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Tag: Udom

  • Why Gov Udom allowed Buhari, APC access A’Ibom facility for campaign – PDP

    Why Gov Udom allowed Buhari, APC access A’Ibom facility for campaign – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party, Akwa Ibom State said on Thursday that the state government’s decision to allow President Muhammadu Buhari use the Godswill Akpabio International stadium for the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign flag-off after some initial concerns was not a sign of weakness.

    PDP said the decision was glaring evidence of a sound and matured leadership exhibited by the state governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.

    A statement by the Director General of Divine Mandate Campaign Organization, Idongesit Nkanga, said such humane disposition of the governor was a clear indication that, the leadership of the state has respect for constitutional offices, especially the office of the President.

    Nkanga, a former military governor of the state noted that, the way and manner the opposition interpreted the initial decision of the government over the use of the stadium not minding the huge cost to the state to refurbish the facility after the event, was an indication of “desperation anchored in selfish agenda”.

    He recalled a similar incident where the state government denied a former governor the use of Ibom hotel and Golf Resorts during the celebration of former Governor Victor Attah’s 70th birthday, but noted that history has offered the state the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past.

    He said,“We wish to state unequivocally that the PDP and indeed the good people of Akwa Ibom State are united in a common determination not to mortgage the soul of state for a pittance.

    “It is also worthy to note that the decision is a clear indication of the huge sense of maturity and exemplary statesmanship by the Governor. This action is more profane if you consider that some of the key protagonists of APC today while in power, had several times displayed a clear lack of tact and class.

    “One incident that most Akwa Ibomites would not forget in a hurry is the deliberate denial of Obong Victor Attah of the use of the facilities of the Ibom Hotels and Resort for events to celebrate his 70th birthday.

    “History offered the state an opportunity to right the wrong when the current government of Akwa Ibom state not only approved the use of the facility for the former Governor’s 80th Birthday but also bankrolled the events.

    “At the national level, we are all living witnesses to the blatant refusal by the management of the Eagle Square in Abuja, to grant a former PDP Presidential aspirant the use of the facility despite having made the requisite rental payments.

    “On the contrast, it is on record that the Akwa Ibom State Government has at several instances granted APC the use Uyo Township Stadium even when it wasn’t the most convenient thing to do.

    “In September 2018, the State Government approved for the APC to use the Uyo Township Stadium less than 24hours before and after events of the State’s 31st anniversary which took place at the same venue”, he said.

    The DG Divine Mandate said the people of the state would ever remain grateful for having a person like Mr. Emmanuel as governor of the state; because of his humane disposition.

    “The opposition can continue to sound the drumbeats of violence; the opposition can continue to dream of criminality but the people of Akwa Ibom State will remain united in one voice and one accord to maintain the peace and prosperity the state has enjoyed in the last three and half years.

     

  • 2019: Udom, Akpabio in war of words over controversial ‘four-star’ hotel

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and his predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio are not having the best of time especially as the 2019 election year approaches.

    The Akwa Ibom government on Monday launched an attack against Akpabio, over a four-star hotel built by the government under his administration.

    The government alleged that the hotel project was not ‘transparent’ and did not comply with best practice.

    The hotel, Four Points by Sheraton, has become a subject of political war between Akpabio and his estranged protégée, the governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel.

    Akpabio, a senator representing Akwa Ibom North West District, recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defection is seen as a major threat to Governor Emmanuel’s bid for a second term in office.

    The hotel, located in Akpabio’s senatorial district, was one of the signature projects of the Akpabio administration.

    While the senator is accusing the current administration of refusing to put the hotel to use, the governor is claiming that his predecessor left the hotel unfinished before he (Akpabio) left office in 2015.

    “They talked about Four Points by Sheraton. Today, I don’t want to answer them. But let me state, the facts must come out fast and the facts must point to the truth because the truth is constant,” Governor Emmanuel said on Friday in Uyo before a large crowd of supporters in a 30,000-capacity stadium, while declaring his bid to run for a second term.

    “It is just now that we have incorporated a company to negotiate with Starwood for that name Four-Point by Sheraton. If anybody has ever done that, let him show me the agreement he signed.

    “It is now that we are doing external works in that premises in order to turn it into a hotel. Is building a hotel? Can a building be a hotel?”

