Dear “illiterate” Facebook Friends,

I was about typing my “illiterate” New Month Message to you. But the moment I logged into my “illiterate” Facebook Account this morning. I started receiving “illiterate” Notifications from Facebook and when I checked, I saw these disturbing “illiterate” photographs trending in social media, and my “illiterate” attention was diverted to it.

Because, two days ago, my “literate” Brother and Governor, Udom Emmanuel, had repeatedly described all Akwa Ibom critics as “illiterates” in a live TV/Radio interview programme, that marked his six months in “literate” Office of Governor.

I am just crying aloud that if something is not done and urgently too, to address the dilapidated infrastructure in Akwa Ibom public schools now, by our “literate” Governor and his “literate” government, that in 4 years time, the state will be rated the most populous “illiterate” state in Africa o!

See alarming “illiterate” pictures of students of Government Comprehensive Secondary Schools, Four Towns Abak Road, in Uyo metropolis, writing the ongoing examinations outside, due to lack of conducive classrooms, and on bare-floor, due to lack of writing desks.

Welcome to December! Happy New Month, albeit!!

**Chief Franklyn Isong is a public affairs commentator and socio critic based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

December 1, 2015 – 4:03 pmFidelix SoriweiThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has continued the arrests of suspected corrupt public office holders in the country with the arrest of a former Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Attahiru Bafarawa, on Tuesday.

The commission also arrested the Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, for alleged involvement in the arms deal.

It was learnt that while Barafawa was arrested in the early hours of the morning, Dokpesi was taken to the Idiagbon House of the commission by noon.He was said to have been picked up to make clarifications on some monies traced to his account.

Details later

The member representing Onna in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly ,Otuekong Nse Essien has expressed displeasure over the exploitative and unreasonable electricity billing for power not supplied by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) in the State ,urging the House to summon the Managing Director of the power company for an explanation.

The Lawmaker made this known Tuesday during plenary in a motion sponsored by him.

He also urged the federal government and all relevant agencies to consider a closer monitoring of power distribution companies involved in fraudulent acts ,noting that unavailability of power has made life uneasy for many homes as well as adversely affect many businesses.

According to the lawmaker, “even under this dilemma ,the PHEDC insists on charging the people of Akwa Ibom State ,unreasonable, exploitative and fraudulent bills.In some cases, often as high as Thirty Thousand Naira (#30,000) up to Eighty Thousand Naira(#80,000) for power not supplied or delivered in epileptic fits and spasms”.

Hon. Essien who is also the Deputy Chief Whip of the House , expressed saddness on the failure of PHEDC to take adequate advantage of the supply of electricity at reasonable cost by Ibom power plant ,which according to him , “the state government has since 2001 invested heavily on the power plant meant to ensure that the people enjoy adequate power supply at acceptable cost”.

Speaking for the motion ,member representing Abak State Constituency ,Rt. Hon. Friday Iwok while commending the Deputy Chief Whip for the motion which according to him was timely and unique ,said that it is sad and unbecoming that the PHEDC has come to frustrate the efforts of the state government by giving bills for light not supplied, adding that ,it is sad to pay bills when there is no light’

He urged the House to give the motion support as the case in question concerned everyone.

In their separate comments ,members representing Nsit Atai , Essien Udim, Itu and Ini State Constituencies supported the motion which they said will go a long way to tell the people of the state that the 6th Assembly is truly the people’s Assembly.

They commended HON. Essien for bringing the matter to the floor of the House and urged their colleagues to give the motion a accelerated treatment.

According to them “people do not enjoy the light they pay for”.

They suggested that a modern billing system be provided for consumers in order to checkmate any act of fraud. In his remarks the Speaker Hon. Aniekan Uko thanked members for deliberating on the matter effectively ,saying that the motion calls for concern as it affects every Constituency.

He directed the Clerk of the House ,Mrs. Mandu Umoren to invite the Managing Director and the management team of PHEDC to appear before the House during their executive meeting in order to explain why electricity is not evenly distributed in the state.

By Ememobong OKON/Idorenyin AMOS

When Prince Enobong Uwah was appointed into the state executive council, and assigned the Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal by the governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom people may not have known what he has in stock for the state.

Last week, Radar newspaper, was on a facility tour of the ongoing rehabilitation and conversion of the former 10th Anniversary Hotel into an Annex of the State Secretariat, a project currently being embarked upon by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Renewal under Enobong Uwah.

The project according to the commissioner, when completed, would accommodate three government ministries that are occupying private properties with high rents being paid by government to the owners. He listed such proposed ministries to include: Ministry of Works; Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs; and any other ministry as maybe deemed necessary by government.

