FACE THE PEOPLE - EKPENYONG TELLS UDOM

Former Deputy Governor of AkwaIbom State, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong, says Governor Udom Emmanuel should make the people the pivot of his policy.   Speaking to reporters at the venue of the Thanksgiving Service to mark Governor Emmanuel’s Supreme Court victory, the former deputy governor said it was only the people that will make him succeed as Governor.   “The people are a very important part of why God sustained Governor Udom’s divine mandate. He should, therefore face the people and make them the pivot of his administration’s policy”, he said.   “He should know that there is no industrialization without the people. He therefore needs to make sure the people arecarried along in his industrialization drive”.   Ekpenyong said the Governor has started well by training youths but ‘he should go a step further by ensuring that the people are ready in other wises for the industrial revolution of his government.’   “One of the reasons Tinapa can be considered a failure is that the local economy was not readyand strong enough to feed it. We must make sure our local economy is strong enough to feed the industries coming. Our people should be top suppliers of every local content in the firms. We should have a deliberate policy to produce the top managers in these firms”. Ekpenyong said.  The former Deputy Governor said indigenous enterpreneurs should be assisted to lift their businesses to standard so that they can reap from the revolution.   ‘I heard he is trying to create entrepreneurs amongst youths but he should know that there have always been youths in business. All they need is Assistance which the government must give’   Describing Governor Udom’s win a divine one, he called on indigenes of the state across every divide to support the Governor and wished him success in his tenure in office.

Revenue Administration Bill Passes Second Reading

Revenue Administration Bill 2015 Passes Second Reading

A bill seeking to make provisions for effective collection and administration of revenue due to Akwa Ibom state government and local government councils in the state has passed through a second reading in the House of Assembly.

Titled “A bill for a law to make provision for the administration and collection of Revenue due to the government of Akwa Ibom state and to establish the relevant administrative structures and other matters connected there with”, the executive bill when passed into law will boost the revenue profile of the state.

Deliberating on the bill during plenary today, House members who were unanimous in their support for the bill, argued that it has become necessary for the state to look inwards by devicing means to improve on its internally generated revenue collection especially as oil revenues are dwindling.

Leading debate on the bill, the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan, explained that the bill is not seeking to scrap the state Internal Revenue Service, but that it is intended to inject more professional hands into the revenue management system while encouraging efficiency.

“The bill is principally intended to set up a framework to ensure the proper administration of internal revenue of Akwa Ibom state. This bill is not seeking to scrap the Internal Revenue Service, but it is seeking to ensure that there is a proper and effective administration of our revenue and the job is to be carried out by professionals”.

The lawmaker hinted that the bill also seeks to give the revenue collection and administration body in the state a self-accounting status, explained that staff would be exposed to more professional training and re-training. He noted that following the current state of affairs in the nation's economy, it was pertinent that Akwa Ibom state should not be depending solely on oil revenue from the federal government, hence the need to boost the IGR of the state through the passage of the bill. 

Also contributing, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly and member representing ONNA, Hon. Otuekong Nse Essien, pointed out that an increase in revenue to the state would translate to an increase in the tempo of development in the state, and urged his colleagues to support the bill.

The lawmaker said: “This bill seeks to plug some loopholes in the revenue collection system. It also seeks to establish a 13-man managerial structure, comprising of professionals. Mr. Speaker, the government desires to look inwards into its revenue drive to fill the gap arising from the current economic situation."

On his part, the member representing Essien Udim, Hon. Nse Ntuen, argued on the need for the House to closely monitor the activities of those that will be serving on the board of the revenue agency to ensure that the good intentions of government are achieved. 

Others spoke in favour of the revenue administration bill including, the Chief Whip, Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Toby, Hon. Mrs. Mfon Ekong and Hon. Mark Esset. They were unanimous in their support for the speedy passage of the bill by the House. They noted that the sustainable development agenda of the present administration can only succeed with adequate funding, and commended the idea behind the bill which they described as timely. The lawmakers noted that since the governor emerged, a lot of revenue has been recovered.

