CIAPS Rating Of Governor Udom Is Misleading - Aniekan Umanah

The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed as false and misleading,  the performance rating of Governor Udom Emmanuel by  a  Lagos-based group, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), which rated him among the lowly performed governors in October 2015.

In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said the purported comparative analysis of the governors’ performance in Nigeria, as reported in some newspapers and published online, was a spurious fabrication that insults the sensibilities of Akwa Ibom people, who are witnesses and beneficiaries of the good governance brought to bear by Emmanuel.

According to the commissioner, the governor was perhaps “the best performing governor in his set” and evidences abound to prove this contrary to the fabrication by CIAPS, noting that as reported, CIAPS simply targeted PDP governors.

Umanah said: “Even if one was to go by the CIAPS claimed criteria: payment of salaries, new projects, education, security and leadership by example, Emmanuel will score excellent in all”.  For the avoidance of doubt, the commissioner stated: “Akwa Ibom State Government has paid all its workers’ salaries to date, has the most robust project rollout as shown in the 100 days score card of the governor. The state is implementing the Free and Compulsory Education Programme and in October 2015 paid subventions to heads of Primary and Secondary Schools for the administration of school children.  Akwa Ibom is one of the safest states in the country and governor Udom Emmanuel has remained exemplary and focused in his pursuit of the wellbeing of the people.

He outlined some of the achievements of Emmanuel to include; ongoing construction and dualisation of about 140 km of roads with nine bridges across the state, the Ibom Deep Seaport development drive, the on-going construction of the second runway, massive electrification projects, the ground-breaking for the establishment of different industries; the construction and rehabilitation of blocks at the St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua; training of 1,000 youths in Oracle Database; emergency intervention in threatening erosions along Calabar-Itu Federal Highway and School of Nursing,  Anua; he said the governor has so far worked tirelessly to keep faith with the covenant he made, when he was sworn-in on May 29.

Other laudable achievements for which Mr. Umanah said Emmanuel deserves commendations are, the payment of the 10 years arrears pensions and gratuities to primary school teachers and local government employees; re-commissioning of Peacock Paints Industries.

Umanah maintained that in just over five months of his administration, the governor had spiced up the story of Akwa Ibom as over 50 foreign investors are currently discussing with the government on modalities for setting up businesses in the state.
He expressed the belief that if CIAPS had sent its members to visit the state for a firsthand feel of the situation on ground, they would not have released their faulty findings.

The commissioner advised CIAPS not to engage in armchair concoctions to  mislead unsuspecting members of the public, but should rather conduct proper findings so as to provide unbiased reports to the generality of the people.

He urged members of the public to discountenance the reports and be wary of politically motivated reports, so as not to fall victims of the antics of agents of disaffection.

A’IBOM APC : CRACKING AS A BROKEN RECORD

 

By Emmanuel Nicholas

There are certain lies that are afraid of the liar. In fact, some lies will shock the devil. It is like death being afraid of dying and Hell being afraid of going to hell. The lies told by the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) about their wide-spread influence, structure and general acceptance is not only fictitious, fallacious but pure phantom lies that even makes lies to be afraid of the liars (APC).

It is true that the APC in Akwa Ibom State went into the last general election with a divided house, as Senator John Akpan Udoedehe who had nourished the fundamental structure of the Party in the State over time is at war with Umana Okon Umana over the fraudulent conduct of party primaries.

The Umana Okon Umana faction of the APC are singing songs of popularity to all who care to listen that their Party is more popular than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State.
I know they don't care when they tell these lies without conscience, without even considering that leaders who intend to lead the masses should not be seen by the public as people with questionable character. Even a child of five years in Akwa Ibom State knows that the APC structure is built around the erstwhile Gubernatorial Aspirant of the Party, Mr Udoedehe, who told his supporters who came to receive him at the Ibom International Airport that Umana Okon Umana bribed the party hierarchy with billions of naira to get the ticket of the Party. He said ‘’I blame Senator Akpabio who gave Umana free hands to steal and embezzled hundreds of billions of Akwa Ibom people money, that is why he gives it away without a second thought because it was ill-gotten wealth".