Like the Green Brigand initiative, which he used while in the Ministry of Environment to empower several unemployed women and youths in the state, the Commissioner for Housing & Urban Renewal, Enobong Uwah, our checks showed, has used the project, located at Udo Udoma Avenue by Oron Road, to empower over 400 women and youths who are currently engaged through direct labour at the building site.

The project is also serving as skill acquisition and manpower development’s avenue for civil servants in the Ministry of Housing & Urban Renewal, as, according to Uwah, over fifty (50) ministry workers of various cadre are being exposed to daily interactive training with over twenty (20) experts-cum-major Resource Persons and Consultants handling the project led by a renounced Architect, Ime Ekpo.

According to the commissioner, the structure comprises of auditorium, cafeteria, VIP lounge, conference halls, toilet facilities for both male/female, waiting rooms/reception halls; commissioners’ offices, permanent secretaries’ offices, directors’ offices, staff offices, three lifts (two general, and one for VIPs), studio for ministry of works.

He added that there is a traditional rulers’ chamber, for the paramount rulers under the ministry of local government & chieftaincy affairs. He noted that there is also an office for the chairman of the state council of chiefs, which has a waiting room, his personal secretary’s office, etc.

In the section of the Ministry of Works, Uwah explained that there is a provision for the ministry’s Engineering workshop. He stated that the ministry of Works would provide constant power supply that will power the new secretariat when completed.

He conducted Radar newspaper round the building, which includes a newly constructed building, behind the five (5) Storey-building (the former 10th Anniversary Hotel), which, Uwah said, was not in the original schedule, explaining that his ministry decided to embark on it for the purpose of siting an Annex of the Staff Clinic within the new secretariat, so that workers within the premises can access medical treatment without necessarily going to the state secretariat for medical treatment, when taken ill, except on referral cases.

He noted that the clinic would accommodate six (6) medical doctors on call, at a time, maintaining that there are patients’ observation rooms and X-Ray department, Scanning room, OPD and Doctors’ Consulting rooms, and has female and male wards for patients whose ailment are serious.

Enobong Uwah, who holds a degree in Geography/ Regional Planning, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Uyo, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for initiating the project, noting that with the new secretariat, cost of governance would be reduced as government will now channel the monies that would have been used as rents for the affected ministries to other life-touching projects in the state.

He said that the governor gave his ministry four (4) months to complete and commission the project, noting that, so far, his ministry has spent two (2) months on the project, as it started September 18, 2015, expressing optimism that the project would be completed on or before the four months deadline elapses.

It would be recalled that the ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal led by Enobong Uwah used 78 days to rehabilitate the St. Luke Hospital, Anua, Uyo, which was commissioned by the governor as part of his project within 100 days of his administration.

The commissioner, however, noted that his main objective in the Housing & Urban Renewal Ministry is to transform the ministry into a corporation that will generate resources for government, by being engaged for housing and other projects by private and corporate entities within and outside the state.

BREAKING NEWS! Inibehe Okori Vs Godswill Akpabio; Emman Obot Vs Bassey Albert adopt their briefs in Court of Appeal today!

Details later…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined jurisdiction in a suit filed by the Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, against the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The judgment was delivered on Friday, a day to the scheduled supplementary election, by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

Governor Wada had asked the court to declare him the winner of the November 21 governorship election, following the death of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Abubakar Audu, who was leading.

But Justice Kolawole said that only an Election Tribunal could adjudicate such suit.

He said that the role of the judgement was to create a judicial and permissive atmosphere for INEC to conduct the supplementary election scheduled for December 5.

The judge further said that it was his view that where the court did not have affirmative powers to make declarative orders, it would amount to idle judicial indulgence to proceed with the suit.

Justice Kolawole on Tuesday adjourned for judgment after all the parties adopted their final written addresses on contentious legal issues that arose after the sudden death of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Abubakar Audu, before the election was concluded.

The court had consolidated four separate suits challenging the legality of the scheduled supplementary election, with the Justice saying that there was need for the court to expeditiously determine the issues “so that INEC will not conduct the election under a grave shadow of doubt as to the legal or constitutional validity”.

Other persons who filed suits, Johnson Usman, Emmanuel Daikwo and Emmanuel Igbokwe were asking the court to rule that a fresh governorship election should be conducted in the state.

INEC had declared the governorship election held on November 21 inconclusive, even as it fixed Saturday to conduct a run-off poll.

The electoral body said it declared the election inconclusive because the margin between the leading candidate, Late Audu and the second contestant, the incumbent Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, was less than the number of cancelled votes.

Source: Channels Television.

