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.”
Sunday, 28 May 2017
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
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
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.
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.”
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
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
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
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
Thursday, 16 March 2017
PRESIDENT BUHARI DIRECTS CBN, FINANCE MINISTRY ON REFUNDS TO STATE GOVERNMENTS
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT BUHARI DIRECTS CBN, FINANCE MINISTRY ON REFUNDS TO STATE GOVERNMENTS
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to act appropriately and with dispatch in releasing the second tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds to the states in order to ease their financial hardships.
The President, who addressed the meeting of the National Economic Council made up of State Governors and chaired by the Vice-President on Thursday in Abuja, however, made a strong case for settlement of unpaid salaries and pension liabilities of their workers.
“I will not rest until I address those issues that affect our people. One of these basic things is the issue of salaries. It is most important that workers are able to feed their families, pay rent and school fees, then other things can follow,” he said.
President Buhari, who went round the Council Chambers to greet the governors one after another, praised the unity of the Forum of State Governors. He thanked them profusely for their display of “love and respect” to him.
The President said he was overwhelmed by his recent experience in which states, irrespective of political differences charged their citizens to pray in mosques and churches for his well-being and apologized to Governors for barring them from visits to him while he rested in London.
“I didn’t want government to move to London. I wanted it to remain here and I am glad it did,” he said.
After narrating what he went through while on that vacation, President Buhari noted the suggestion by the Governors for him to add more rest, but insisted that he would remain relentless in the pursuit of the interest of the Nigerian people at all times.
This, according to him, was the only way to show his gratitude to the people who, he said, “had given so much to me. I was overwhelmed by the celebration of my return all across the country.”
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdul-Aziz Yari of Zamfara State assured the President, on behalf of his colleagues, that they will continue to support his policies and actions which they had adjudged as being in the nation’s best interest.
The governors of Imo, Akwa-Ibom, Osun and Abia States thanked President Buhari for saving the day for states through the first tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds while calling for the immediate release of the second one.
They also commended the trust the President reposed in the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, whom they said did not disappoint when he acted as President.
GARBA SHEHU
Senior Special Assistant to President
(Media & Publicity)
March 16, 2017.
PRESIDENT BUHARI DIRECTS CBN, FINANCE MINISTRY ON REFUNDS TO STATE GOVERNMENTS
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to act appropriately and with dispatch in releasing the second tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds to the states in order to ease their financial hardships.
The President, who addressed the meeting of the National Economic Council made up of State Governors and chaired by the Vice-President on Thursday in Abuja, however, made a strong case for settlement of unpaid salaries and pension liabilities of their workers.
“I will not rest until I address those issues that affect our people. One of these basic things is the issue of salaries. It is most important that workers are able to feed their families, pay rent and school fees, then other things can follow,” he said.
President Buhari, who went round the Council Chambers to greet the governors one after another, praised the unity of the Forum of State Governors. He thanked them profusely for their display of “love and respect” to him.
The President said he was overwhelmed by his recent experience in which states, irrespective of political differences charged their citizens to pray in mosques and churches for his well-being and apologized to Governors for barring them from visits to him while he rested in London.
“I didn’t want government to move to London. I wanted it to remain here and I am glad it did,” he said.
After narrating what he went through while on that vacation, President Buhari noted the suggestion by the Governors for him to add more rest, but insisted that he would remain relentless in the pursuit of the interest of the Nigerian people at all times.
This, according to him, was the only way to show his gratitude to the people who, he said, “had given so much to me. I was overwhelmed by the celebration of my return all across the country.”
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdul-Aziz Yari of Zamfara State assured the President, on behalf of his colleagues, that they will continue to support his policies and actions which they had adjudged as being in the nation’s best interest.
The governors of Imo, Akwa-Ibom, Osun and Abia States thanked President Buhari for saving the day for states through the first tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds while calling for the immediate release of the second one.
They also commended the trust the President reposed in the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, whom they said did not disappoint when he acted as President.
GARBA SHEHU
Senior Special Assistant to President
(Media & Publicity)
March 16, 2017.
Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Females Leaders and Nurturing Competencies: Governor Udom's Aide On Student Affairs, Comrade Aquilla Otobong Akpan a life Model
Females Leaders and Nurturing Competencies.
Aquilla Otobong Akpan a life Model
The majority of people we talk with make the assumption that women will excel at nurturing competencies such as developing others, inspiring and motivating others, relationship building, collaboration and teamwork.
Statistics demonstrates that these competencies are more positive. But those competencies with the largest positive differences are taking initiative, displaying integrity and honesty, and driving for results. These are nurturing competencies.
These competencies highlight that women were seen as more effective in getting things done, being role models and delivering results. These skills describe leaders who take on difficult challenges, ensure that people act with integrity, and who simply achieve challenging results.
My current fact pattern becomes even more intriguing when i analyzed various functional areas within an organization. Here is what the data showed:
I found it interesting that in the traditional male bastions of sales, legal, engineering, IT and the R&D function; women actually received higher effectiveness ratings than males. Many of our stereotypes are obviously incorrect. Again, the concern about women not being able to perform well in those functional areas is resoundingly refuted by the data. Only in facilities management and maintenance do they not do well.
Finally, as women move up the ladder in an organization, the higher they move the more positively they are perceived.
Unyime Leo Hnd a public affairs analyst and a social entrepreneur Wrote in From Eket.
08169915861
Saturday, 11 March 2017
UDOM EMMANUEL: bridging the divide!
UDOM EMMANUEL: bridging the divide!
...a vision without execution is mere Hallucination.
Contrary to the nursed, earlier and Judged opinion, views, perception and comments made out of careless tongues against the emergence of Gov. Udom Emmanuel when he landed like a gallant eagle on the political soil of Akwaibom, many are now in a hurry to eat their words back.
Defecating on the pathway at night can be quite disastrous because during the day, you maybe the victim likely to march on your faeces.
With his actions, performance and a different attitude coupled with a dynamic administrative style, he has proven all sit home critics absolutely wrong.
Now, how will Akwaibomites have coped in this period where the streets of Uyo are seemingly dry and begging for patronage from all varieties of business on ground.