    “I don’t want to join issues today, I just want to humbly submit myself. But the truth must be told that it is just now that I have paid $7.2 million to Starwood so that we can retain the name that was surreptitiously put on the building called Four-Point by Sheraton Hotel.

    “Who is telling you a lie? Who is telling you a lie? Can they tell you that there were mechanical or electrical fittings in that building?” the governor said.

    No sooner had the governor finished his declaration speech than APC faithful flooded Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp with photos, including one where the former governor and his successor were having lunch at the Ikot Ekpene hotel, as a ‘proof’ that Akpabio had completed the hotel before he left office.

    The party, in countering Governor Emmanuel’s remarks, referenced a news story published in the Nation newspaper, July 12, 2014, where Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide reportedly announced the signing of an agreement with the Akwa Ibom government for the establishment of the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene.

    But an unrelenting government quickly fired back.

    “Regrettably, it paints an unpalatable picture of mischief for the immediate past Governor; a lawyer by profession, to present an unsigned and unverified press statement in the Nation newspaper of July 12, 2014, as evidence of a legal contractual obligation on a high net-worth project as one in question,” the Commissioner for Information in the state, Charles Udoh, said in a statement issued on Monday.

    Udoh insisted that Akpabio, as governor then, commissioned the hotel “without a signed franchise agreement and a full complement of requisite furniture and fittings”.

    The commissioner said Raffia City Hotels and Tours Limited, the company which managed the transaction on behalf of the state government, was incorporated on June 11, 2015, ”more than one month after Akpabio had commissioned the hotel.”

    The government also posed seven questions to Akpabio.

    “How come the hotel that had been commissioned never started operations before the end of his administration?

    “How come there was no guest traffic count and/or feasibility study carried out to justify the N25.4 billion investment in a 146 room hotel?

    “Why were external caterers hired to bring in food if the kitchen and dining facilities were ready, equipped and commissioned?

    “How come the hotel is a subject of discussion today, three years after it was supposedly commissioned?

    “Who benefited from the contract awards for the hotel?

    “Who brought the contractors?

    “Who benefitted from the over 95% payment his administration disbursed on a half-completed hotel?”

    When contacted for comment, the media aide to Akpabio, Anietie Ekong, declined commenting on the allegations.

    But he said: “The information that is already in the public domain is enough for people to read and make an informed opinion on the matter.”

  • 2019: You are not God! Udom tells Akpabio

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state has said that his predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio is not God and cannot stop his second term aspiration.

    Emmanuel, who said this on Friday during his declaration for second term at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo dismissed Akpabio’s declaration of war on the state as unrealistic.

    He said the senator’s analogy of using Hitler-styled invasion of Poland during the World war to depict how the All Progressives Congress (APC) intends to capture Akwa Ibom State would be grossly resisted by the people.

    “No man is God”, he stressed, adding, “I submit myself for consideration to continue with the good works that I have done and I seek your support for my candidature as governor for second term”.

    He assured that the migration of his former boss, Senator Akpabio, into the ruling APC, at the centre, would not stop his re-election, saying he would work with the people to continue with his superior performance during his second term.

    The governor said he was banking on his superior performance to return to the Government House, Uyo, in 2019, adding that he has worked hard and honestly to deliver on his 2015 campaign promises.

    He mentioned industrialization as the major plank of his achievements in the last three years, pointing out that the conglomeration of industrial clusters including toothpick, pencil, syringe, electric metres, coconut factory, peacock paint, fertilizer firms and several kilometres of roads, would recommend him for re-election.

    The Akpabio administration, he noted, had left behind some uncompleted projects including the Sheraton by Four Points Hotel at Ikot Ekpene and the Uyo – Ikot Ekpene road, saying his administration has been working hard to ensure the completion of those legacy projects of the immediate past era.

    “Who said they had completed the Sheraton by Four Points Hotel?”, he asked, adding that “it is only today that we are negotiating with Starwood Group for the retainership of the name, which some surreptitiously put up on a building, is building a hotel?”.

    He, therefore, enjoined the people to rally round him in his quest to sustain the tempo of good governance he enunciated in his first term in 2015.

    In the same vein, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke; the former Military Governor of the State, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, who chairs the governor’s re-election committee and the State PDP chair, Obong Paul Ekpo, charged supporters and stakeholders of the PDP to work towards ensuring the PDP retain Akwa Ibom with Udom Emmanuel, in 2019.

