Sunday, 28 May 2017

2019 presidential poll: PDP leaders mount pressure on Jonathan to shelve ambition

2019 presidential poll: PDP leaders mount pressure on Jonathan to shelve ambition

•Party may concede presidential ticket to the North

•Ekweremadu, Akpabio, others for VP slot

•Forum of ex-Ministers decline to endorse Lamido

Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are reportedly mounting pressure on ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve his alleged ambition to contest the 2019 presidential election.

It was learnt that the leaders’ advisory was subtly relayed to the ex-President through his supporters who were trying to gauge the opinions of PDP members on the issue.

But the party looks likely to concede its presidential ticket to the North irrespective of who, between Sen. Ahmed Makarfi and Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, wins the PDP leadership contest at the Supreme Court.

Party sources said Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, and some governors are being considered as presidential running mate.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the party is already repositioning itself for a major battle with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 elections.

It was gathered that while many party leaders still have a lot of affection for Jonathan for “keeping faith with his transition programme” and want him to have a fresh shot at the presidency, others strongly believe that it will be difficult to sell his candidature to the majority of Nigerian voters.

Based on realistic permutations, some leaders of the party have been mounting pressure on Jonathan to forego his ambition in the interest of the party.

A top source in PDP said: “Although we are awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the leadership of our party, we have gone far with our homework.

“A realistic option we have faced is the fact that to win in 2019, we have to retain our presidential ticket in the North. The PDP is still solid in the South-East and in the South-South.

“We have however come to appreciate that conceding the ticket to ex-President Jonathan might not work considering ethnic colouration which beclouded the last presidential election.

“The allegations raised against some key actors in Jonathan’s government, including ex-First Lady have made the choice of the ex-President a hard sell.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “PDP leaders have subtly passed the message to Jonathan.

“We are however leaving the ticket open to the North. We anticipate that some defectors from APC might add more strength to our search for a candidate that can beat to the game.

“We want to try as much as possible to provide alternatives to APC. Of recent, ex-Governor Sule Lamido is the only leader who has come out with his presidential aspiration.

“Even when an attempt was made to enable the Forum of former Ministers to endorse Lamido, it was rejected.

The source listed the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Akpabio, and some governors (whose names were not revealed) as some of those being considered for the VP slot.

“Certainly, the PDP will pick its running mate from either the South-East or the South-South.

“Our search team said it is impossible for the party to look forward to the South-West because of the grip of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the ongoing consolidation in the zone by APC.”


Saturday, 27 May 2017

STAFFS OF DIAMOND BANK IMO STATE SECRETARIAT BRANCH CELEBRATE CHILDREN'S DAY IN A GRAND WAY.

STAFFS OF DIAMOND BANK IMO STATE SECRETARIAT BRANCH CELEBRATE CHILDREN'S DAY IN A GRAND WAY.

By Unyime Leo

Staff of diamond bank across the country yesterday shock the entire Nation as they turned out in secondary school-styled pinafores, shorts and shirts in commemoration of this year’s Children’s Day.


The child-friendly concept, an offshoot of the bank’s “Beyond Banking” marketing initiative, had the social media in frenzy all through Yesterday, with colourful pictures and videos of the highly excited high school-dressed staff going viral across various platforms.

While interviewing the BM and the CSM of Imo state Secretariat Branch Mrs Ezeji Chinwe and Miss Valentina Obiyo the duo spokes of the concept beyond banking emphasize on parent carrying their Children along in their Financial Planning and as such ensuring the insurance of their offsprings. They also advice opening a kiddies account for a child at Diamond Bank is Securing the future of the Child.

Customers at the branches also relieved being treated very nicely as though they were pampered kids.

The bank through this act has won the heart of  customers across the Nation with its extraordinary show of solidarity with children on their Day May 27.

#BeyondBanking
#DiamondNews
#ImoSecDiary

Thursday, 25 May 2017

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS. (APC),

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS.                    (APC),
AKWA IBOM STATE CHAPTER,
#4, Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo.