The internal crises rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State have escalated as two factions are in a war of supremacy as to who controls the party. The drums of disunity increased its intensity, Wednesday as exco members of the party loyal to the leader of the party and Senator John Akpanuoedehe issued a press release to announce a formal reception for Udoedeghe.

The release was aired on television, radio, the print and online media drew the anger of the faction loyal to the 2015 APC failed gubernatorial candidate, Obong Umana Umana who immediately issued a fresh release calling on their members to boycott Udoedeghe's reception.
On tuesday, the first jingle was aired on planet radio that party faithful should come out enmass and give their leader, Senator John Akpan Udoedehe a resounding welcome both at the airport and at a formal reception. 24 hours later, the publicity secretary of party, Mr Ita Awak also issued a press release asking members of the Party to stay away from the reception of Senator Udoedehe as the party has not sanctioned such a reception.

Few hours later, Mr Samuel Udobong also addressed as publicity secretary of the APC accused Ita Awak of being an impostor. Mr Samuel urged the members of the Party to arrive Akwa Ibom International Airport by 8am on Thursday to receive the leader of the Party in Akwa Ibom State , who he said is Senator Udoedehe . What a complicated confusion? And my question is between Umana and Udoedehe who is the leader of the Party in Akwa Ibom State? Oh APC is cracking as a broken record on turntable.
Mr Samuel also said on radio that Obong Umana Okon Umana is suffering from his sins, " Umana used ill-gotten wealth to buy the Party ticket , in his words he said ‘’ Umana will continue to suffer the pains of bribing his way through, he can never be the Governor of Akwa Ibom State" he stank. "Mr Udoedehe developed APC in the State and Umana feels he can use his loot and take over the party structure, it won't work. His failure has just on-going" He added.

He concluded by urging all members of the APC to discard the caveats of Umana's factional publicity secretary, Mr Ita Awak whom he tagged an impostor.
Senator John Udoedehe upon his return on Thursday told his supporters that there will not be any re-run in Akwa Ibom State between Umana Okon Umana and Governor Udom Emmanuel as he is the true owner of the APC ticket whom Umana stole .

Udoedehe said umana bribed the national body of the APC with billions of naira to get the Party ticket, that the same people have rejected him now, Mr President knows that Mr Umana Okon Umana is a very corrupt public official, that his source of wealth is questionable and that is why both President Mohammadu Buhari and the party hierarchy have distanced themselves from his litigations.
He vowed to reclaim his Party’s ticket through the Court. He says Umana Okon Umana was not a member of APC for up to 30 days, as the electoral Law stipulates and therefore the Court will not hesitate in grainting his prayers to declare the fraudulent nomination exercise that declared Umana winner invalid .
Senator Udoedehe confirmed that the next Court session will take place on 13th of November 2015; Udoedehe also lambasted Obong Attah for playing the devil's advocate, that as a leader who he is, he should not summit to public ridicule by openly supporting Umana Okon Umana whom he told him some years back that he was a very big traitor.

The Defeated All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State, Obong Umana Okon Umana has raised alarm of being abandoned by President Buhari. Umana reportedly made this known to a reclusive group of Ibibio Elders, including a former governor of the state expressing dissatisfaction with the new-found closeness of Governor Udom Emmanuel with President Buhari.
A very reliable source and aide of Obong Umana who spoke to our source on condition of anonymity revealed that, Umana cited the recent selection of Governor Emmanuel by the President among those to probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the trip to Cameroun complaining that, the relationship between the duo was getting more chummy by the day.