Gov. Udom Emmanuel has through his long years of managing national and global finances is able to sustain an entire state economy with limited fundings from the center.
Reach out to other states of the federation and examine the temperature of hot and cold going through their spine in a despensension, they longed yearned for change. But change in all ramifications has eluded them.
Gov. Udom Emmanuel remains the best bet.
Yesterday, 20'11'2016,former Gov. Victor Attah added another year to his age and proceeding gracefully. Many were of the opinion that the Governor odd to have congratulated him... #isorite.
While they were busy lashing on him, His Excellency, went ahead on page 2 of the Saturday Vanguard to show appreciation,solidarity and alignment with his foremost predecessor.
Those who were appearing hollier than thou, who were suppose to congratulate Obong Attah were waiting, anticipating and eager to know the content of Gov. Udom Emmanuel's message on the celebration.
It came without them knowing the platform, channel and tone of the message. #Godwin...
Have it in mind that Gov. Udom Emmanuel is determined to make a difference and evolve a New Akwa Ibom order where everyone matters in all transactions.
As we celebrate Obong Attah today, the true reflection of our State is what should guide the immediate forum of doubters.
Something good is on the way, usukusuk.Gov.Udom Emmanuel sure knows the workings of good governance and he's ever ready to foot the bills of statehood.
We must commend him for sustaining the tempo thus far in a critical situation Nigeria has been pushed into by the agents of change we are yet to witness. We pray it comes in our lifetime... Amen!
Pat Reuben is a strategic craft media analyst writes in from Awantong in Etinan.
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
Governor Udom Emmanuel: A transcendental leader who came at the right time
Governor Udom Emmanuel: A transcendental leader who came at the Right Time.
By Ekerete Udoh
At every point in a nation's trajectory, a leader would be thrust forward who will look conventional wisdom in the face and through the force of his or her personality rouse the people from their comfort zones and inspire them to see the endless possibilities that nature so generously wired us to appropriate . These are usually transcendental and transformative leaders and they don’t materialize often.
Key characteristic of this unique leader include: a deep sense of love and belief in the people and the infinite capacity for them to fulfil their purpose in life if nudged gently and in the right direction, a moral disposition that puts service above self, an abiding faith in his or her capacity to effect and affect change; humility that pleasantly shocks and confounds, a spiritual grounding that appears transparent and inviting, and above all, a sense of confidence that is not in your face and a youthfulness that is both appealing and engaging.
Certain elements conspire to facilitate the emergence of this leader and they include: a downturn in the socio-political fortunes of the given state or entity, a loss of faith or apathy on the part of the people in the capacity of the government to meet their needs, a ferment or fertile ground for change, the honesty and transparency displayed by the intrepid candidate and a set of governance ideals and platform that connects with the electorate.
Leaders shaped and furnace with these qualities have helped reinvent the wheels of development and mobility when the wheels had almost fallen off; they usually restore hope and faith when the people were sized by a paroxysm of fear and uncertainty, they often work to bring back the shine and sheen- a winning disposition in the people when a grim and forlorn cloud hovered around their psychological space.
In the United States, the bastion of democracy and the custodian of a political system that has been copied extensively all over the world- democracy and the presidential system, notable leaders who changed the contours and tenor of governance have emerged at every junction. When the American enterprise was in serious jeopardy, Abraham Lincoln defied the dire warning of the south and ended slavery, plunging the nation into a civil war and the south declaring a confederacy Lincoln stood ramrod tall and fought for the unification of the nation. Today, he is celebrated as one of the most consequential presidents in the pantheon of the United States history.
Theodore Roosevelt, though a child of privilege and wealth, fought the agents of the Gilded Age who had seen the common people as mere pawns in the laboratories of big business and helped usher in the Progressive Era in American politics. The reforms of the Theodore Roosevelt administration- from breaking down the monopoly of big business, to conservation, to fair labour practices, today still shape how domestic policies are formulated in the United States.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, restored faith in the American people and its twin ideological ideals founded on democracy and capitalism when the people had lost faith and had started romanticizing socialism as a result of the collapse of the Stock market that brought about the Great Depression in 1929.
Historians have unanimously concluded that were America not blessed with a leader in the mould of FDR, probably the history of American would have taken a different trajectory and a unipolar world based on the hegimonistic hold of the world that America currently exerts would not have happened. John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and most recently, Barack Obama are other American presidents who came in at critical moments and left strong and enduring legacies.
The emergence of Governor Udom Emmanuel as Governor of Akwa Ibom State has all the imprimatur and signature of the great leaders I have mentioned above. In late 2012, the nation had started experiencing some contraction in economic growth due to the steep fall in oil prices. Akwa Ibom state had been lucky to have a leader who had greatly transformed the once idyllic landscape into a rich network of great and world class road network. The then Governor, and now Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpbaio had worked to transform the state with a sense of anger. He had run a good race and needed to hand over the baton to another leader who would take the state to another layer of development and growth. Given the economic downturn the nation had been experiencing, it was almost divine that a proven financial services expert in the person of Deacon Udom Emmanuel, then an Executive Director with a leading financial institution in Nigeria- Zenith bank be brought in first as the Secretary to the State Government and later as the overwhelmingly elected Governor of the State.
Since May 29th 2015 when Governor Udom Emmanuel was sworn in as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, he has worked tirelessly to implement his vision encapsulated in his Five -Point Agenda of: Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, Wealth Creation, Economic and Political Inclusion and Infrastructural Consolidation and Expansion.
A man of proven Christian masculinity, the first set of things he did upon being sworn in, was to pay a backlog of pensions and gratuities to workers, and the labour leaders were so stunned by this gesture that they wrote letters of appreciation, effusively praising him for his magnanimity. While other states were struggling to pay salaries of workers, through a prudent application of scarce resources, Governor Emmanuel has endeavoured to pay the salary of workers promptly. The Governor has sustained the free and compulsory education from primary to secondary and free medical services to the aged and children between the ages 1-5 and pregnant mothers remains sacrosanct.
Last year, he paid over 600 million WAEC fees to indigent students because of his avowed belief that no child should be left behind in their determined effort to pursue knowledge and education that would stand them in good stead to pursue the jobs of the 21 First Century.
