones who are proud being called thugs, cultists, intimidators, ndito-ekim, ndito-ifot ­– all those paid predators or sadists whose jobs are to make others miserable. I mean those guys who kill because of the lure of money. I want them to be reminded that they too will die someday, and their manner of death will be terrible such that nobody will pity and no eye will shed a tear over them.