Reminded that, Udom made the Cameroun trip based on the fact that, Akwa Ibom shares borders with Cameroun, Umana rejected the consolation insisting that, there is something more than meets the eyes going on between Mr President and Udom.
The embattled Umana , who also lamented the crisis rocking his party APC in the state following the supremacy battle with Senator. John Udoedehe begged the few Ibibio elders sympathetic to him to reach out to President Buhari, who he said, is not giving him unhindered access to him(president), or asking to know about how he is carrying on with the litigation process.
On why the meeting was not made public like the recent meeting with some members of APC from Oro nation with Umana, our source said, Umana did not want it to appear as though he is openly fighting the President or that there is a brewing cold war with National leaders of the party.
Some months back Umana Okon Umana was in Lagos to beg the National Leader of the party Ahmed Bola Tinubu to prevail on President Buhari who has rejected him on the grounds that he is very corrupt, compared to incumbent Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel whom the President holds in very high esteem over his integrity and incorruptible tendencies. And this was reported by Ibommobile , an online media platform and local dailies.
It was reported that Former Governor of Lagos State told Umana Okon Umana that his case is a very bad one, that the briefing he received from the Party’s legal adviser Mr Muiz Banire SAN rattled his hope over his Success at Tribunal.
Though Umana Okon Umana has already conceded defeat to Governor Udom Emmanuel , the failed Akwa Ibom Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the April 11 elections, told his supporters that the recent judgement of the election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja is not favourable to his Party. Umana made the assertion while addressing his few supporters who gathered at the Nsima Ekere Campaign grounds along Edet Akpan Avenue in the state capital to receive him said that victory in the 18 local government areas where the tribunal has ordered a re-run is not sufficient to make him Governor. The APC guber candidate appealed to the APC faithful to remain calm and continue in prayers that their case in the court of appeal is ruled in their favour. “The judgement of the tribunal in Abuja is good. However, that judgement does not guarantee us victory. That is why we have appealed so that the elections can be cancelled completely.

We are in the court of appeal and our prayers are for a total cancellation of the entire election. I solicit your prayers and supplication to God to see us through” Umana said. A chieftain of the APC in the state, Otuekeong Sunny Jackson charged the party faithful not to be carried away by the order for re-run in 18 local government areas of the state. He urged the people to get back to their units and continue to mobilize while the party prays that it gets a favourable judgement at the tribunal. He said the supporters should pray along that the PDP is still in control in Akwa Ibom state as the APC cannot still gather enough momentum to take over.

But now that the Party is a divided house, Umana's hopes of retaining his ticket as the APC’S candidate is very dim as Udoedehe is sure of reclaiming his ticket. So, Umana Okon Umana's Constitutional right of challenging Governor Udom Emmanuel's election In court will be invalidated, as soon as the High court throws him out .
This will not only crash his right to challenge the divine Mandate given to Governor Udom Emmanuel, it will also render the Pilate’s Judgment of Justice Sadiq Umar inconsequential and voided before the Law.
Akwa Ibom APC is cracking as a broken record, but Umana's faction is lying to themselves of being the most popular political entity. A Gospel artiste of Akwa Ibom extraction, David Sunday said in one of his songs, Is foolishness, for a man who wears dark spectacle and winks his eyes at his enemies, is winking himself because the enemies cannot see the movement of his eyes, through the dark spectacle.
The APC in Akwa Ibom State has no structure and the party is divided and Senator Udoedehe is having the upper hand in terms of cagey structure the Party has in the State. It will be recalled that before the gubernatorial election, the Chapter Chairmen of the Party also abandoned Umana’s candidature and supported Governor Udom Emmanuel.

The Akwa Ibom APC is cracking like a broken record, I dare repeat and Umana’s faction should stop lying to themselves and face the reality that Umana does have what it takes to secure an election victory in Akwa Ibom State. Like the bazaar salesmen woul put it, Akwa Ibom APC Going, going, ...

Click here to listen to Senator Udoedeghe's blast against his party APC on radio today

Akwa Ibom Pilgrims On Journey of Faith - Photos & Video

AKWAIBOM PILGRIMS DISCOVER DAKKADA SYMBOL IN THE CHURCH AT HEPTAPEGON

By MefLyn Anwana
The Church at Heptapegon in Israel is where Jesus performed the
miracle of feeding 5, 000 people with just five loaves of bread and
Two fishes brought in a lunch box by a little boy, the miracle by
Jesus here points among other lessons to the fact that all things are
possible with God.

In the Church at Heptapegon, over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ gave a
simple command to his disciples; ‘go and share it to the people and
the small boy’s lunch of five loaves of bread and two fishes was
enough to feed 5, 000 people and 12 baskets of leftover were picked up
by the cleaners.