As a way of fulfilling his campaign promise of infrastructural consolidation, over 200 kilometres of roads have either been commissioned or are on-going and in various stages of completion. He has been able to achieve this giant feat, again through judicious application of the lean resources at his disposal. Governor Emmanuel, determined to wean the state off of her dependence on oil, has made huge investments in agriculture. Through Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES) great things are happening in the agriculture sector.
The state is well on its way to becoming a major producer of tomatoes and onions- two produce items that were once though not suitable for growing in these parts of the country. Some decades ago, Akwa Ibom State was the fourth largest prouder of cocoa in the country, we lost that position and cocoa all but disappeared from our economic radar. Today, through training in pruning and shedding that the Governor had introduced and personally supervised, we are well on our way to returning to our premier position as a major cocoa producer in the country. The Coco -nut refinery is on course. The biggest joy in all of this is that our youths have embraced agriculture wholeheartedly.
The central plank of Governor Emmanuel’s campaign was based solely on the need to rapidly industrialize the state and create jobs for our teeming youths. The administration is on course in this direction. Sometime last year, scandalized by the knowledge that we import even such items as pencils and toothpick, the Governor directed that we must have a toothpick and pencil making factory ready before the end of the year. Today, that factory is almost ready for commissioning. Work is also on-going in the metering factory the Governor had promised to build during our campaign. Other industries are coming up the pike.
Youths as the future leaders of the state have been variously empowered and trained in various vocational skills, they have been imbued with a new mind-set predicated on the ‘dakkada’ philosophy to see the joy in having an ownership society, to strive to build things, to own things, and to utilize the talents and skills that God has embedded in us all. Through this moral re-awakening and rebirth or the ‘dakkada’ philosophy, the youths are filled with a new sense of hope and optimism and no longer believe in the cradle to grave entitlement mind-set.
Governor Emmanuel has brought a touch or culture of corporatism into governance, civil servants and office holders now show up to work on time, same at public events, because Governor Emmanuel – a keen believer in Christian time management shows up to functions on the dot of time. He has introduced a tone and tenor in governance based on Christ-like humility and forbearance and the people have followed suit.
As Leadership newspaper confers on him the publication’s “Governor of the Year, 2016,” I can only say with pride that I am honoured to have been given a little space to be a part of what in 2023, at the end of this intrepid journey would be defined as a transcendental administration that turned Akwa Ibom State on the trajectory of economic growth and opportunity and a sense of pride and identity in the people that no clock can ever turn back. Congratulations my Boss and my Brother! May your tribe multiply.
Ekerete Udoh is the Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant, Media to Governor Udom Emmanuel
#GovernorOfTheYear
By Ekerete Udoh
At every point in a nation's trajectory, a leader would be thrust forward who will look conventional wisdom in the face and through the force of his or her personality rouse the people from their comfort zones and inspire them to see the endless possibilities that nature so generously wired us to appropriate . These are usually transcendental and transformative leaders and they don’t materialize often.
Key characteristic of this unique leader include: a deep sense of love and belief in the people and the infinite capacity for them to fulfil their purpose in life if nudged gently and in the right direction, a moral disposition that puts service above self, an abiding faith in his or her capacity to effect and affect change; humility that pleasantly shocks and confounds, a spiritual grounding that appears transparent and inviting, and above all, a sense of confidence that is not in your face and a youthfulness that is both appealing and engaging.
Certain elements conspire to facilitate the emergence of this leader and they include: a downturn in the socio-political fortunes of the given state or entity, a loss of faith or apathy on the part of the people in the capacity of the government to meet their needs, a ferment or fertile ground for change, the honesty and transparency displayed by the intrepid candidate and a set of governance ideals and platform that connects with the electorate.
Leaders shaped and furnace with these qualities have helped reinvent the wheels of development and mobility when the wheels had almost fallen off; they usually restore hope and faith when the people were sized by a paroxysm of fear and uncertainty, they often work to bring back the shine and sheen- a winning disposition in the people when a grim and forlorn cloud hovered around their psychological space.
In the United States, the bastion of democracy and the custodian of a political system that has been copied extensively all over the world- democracy and the presidential system, notable leaders who changed the contours and tenor of governance have emerged at every junction. When the American enterprise was in serious jeopardy, Abraham Lincoln defied the dire warning of the south and ended slavery, plunging the nation into a civil war and the south declaring a confederacy Lincoln stood ramrod tall and fought for the unification of the nation. Today, he is celebrated as one of the most consequential presidents in the pantheon of the United States history.
Theodore Roosevelt, though a child of privilege and wealth, fought the agents of the Gilded Age who had seen the common people as mere pawns in the laboratories of big business and helped usher in the Progressive Era in American politics. The reforms of the Theodore Roosevelt administration- from breaking down the monopoly of big business, to conservation, to fair labour practices, today still shape how domestic policies are formulated in the United States.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, restored faith in the American people and its twin ideological ideals founded on democracy and capitalism when the people had lost faith and had started romanticizing socialism as a result of the collapse of the Stock market that brought about the Great Depression in 1929.
Historians have unanimously concluded that were America not blessed with a leader in the mould of FDR, probably the history of American would have taken a different trajectory and a unipolar world based on the hegimonistic hold of the world that America currently exerts would not have happened. John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and most recently, Barack Obama are other American presidents who came in at critical moments and left strong and enduring legacies.
The emergence of Governor Udom Emmanuel as Governor of Akwa Ibom State has all the imprimatur and signature of the great leaders I have mentioned above. In late 2012, the nation had started experiencing some contraction in economic growth due to the steep fall in oil prices. Akwa Ibom state had been lucky to have a leader who had greatly transformed the once idyllic landscape into a rich network of great and world class road network. The then Governor, and now Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpbaio had worked to transform the state with a sense of anger. He had run a good race and needed to hand over the baton to another leader who would take the state to another layer of development and growth. Given the economic downturn the nation had been experiencing, it was almost divine that a proven financial services expert in the person of Deacon Udom Emmanuel, then an Executive Director with a leading financial institution in Nigeria- Zenith bank be brought in first as the Secretary to the State Government and later as the overwhelmingly elected Governor of the State.