The Akwa Ibom State APC governorship candidate, Mr Umana Okon Umana has dismissed as a blatant lie an allegation by the media team of the state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, that the APC governorship candidate has agreed to be paying former Vice President Atiku Abubakar N500 million monthly from the state treasury when Umana becomes governor of the state.

Debunking the false allegation of the planned payoff, touted as part of a deal to secure the support of the former vice president for the APC governorship election campaign, Umana said the false claim by the Udom Emmanuel administration must be inspired by the immoral and illegal conduct of the present administration in the state which is accused even by PDP leaders of deducting N2 billion monthly from the state allocation for payoff to PDP leaders, including the former state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and his brothers.

Umana notes that the false allegation against him and the former vice president continues the pattern of false and libellous claims by the Udom Emmanuel administration against APC leaders in the state and the nation at large.

He urged members of the public to disregard the false allegation.

Signed:

Iboro Otongaran
Director of Media and Publicity
Akwa Ibom APC Governorship Campaign Organisation

The Chairman, House Committee on Lands and Housing, Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong has lauded the commissioner for Housing & Urban Renewal, Enobong Uwah, even as he assured of the support of the 6th Assembly for the speedy Completion of the new secretariat complex Udo Udoma Avenue, which was originally site for State’s 10th Anniversary hotel. Hon. Ekpenyong gave the assurance last week during an on the – spot assessment of the massive renovation going on at the site.

Speaking further , Hon. Ekpenyong who is also the Member representing Ini State Constituency, expressed satisfaction on the level of work done ,maintaining that the work done so far speaks volumes if viewed against the backdrop of time so far spent on it.

“I believe that at the end of the day everybody will go back home rejoicing,” He added. In his response the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Prince Uwah, thanked the Committee members for the visit and assured that his ministry will ensure that quality job was delivered.

He added that the renovation which started two months ago with a four- month target was nearing completion. The Commissioner also commended the efforts of Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration in putting things on the right track in the State. He warned against the use of propaganda to destroy government’s efforts .According to him, “everybody should try to see what government is doing so that most of the propaganda will reduce”.

Continuing he noted that the four -storey building which has at least 30 toilets and staff clinic is renovated with the best materials in the country, galvanised steel and peacock paint, stressing that “the renovation has recorded zero casualty”. Other facilities include security post , studios, conference rooms, lounge for traditional rulers ,canteen , VIP lift etc.

In his vote of thanks, member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Rt.Hon. Ime Okon commended the State Governor for the initiative to renovate the place which according to him was a harbour for miscreants and thanked the commissioner for the level of work done. He reaffirmed the support of the State House of Assembly in case of any challenge.

According to reports, the building when completed will accommodate the Ministry of Works as well as that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

By Ememobong OKON

Suspected arsonists have burnt the Dekina Local Government office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Kogi State.

The incident happened in the early hours of Friday; 24 hours before the supplementary elections in the state.

Reports say that security operatives are looking for clues to why the office was razed and the perpetrators.

This came as the Governor of the state, Capt. Idris Wada asked the citizens of the state to ensure maintenance of law and order, as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was to deliver judgment on the Kogi political impasse.

In a statewide broadcast to the people of the state, the Governor had asked them to refrain from taking laws in their hands, saying law enforcement agents would not hesitate to deal with trouble perpetrators.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court, in its ruling, has declined jurisdiction in the suit instituted by the State Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Idris Wada, against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), on if INEC should go ahead with its plan to conduct supplementary poll in Kogi State on Saturday, December 5.

A suit instituted by the deputy governorship candidate of the APC, James Faleke challenging INEC’s power to conduct supplementary elections and the power of the party to name Yahaya Bello as the substitute for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Abubakar Audu, has also been stricken out.

Out of the 91 polling units, where the supplementary election would take place, 29 units are in Dekina.

Source: Channels Television.

Supporters of the two major contending parties in Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State, the All Progressives Party, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are currently in a state of fear following the killing of Dieseye Dickson, the Deputy Ward Chairman of APC, Ward 1 in Odi Local Government Area of the state by unidentified gunmen.

It was learnt that the gunmen who were dressed in military uniforms shot Dickson to death in Odi community on Wednesday at about 11pm.

Reacting to the incident, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Sylva/ Igiri campaign Organisation, Chief Nathan Egba claimed that thugs suspected to be working for PDP carried out the killing.

Egba, while describing the killing as wicked, unwarranted and provocative, called on the police and other relevant agencies to ensure they apprehend those behind the killing.