    Solidarity messages from neighbouring governors of River State, Nysom Wike and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, assured governor Emmanuel that he would be returned based on track-record of quality works in the last three years and enjoined the people not to allow external influence to alter the already political arrangement ably directed by the PDP since 1999 in Akwa Ibom.

     

     

  • A’Ibom: APC factional chairman defects to PDP, says ‘Akpabio is clog in Udom’s progress’

    A factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom state, Udoma Ekarika, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ekarika announced his defection at a political rally organised on Monday in Onna by the people of Akwa Ibom South District to endorse Governor Udom Emmanuel’s bid for re-election.

    Ekarika, a medical doctor and a former commissioner for works in the state, was one of the APC leaders who laid claim to being the “validly” elected state chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom during the state congress of the party in May this year.

    A son-in-law to a former governor of the state, Victor Attah, Ekarika was groomed by Attah to take over as governor in 2007 but was narrowly defeated at the PDP governorship primaries by Godswill Akpabio who was serving then as a commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs in the Attah administration.

    At the rally, Ekarika reportedly said “I’m coming back from a very useless party called APC, I am proud to become part of PDP again”.

    However, Ekarika later clarified that his use of the word “useless” applied only to the APC in Akwa Ibom, and not in the entire country.

    “Yes, APC in Akwa Ibom state is a useless party because of the useless people who have come to join it,” he said, apparently referring to the recent defection of Akpabio from the PDP to the APC.

    On what has become of his ambition to lead the APC in the state, Ekarika said: “My aspiration to lead the party was borne out of my desire to reposition the party for electoral success in 2019 and beyond.

    “But the cabal who were the destroyers of PDP who came to APC because they believe in impunity and imposition came to say instead of doing the needful which was to conduct an election, they preferred to do an unconstitutional thing called consensus. There is nothing like consensus in the APC guideline.

    “I was not happy about it, they should have allowed the will of the people to prevail.”

    Ekarika said Governor Emmanuel would have an easy ride to victory at the poll in 2019.

    “Udom will not have any tough battle with anybody. What is on the ground is that Victor Attah did two terms, Godswill Akpabio also did two terms, so Udom Emmanuel would be allowed to do two terms too.

    “Apart from that, Udom has done very well. Udom has done very well, I can say it loud. One of the things he has done which Akwa Ibom people appreciate it is that he has brought peace to this state,” he said.

    He said the killings, kidnappings, and general insecurity that plagued the state when Akpabio was governor of the state would eventually become a political burden for the APC during the 2019 election.

    “Do you think Akwa Ibom people will give APC the opportunity to bring back that era to this state?” Mr Ekarika asked.

    He added, “The cog in the wheel of Udom’s administration was Akapabio, and thank God, God has removed him.

    “I am sure Udom will now see clearly, with focus, and move ahead.

    “Godswill Akpabio is overrated by people at the national level, and not in Akwa Ibom.”

     

  • Udom sacks Local Government commissioner

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State on Friday sacked the state commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Udo Ekpenyong.

    According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh, in Uyo, Ekpenyong has been relieved of his appointment “with immediate effect.”

    The statement reads: “Governor Udom Emmanuel has effected a minor reshuffling of his cabinet. By this development, the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Udo Ekpeyong, has been relieved of his portfolio with immediate effect.

    “The Government of Akwa Ibom State thanks Hon. Ekpeyong for his services to the state while serving as a member of the State Executive Council and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

  • Gov Emmanuel condemns FG’s proposed plan to spend $1billion to fight terrorism

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has cautioned the federal government not to be in a haste to withdraw the proposed $1billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to tackle insecurity in the country.

    Emmanuel, who distanced himself from the proposed withdrawal of the fund, argued that there is need for more discussions on the proposed fund.

    Speaking yesterday with journalists at the Ibom International Airport shortly on arrival from official engagements outside the state, the governor, like some other governors, said he was not present at the National Economic Council meeting when the decision was taken.

    “Well, based on what I read, I wasn’t there at the meeting, but let’s believe it shall be looked into again,” he maintained.

    He regretted that the federal government had failed to release such similar support to the Niger Delta states despite the spate of militancy, kidnapping and other acts of insecurity in the region.

    “We are not too comfortable with the decision to part with $1 billion now which is supposed to be used to support development by state and local governments,” the governor declared.