Since May 29th 2015 when Governor Udom Emmanuel was sworn in as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, he has worked tirelessly to implement his vision encapsulated in his Five -Point Agenda of: Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, Wealth Creation, Economic and Political Inclusion and Infrastructural Consolidation and Expansion.
A man of proven Christian masculinity, the first set of things he did upon being sworn in, was to pay a backlog of pensions and gratuities to workers, and the labour leaders were so stunned by this gesture that they wrote letters of appreciation, effusively praising him for his magnanimity. While other states were struggling to pay salaries of workers, through a prudent application of scarce resources, Governor Emmanuel has endeavoured to pay the salary of workers promptly. The Governor has sustained the free and compulsory education from primary to secondary and free medical services to the aged and children between the ages 1-5 and pregnant mothers remains sacrosanct.
Last year, he paid over 600 million WAEC fees to indigent students because of his avowed belief that no child should be left behind in their determined effort to pursue knowledge and education that would stand them in good stead to pursue the jobs of the 21 First Century.
As a way of fulfilling his campaign promise of infrastructural consolidation, over 200 kilometres of roads have either been commissioned or are on-going and in various stages of completion. He has been able to achieve this giant feat, again through judicious application of the lean resources at his disposal. Governor Emmanuel, determined to wean the state off of her dependence on oil, has made huge investments in agriculture. Through Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES) great things are happening in the agriculture sector.
The state is well on its way to becoming a major producer of tomatoes and onions- two produce items that were once though not suitable for growing in these parts of the country. Some decades ago, Akwa Ibom State was the fourth largest prouder of cocoa in the country, we lost that position and cocoa all but disappeared from our economic radar. Today, through training in pruning and shedding that the Governor had introduced and personally supervised, we are well on our way to returning to our premier position as a major cocoa producer in the country. The Coco -nut refinery is on course. The biggest joy in all of this is that our youths have embraced agriculture wholeheartedly.
The central plank of Governor Emmanuel’s campaign was based solely on the need to rapidly industrialize the state and create jobs for our teeming youths. The administration is on course in this direction. Sometime last year, scandalized by the knowledge that we import even such items as pencils and toothpick, the Governor directed that we must have a toothpick and pencil making factory ready before the end of the year. Today, that factory is almost ready for commissioning. Work is also on-going in the metering factory the Governor had promised to build during our campaign. Other industries are coming up the pike.
Youths as the future leaders of the state have been variously empowered and trained in various vocational skills, they have been imbued with a new mind-set predicated on the ‘dakkada’ philosophy to see the joy in having an ownership society, to strive to build things, to own things, and to utilize the talents and skills that God has embedded in us all. Through this moral re-awakening and rebirth or the ‘dakkada’ philosophy, the youths are filled with a new sense of hope and optimism and no longer believe in the cradle to grave entitlement mind-set.
Governor Emmanuel has brought a touch or culture of corporatism into governance, civil servants and office holders now show up to work on time, same at public events, because Governor Emmanuel – a keen believer in Christian time management shows up to functions on the dot of time. He has introduced a tone and tenor in governance based on Christ-like humility and forbearance and the people have followed suit.
As Leadership newspaper confers on him the publication’s “Governor of the Year, 2016,” I can only say with pride that I am honoured to have been given a little space to be a part of what in 2023, at the end of this intrepid journey would be defined as a transcendental administration that turned Akwa Ibom State on the trajectory of economic growth and opportunity and a sense of pride and identity in the people that no clock can ever turn back. Congratulations my Boss and my Brother! May your tribe multiply.
Ekerete Udoh is the Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant, Media to Governor Udom Emmanuel
#GovernorOfTheYear
TRIBUTE TO MASTER HAROLD ANWANA ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY AND HIS SUPERLATIVE MUM - MRS. MEFLYN ANWANA
TRIBUTE TO MASTER HAROLD ANWANA ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY AND HIS SUPERLATIVE MUM - MRS. MEFLYN ANWANA.
Mrs. Meflyn William Anwana remains a house hold name in the Akwa Ibom and Nigeria media industry before her recent appointment as the Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on New Media.
Her antecedent in information management and dissemination has been impactful in the capacity of a News broadcaster for AKBC Channel 45 and a lead Presenter for the global Uncommon Transformation Television series during Governor Godswill Akpabio led administration. An experience that has given her the needed insight into governance and the information management machinery of the Akwa Ibom State Government.
HER critical relevance in the Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration is undoubtedly the role of the digital image maker of his Excellency in the ever dynamic and competitive global market via the Internet.. Being married to a Banker, Mr. Williams Anwana and blessed with a beautiful son named Harrold, She remains more resourceful and focused in discharging her responsibility as a New Media aide to her upwardly mobile boss - Governor Udom Emmanuel.
As a graduate of Petroleum Engineering from the Federal University of Uyo and a certified broadcaster from the United Kingdom, Mrs. Meflyn is a round peg in a round hole with a huge challenging task of trending the policies, programmes and partnerships of the Akwa Ibom State Government for inclusive governance and sustainable inflow of foreign direct investments in the phase of economic diversification.
Mrs. Meflyn is a 21st century revolutionary thinker with sound emotional intelligence in capacity building initiatives which she has proven with an innovative social media management of the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation to bridge the information gap for the benefit of Akwa Ibomites in diaspora and foreign investors. Also her advocacy for a globally competitive economy with an introduction of a software development quest of young talented Akwa Ibomites and a human resource pool of an online job portal called 'HIRE A WORKMAN' could well justify the reason why pundits calls her "eka Internet"
🖐🏿
🌍
📈
📊
📡.... Happy birthday Harold. 
🙏
😇
🎂
🖐🏿🌍📈📊📡.... Happy birthday Harold. 🙏😇🎂
Courtesy : CONTENT CURATION DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF NEW MEDIA AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT. 🖐🏿🌍📈📊📡
🖐🏿🌍📈📊📡
Sunday, 5 March 2017
Speak with me to prove you are healthy, Fayose tells Buhari
Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has said that rather than shop for outsiders to speak with to prove to Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari is hale and hearty, the president should be encouraged instead to speak with him(Fayose) ”
I advised the President to speak with me for the purpose of convincing Nigerians that he is hale and hearty instead of looking for people outside the country to convince Nigerians.” In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose picked holes in statements that Buhari had spoken in one week, first with the king of Morocco and next with the president of the African Union.
