Governor Godswill Akpabio The Governor of
Akwa Ibom State
Akwa Ibom State
known as
"Land of Promise"
Population
Approximately 3.6 million
Languages
Although English is the Nigeria Official Language, almost 80% speak and hear English or broken English. Local languages are Annang, Eket, Ibeno,Ibibio,Oron. Around 38% speak or hear Igbo Language.
Religious Belief
Akwa Ibom State is predominantly a Christian State; around 90% of the population are Christians.
Capital
Uyo
Local Government Areas
Abak, Eket, esit-Eket, Essien Udim, Etim-kkpo, Etinan, Ibeno, Ibesikpo-Asutan, Ibiono-Ibom, Ika, Ikono, Ikot Abasi, Ikot Ekpene, Ini, Itu, Mbo, Mkpat-Enin, Nsit-Atai, Nsit-Ibom, Nsit-Ubium, Obolo East, Obot-Akara, Okobo, Onna, Oron, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Udung-Uko, Uruan, Urue-Offong/Oruko, Uyo
State House
Government House,
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
31 Civil War EXPLOSIVES EXCAVATED IN A'IBOM
By Agency Reporter, Published: Tuesday, 9 Mar 2010
VOLUNTARY deminers claimed on Tuesday that they have excavated 31 live bombs in a primary school in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
While 15 81mm mortar bombs were excavated in Ikot Ebiyan, 16 of the same type of bombs were dug out in a primary school in Ikot Okudomo Okon in Eket.
The Eket Local Government Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Udoh was said to have directed the humanitarian de-miners to scan the Government Primary School in Ikot Ebiyan for explosives.
A statement signed by the chief media officer of the Humanitarian Demining Team, Mr. Emeka Uhuegbu revealed that the demining equipment indicated the presence of explosives at the primary school's premises.
It pointed out that the headmistress of the school was immediately directed to evacuate the pupils to enable the deminers to detonate the bombs.
Some of the schools, where explosives were found since the de-miners came into the state, were said to have been used by the federal government troops and Biafran soldiers during the civil war that ended in 1970.
Source: Punch, 9th March 2010.
AKWA IBOM: PDP's Worry Over Lingering Crisis
From John-Abba Ogbodo, Abuja
THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), given its electoral loss in the recent Anambra State governorship election to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), is investing hope and trying to see what lost grounds could be recovered in 2010/2011.
But owing to the enormous challenges from the state chapters, political analysts are apprehensive over the party's ability to repeat the success recorded at the polls in the three general elections that had been conducted since the return of democracy in 1999.
Since assumption of office two years ago, the present leadership of the party has been preoccupied with resolution of crises, to improve on its performances.
The former executive led by Col. Amadi Ali (Rtd), through the influence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, created a crisis of confidence in the party, that most of the founding members left the PDP for elsewhere.
The heat generated by the duo of Obasanjo and Ali got to a level that many members of the National Working Committee (NWC) under Chief Audu Ogbeh's headship, decided to form a parallel PDP, which they named "Authentic PDP". But the faction died a few days after its formation because its headquarters turned into an abode for security operatives deployed by the Obasanjo administration. Since that episode in 2006, the PDP has had more troubling times than peaceful moments.
Before the next elections, the PDP needs to do a lot of work in Akwa Ibom where power tussle between the former governor, Obong Victor Attah and his successor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio has polarised the party structure.
Attah and former Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Akpan Udoedehen, have accused the governor of insensitivity to the plight of the people of the state. The group alleged that the governor had become a dictator in the state, without carrying stakeholders along in his administration.
Udoedehen, in particular, alleged that the governor wanted to hang criminal charges on his neck because of his ambition to contest against him in the 2011 elections.
"Having been a senator and minister, he is worried that I am going to run against him in the next election and I will... That is why they are trying to spoil my name: that I know about the activities of the militants in the state.
"I cannot and I will never be part of any negative thing in the state because we want that state to develop and become the envy of others in the country. These are diversionary tactics but we will not be discouraged in our mission to rescue Akwa Ibom." he said.
The former senator described the recent kidnapping of some prominent indigenes of the state as a sign of insecurity, which the government had failed to address.
"Like I said, 2001 is the fear and that is why they want to rubbish all those they think can fight to take power from. But the people of Akwa Ibom are watching and they know those who are capable of moving the state forward.
"We are determined to liberate our people just as the people are ready to support the cause. The government is jittery and they have every cause to do so because 2011 enables the people get the government that can deliver them," he added.