    According to him, “The excess crude money is for the three tiers of government, and because we are supposed to actually use it to support what we are doing, we need to discuss more.”

    Most governor especially from the South-South were not present during the discussion, declaring that if the federal government refunds outstanding debts owed Akwa Ibom State, it will help his administration tackle insecurity in his state.

    “I am not speaking for anybody, I am speaking for myself. I am being owed almost N140 billion on federal roads. I have generated electricity which I sold to the national grid, but I have not been paid.

    “So when we are discussing security, it’s not just one aspect, let’s look at it in a holistic manner. What actually constitutes security threats to the country?” He stressed

    The governor expressed optimism that the decision on the excess crude fund would eventually be reviewed as it will not augur well with Akwa Ibom State and so many other states.

    On the just concluded meeting of all the governors and speakers of houses of assembly of the 36 states, Emmanuel said it was the first of its kind in the country’s recent history.

    He explained that the essence of the meeting was to examine issues involved in the ongoing constitutional amendment exercise.

    “If you look at other countries of developed democracies, you don’t just wake up one morning and amend constitution, it’s a whole long process. So we believe the stage we are right now, we need to meet with them and interact and let’s see what will be the best for our people,” Emmanuel posited.

  • Udom, Umahi, other PDP governors to visit Buhari in London today

    …as Fayose, Wike did not make the list

    Indications emerge on Monday that some governors elected on the platform of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will on Tuesday (today) visit President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

    It was gathered that the visit was being organised by the office of the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (retd.).

    It was not clear if the NSA was responsible for the governors who were picked for the trip.

    According to a report by The Punch, the six governors were picked from the six geo-political zones of the country.

    Listed among the six governors are Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

    The four governors are from the South-South, South-East, North-West and South-West respectively.

    However, the identities of the two other governors, who are expected to come from the North-East and North-Central could not be verified

    A governor, who is not among those travelling to see Buhari, said those chosen for the journey were picked outside what he described as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

    He added that he was surprised when he heard about the journey from one of his counterparts, stating that if the secretariat and the governors had been contacted, the governors would have picked at least one of the PDP governors that had been critical of the President.

    He said, “Our colleagues are going to London to see the President. But I’m not happy that someone like the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, or his Rivers State counterpart, Mr. Nyesom Wike, is not on the delegation.

    “Though there are PDP governors on the delegation, we know ourselves and also know those we know are truly part of the opposition and those close to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    “The governors had been directed to be at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, tomorrow (Tuesday). From there, they will fly to the United Kingdom.”

    The governors are expected to have lunch with the President before returning to the country on Wednesday.

    A governor, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday night, confirmed that some governors mooted the idea, but said he would not want to speak on the planned visit.

    “Yes, they mentioned it (visit); some APC governors mooted the idea but I don’t want to say anything on that for now,” the governor stated.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Buhari on Sunday, hosted the APC’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, other party leaders and some governors elected on the platform of the APC inside the Abuja House in London, United Kingdom.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Buhari traveled for medical check-up in London on Sunday, May 7, more than a month he came back into the country from a previous medical vacation.

    Details later…

  • Melaye: Udom fires back at Bello, says ‘manage your resources well, pay civil servants’ salaries’

    The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel has responded to the statement credited to the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and signed by his Director-General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo where he criticized the governor (Udom) for allegedly backing Senator Melaye and describing him as ‘general’ in the Senate.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that in a paid advertorial, Bello took issues with his Akwa Ibom governor for describing Senator Dino Melaye, lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District as a “General” in the Senate during the recent empowerment event by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio (CON) held in Ikot Ekpene.

    But Governor Udom, while responding to his Kogi State counterpart, said he does not intend to immerse himself in the politics of zero-sum game that is currently playing out in Kogi State, adding that in Akwa Ibom he plays politics of inclusion, where accent is placed on delivering the best democratic dividends to his people.

    Udom, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media/Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh slammed Governor Bello’s media team for not giving their principal professional advice before responding to issues.

    He described the statement credited to the Governor’s chief media handler as unfortunately, pugnacious in context, pettifogger in tone and tenor and supercilious at best.

    The job of professionally- minded media handlers of a public servant is to dispassionately present an unvarnished truth about a given situation to his principal and advise him on the best possible means of reaction.