“If their problem is that they are looking for a credible person who can help them convince Nigerians that all is well with our President, Ayo Fayose is their best bet. Let the president speak with me. If I tell Nigerians that the president spoke with me, Nigerians will believe”, he said.
Nigerians, he added, are getting suspicious of all the purported visits to Buhari in London as well as his orchestrated telephone conversations with international figures who Nigerians cannot trust to give a true and unbiased report about the president’s state of health.”Since they are eager for the president to speak to people; believing in this way to convince Nigerians that their President is hale and hearty, let President Buhari talk to me. I can be reached on 08035024994. I am credible and Nigerians will believe me”, he said. “They said he spoke to President Donald Trump; despite the hype, Nigerians were sceptical. Then they said he spoke to the king of Morocco; again, Nigerians were suspicious. Before we recovered from that, it is now the AU president that they said President Buhari spoke to.
I advised the President to speak with me for the purpose of convincing Nigerians that he is hale and hearty instead of looking for people outside the country to convince Nigerians.” In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose picked holes in statements that Buhari had spoken in one week, first with the king of Morocco and next with the president of the African Union.
“If their problem is that they are looking for a credible person who can help them convince Nigerians that all is well with our President, Ayo Fayose is their best bet. Let the president speak with me. If I tell Nigerians that the president spoke with me, Nigerians will believe”, he said.
Nigerians, he added, are getting suspicious of all the purported visits to Buhari in London as well as his orchestrated telephone conversations with international figures who Nigerians cannot trust to give a true and unbiased report about the president’s state of health.”Since they are eager for the president to speak to people; believing in this way to convince Nigerians that their President is hale and hearty, let President Buhari talk to me. I can be reached on 08035024994. I am credible and Nigerians will believe me”, he said. “They said he spoke to President Donald Trump; despite the hype, Nigerians were sceptical. Then they said he spoke to the king of Morocco; again, Nigerians were suspicious. Before we recovered from that, it is now the AU president that they said President Buhari spoke to.
Buhari: I am returning soon to continue project of fixing Nigeria
By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor
Lagos- President Muhammadu Buhari has said he was returning soon to continue the project of fixing Nigeria after a time of rest in London.
President Buhari spoke in a telephone conversation with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State at the weekend during which the two men paid compliments to one another on what they had done in office. Governor Bello would be the second governor President Buhari would be speaking with after his discussion with Governor Ganduje of Kano State. The President had also been reported to have spoken with the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, who recently lost his wife and with foreign leaders, including President Donald Trump of the United States, Moroccan leader, King Mohammed VI and African Union chairperson, President Alpha Conde of Guinea. The phone conversation which happened in Lagos on the governor’s trip back from President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 80th birthday celebrations which lasted for minutes, was in the presence of the speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, a few other members of the House, commissioners and other top government functionaries.
The President, who thanked the governor for his support and his leadership qualities, told him that he was observing rest and would return very soon to continue his assignment of providing purposeful leadership for the nation. President: “Governor Yahaya Bello, I am impressed by your leadership qualities, what you are doing in Kogi State and all your prayers and support for me and Nigeria. I am resting here and will soon return home to continue our project of fixing Nigeria,” the governor was quoted as saying in a press statement made available to Vanguard by the Director-General of the governor’s Media Team. Responding, Governor Bello was quoted as saying: “Nigeria has won respect globally because of your integrity and the anti-graft war that has been hugely successful. ”We are praying for you. Kogites and Nigerians are solidly behind your administration as we continue to wish you sound health and the grace of Allah.”
Lagos- President Muhammadu Buhari has said he was returning soon to continue the project of fixing Nigeria after a time of rest in London.
President Buhari spoke in a telephone conversation with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State at the weekend during which the two men paid compliments to one another on what they had done in office. Governor Bello would be the second governor President Buhari would be speaking with after his discussion with Governor Ganduje of Kano State. The President had also been reported to have spoken with the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, who recently lost his wife and with foreign leaders, including President Donald Trump of the United States, Moroccan leader, King Mohammed VI and African Union chairperson, President Alpha Conde of Guinea. The phone conversation which happened in Lagos on the governor’s trip back from President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 80th birthday celebrations which lasted for minutes, was in the presence of the speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, a few other members of the House, commissioners and other top government functionaries.
The President, who thanked the governor for his support and his leadership qualities, told him that he was observing rest and would return very soon to continue his assignment of providing purposeful leadership for the nation. President: “Governor Yahaya Bello, I am impressed by your leadership qualities, what you are doing in Kogi State and all your prayers and support for me and Nigeria. I am resting here and will soon return home to continue our project of fixing Nigeria,” the governor was quoted as saying in a press statement made available to Vanguard by the Director-General of the governor’s Media Team. Responding, Governor Bello was quoted as saying: “Nigeria has won respect globally because of your integrity and the anti-graft war that has been hugely successful. ”We are praying for you. Kogites and Nigerians are solidly behind your administration as we continue to wish you sound health and the grace of Allah.”
Friday, 3 March 2017
AKSG APPROVES COMMENCEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PARK & JETTY PROJECT
AKSG APPROVES COMMENCEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PARK & JETTY PROJECT
As part of its drive to industrialize Akwa Ibom and create business opportunities, the state government has signed an agreement with some private developers for the commencement of an industrial park and jetty project in the Ikot Abasi area of the state.
Governor Udom Emmanuel who headed the government delegation assured the contractors 3W Alliance (Ltd) and allied partners that his administration will do everything possible to support the speedy completion of the project which spans five local government areas.
He maintained that, he has put in place a structured transaction process that will ensure that the project is sustained beyond the lifespan of his government, saying “the business is structured to survive no matter who is in the saddle tomorrow.”
Stating that natural resources are useless if not properly harnessed into effective productivity, Governor Emmanuel affirmed that he has extracted support for the project from the host communities.
“I had series of meetings with the communities and I told them the water was there all along and no meaningful wealth came out of it. Today we want to turn that water into wealth and I have sued for peace and support from them.”
“I had series of meetings with the communities and I told them the water was there all along and no meaningful wealth came out of it. Today we want to turn that water into wealth and I have sued for peace and support from them.”