Governor Akpabio, a few days ago, used the occasion of the award given to him by ThisDay Newspapers to reply his critics whom he accused of envy. He said because he had been able to deliver, in less than three years, what the previous administration in the state could not deliver in eight years, they were calling for his head.
He said: "Government can work. I inherited a pedestrian state but I have transformed it in about two and a half years. We are working to enhance quality of life in the state and it is beginning to manifest.
"I met a civil service state - no industry - but we are going to leave an industrially viable state and we need to engage in politics and war against those things that have stalled growth and development in the state so that our children can engage in industry and commerce.
"We are waging war against marginalisation, hunger and poverty. The story of Akwa Ibom has changed and that is why some people, who never dreamt that this is (possible) are not happy. We have been able to address years of injustice and democracy is thriving in Akwa Ibom."
Akpabio said allegation of insecurity in Akwa Ibom on account of kidnapping was an attempt to politicise crime in the state. He maintained that his opponents were encouraging kidnapping in the state.
According to him: "It (kidnapping) is an attempt to politicise crime in the state. It is an attempt to see whether they could have a leeway in the next election. The former governor (Attah) is against me because he wanted to install his in-law but the will of the people of Akwa Ibom prevailed.
"Elders should become statesmen and not to give coloration to crime. I forgive them and ask God to forgive them, too, because they resort to blackmail. Politicians should remember God's benevolence."
IT would be recalled that in 2007, the general feeling in Akwa Ibom was that the Anang people should be given the chance to have a shot at the governorship of the state. And it led to the emergence of governorship aspirants such as Obong Ime Umana, Chief Don Etiebet, Obong Christopher Ekpenyong, Dr. Udoma Bob Ekarika, Chief Itak Bob Ekarika and Akpabio.
Akpabio, perhaps acting his name - Godswill - became the choice of the people. However, somewhere along the line, it was gathered that Attah was disposed to allowing his son in-law, Dr. Udoma Bob Ekarika, to succeed him. A sign that his relationship with Akpabio would go sour in a matter of days.
The reconstitution of the state executive of the PDP and emergence of Prince Uwem Ita Etuk as its chairman further widened the gap between Akpabio and Attah, as the Attah group called for the dissolution of the executive. Since then, there has been no love lost between the incumbent governor and his predecessor.
Some elders of the party in the state had expressed concerned over the development and called on the leadership of the PDP to intervene. Indeed, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party from Akwa Ibom State, Chief Don Etiebet, called on the PDP leadership to sanction Attah for alleged anti-party activities.
Etiebet said: "All utterances by Obong Victor Attah in public and in pre-arranged press conferences in which he succinctly and unabashedly berated the PDP of which he is a member of BoT, proved nothing else but one thing: that he has no faith in the party that got him elected twice as governor.
"He is sabotaging the efforts of the party quite openly and as such is guilty of gross misconduct against the party and should therefore be punished accordingly. "
Based on the worries by other stakeholders, the party made several efforts to resolve the crisis. The National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, had to write to Attah, appealing to him to identify with the state executive and by extension, work with the Governor Akpabio for the party to consolidate in the state.
Ogbulafor said: "Recall your (Attah's) first letter dated April 16, 2008, protesting the manner the party executives were established at all levels in Akwa Ibom, and which I subsequently forwarded to the National Vice Chairman, South-South to investigate and report back to me.
"In my reply to you, I stated that the report of the Vice Chairman, South-South revealed that a credible free and fair party congresses took place in the state. As I went further to state that based on the National Vice Chairman's report, I am mandated on behalf of NWC to ask that you to drop all grievances on the concluded congresses; join hands in making Akwa Ibom a stronger and more united state."
As part of the steps to make the Akwa Ibom chapter of the party one united family, the PDP had raised a reconciliation team, and the committee reported back that the rough edges had been smoothened. The committee's report reads in part:
"As agreed at the Abuja meeting, the governor (Akpabio) apologised to the former governor (Attah) in a deep moving speech of reconciliation. Thereafter, the state chairman of PDP also led the state executive to seriously apologise to Obong victor Attah.
"The humility shown by the state executive members by prostrating before the former governor was deeply moving and impressive. Joyfully, Obong Attah accepted the apologies of both the governor and the state executive of the party. This mature gesture was truly applauded by all stakeholders.