OFFICE OF THE STATE CHAIRMAN
                  0808-512-9732

                 PRESS RELEASE
ZONING DOESN'T EXIST IN APC.

I wish to bring to the notice of the entire APC family and Akwa Ibomites both home and in diaspora that they should disregard the zoning communique in the social media that the APC has zoned the governorship position for 2019 to Eket Senatorial District. That we have never in any meeting agreed to such an arrangement and that at no point has the leadership  of APC ably led by distinguished Senator John James Akpanudoedehe Ph.D, had ever organized such meeting.

We believed it is the handiwork of those who does not want peace and unity among members of the APC family. And who does not exist in the structuring of the party in the State. For such communique to be effective, stakeholders will be summon for a meeting by the leaders of the Party. Delegates would have been drawn from the three senatorial district of the State, which would've accommodated participants from the men, women and youth in the state before it could be said to be effective and binding.

Such communique is false and I urge the general public and the entire APC family to disregard such senseless publications those behind it are money mongers and selfish. I use this medium to call on those involved in the said propaganda to desist from such or be ready to face the consequences from my office as the state chairman of our great party.

For me, the only leaders of our great party are:
1) Distinguished Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe Ph.D

2) His Excellency Sam Ewang

3) Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpeyong

These are the architects of our great party, no one else.

Long live APC!
Long live Akwa Ibom State!!
Long live Nigeria!!!

Obong Mitchel George.
Acting State Chairman

Monday, 17 April 2017

GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL GARNERS MORE SUPPORT FROM URUAN.

GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL GARNERS MORE SUPPORT FROM URUAN.



The appointment of Mr Okon Okon from Ekpene Ibia in Uruan local government area as Chairman board of Internal revenue has endeared Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel more to the good people of Uruan local government Area.







This appointment has been long awaited with great expectation. Initially well meaning sons and daughters of Uruan had envisaged the possibility of Mr Okon Okon being sworn as a Commissioner but as destiny would have it he is now Chairman board of Internal revenue,a board of no mean repute.


Mr Okon Okon is a seasoned financial expert with years of experience in private sector. He remains one of the newly injected professionals in the Akwa Ibom project for optimum administrative result that should aid in the Industrialization drive of  Mr Udom Emmanuel led Administration. His appointment sure depicts a square peg in a square hole.




At the reception held in his country home after being sworn in,Uruan people with unreserved ecstasy trooped in willingly to celebrate with their son in appreciation of a promise  keeping governor; Mr Udom Emmanuel.




The appointment of Mr Okon Okon certainly has unified Uruan to an extend worth applauding the Wisdom of the States helmsman. Mr Okon Okon is more of a Professional than a Politician and is yet to be encumbered with the diverging idiosyncratic challenges that saliently nibbles at the core fabric of Uruan people.


At his reception, all political zones were highly represented with dignitaries. The hitherto tensed ambiance usually felt vacillated,past Political Office holders,Chairmen of Council,Zonal Political leaders made their way to the venue even under the rain as a show of gratitude to Mr Udom Emmanuel for finding their Son Worthy of trust to man such a demanding Commission that the whole state looks upon as the engine room of timely and effective productivity.



Mr Okon Okon in his speech thanked Mr Udom Emmanuel for keeping faith with Uruan people through the the creation of the South East Clan, major road construction projects that links Uruan and its environs,he appreciated the Governor for the ranch at Adadia and the world class housing Estate at Ibiaku, he could not hold back his joy for the Akwa Prime hatchery at Mbiaya Uruan which has transformed Uruan to a busy business location that welcomes further development. Projecting further, Mr Okon enjoined Uruan Indigenes to get ready to return Mr Udom Emmanuel to the hill top mansion come 2019 based on his magnanimity towards Uruan Nation within 24 months in office as Governor.