Governor who joked that water can only be transformed into wine, depending on who is conducting the prayers, said he has reached an understanding for an harmonious relationship between the developers and the host communities.
“Before all of us were born the water was there and it was not yielding dollars to the people, today we want to drive that water to become wealth, and we deserve all the support and cooperation of the public.”
He said the success of businesses depended on reliable infrastructure, security and transparent legislation.
According to him, legislations exist to protect the laws guiding businesses and expressed satisfaction that the arbitration of the MoU was under the country’s jurisdiction.
He said the success of businesses depended on reliable infrastructure, security and transparent legislation.
According to him, legislations exist to protect the laws guiding businesses and expressed satisfaction that the arbitration of the MoU was under the country’s jurisdiction.
He expressed belief that with the assurances from the major financiers of the project, commencement of the project would soon begin.
Speaking while signing the agreement on behalf of the contractors, Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab Chairman of 3W Alliance ltd and leader of the delegation assured of their readiness to urgently execute the project as demanded.
Speaking while signing the agreement on behalf of the contractors, Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab Chairman of 3W Alliance ltd and leader of the delegation assured of their readiness to urgently execute the project as demanded.
Mutallab a former Minister of Economic Development said, “We look forward to immediate commencement of the project and we will do our very best to ensure speedy completion of the project.”
He commended the governor on his foresight, describing the industrial park as a significant economic investment for the people of the state.
He commended the governor on his foresight, describing the industrial park as a significant economic investment for the people of the state.
Other partners in the project who accompanied Alhaji Mutallab included, Emilio Magoni of Impresit Bakolori, Oliver Zheo representing Longxin Group, Jackson Ilusiantei from Nebei Port in China, Emmanuel Okon of Eminence Oil and Chemical and Rabi Momoh who led the team from Heritage Bank, Olojede Alani of New Insurance and Bolarinwa Sanmi of Pan Africa Capital.
To sign the agreement on behalf of the state government included the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko, Commissioner for Investments, Trade and Industry Prof. Eno Ikpe and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process Elder Ufot Ebong.
FG directs oil companies to relocate headquarters to Niger-Delta
Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has directed the International Oil Companies operating in the Niger-Delta region to relocate their headquarters to their States of operation to mitigate tension in host communities. 
Osinbajo, gave the directive at a Town Hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Thursday during continuation visit to the region to dialogue with stakeholders.
The Acting President urged the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to begin the process of engaging the International Oil Companies on the way forward to actualize the directive, saying “I think it is the right thing to do”.
He disclosed that, the Ministry of Petroleum is also working with major oil companies on several initiatives including; working on illegal refineries to establish modular refineries to achieve the desired result.
On the Federal Government amnesty programme for ex-agitators, Osinbajo re-iterated the federal government stand noting that, the Ministry of Petrolum and Amnesty office are working with the state governments of the region on providing the benefits to young people in the states.
He emphasized on the importance of the Ibaka deep Sea port project, saying that, the Federal Government is seriously committed to its realization.
According to him, “Indeed as a matter of fact, in the 2017 budget there is already a provision for the Ibaka port. There is already N1billion provision. It is a matter we take seriously to partner with the Akwa Ibom State Government”, urging state governments in the region to attract private investments in their domain in order to create employment opportunities for the youths.
Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel appealed to the Federal Government to integrate Akwa Ibom indigenes who were left out in the amnesty programmes, as well as stressed the need for the reactivation of the Aluminum Smelter Company (ALSCON) at Ikot Abais local government area of the state to create more opportunities for the people.
He said, “With facilities we have in ALSCON, we cannot see it anywhere in Africa; from the services, communication to power generation you can create seven profits centres”.
Governor Emmanuel, while commending Prof. Osinbajo for the visit, further solicited the support of the federal government for the completion of the maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) facilities at the Akwa Ibom International airport to assist repairs of aircrafts assuring that, any financial assistance for the completion of the MRO will be refunded in no time from revenue generated from the repairs of aircrafts.
Unyime Leo wrote in from Uyo - Akwa Ibom State.
Osinbajo, gave the directive at a Town Hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Thursday during continuation visit to the region to dialogue with stakeholders.
The Acting President urged the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to begin the process of engaging the International Oil Companies on the way forward to actualize the directive, saying “I think it is the right thing to do”.
He disclosed that, the Ministry of Petroleum is also working with major oil companies on several initiatives including; working on illegal refineries to establish modular refineries to achieve the desired result.
On the Federal Government amnesty programme for ex-agitators, Osinbajo re-iterated the federal government stand noting that, the Ministry of Petrolum and Amnesty office are working with the state governments of the region on providing the benefits to young people in the states.
He emphasized on the importance of the Ibaka deep Sea port project, saying that, the Federal Government is seriously committed to its realization.
According to him, “Indeed as a matter of fact, in the 2017 budget there is already a provision for the Ibaka port. There is already N1billion provision. It is a matter we take seriously to partner with the Akwa Ibom State Government”, urging state governments in the region to attract private investments in their domain in order to create employment opportunities for the youths.
Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel appealed to the Federal Government to integrate Akwa Ibom indigenes who were left out in the amnesty programmes, as well as stressed the need for the reactivation of the Aluminum Smelter Company (ALSCON) at Ikot Abais local government area of the state to create more opportunities for the people.
He said, “With facilities we have in ALSCON, we cannot see it anywhere in Africa; from the services, communication to power generation you can create seven profits centres”.
Governor Emmanuel, while commending Prof. Osinbajo for the visit, further solicited the support of the federal government for the completion of the maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) facilities at the Akwa Ibom International airport to assist repairs of aircrafts assuring that, any financial assistance for the completion of the MRO will be refunded in no time from revenue generated from the repairs of aircrafts.
Unyime Leo wrote in from Uyo - Akwa Ibom State.
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
PRESS RELEASE: ACTING PRESIDENT OSINBAJO ARRIVES AKWA IBOM ON THURSDAY
PRESS RELEASE
ACTING PRESIDENT OSINBAJO ARRIVES AKWA IBOM ON THURSDAY
Plans have been concluded for the state visit of the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to Akwa Ibom State this Thursday, March 2, 2017.
