UbongAbasi Ise

By UbongAbasi Ise “As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them” – Ecclesiastes 9:12 One of the festivities at Yuletide that always got me vicariously thrilled is the manner new year moments are celebrated. On the night of 31 st of December of every year, people would watch the hands of the clock approaching midnight, and immediately it clocks the hour, the night become speckled with odd assortments of lights and fireworks. From setting ablaze of raffia palm trees in the rural areas and the mesmeric display of fireworks in the towns and cities, old year is bid farewell in an unfair manner, and the new year is ushered in with ecstasy. At the crossover night programmes organized by churches and other religious concerns, the outgoing year would be blackmailed of causing human sorrows, afflictions and hardships, and so it would be incinerated with fire and wished away with much vehemence wh

By UbongAbasi Ise | The Sensor On Monday 25 December, 2017, p.3 “There is a time for everything, and a season fir every activity under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 Dr. Uwem Akpan is a lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies in the University of Uyo well versed in Akwa Ibom traditional history. In my recent interaction with Dr. Akpan, he noted that before European imperialists arrived the geo-political location now called Akwa Ibom State, Christmas festivity was quite remote in the thinking of the indigenous people, even though they had superfluity of festivities to celebrate at the time, especially, the season Christmas is now celebrated. According to Akpan, the season was naturally a time of rest after harvest, and it was also a time preceding next planting season. Therefore, the time was ultimately apt for merriment and carousing. Kinsmen would exchange visits, share gifts; in-laws would visit in-laws; grandchildren were made to pay visits to their

By UbongAbasi Ise As Akwa Ibom State is basking in the euphoria of finishing second on the medal table at the recent Under 17 National Sports Festival held in Ilorin, the coaches and staff that participated in the fiesta are no longer in the celebrating spirits as they are allegedly owed ten days Duty Tour Allowance (DTA).   The Sensor gathered that the coaches and staff from the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youths and Sports that formed part of the state’s contingent to Kwara State in September, were only paid in Ilorin the DTA of two days out of 12 days the competition lasted. One of the coaches who spoke with our correspondent in strict confidence said that they were assured by the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr. Monday Uko, that once they reach Akwa Ibom State, all their entitlements would be released to them. But from September till date, they are yet to be paid. In a phone conversation with our correspondent, the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter

A human rights activist and Executive Director, COMPPART for Justice and Peace Building, Mr. Saviour Akpan has called on the new leadership in the local government area in the State to settle down and serve the people, noting that their three year tenure has begun and has started counting. Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Sensor, Akpan said that the new leadership-executive and legislative would not have any reason to fail in delivering democracy dividend they promised the people. He said that rather than engage in bickering that usually characterized the third tier of government in the State, the new leadership should embark on things that would benefit the people positively. He regretted that the last executive local government administration in the State did not make any single by-law but wasted public funds. This, he attributed to lack of knowledge by the legislature on how to make bylaws. He, therefore, called on the Ministry of Local Government and Chieft

The recently conducted local government election in the State might have come and gone but the intrigues that it has continued to generate has refused to go. In one of such intrigues, the N50 million largesse allegedly given to Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, by the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has torn political parties in the State apart. The Sensor authoritatively gathered that the largesse which was allegedly given at the State PDP chairman's house at Osongama Estate, Uyo, a day after the election has reportedly caused disaffection as members of different political parties that form IPAC are said to be fighting the chairman of the council, Mr. Martins Inyang. The Sensor recalled that IPAC State Executive reportedly visited Obong Ekpo in his house on Sunday December 3, 2017, a day after the election and declared that the election was free and fair even when results was yet to be declared. It was also recalled that 32 party chair

Refugee crisis has reportedly hit Akwa Ibom State. The refugees, who are victims of political crisis in Cameroon had alongside Nigerians living there, fled the country to take refuge in parts of the State. The condition of the victims, The Sensor learnt, is made worse following State Government’s neglect and abandonment despite several appeals for intervention. It was further gathered that government officials are much more interested in relief materials that is to be sent to the victims by the United Nations and other international non-governmental organizations. A visit to three camps in Iquita community, Oron, Iko Eket, Eket and Ekpuk village in Mkpat Enin revealed tales of woes and suffering faced by the victims. At Oron refugee camp where over 300 victims are currently being camped by a church, Christ Believer Mission, many of them including children sleep in an open space and are exposed to cold and mosquitos. They do not have any means of livelihood and depend on ai