Nonetheless, its worthy of note,that Uruan has four clans/zones and three of these clans have either an SA to the Governor or a political appointee who links the grassroot to the centre except the south south clan/zone. Its generally believed that the south south is left out for constant ravishing by APC because of none inclusion in governance,but we from the south south in particular and Uruan as a whole having received with joy the appointment of our brother are optimistic that the south south will soon be remembered has God makes all things beautiful in His time.



Present at the Reception from Uruan were the Political leader of Uruan; Obong Prince Ekpe Atakpo,The Transition Chairman; Dr Edwin Okon,The Coordinator of SAs to the Governor Grassroot Mobilization and Political groups and Immediate past Chairman of Uruan; Mr Anthony Jude Akan,A former Chairman Uruan LGA; Dr Eventus Edem,Zonal leaders,Stakeholders,Uruan PDP Chapter Chairman and executive, PDP ward Chairmen and Executives,Students,Youth and women groups.



Mr Udom Emmanuel has been very strategic in his inclusiveness approach towards Uruan local government area and is sure to make a home run with votes from Uruan Nation come 2019.





® Micheal Joseph Okon writes from Ituk Mbang Village, Uruan LGA.

PDP faults Buhari’s Easter message, says Jonathan handed over a single digit inflation rate"

PDP faults Buhari’s Easter message, says Jonathan handed over a single digit inflation rate"



The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Sunday charged the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and other security agencies in the nation to desist from partisan politics.

Reacting to the controversy surrounding the over $43 million found in a house in Ikoyi, Lagos, the party faulted the reported claim of the NIA that it owned the huge amount in various denominations, kept in a private residence.

According to the party, the claim by the security agency that it owned such funds in a private house was “a bad comedy” by the ruling party.

It said in a statement by Prince Dayo Adeyeye, National Publicity Secretary, (PDP- NCC), in Abuja , Sunday, “The latest drama in town is the circus show of the discovery of huge sums of money of various currencies and denominations on daily basis without any trace of the owners . The most absurd of this charade

is the macabre dance on the so called $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218,000 purportedly recovered at an apartment in Osborne Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“The Government is at the crossroad as the Whistle-blower and the EFCC are now shying away from telling Nigerians who owned the monies because undeniable evidence links the monies to the proceeds from the sale of Turbines by the former Governor of Rivers State and now Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi. It has also been revealed that part of that proceeds was used by Mr. Amaechi to prosecute the campaigns of the APC in 2015.

“The claim by the Director-General of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) that the agency owns the stolen money “found” in a private residence is another bad comedy by this failed APC Administration. We are therefore warning all agencies of government in the Country to excuse itself from partisan politics to forestall individuals in government manipulating their operations especially, a sensitive agency like the NIA and thereby leading the Nation into a Gestapo State that it’s fast drifting into.

The PDP faulted the claim of President Muhammadu Buhari in his Easter message, that he has worked hard to meet the expectations of Nigerians in the last two years.

The opposition party said that the present administration had made living more difficult for Nigerians, as the economy had worsen from a single digit inflation rate to the current 17. 26 per cent.

According to the party, “We read with rude shock and utter dismay, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Easter Message to Nigerians and of particular interest is the Paragraph that said, “In the almost two years of this administration, we have worked hard to meet the expectations of Nigerians by improving security, especially in the North-East, sustaining the campaign against corruption and have taken steps to revitalize the economy”. Really?

“These comments from Mr. President are to say the least untrue and an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians who have been at the receiving end of his government’s mismanagement in the last two years.

“We cannot end this analysis without mentioning the comatose state of our economy in the last two years of this APC Administration. The immediate past PDP Government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan grew Nigeria’s GDP from $270.5 billion in 2009, and handed over a Nigeria that had grown to become the fastest growing and largest economy in Africa and the 24th largest economy in the World, with a GDP of $574 billion.

“In May 2015, the PDP also handed over a single digit inflation rate but today, Inflation Rate in Nigeria is at a double digit of 17.26%.

The Recession we are experiencing today in the Country is as a result of the failure of the APC led Administration to properly manage our economy. The Buhari Government is indeed clueless and had no economic plan until March 2017 when it launched the so called Recovery Plan. The economy is at a standstill.