It is strongly believed that, that positive spirit has not left the Church and is still potent  till date.
The Dakkada philosophy of the Udom Emmanuel led administration in Akwa
Ibom state is not just another slogan in the state but more of a
spiritual command that can be spiritually discerned and
understood physically, mentally etc.


 Dakkada, beyond the literary meaning (stand up); tickles the
consciousness of an Akwa Ibomite to the fact that in Akwa Ibom State natural endowments and intellectual acumens abound therefore with the right mentality; everything within man’s ability is possible.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Diaspora Matters, Mr. Joe
EtukUdoh, who led the first batch of Akwa Ibom people to Jerusalem  on pilgrimage told the New Media Team that the Dakkada symbol was discovered at the Church of Heptapegon after the morning devotion on the third day of the spiritual exercise ,  prayers were offered for the
success of Dakkada as a divine command and spiritual rebirth to the people of the state.
According to him, the moment when the symbol was discovered, the
atmosphere in the Church was electrified, uncontrollable joy busted into celebration; singing and dancing could not be contained until it culminated into intense prayers for the success of the
Dakkada creed in the state and the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel


It is about going higher, breaking new grounds, conquering more territories.
It is a philosophy that pinches every Akwa Ibom man and woman to ask
himself or herself, "Am I there yet?” "Have I reached the peak of my
career?" "What is it that I ought to do that I have not done to be the
best?" Dakkada challenges everybody, even the government to be alive
to its sacred duties and to keep to its part in outstanding public service.

With all these, it can best be said that Dakkada has a spiritual
undertone, the state Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel surely took out
time to seek the face of God on how to Lead Akwa Ibom people and the answer
from God was; “Tell My People to rise to the faith of Greatness”
However the Dakkada symbol got to the Church at Heptapegon, it is a
clear indication that DAKKADA meaning Arise  has been a cry of Grace before the God of Israel whom we believe in and that same God is the God of Akwa Ibom State. As the people rise  to the faith that all things are possible through God all things will made Possible.

This all important spiritual command, is a clarion call for all to key into ,to seek self discovery and rediscovery, pursue God’s given potentials and make the best out of it.

A call, to see the vision of dakkada beyond  Gov. Udom Emmanuel but ,as an Akwa Ibomite
O AkwaIbomites Arise and Shine for the Glory of the Lord  is Upon you.
AKWA IBOM DAKKADA!

GRAPHIC: Umana, APC Thugs Inflict Serious Injuries on Pro-Udom Supporter in Akwa Ibom

By Emmanuel Nicholas
After the ruling given by the election tribunal court sitting in Abuja ordered for a re-run of governorship election in 18 local government areas in akwa ibom state, supporters on Saturday had gathered in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital to welcome Obong Umana Okon Umana, the April 2015 elections’ APC governorship candidate.

According to our source, a young man who had gotten to the venue started screaming “UDOM IS RIGHT” in the midst of the mammoth crowd present at the venue along Edet Akpan avenue.

It is said that he was warned even by those who know him personally. Several efforts were made to make him stop his anti-APC/Umana chants but those proved abortive.
A few members of the crowd who were armed with cutlasses got angered and descended on him.

See graphic below…viewers discretion is advised!

Gov. Udom Remains Governor, Court Orders Re-run in 18 LGAs As APC supporters resort to violence

#AkwaIbom Tribunal: Gov. Udom Remains Governor, Court Orders Re-run in 18 LGAs As APC supporters resort to violence

