UbongAbasi Ise

By UbongAbasi Ise The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has visited Uyo and left with reverberations still shaking the Twitter, Whatsapp groups, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook news websites and blogs.   He has left trails of inks on pages of newspapers.   The electronic media are not ready to give up: they have scalded our eyes and ears with unending repetitions. The images and competitive narratives stemmed from the presidential campaign flag-off have overtaken and saturated all the available media spaces within the Nigerian domain and beyond.   While waiting for the dust to settle, and for sanity to return, let’s look at the root of the truths in the fairytales of empty seats. It was Ntufam Hilliard Etta, the APC National Vice Chairman for South-South, who transformed his speech into a comic prayer, that referred to those on the other side of the political divide as goats that ate up Nigeria’s yams altogether with the barn that were   trusted to th...

The timely intervention of men of the Nigeria Police Force, Abak Division on Saturday, saved what would have been a serious clash between youths of Ediene Ikot Oku Ubara in Abak Local Government Area and Fulani herdsmen. The Sensor gathered that the youths who were celebrating an annual cultural festival (nnabo) had ran into a herd of cows and one of the cows strayed and jumped on top of a building, destroying the zinc and ceilings while an unidentified woman was seriously wounded in the process. While the victim was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the State for medical attention, the youths descended on the strayed cow and killed it as a revenge for the properties destroyed. It was further gathered that in the process of killing the cow, tension of revenge by the herdsmen enveloped the community. This prompted the intervention by the Police that ensured that there is peace. The butchered cow was said to have been sold to members of the public in order to realize money...

The Provost Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, Plateau State, Dr. Nkereuwem Etukudoh has descended heavily on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for denying the people of Midim Clan in Abak Local Government Area the opportunity to produce the Candidate for Abak State Constituency seat.  Dr. Etukudoh who spoke as the Chairman of Midim Day Celebration organized by Eka Midim Community at Comprehensive Secondary School, Midim lamented that despite the support given to Mr. Udom Emmanuel by the people of Midim Clan during the 2015 general election and subsequent support to his administration, Midim people have been short-changed and have not fared better either in elective or appointment. “I am aware of the complaints and agitation of Midim people against Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration. Truly, there is not gainsaying that Midim people have been shortchanged and have not fared better either in elective positions or appointment. Up to this mome...

By UbongAbasi Ise Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, was recently at Comfort FM in Uyo to ventilate his mind over the state of affairs in the state and country. He said nothing has really changed since he left office as governor in May, 2015. The Akwa Ibom Northwest District Senator said the infrastructural composition of Uyo, the state capital, still remains largely unchanged despite the incumbent state government receiving at least the same or more amount of money his administration collected under four years. He advised the listeners to check the Ministry of Finance website to confirm how much is coming into the state from the federation account. While mentioning Tropicana as one project his administration could not bring to completion, the Senator said government is always in continuum, noting that it took 25 years for United Kingdom to complete Heathrow Terminal 5. According to him, there is probably no British Prime Minister that stayed up ...

By UbongAbasi Ise 5,000 teachers allegedly sacked by Governor Udom Emmanuel were at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday to openly declare support for Obong Nsima Ekere, the Akwa Ibom State Gubernatorial Candidate for the All Progressive Congress, APC , and former governor Godswill Akpabio. And their presence was acknowledged amidst mixed-feelings of cheers and sympathy. In a stadium filled to the capacity, thousands of the aggrieved teachers filed out with banner expressing their solidarity for the APC candidates starting from President Muhammadu Buhari, Obong Nsima Ekere to Godswill Akpabio, whose administration recruited them into the State Secondary Education Board, SSEB. Other larger groups that joined the APC fold during the President Muhammadu Buhari reelection campaign flag-off weekend include 20,000 Ibom All Farmers led by Austin Ndaeyo; 10,000 former members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, from Essien Udim local government area; 1,50...

For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a sitting President will begin his campaign in Akwa Ibom State in particular and South South geopolitical zone in general. This is said to be historic. And a plus for the rebranding and re-energized All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State. The Sensor learned that the State is already agog following President Buhari's planned visit to the State today. Meanwhile, the chairman of local planning committee [LOC] for the official Flagg off of President Muhammadu Buhari 's re-election campaign in the South-South geo political zone slated to hold in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital schedules for today, 28 December 2018, Obong Umana Okon Umana has assured members of the party of a hitch free campaigns even as he welcomes Mr President and his entourage to Akwa Ibom State. Umana, the 2015 APC Gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Akwa Ibom State who also serves as the Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, made t...

As part of the strategy for his 2019 re-election campaign, President Buhari has appointed 5 prominent indigenes is Akwa Ibom State into the Presidential support committee. The appointees are,   Senator Godswill Akpabio - National Coordinator;   Lady Valerie Ebe, the immediate past deputy governor of the state as chairman - National Advisory Committee; and Sen John Akpanudoedehe,   National Director - Planning & Strategy. Others are Sen Aloysius Etok - National Director for inter party affairs, and the party's South South zonal woman leader, Mrs Rachael Akpabio as the National Assistant Welfare Secretary. The disclosure was made yesterday in Uyo by the Akwa Ibom State coordinator of the committee, Pastor Mfon Okon. He noted that the appointments is a reflection of the confidence Mr President repose on their ability to successfully work for the re-election of President Buhari. He called on the people of the state to fully key into national pol...