Reacting, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, while commending members for their support, committed the bill to the House committee on Appropriation and Finance for indepth study and further legislative actions. 

The committee is given one week to report back to the House.    

 

House directs relief agencies to assist victims of fire outbreak

Moved by the hardship faced by victims of recent fire disasters in two fishing communities of Ibeno and Mbo local government areas, the Akwa Ibom State House Assembly has directed the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA,  and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to immediately send relief materials to the people of Utong and Ibaka fishing settlements. The House has also called on officials in the office of the Deputy Governor responsible for emergency management and disaster relief to respond swiftly to the needs of victims of the fire incidents which led to the destruction properties worth millions of naira according to lawmakers representing the two affected constituencies. The resolution of the House was passed on Tuesday sequel  to a matter of urgent public importance brought before the assembly by members representing Esit Eket/Ibeno, Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh and his colleague from Mbo, Hon. Samuel Ufuo. The lawmakers had informed the Speaker that the sad development occurred last week  in their constituencies, and prayed the House to take urgent steps to ameliorate the sufferings faced by the people of the areas. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh stated that the fire outbreak which occurred at Utong fishing settlement in Iwuochang, Ibeno local government area, on Friday, 12th February, 2016 at about 2am has rendered over 500 people homeless and destroyed properties worth million of naira. The Mbo representative, Hon. Ufo, told the  House that the fire incident in his constituency occurred at Ibaka fishing settlement last week destroying properties and rendering many homeless. He pleaded the House to intervene with a view of stopping a re-occurrence. The lawmaker therefore urged the state government to establish a fire station  at Ibaka. In his reaction, the Speaker,  Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, sympathised with the people of the two fishing communities and called on the state fire service  to register their presence in remote communities especially fishing settlements in order  to prevent  a repeat  of such disaster anywhere in the state. He directed relevant federal and state agencies responsible for emergency and disaster relief  to reach out to the  affected communities in Mbo and Ibeno to cushion the effects of the disaster

Esit Eket Frontline Youth Leaders Excited Over Udom’s Supreme Court Victory … Says Victory Is For The Masses

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A pro-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth group,the Esit Eket Frontline Youth Leaders (EFYL), has said that shouts of jubilations erupted in Esit Eket Local Government Area on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, following the ruling of the Supreme Court which retained Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

The group said while members of the ruling PDP in the state were celebrating the victory and those of the All Progressive Congress (APC) wearing long faces of morose, it acknowledged the forthrightness and patriotism of the Justices of the Supreme Court in upholding the will of the people of the state.

EFYL in a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Akan Etteudo and Imossam Okodi, said the Supreme Court has given hope to the hopeless despite threats by enemies of progress, adding that Governor Emmanuel’s victory is another sign that, after all said and done, the country's judiciary is still the best and a victory for one is victory for all.

The statement further said supporters of Governor Emmanuel were seen in groups all over the Local Government Area hailing the verdict, stressing that “As future leaders and good ambassadors of Akwa Ibom State, we, the youths of Esit Eket, firmly believe in Nigeria’s judiciary anchored on transparency and equity.”

The youth group further commended the all-accommodating leadership style of Elder Benji Udobia; the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Uko, and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters, Aniefiok Iwaudofia, stressing that their unwavering support for the Governor during the court matter was incredible. The group said they are “confident of them and we know they will continue to lead us well.” 

EFYL noted that Governor Emmanuel was in the hands of the Supreme God particularly when the opposition candidate and his supporters were boasting of their grasp of the federal might. 

“But the Supreme Court is not where anyone can be boasting of any might, especially when the Supreme God was in charged. We only relied on our Supreme God and He answered us and put to shame those who wanted to steal our mandate by force," the statement stressed.

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LIGHT/DARKNESS: A DISPARITY INDUCED SERMON. BY TOROBONG EKPO.

