IMMORTALIZE EYO-ITA, ETTEH URGES AKSG

The Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and the Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Centenary Celebration over the nomination of foremost educationist and nationalist, Professor Eyo Ita, as a recipient of the Centenary Honours Award.

Etteh says the award for Eyo Ita, which came in the Heroes of Struggle for Nigeria’s Independence/Pioneer Political Leaders Category, is “a confirmation of the contribution of the Ibeno born politician to the growth of Nigeria which we have today.”

He, however, said the Akwa Ibom State Government has not been too kind to heroes like Professor Eyo Ita.

“I, therefore, call on the state government to immortalize Professor Eyo Ita through the naming of a monument, institution or road after him. As an educationist, Professor Eyo Ita was the first Professor in Nigeria and founded the West African People’s Institute in Calabar, a school that complemented efforts at creating a literate citizenry for the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States and even beyond. Professor Eyo Ita was also Leader of Government Business in the then Eastern Nigeria.”

He said the likes of Professor Eyo Ita were pan-Africanists like the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and their contributions were targeted at humanity not their ethnic stock.

He called on politicians to think of the larger society as they approach the politics of 2015.

“We cannot afford to be ethnic chauvinists as we approach 2015. Our founding fathers like the late Professor Eyo Ita lived above petty ethnic considerations in their politicking and were able to attract the kind of dignity, integrity and influence that has seen them being honoured by the centenary committee.”

Etteh also congratulated the committee for honouring the late Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, who though born of an Igbo father, an Efik mother and married to an Ibibio husband, the late Dr. John Udo Ekpo of Etinan, lived her life for humanity not for the ethnic stocks she was associated with; and Dr. Egbert Udo Udoma, who though one of the finest conscience of Ibibio nation, became a pan-national jurist of repute. He said the three honourees from Akwa Ibom State exemplify the Akwa Ibom spirit of hard work, industry and commitment to the uplift of mankind.

Etteh, who is also the member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, said while the Calabar Airport has been named after Ekpo and the Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo named after Dr. Udoma, Prof. Eyo Ita is yet to be so honoured at home. He, therefore, urged Ibeno Local Government Council and the Akwa Ibom State Government to take practical steps to honour him.

He also expressed disappointment that the list of the Centenary Awards recipients did not include “the late Brigadier General Wellington Bassey who was the first black officer of the Nigerian Army with service number NA/1; former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, the late Dr. Clement Isong, whose dexterity at financial management kept Nigeria afloat in the trying days of the civil war; the late General Philip Effiong who, at risk to his life, superintended over the surrender of Biafra to Nigeria; the pioneer of Nigeria’s foray into Information Technology, Atuekong Don Etiebet and Nigeria’s only International Editor of the year, Mr. Ray Ekpu.”

Etteh equally expressed shock that the duo of Akwa Ibom born Dominic Cardinal Ekanem, West Africa’s First Catholic Bishop and pioneer President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and one of his successors, Joseph Cardinal Onaiyekan were not among those honoured in the category of Exemplary Service in the Promotion of Peace and Moral Excellence.

L-R: Pastor Ita Udo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Mr. Udom
Emmanuel, Secretary to the State Government; Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem,
Commissioner for Special Duties; Mr. Aniekan Umanah, Commissioner for
Information & Communications; and Prince Enobong Uwah at the at the
State sponsored IPSAS Training workshop, facilitated by Price Water
House Coopers and Brandsmith at Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos

Communal Crisis Stalls Akwa Ibom Dam Construction

The Cross River Basin Development Authority said on Tuesday that protracted communal crisis stalled the construction of Nkari Dam, a Federal Government project.

The General Manager of the Authority, Mr Mfon Essien, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Tuesday.

“I know that many people have died because of the communal crisis in Nkari clan over the dam project, including the former contractor.

“You can confirm this from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; I know that two years ago, we were still grappling with the compensation issue.

“It is not true that the project was abandoned in 2004; the community had been troublesome and turbulent,” Essien said.

In a separate interview, a community leader, Chief Edet Etim, alleged that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources had abandoned the project since 2004.

NAN reports that the dam, which covers an estimated land mass of 37 hectares, was meant to provide water for irrigation and for domestic use.

The project was also envisaged to help check flood as well as provide facilities for fishing.

Meanwhile, construction on another dam project facilitated by Sen.Ita Enang, representing Akwa Ibom North East, is still ongoing.

NAN learnt that the contract was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N996 million by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

The project, known as the Itu/Ibiono Dam Project, was designed to provide potable water and boost agricultural production in the state.

The project being handled by AMBIS Engineering Services, would store about two million cubic litres of water at completion.

FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FOR STATE LEGISLATURE STRESSED

As the National Assembly joint committee on the review of the 1999 constitution continues the amending process, the need for autonomy for state legislature has been stressed.

The call was made recently when the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Advisory Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Matters paid a working visit to its Benue State counterpart where members of the two parliaments unanimously agreed that the time was ripe for state legislature to be granted autonomy by the Nigerian Constitution.

Giving reasons why the state legislature should be granted autonomy, the majority leader of the Benue State House of Assembly Mr. Paul Biam said financial autonomy for state legislatures will grant them more opportunities to perform their functions as legislators and as representatives of the people.

Citing instances where the activities of the House have been crippled, the majority leader lamented that members of Benue State House of Assembly are yet to attend Commonwealth Parliament which is usually hosted outside the country noting that, the exposure and experience garnered from such legislative engagement have continued to elude them.

“The present crop of state legislators should continue to pursue financial autonomy for state legislature even if it be the only thing we can achieve in the ongoing constitution review we would have achieved so much for future state lawmakers.”   

 On his part, the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly who is also the chairman of the committee Mr Samuel Ikon observed that the issue of autonomy is very dear to the heart of state legislators and a concern of all especially members of the speaker’s forum.

According to him “Even if the autonomy will be for just six months to the end of our tenure, we will appreciate it so much. We are not relenting in our effort to get it through now that the amendment of the 1999 constitution is ongoing” he noted.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon (Barr) Emmanuel Terhile Ayua in his welcome remarks had expressed joy over the choice of Benue State by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Matters noting that such visit will deepen the relationship between the two state legislators and give them the opportunity to compare notes and share experiences in the legislative business.