A release by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh reveals that Prof Osinbajo will inspect the ongoing construction of the second runway at the Akwa Ibom International Airport shortly on arrival in the state by 1.00pm.
The Acting President will then pay a courtesy call on royal fathers in the state at the traditional rulers’ council.
Prof Osinbajo is expected to subsequently address a townhall meeting with stakeholders at the state Banquet Hall in Government House before departing from the state.
Among those expected at the townhall meeting are members of the state elders council, royal fathers, representatives of the oil producing host communities, socio-cultural organisations, women leaders, and representatives of youths in the state.
The visit comes as part of the ongoing efforts by the federal government to interact with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region and find lasting solutions to crisis in the oil rich sub-region.
Sunday, 26 February 2017
38 days of Osinbajo’s acting presidency
This is the third time Osinbajo is acting as president. The first was in February 2016 when the president embarked on a five-day vacation, and the second time was in June 2016 when President Muhammadu Buhari went on a trip to the United Kingdom to treat an ear infection.
Unlike the era of the late President Umaru Yar’adua’s health crisis, Buhari had transmitted a letter to the National Assembly, informing them of his vacation and surrendering power to Osinbajo. President Buhari began a two-week vacation in London but later extended it indefinitely to address yet-to-be-disclosed medical concerns. Since then, the acting president has been riding out the storm.
Following a directive from the acting president, the dollar came crashing, 24 hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released $500 million to the banks, stabilising at 450 from N525. This is one of the effects of the directive issued after the National Economic Council meeting to the CBN to review its foreign exchange policy that weakened the national currency.
The name of Justice Walter Onnoghen was also forwarded to the National Assembly as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, less than 24 hours to the expiration of his three-month acting period, saving the country another constitutional controversy.
A presidential task force was set up to address the skyrocketing prices of foodstuff across the country, while seven bills passed by the National Assembly were signed into law. Four others were rejected.
Face-to-face talks were held with communities in the creeks of the oil-rich Niger Delta on how to stabilise the region, fix their infrastructure and ensure a hitch-free flow of crude to the international market.
Osinbajo has so far presided over five meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), awarding contracts worth billions of naira, among others.
January 20: After the Davos summit
Osinbajo was attending the 2017 World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland when Buhari travelled to London and he became acting president. On his return in January 20, he swung into action by having an engagement with service chiefs who briefed him on the situation in The Gambia at that time. He also received briefing from some members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
January 23: Unveiling 59 strategies for economic recovery
On January 23, Osinbajo presided over the Presidential Business Forum, during which 59 strategies for implementing the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) were unveiled. He later received the special envoy of President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti.
January 24: Micro enterprise clinic launched
On January 24, Osinbajo launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinics at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa. He later proceeded to preside over a meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Council.
January 25: Presided over his first FEC meeting
The acting president has so far presided over five weekly meetings of the Federal Executive Council since President Buhari left for the United Kingdom. The first was on January 25.
January 27: Met with the World Food Programme chief
On January 27, the acting president held a meeting with the executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Ms Ertharin Cousin.
January 30: Met with Senate Leader over budget
On January 30, Osinbajo had an audience with Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan over the 2017 Appropriation Bill.
January 31: Met with Ortom, Saraki, Dogara, Kogi APC
On January 31, he also received the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. He later met with Senate President Bukola Saraki and the House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, over the economy and the 2017 budget.
A delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains from Kogi State visited him in the evening of January 31.
February 1: Inaugurated NPC commissioners
Shortly before presiding over the FEC meeting on February 1, during which the Presidential Task Force on Food Security, mandated to reduce prices of food items in the country, was constituted, Osinbajo had inaugurated five commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC).
February 2: Met Saraki, Doagara again
The acting president again met with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on February 2.
February 6: Economic Recovery Forum opened
On February 6, Osinbajo declared open, the Agenda for Consultative Forum on Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. He told the forum that the nation was in a very serious economic situation, but assured that the government remained committed to putting the economy on the path to sustainable growth.
Osinbajo assured the nation that President Buhari is hale and hearty and would return home as soon as he completed the necessary tests recommended by his doctors in the United Kingdom after his reported telephone conversation with the president.
February 7: Sent Onnoghen’s name for confirmation
The acting president, on February 7, sent the name of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to the Senate for confirmation.
He later issued a statement assuring Nigerians that with the federal government’s complete focus on improving the economy, the current recession would soon be history. “We are committed to a continuous engagement with our people to explain government policies, receive advice and criticism,” he said.
Later in the day, the acting president met with the then outgoing Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko.
February 8: Met Kano Emir, as FEC approved N21bn roads contract
On February 8, Osinbajo chaired a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, which adopted measures to reduce prices of food items in the country. The meeting also resolved to restrict importation, from ECOWAS countries, of finished products that could be produced locally. That was in addition to the approval by the FEC, of N21 billion for the construction of the Ilorin-Omu Aran-Kabba Road, Section I.
Later in the day, the acting president held a closed-door meeting with the Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Muhammadu Sanusi.
February 9: Met Oba of Lagos, Labour, CSOs, Asset Recovery Committee
On February 9, Osinbajo met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and applauded them for joining the ongoing anti-corruption campaign in the country. He gave the commendation when leaders of the NLC and TUC visited him and jointly presented an 18-point demand to the federal government. He also received the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
Later in the evening, Osinbajo chaired a meeting of the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery. The meeting was attended by the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris, the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura; the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta.
February 10: Visited the creeks in Bayelsa
Osinbajo headed for Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on February 10 in continuation of his interactive engagements with oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region.
February 13: Met Governor Wike in Rivers
Similarly, on February 13, the acting president was in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to meet stakeholders of the oil producing communities. During the meeting, he rolled out the framework for the clean-up exercise of Ogoni land.
February 15: FEC approved N126bn roads contracts, national health policy
The Federal Executive Council meeting he chaired on February 15 approved the award of N126 billion road projects spread across Kano, Bauchi, Adamawa, Kwara, Gombe, Enugu an Kaduna states. The council meeting also approved the National Draft Health Policy 2016.
February 16: Directed the CBN to review foreign exchange policy
On February 16, the acting president inaugurated the National Road Safety Advisory Council, mandated to advise the Federal Executive Council and the National Economic Council on how to improve road safety management in the country. He chairs the council.