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I may not know what the General Overseer of Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo meant by saying that, Supreme Court Judgment was a celebration of light over darkness. I don’t also know, if it was a prophetic utterance or it came as a result of excitement.

 ‎For a cleric of that magnitude to utter such statement, I guess, it calls for additional explanation. Atleast, Oyedepo ought to have informed the crowd who among Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and Umana Okon Umana was Light and Darkness.

 ‎So if someone feels cheated in an election, such person, shouldn’t seek redress in court of law in order not to be branded as Darkness? What is this darkness all about? To me, I see the analogy of ‘Light’ and ‘Darkness’ as a platform to cause untold disparity between two brothers. I had expected us, including clergies, to proffer means of uniting the duo, instead of instigating crises.

 ‎When Obong Umana Okon Umana visited Winners Chapel Ikot Ebido, Uyo, during the Thanksgiving service of Obong Paul Ekpo, such analogy didn’t surface. When his wife, Florence donated financial assistance for the Mega Church spiritual gathering in Lagos, she was not seen as Light or Darkness. Then why are we preaching disparity induced sermon?

 ‎I understand that, Akwa Ibom State, since 2007, is seen as “Australlian league” to outsiders. It is a place, where foreigners are celebrated. It is a place where outsiders ‘stake’ their last money, knowing fully that, they will gain in billions despite dwindling oil prices.

 I‎t is only in Akwa Ibom State, that Lagos Based comedians, artists among others are paid in Dollar, whereas gifted talented ones from our dear state are treated like houseboys.

 I‎ wouldn’t want to dwell much on this sermon by David Oyedepo, because God has mandated me, not “To touch his anointed nor do his prophet no harm”. Though, there is no criterion to measure who is qualified to be seen as the Lord’s anointed, it behooves on men of God, to ensure that, their sermons, do not cause disaffection between brothers.

 ‎Umana Okon Umana is a devout member of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Dominion Model, parish, Uyo, where his wife is also a worker in the same Church. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is a Deacon in the United Evangelical Church, thus, no one should portray them in a derogatory manner.

 ‎If UOU had won the case, myriads of pastors would have joined him, in the celebration, including Oyedepo. The utterances of some of our pastors during sermon, is part of the reasons, why some people dole out unprinted words on them.

 ‎We should pray for spiritual maturity while on podium. When Pastor Enoch Adeboye, visited Akwa Ibom State, he left the stadium without making controversial statement aimed at causing disparity and enmity within natives of Akwa Ibom State.  

 I ‎feel embarrassed as I observed volumes of unprinted words directed to Pastor Oyedepo. I became ashamed after noticing that, the disparity was spread on the internet by supporters of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.

 ‎I see why Moslems don’t respect us. No Imam will pronounce such disparity statement between two Moslems worshippers. No Islamic preacher will instigate crises between two of its members.

 ‎Udom Gabriel Emmanuel should do away with this excess celebration. He should know that, those comparing his manifestoe with the reality on ground are more than those who are carried away by this wanton celebration.

 ‎He should know that, the money used in these celebrations would have provided official vehicles for his appointed SAs and PAs, who are currently suffering and smilling.

 ‎Both UOU and UGE are symbols of light; no one should portray them as DARKNESS. Politics has come and gone, it is time for governance. Hence, Udom should brace up, for the task ahead. I repeat, those monitoring and critically assessing his leadership strides are more than sycophants. We don’t need religion politics at the moment.

 ‎His second term will be determined by his performance in the first term. Even when Godswill Akpabio won James Iniama during his 2007, he didn’t stop the productivity of the state, by declaring a public holiday.

 ‎UGE should concerntrate and know that, each working day, brings financial blessings to the state, thus, the act of declaring a full day, as public holiday, just for Supreme Court Thanksgiving has crippled our state economy and to a large extent was uncalled for.

 ‎The cash Internally Generated revenue, would have generated on Wednesday, would have gone a long way, in creating a small scale industry, which in turn, would have taken our youths off the street.