He said, “As at this morning, the corpse of Mr. Dickson, was still lying in a pool of his own blood where he was killed. Do note that this is the second killing being carried out by the PDP since the campaigns started. Recall that Mr. Andrew June, a ward chairman of our party in Ekeremor LGA was hacked to death. We condemned this act of desperation by the PDP to continually attack and intimidate our supporters.”

“This killing is wicked, unwarranted and provocative. The APC and the campaign organization has repeatedly called on the police and other security agencies to step up their patrol to forestall any further attack on the APC members. Killers of these people must not be allowed to go unpunished.”

By Seun Opejobi

Source: Daily Post Newsletter

The Bauchi State government has reported former Governor Isa Yuguda to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly spending N6.181 billion as security votes between January and May.

The state also queried alleged curious withdrawal of N2,191,248,744.71 within 10 days under the guise of security votes.

In a petition by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Bello Shehu Ilelah, the government urged EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu to probe the suspicious expenses.

The Bauchi State government said the security votes were supposed to be used for projects, but were diverted.

The petition reads: “I am directed to lodge a petition on behalf of the Bauchi State government. The gist of the petition is that from January to May 2015, the sum of N6,181,224,230.00 was purportedly spent on security reasons and consideration as follows: January (N351,806,000); February (N899,900,000); March (N2,040,876,500); April (N738,200,000) and May (N2,150,441,730). “On May 8 and May 18, two memoranda were originated by the Commissioner for Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Hajiya Talatu M. Barwa, to (former) Governor Yuguda for the release of N1,591,248,744.71 and N600,000,000, totalling N2,191,248,744.71.

“The amount was supposed to be used for the execution of projects in the Health, Education, Rural Development and Security (sectors). The projects were said to cut across the 20 local government areas, having direct bearing on the lives of people in various communities in the state. The sums are the 20 local government areas’ contributions to joint projects between the state and the local governments.

“The sums were spent as security vote requirements in May 2015 without executing any health, education and rural development-related projects. This was the main reason the application for cash-backing was made.

“The sum of N1,591,248,744.71 was to be released from the Local Government Joint Account Number 5030025116 at Fidelity Bank Plc to the Accountant-General through the Excess Crude Oil Account Number 1243224012, operated at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc. The N600 million was from the Local Government Joint Account Number 5030025116 at Fidelity Bank to the Bauchi State government, through Excess Crude Oil Account Number 1243224012, operated at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc.

“Suffice to say that the sums of money in the memorandum for cash-backing, dated May 8, were released. We urge you to cause investigation to be conducted into this matter. The following documents are attached and marked as Annexures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The annexures are: Memorandum May 8; Memorandum May 18; a document, titled: Payment of Security Vote Requirement for the Year 2015 and a document, titled: ‘Certificate of Expenditure.’

Contacted, the former governor’s ex-Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Michael Ishola, said: “The former governor is out of the country and I have not been able to reach him for a while. As soon as I establish contact with him, I will draw his attention to the issue you raised.”

BREAKING NEWS! A’Ibom Gov’ship Tribunal Fixes Tuesday 8th For Umana Vs Udom to adopt their briefs

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is maintaining a comfortable lead, as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials declared the results in some polling units and wards across the State.

The PDP, according to reults collated so far, won in all the three wards in Odi, same thing in all the units in Kaiama in kolokuma/Opokuma local government area.

Also, the party is maintaining a distance lead in Ogbia, Sagbama and Ekeremor and Yenagoa local government areasWhile the results of other polling units are still being collated, the PDP as at the time of filing is maintaining a comfortable lead.  

#BayelsaVotes

Culled from leadership newspaper

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner has declared Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress the governor-elect of Kogi State, following yesterday’s conclusion of the governorship election declared inconclusive on November 22.

The Returning Officer, Immanuel Kucha, declared Mr. Bello winner at 5.26 AM on Sunday, ending a collation exercsise that started 11.06pm on Saturday.

Saturday’s Supplementary election held in 91 polling units across 18 local government areas on Saturday.The supplementary poll did not hold only in three local government area, namely Mopa, Ogori Magogo and Yagba East.The election was declared inconclusive after the margin of win between PDP and APC was less than the number of registered voters in the 91 polling units where election was cancelled.

According to the results declared by Mr. Kucha, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, the APC garnered 6,885 votes in the supplementary election, bringing the total votes it received to 247,752, having polled 240,857 in the November 21 election.The second runner up, the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Idris Wada, who is the incumbent governor, scored 5,363 in the supplementary election.

Thus, PDP polled a total of 204, 877 votes, having had 199,514 at the November 21 election.“That Yahaya Bello of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the majority is hereby decakred winner,” Mr. Kucha said.Mr. Bello, 40, emerged APC candidate for the supplementary election, after the demise of Abubakar Audu on November 22.