Tribunal Ruling is as follows:
1. The Tribunal rules that the petitioners were unable to demonstrate that card reader alone can be relied upon for accreditation throughout the state. The use of card reader cannot be used contrary to the express provision of the law as conferred on INEC.
2. The Tribunal rules that INEC press release cannot override section 41 of the Electoral Act on accreditation. The card reader was not contemplated by section 49 of the Act on accreditation.
3. The Tribunal holds that it was satisfied that election held in all the polling units in the state. It further holds that the election substantially complied with the provisions of the law and therefore resolves that the 1st respondent scored the highest number of valid votes cast.
4. The Tribunal holds that presumption of regularity is in favour of INEC. The experts called by Obong Umana were not experts as they denied being so, according to the Tribunal. Therefore, they could not express opinion as ordinary witnesses as the Evidence Act does not allow such. By the Evidence Act, only expert opinions are admissible. Witness PW49's evidence was not admitted as he was not considered an expert and hence could not demonstrate how he his finding came about.
5. The Tribunal holds that all the experts’ evidence failed as none of them qualified as experts.
6. The Tribunal holds that the petitioners should have tendered the ballot papers scanned.That assuming it relies on the ballot papers scanned and alleged to have been invalid, the 1st respondent would have won with a wide margin of votes.
7. The Tribunal holds that right to vote is a constitutionally guaranteed right and nobody should be disenfranchised. It says there was disenfranchisement of voters in some PUs in the state and, sequel to this, election in Uyo LGA and in Etinan, Nsit Ubium, Ibiono, Uruan, Ibesikpo, Nsit Atai, Eket, Onna, Ibeno, Oron, Udung Uko, Oruk Anam, Etim Ekpo, Ikono, and Ini LGAs.

The Court therefore orders a rerun in those 18 local government areas of Akwa Ibom state.  However, it insists that Udom remains Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Paul Bassey
And Uduak Umo

In essence, therefore the Tribunal holds that Governor  Udom Emmanuel is still the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Nullifies elections in  SOME POLLING UNITS in 18 LGAs of the State.

In other news, irate APC supporters were caught on video attempting to start an unrest in the city of Uyo. As the event is only developing, Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid the Ibom plaza area of the city and any areas where people are gathered to discuss politics.

See video at www.Ibommobile.com

A'IBOM APC ELECTORAL AGENTS FAILED TO TESTIFY AT TRIBUNAL ... PETITIONER LIED ABOUT AKTC BUSES OPERATED BY HIS KINSMAN

By Mfonobong Ukpong


Despite repeatedly asserting that elections were not conducted in any of over 2988 polling units during the last general elections in Akwa Ibom State, the petitioner, Mr Umana Umana of the All Progressives Congress stunned the Governorship Elections Petition tribunal when he failed to produce any of his party’s polling unit agent as a witness.

The All Progressives Congress gubernatorial flop had claimed that the party had a comprehensive list of accredited agents in all the polling units, wards and in the 31 local government areas as agents and that all the units, wards and local government agents promptly reported to their duty posts to perform their assignments.

From the submission by the petitioner, no fewer than 2,988 polling unit agents, 329 ward agents and 31 local government collation agents were accredited by the APC for the governorship election and all of them witnessed the so-called irregularities by the 1st,2nd and 3rd respondents in the elections on April 11, 2015.

But in what appears to beat the utmost imagination of the Justice Abubakar Umar Sadiq-chaired tribunal, none of the agents was deemed worthy by the petitioner of taking to the witness box to give a firsthand account of the election sharp practice.

Most observers at the tribunal in their separate opinions felt that APC agents who observed the ‘irregularities’ at their respective units and centres throughout the state, should have been brought to the court as witnesses to confirm the allegations of anomalies in the electoral processes.

Another resort to falsehood by Mr Umana Umana in his petition statement was the allegation that the state government purchased 800 buses and kept at government house until the election period when the buses where branded as Akwa Ibom Transport Corporation buses and dispatched for use in all parts of the state for electoral fraud.

However Umana and his team failed to provide a single photograph of the said 800 buses and could not bring out any evidence that such buses existed and that any such bus was used for electoral offences. 

However when Elder Godwin Ntukude, the commissioner for Transport was docked as a witness for the 1st respondent to render account on the alleged buses, Ntukude revealed that Umana in his characteristics, had deceived the world, adding that AKTC which correctly means Akwa Ibom Transport Company had since been privatised and was operated independently by a private transporter.

“My Lord, the transport firm is currently operated by Mr Umana Umana’s kinsman Elder Nsikak Johnny, who also hails from Nsit Ubium like the petitioner.’”

Ntukude also clarified that no such buses where purchased by the state government for the Akwa Ibom Transport Company fleet, adding that the transport firm was never directly or indirectly involved in transporting of election materials on the elections day.

As the day of judgement in the governorship petitions tribunal draws nearer, not a few people believe that the Umana – led APC are already starring failure in the face.