He presided over the first National Economic Council meeting of the year on February 16. The meeting directed the CBN to review the foreign exchange policy. The meeting also resolved that fresh $250 million be injected into the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). The CBN subsequently released about $500 million through the interbank market, where the 23 banks bought $371m.
The dollar crashed between N400 and N450 against the earlier N525.
The naira also gained against other currencies such as the Pound Sterling, which traded at 645 a day earlier but slipped to 610 while the Euro came down from N537 to N507 at the end of trading yesterday.
Also during the week, the CBN began moves to fund commercial banks with additional Forex to carter for school fees, medicals and personal travelling allowance (PTA) and business travel allowance (BTA) at a special rate.
February 17: Signed 7 bills into law
On February 17, the acting president signed seven bills into law. They were Oaths (Amendment) Act 2017; Defence Space Administration Act 2017; Veterinary Surgeons (Amendment) Act 2017; National Film and Video Censors Board (Amendment) Act 2017; Pension Rights of Judges (Amendment) Act 2017; Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (Establishment) Act 2017 and Mortgage Institutions (Amendment) Act 2016.
February 18: Attended Barrow’s inauguration in The Gambia
The only function Osinbajo had so far attended outside Nigeria as acting president was the inauguration of the new president of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, which took place in Banjul on February 18. The Presidency did not announce that Osinbajo was going for the inauguration; his aides only released the photographs of the event two days after.
February 19: No money earmarked for vice president’s residence
On February 19, Osinbajo said that no money was earmarked for the proposed new official residence of the vice president following reports that he budgeted N250 million for an iron gate to the proposed residence, which had been under construction since 2010 despite lingering economic crisis.
February 20: Met wheat and rice task force
Osinbajo, on February 20, presided over a meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Wheat and Rice. He assured that the nation would attain self-sufficiency in food security. The meeting was attended by the governors of Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi and Ebonyi states, as well as ministers of agriculture and finance.
Osinbajo could not make his proposed visit to Ondo State where he was expected to commission Governor Mimiko’s N1.5 billion event centre due to ‘bad weather’.
February 21: Adopted 60-day action plan for business
On February 21, he chaired an expanded meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Council. The meeting, which was attended by Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other government officials, adopted a 60-day national action plan for business. Osinbajo asked the nation to expect changes in business visas, as well as seaports and airports.
February 22: Approved N32bn for Kaduna bypass
The Federal Executive Council meeting he chaired on February 22 approved N32 billion for the resuscitation and completion of the 50km dual carriage Kaduna eastern bypass highway. The Council also approved $39.9 for the construction of the Cameroon-Nigeria border link bridge at Ikot Efiem. The council also approved the Revised National Policy on Environment.
Osinbajo also withheld assent to four bills recently passed into law by the National Assembly.
He asked the House of Representatives for approval to borrow $500 million out of the $1 billion Eurobond from the International Capital Market (ICM). He said the $500 million would be used to fund the 2016 budget deficit.
After the FEC meeting, the acting president hosted the commander of the United States-Africa Command, General Thomas Waldhauster and the American ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington.
February 23: Met economic team, Saraki, Dogara over budget
On February 23, the acting president, at his Aguda House residence in Aso Rock Presidential Villa, presided over a meeting between the National Economic Management Team and the leadership of the National Assembly over the 2017 budget.
He summoned Inspector-General of Police Idris Ibrahim over the kidnap of two German archaeologists, Prof. Peter Breunig and Mr. Johannes Behringer in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
February 23: Unscheduled visit to Lagos airport
The acting president also paid an unscheduled visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as part of the 60-day action plan for business reforms in the country. The visit took many airport workers by surprise. Osinbajo inspected facilities and interacted with airport officials.
February 24: Sacked 10 NCAA directors, met poultry farmers
Less than 24 hours after his unscheduled visit to Lagos airport, the federal government announced the sack of 10 directors of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Three new directors and a general manager were also appointed for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He also met with representatives of the poultry farmers in the country. He said the government was planning urgent relief for poultry farmers in the country to save the industry from collapse.
Those in attendance were the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Hali, CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele and Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun.
How Osinbajo spends his day
Before he became acting president, as vice president of Nigeria and a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos, he was used to attending the church’s weekly Holy Ghost night vigil along the Lagos-Ibadan highway. Each time he attended the programme, the vice president’s wing of the State House always appeared deserted, especially on Fridays, with only a few members of staff and aides sighted in their offices.
Now, a close monitoring of the acting president’s itineraries and programmes shows that he is, for obvious reasons, keeping vigil only at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, attending to state matters.
Except he has any official function to attend outside the State House, the acting president resumes in the office as early as 9.00am and most times, remains there, holding meetings, treating files and discharging other duties till about 9.00pm. And when occasionally he travels at weekends, it is strictly on official duties.
Since Osinbajo became acting president, the vice president’s wing of the Presidential Villa, from where he operates, has been a beehive of activities. He only moves to the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa for the weekly meetings of the FEC and the monthly meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC).
Osinbajo has continued to combine his duties as acting president with the various responsibilities assigned to him as vice president who heads some vital organs of the executive and several presidential committees. He chairs the National Economic Management Team (NEMT), which is the government’s think-tank responsible for the formulation of the country’s economic policy direction, as well as the NEC, saddled with the responsibility of guiding the president on his economic policies.
Osinbajo equally heads the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery (PCAR); the Presidential Enabling Business Council (PEBEC); the Presidential Committee on the Reconstitution of Federal Government Boards of Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions; the National Council on Privatisation (NCP); the Federal Road Safety Advisory Council, among others.
Osinbajo is in charge - Spokesman
The Presidency told Daily Trust on Sunday that Osinbajo is fully in charge of the affairs of the nation, contrary to some speculations. His senior special assistant on media and publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo was doing everything expected of him as acting president.
“Mr. President is on vacation and has asked for time to rest. In accordance with the constitution, he handed over power to Mr. Vice President. This is a commendable and unprecedented act of a statesman. So the vice president, as acting president, is fully in charge as Mr. President requested in his letter to the National Assembly,” Akande said.
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