The Akwa Ibom State government has said respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was the reason it gave permission for the use of the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo for the flag off of President Muhammadu Buhari’s South -South campaigns. The state government said the decision of Governor Udom Emmanuel to allow the stadium to be used for the All Progressives Congress campaign was not a sign of weakness but a display of the leadership maturity of the governor. In a statement on Thursday, in Uyo, signed by the Director General,  Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation, (the campaign organisation for the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel),  Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd) said the government’s decision was designed to foster peace in the state against the violence and drums of war promoted by the opposition. “The decision of the Akwa Ibom State government to grant the use of the Nest of Champions stadium for the APC preside...

By UbongAbasi Ise Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, is ready to host the flag off of President Muhammadu Buhari reelection campaign on Friday, APC’s Local Planning Committee has confirmed. After inspecting the venue of the campaign rally, the Chairman of the Local Planning Committee, Obong Umana Okon Umana, in his interaction with newsmen in Uyo yesterday, expressed satisfaction that the sport facility is set to receive the President and his team as they storm Uyo to kick-start the South-South presidential rally Friday afternoon. He hinted that the event will be graced by the presidency, APC governors, the party National Working Committee members and the APC faithful nationwide. "Since it is a national event, we are expected to host the President, the vice president, National Chairman of our party, the APC, all leaders of our party, National Working committee, APC Governors, Ministers, and APC members from all over Nigeria,...

By Mfon Okon   Barely two weeks after the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel commissioned a controversial rice mill in Mbiabere-ikpe, Ini Local Government Area, concerned indigenes of the area on Monday came out in large number and lambasted the Governor for saying that his administration has built and commissioned a rice mill in the Area. It was observed that the governor during this year's Christmas Carol Night and Christmas message to the Akwa Ibom people, said that his administration has built over 15 industries in the State including toothpick, pencil and a rice mill in Ini Local Government Area. The indigenes of Mbiabere-ikpe in a press briefing held on Monday in Uyo, told Journalists that the State Government has not built any rice mill in the area, and that the only rice mill built in the area is a private enterprise owned by Engr. Aniekan Utuk; which the governor was invited as the guest of honour on the day the mill was commissioned. It could be recalled that...

By UbongAbasi Ise The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, was earlier joined by Vice President Femi Osinbajo and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomole to perform a brief Christmas carol rendition on Christmas Day. In a footage posted on his twitter platform Tuesday morning, @Mbuhari   wished millions of Nigerians a happy Christmas in a special way while chorusing “we wish u a merry Christmas and a happy new”   to the delight of the viewers. In an associated video caption, the President says Christmas is the period to reflect on the humble, symbolic and divine birth of Jesus Christ and the message of hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace that he conveys. “At Christmas we reflect on the humble, symbolic and divine birth of a young child thousands of years ago in Bethlehem, Judea; and the message of hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace th...

By UbongAbasi Ise Panic regarding where to flag off the APC Presidential electioneering campaign In Uyo on Friday is over as the Akwa Ibom State government has finally approved the use of Godswill Akpabio International Stadium for the event after initial turndown. In a latest statement released by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Sir Monday Uko, the state government hinges the reason for the sudden U-turn on the decision of the Julius Berger Plc to recall their staff from their scheduled holiday. “Following a decision by Julius Berger Plc to recall their staff from their scheduled holiday, the Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the use of the Nest of Champions Stadium, Uyo for the flag off of the President’s electioneering campaign on December 28, 2018,” the statement reads. The state government further advises the Organisers of the rally to meet with the stadium management in order to finalise the approval. Meanwhile,   the Senior Special Adviser to th...

TEXT OF THE CHRISTMAS BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. UDOM EMMANUEL, GOVERNOR, AKWA IBOM STATE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE, DECEMBER 25, 2018 Fellow Akwa Ibomites My wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance! The reason for this Season, is to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and to thank God for His love, blessings and guidance in the past one year and indeed, the last three and half years. This particular Christmas broadcast is significant in a number of ways: I am speaking to you my dear people before the 2019 electioneering campaigns begin in earnest which will end with the elections proper. I am hopeful that by this time next year with your support we will continue the good works we have started together in re-writing the Akwa Ibom Story. You will agree with me, that the Akwa Ibom story requires bold new chapters and those chapters are what,...

By UbongAbasi Ise Over 1,000 members of   Okon Itam in Itu local government area and environs, have availed themselves to the free medical services brought to them by Amma4Africa-Nigeria, an arm of international non-governmental and non-profit organization, Amma Resonance Healing Foundation, ARHF. The weekend free medical services was undertaken by Amma4Africa-Nigeria medical team led by Dr. Elton Akpabio at The Apostolic Church auditorium, Okon Itam. The exercise included treatment of health conditions such as malaria, typhoid, high-blood pressure, hepatitis, infertility, injuries, amongst others. The event was witnessed by Human Rights/Civil Society and Community-based organization, Akwa Ibom State led by Rev.Dr. Hilkiah Eliathar. Speaking with newsmen shortly after the health exercise, the leader of the medical team, Dr. Elton Akpabio, who is also the representative of Amma4Africa-Nigeria, said the project targets the poor who could not afford the cost of medication, s...