    “We are afraid the Kogi State Governor was not served well by his Director-General of Media and Publicity here otherwise he would have resisted the rush to direct the issuance of a press statement where he was quoted to have said a number of unsanitized things about a Brother Governor on an issue that was at best innocuous and done with no malice.

    “Governor Yahaha Bello’s media team should align with globally acceptable best practices in democratic governance where leaders are usually circumspect in their choice of words while engaging their counterparts. If the Governor’s media team truly meant well, it should have advised the Governor that he will look snippy, truculent and un-gubernatorial in the court of public opinion if he were seen to be joining issues with his Brother Governor”, he said.

    He added that his administration is not interested in the local politics of Kogi State.

    “We are not interested in the local politics in Kogi State or if His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello has challenges paying salaries since we don’t have such problems here in our State, as our civil servants get paid regularly and Governor Emmanuel is embarking on a number of infrastructural upgrades and other life-touching projects. He is able to do all these, through the judicious application of the lean resources available to him”.

     

  • South-South: Ayade, Udom Call For Regional Economic Integration

    South-South: Ayade, Udom Call For Regional Economic Integration

    The Cross River and Akwa Ibom State governors have stressed the need to reconvene a forum for leaders in Nigeria’s South-South region.

    The governors said meeting would enable governors and political leaders in the region to discuss ways of fostering peace, unity and development of the Niger Delta region, which they said would have a multiplier effect on the growth of the region.

    Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, noted that some identified areas of possible discuss among the South-South states would focus on agriculture, solid minerals, oil and gas, as well as manufacturing sub-sector.

    He said this on Tuesday while briefing reporters in Calabar, after a closed door meeting with the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, and the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, who paid him a visit.

    Ayade stated that the enlarged meeting is in line with the current economic realities, as the outcome of galvanising the economic potentials in the region would be for the good of its citizens.

    “We have raised concerns about frontier explorations because very little is being done in the direction of trying to expand the oil reserves and production, in the direction of Cross River State and other parts of the Niger Delta.

    “I must say also that our discussion was on how to deepen the unity between us and how to strengthen the South-South love in relationship to the Nigerian Question, and we have also agreed that very soon we would call a meeting with the South-South leaders.

    “We must have a South-South forum where the governors of the South-South and the National Assembly members, as well as other leaders must sit and discuss the National Question,” he stressed.

    On his part, Governor Udom said rather than engaging in war, the people should unite together and tackle the threat of poverty in the region.

    “We are looking at possible economic frontiers between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States to develop the two states.

    “Rather than engage in war, we want to channel the vast energies into useful ventures to better the lots of our people, because we can’t continue to pay lip service to poverty alleviation,” he said.

    Also speaking, Senator Akpabio expressed delight at the meeting which he described as the beginning of greater unity in the South-South geo-political zone, starting with states that have common heritage.

    “Cross River has a vast land mass that if properly harnessed, is capable of employing a large army of unemployed youths and take them off the streets.

    “If we are able to engage in commercial farming, apart from employing our people, we can also become the food belt of this great nation and it will go a long way to deepen the unity of these two great states,” he noted.

    The leaders however, warned those fermenting trouble along the border lines of the two states to have a change of mind of face the wrath of the law.

  • Uyo church collapse: Gov Udom orders arrest of contractors, engineers

    Uyo church collapse: Gov Udom orders arrest of contractors, engineers

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has ordered the immediate arrest of the contractors and engineers, that constructed the Reigners Bible Church, which collapsed in Uyo on Saturday.

    The Governor and his Deputy who were also billed to attend Saturday’s ordination service of Bishop Akan Weeks, however missed death by the whiskers as the building came down unexpectedly while the ordination service was ongoing.

    Aniekeme Finbarr, one of the Udom’s personal assistant on media told CNN’s Becky Anderson, that his principal gave the order on Sunday.

    “They should be made to answer certain questions so that the state would be able to get to the root cause of the matter,” the Governor was quoted as saying.

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has also called for a probe into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

    In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, he commiserated with the people of Akwa Ibom.

    Saraki also called for “urgent and thorough investigation to determine both the remote and immediate causes of the building collapse.

    “I believe that such an investigation, if sincerely done, will help us to guard against unnecessary waste of lives, injuries and damage to property in the future. My heart goes out to all the victims, the Christian community in Akwa Ibom State and the entire people of the state.”