"The committee noted the impressive progress being made by the incumbent governor in executing meaningful development projects. Governor Akpabio deserves commendation by (the) NWC for doing a good job. The future of our party in Akwa Ibom State is very bright, and our electoral destiny is secure. Akwa Ibom is truly a model PDP state
Following this report, Ogbulafor appealed to Attah to bury the hatchet. He said: "In the interest of peace, may I further appeal to you, as a major stakeholder, member BoT and a long-standing member of our great party to halt any further utterances on the party both at the state and national level that may jeopardise the good task already accomplished by the National Reconciliation Committee, hoping that this will put paid to your complaints on Akwa Ibom.
"What we owe the incumbent governor is encouragement through maintenance of peace and stability in the party structure of our state chapter."
Political observers are quick to point out that PDP's loss of Anambra State due to internal crisis within the state chapter. As such, they reason that efforts should be intensified to bring peace to the party fold in Akwa Ibom in particular and other chapters nationwide if the party wants to up its ante or retain its current level in the next general elections.
Source: The Guardian, 28th Feb 2010.
A'Ibom commissioner urges MEND to cease fire
From Ayoyinka Olagoke. Uyo
THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and other ex-militants have been urged to be patient with the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, and be sensitive to the mood of the nation by ceasing fire.
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Samuel Efanga, made this known in Uyo during an interview with The Guardian.
He gave assurance that Jonathan would purse aggressively the post-amnesty programmes of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
His words: "MEND and other ex-militants should not go back to hostilities, this will make it appear they are not sensitive to the mood of the country. I advised them to be very patient with the new administration under the Acting President who is determined to put things right, who is also dedicated to improving the lives of the people of the Niger Delta. I believed that he will pursue aggressively the policies of President Yar'Adua who he is acting for in respect to the amnesty programme of the Federal Government. And if they go back into hostilities it will appear they are not sensitive to the mood of the nation. It is very unfortunate that the absence of Yar'Adua has stalled a lot of activities that would have gone on by now in respect of the post-amnesty programme. I sympathise with the situation of Mr. President. What remains now for us is to be patient and follow the programme of the Acting President in which I'm very sure that post amnesty is given attention. It is not good to put pressure on the Acting President."
Efanga maintained that the amnesty programme was already working and can never fail, adding that the first stage of the programme had been achieved where a lot of militants laid down their arms in respect of the President's offer.
He added that the first stage of the amnesty programme where ex-militants laid down their arms and ammunition showed true repentance by people who want to be integrated into the main society where they took to arms when previous government did not take interest in the development of the Niger Delta region.
Efanga stressed that the rule of law has been established and there is a recognition by the government of the suffering of the people and poverty that the region has suffered as a result of oil exploration.
His words: " There is a programme already that was laid down I'm sure the acting president will improve the implementation and make the issue of post amnesty and Niger Delta a priority."
Source: The Guardian, 16th Feb. 2010.
Police Arrest Suspected Kidnap Kingpin in A'Ibom
From Ayoyinka Olagoke, Uyo
IN a major crackdown, the Akwa Ibom state police command has arrested a leader of the gang allegedly responsible for series of abduction in the state.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Walter Rugbere, disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing in Uyo.
Another suspect paraded was one Udeme Joseph Anisianthree who kidnapped a three month-old baby, Dominic Ozuruoke from his parents' residence in Ikot Mbang village, Ibiono Ibiom Council of Akwa Ibom State.
Also paraded was one Bassey Nse nicknamed Paw Paw, who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of Kelvin Okon Edet, father of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Speaker and Patrick Malachi Bassey, a hotel director.
Rugbere urged members of the public to always give useful information to the police, which he said would aid the arrest of criminals in their neighbourhood and make the society more peaceful.
However, the key suspect while speaking with reporters, claimed that he had surrendered three AK 47 rifles used by his gang in operation to the presidential amnesty committee.
He confessed to have been involved in six kidnap operations in the state, adding that he had turned a new leaf since he embraced the amnesty offer.
However, several exhibits, including one Honda Accord car with registration No. CB456 KSH, and a presidential amnesty identity card were recovered from the suspect.
Meanwhile, it was a moment of joy for Mrs. Ozuruoke as the police rescued her three month-old baby who was kidnapped. The baby, Dominic, was abducted by suspected kidnappers from his parents' residence.
Rugbere, who disclosed the girl's rescue to The Guardian yesterday in Uyo, said about six men dressed in riot police uniform stormed the residence of the victim's parents and abducted her with the intention of collecting ransom from the parents.
He added that his command immediately went into action following a tip-off by combing the entire village. He said that the baby was rescued and the command arrested one suspect named Udeme Anisia
Rubgere said the baby had been handed over to the parents.
Source: The Guardian, 20th January 2010.