“Major infrastructural development that began with the previous administrations of the PDP have been abandoned. Power Generation dwindled from over 5,000MW in 2015 to the present all time low of less than 2,000MW. The only project of note that this government has ever commissioned is the Abuja- Kaduna railroad which was 99 percent completed by the PDP administration.

“Against this backdrop and more, we are at a loss in reconciling President Muhammadu Buhari’s Easter message that he has met the expectations of Nigerians to the grim reality we have painted above.

There is nothing to show by the APC led Government and we challenge the President and his team to articulate the two years achievement of this Government point by point and let Nigerians compare with previous PDP administrations.

On the anti-Corruption war, PDP said, “The War on corruption like other policies and programnmes of the

Buhari led APC Administration has failed as well. As we have mentioned in our previous statements, any war on corruption that is selective and targeted at humiliating only leaders and other members of the opposition is a total failure.

“The entire anti-corruption war of the APC since inception is just in the media with only one conviction. Many of the Cases in Courts have been set aside and suspects discharged and acquitted while others are in EFCC and DSS detention centers without trial against their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Nigerians may also recall the several allegations of corruption made against prominent APC members that the Anti-graft Agency has not attended to. The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime

Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu has been rejected twice by the Nigerian Senate because of damning corruption allegations against him made by another agency of government .

“The same with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the Secretary to the Government of the

Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and a host of other government officials against whom very serious allegations have been made. None of them have been subjected to the usual interrogations and investigation.”

Saturday, 18 March 2017

GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL WINS BEST GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR 2016 AWARD

GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL WINS BEST GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR 2016 AWARD

Unyime  LEO

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, while receiving the award,  task all Nigerians occupying Public offices to imbibe the spirit of selfless service in Leadership.

He made this known on Friday during his appreciation speech, after the Leadership Newspaper honoured him with the prestigious "Best Governor of the year 2016 Award" , in an event well attended by dignitaries and top government functionaries at Abuja.


Mr. Udom expresses delight to the management of the Leadership Newspaper for selecting him  As the Best Governor of the Leadership Newspaper year 2016,  and stated that a true leader is not Notice when he/she uses maximum resources to achieve high, but when uses minimum resources to achieve maximum . Governor Udom Emmanuel equally echoed that the strength of the Nations Economy depends on the Strength of the Nations Democracy.

Mr Emmanuel at the event propounded a strong leadership quote  which state "We were given the mandate not for an applause but for selfless service". These further emphasis that indeed he was spotted out for the Award through his performance and a show of his  monumental achievements.

The Publisher of the Leadership Newspaper; Sam-Ndah Isaiah as well as other speakers expressed satisfaction In the Leadership qualities visible in the life of Governor Udom Emmanuel of  Akwa Ibom State.

Unyime Leo is Public affairs analyst and a Social Entrepreneur.
0816991

Friday, 17 March 2017

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND STRATEGY CONGRATULATE GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL AS HE BAGS THE LEADERSHIP GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR 2016

Congratulations

AII over the world, recognition is given to deserving individuals who have distinguished themselves and provided qualitative leadership in several capacities within and outside their circles of Influence.

Your sterling qualities, outstanding performance and remarkable strides in implementing sustainable development initiatives in Akwa lbom State despite the challenges of dwindling resources, have evidently not gone without notice.

Your recognition as the 2016 Leadership Newspaper Governor of the year serves to buttress this point.

Congratulations Sir on this monumental achievement which is not only a well-deserved recognition but another deserving feather in your cap of achievements. May God continue to guide and direct you in your determined quest
to make Akwa lbom State an investment and tourist destination of choice through your sustainable developmental
programmes

Please accept my sincere best wishes from all of us at the Akwa lbom State Ministry of Information and Strategy.

Charles Udoh

Hon. CCommissioner

#UdomEmmanuel
#GovernorOfTheYear