 ‎I perceive Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as intelligent fellow; his body language shouldn’t make me to think otherwise.‎

SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT: AKHA SPEAKER, MEMBERS CONGRATULAT UDOM

Members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly have congratulated Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel on the recent validation of his election by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In a resolution passed on Tuesday, the House commended President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and other Judges of the Supreme Court for upholding the independence and integrity of the country's judiciary.

The resolution of the House is sequel to an information brought before the assembly during plenary by the member representing Ukanafun, Hon. Otobong Jonathan, who urged the House to formally send a congratulatory message to the governor on the affirmation of his election by the apex court.

Hon. Jonathan said the Supreme Court ruling has reaffirmed the wishes of the people of the state who voted overwhelmingly for Governor Udom Emmanuel in the April 2015 governorship election. In their contributions, members of the House spoke unanimously in support of the congratulatory message describing it as well deserved. On her part, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey, said the victory of Deacon Udom Emmanuel has strongly sent the message that Akwa Ibom State is not for sell.

Also contributing, the member representing Urueofong Oruko, Hon. Asuquo Archibong of the APC congratulated the governor noting that the legal battle has been fought and won, and described Governor Emmanuel’s victory as the will of God. He said: “I can remember that the governor said that the Supreme God will take his case to the Supreme Court and that is what has happened. Power is not by our making, but it is of God. I totally align my self with my colleagues to congratulate His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel on his victory”.

Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Nse Essien described the information raised by his Ukanafun colleague as worth celebrating, and used the opportunity to congratulate the electorate whom he noted voted for the governor regardless of party lines in the last election. While thanking  the Supreme Court for upholding the independence of the judiciary, the ONNA lawmaker commended President Buhari for allowing the judiciary assert its independence.

Others who spoke included, Hon. Otobong Ndem, Barr. Ime Okon, and Rt. Hon. Nse Ntuen described the ruling as victory for democracy, and enjoined those in the opposition party to sheathe their swords and embrace the olive branch extended to them by the governor.

Reacting, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke commended the judiciary for proving itself to be the last hope of the common man. He thanked President Buhari for not interfering in judicial matters.

 

MDGs Counterpart Funding : AKHA Approves Governor Udom’s Request for 600million Naira loan

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed a resolution authorizing the state executive to obtain a loan facility of Six Hundred Million Naira for the purpose of paying the state’s counterpart funding for the execution of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, projects across the state.

This is sequel to a request forwarded in a letter by the Governor, Mr udom Emmanuel, to the lawmakers seeking their approval for the executive to access the bank loan to enable Akwa Ibom meet its counterpart obligation. Motion for the receipt of the governor’s message was moved by the Chief Whip Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong Akpan and seconded by Hon. Mrs. Mfon Ekong. In their debate, Rt. Hon. Udo Kerian (Oruk Anam), Hon. Mark Esset (Nsit Atai), Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh (Esit Eket/Ibeno), Hon. Samuel Ufo (Mbo), Idongesit Ituen (Itu) and Rt. Hon. Nse Ntuen (Essien Udim) all spoke in favour of the governor’s request.

The members urged their colleagues to approve the loan to enable rural dwellers benefit from the MDG projects which they noted are meant to touch lives.

Leading the debate on the governor’s request, the House leader, Rt. Hon. Udo Kerian, explained that it was necessary for his colleagues to grant the loan to enable rural communities in the state benefit from life-touching projects such as healthy facilities, market buildings, school structures, among others.

Member representing Nsit Atai state constituency, Hon Mark Esset, said the loan is being requested at a time that the current administration has raised the bar in governance especially in the area of prompt payment of salaries. Hon Idongesit Ituen of Itu state constituency urged that the fund be approved since the state needs to join other communities in the world where the trend has moved from development goals to sustainable development goals.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke agreed with his colleagues on the need for the state legislature to approve the request for the loan facility saying it is in view of the fact that MDGs projects in the state have helped citizens and residents especially in the area of poverty alleviation.

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