The deceased won the APC primary election, with Mr. Bello was first runner-up.A total of 1,379,971 voters were registered for the election but only 526,389 were accredited.After the merger of the substantive and the supplementary elections, Mr. Kucha announced the total number of valid votes to be 472,983; rejected votes as 21,740; and total votes cast as 494,723.A total of 3,342 votes were cancelled.

The supplementary election was generally peaceful and calm, albeit characterised by low turnout of voters.However, in few places like Etiaja junction, Anyingba ward, Dekina LGA, Olla ward in Ijumu LGA, Akpanyo and Ayah wards in Ibaji LGA, and Kupa Northeast, election was cancelled due to various reasons, including violence, snatching of election materials and over-voting.

Meanwhile, the National Electoral Commissioner, supervising the Kogi election, Amina Zakari, stated that Abiodun Faleke could not withdraw himself as the deputy givernorship candidate of APC.

Ms. Zakari said this before the commencement of collation of results of the supplementary election.She was reacting to a question by PDP agent, Joe Agada, who called attention to Mr. Faleke’s withdrawal letter to INEC.Ms. Zakari, a former acting chairperson of INEC, said Mr. Faleke was “the name provided by the party.”“Candidate’s letter is not enough to withdraw himself,” she said.

She, however, advised the PDP agent to seek redress in court.

The breakdown of the results of the supplementary election is as follows:

Okene LGA (one pollung unit) RV 676 AV 217 APC 208 PDP 02O

kehi LGA (one polling unit) RV 403 AV 110 APC 108 PDP 0

Kogi Kotokarfe (two polling units across two wards) RV 1689 AV 738 APC 406 PDP 281

Idah LGA (one polling unit) RV 310 AV 141 APC 62 PDP 70

Yagba West LGA (one polling unit) RV 375 AV 165 APC 86 PDP 73

Adavi LGA (five polling units across five wards) RV 2166 AV 931 APC 878 PDP 12

Igalamela/Odolu LGA (three polling units across three wards) RV 1501 AV 558 APC 92 PDP 431 (Result signed by only the agent of PDP).

Kabba-Bunu LGA (four polling units across three wards) RV 1767 AV 375 APC 201 PDP 131

Ajaokuta LGA (three polling units across three wards) RV 1411 AV 567 APC 538 PDP 12O

lamaboro LGA (four polling units across four wards) RV 2047 AV 555 APC 167 PDP 332

Omala LGA (six polling units across six wards) RV 2526 AV 799 APC 317 PDP 323 (Election cancelled at the polling 005 in Olla ward due to violence and destruction of election materials, the Collation Officer said).

Ijumu LGA (one polling unit) RV 705 AV 205 APC 86 PDP 102

Ankpa LGA (nine polling units across six wards) RV 6022 AV 1339 APC 562 PDP 629

Bassa LGA (two polling units across two wards) RV 742 AV 340 APC 221 PDP 114

Details later…

The five member Court of Appeal panel sitting in Abuja has fixed its judgment on the appeal filed by the APC candidate in the Uyo senatorial district election, Emmanuel Obot for Thursday, December 10, 2015.

Mr Obot is challenging the declaration of Bassey Albert of PDP by INEC as the winner of the March 28 National Assembly election in Akwa Ibom state.

It would be recalled that the three man trial tribunal had few months ago upheld Mr Albert’s victory but Mr Obot entered an appeal against the judgement.

The court of apeal also reserved its judgement on the matter affecting Inibehe Okori of APC vs Godswill Akpabio of PDP to a later date to be communicated to the parties.

Details later.

All is now set for the five man court of appeal panel sitting in Abuja to hear the appeal emanating from the Akwa Ibom Governorship Petition.

The court will take the briefs of all parties involved in the matter and will reserve its judgement after the parties must have adopted their breifs today.

Meanwhile, the parties are in court embracing one another irrespective of political campaigns.

Pictures available to Radar newspaper indicate that former senator Effiong Bob, Sir Val Attah and the other prominent members of the PDP are already in court room exchanging pleasantries with members of the APC. The APC governorship candidate, Umana Umana and that of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district, Inibehe Okori are already sitted in courtroom.

(Sponsored-Photo News) Akwa Ibom APC Gov’ship Hopeful, Umana Umana (l), his deputy, Benedict Ukpong (r) and AKS APC Publicity Secretary, Ita Awak (m), at the premises of the Court of Appeal, Anuja, after all parties have adopted their briefs and the jurists reserved judgement on the Akwa Ibom Governorship Election Petition.