Bassey Albert: WHAT LIES AHEAD?

Obong Bassey Albert, formerly gov'ship hopeful; now aspiring for
Uyo Senatorial District Senate seat

By Osondu Ahirika
Oba Atokpe! Ise eeeeh!
His entry for the 2015 governorship race in Akwa Ibom state held the promise of a revolution in the offing. Obong Bassey Albert, the stylish, trendy, swashbuckling immediate past Commissioner of Finance, captured the imagination of many youths with his swag and his debonair comely looks.
Alas, the one popularly known as OBA took a dignified bow out, just before the battle erupts. The rupture of many dreams becoming a new nightmare. 
There is a strong temptation to compare OBA's brief political odyssey to a candle in the wind.  A wildfire, that spread so fast and quenched in a jiffy. Violent fires soon outburn itself shakespeare says, but this isn't exactly so. For me, this young Turk is akin to what Yorubas call Abiku. A political ABIKU, that is.

On his return to Akwa Ibom State on October 30, 2015, hordes of his anxiety stricken supporters were waiting eagerly to hear from the horse’s mouth. Rumours were rife that, OBA had thrown in the towel. A Damascus experience following a high octane meeting in Abuja with powers that be had taken its toll. From his alight off the aircraft to the missing delight in his countenance, the red light of caution was aglow for all to see.
Then came his address. He undressed himself of the gubernatorial garb, and solicited redress for his heartbroken disciples. Mr President has prevailed on me to give way for my kith and kin of Eket Senatorial District, and I can't be rude to say, 'No', to the Father of the Nation, if I should paraphrase his explanation. There was pin drop silence. With those words, a woman cried, "OBA anyong oooo!", translated, 'OBA is gone'. Of a truth he was gone, but is not a goner.

Attah, Akpabio And The Ides of Succession

By N.T.A, Efo

Both grapevine and non-grapevine sources which earlier made the news in town that Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio had finally given a ‘direction’ on his likely succession plan for 2015 has been confirmed.

Many who were pointing fingers at the immediate past Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Emmanuel were not wrong after all. One of the sources, Weekly Insight newspaper, said the Governor personally set up a 31-man coordinating committee to see through the plan to install the former SSG as his successor at the expiration of his tenure in 2015.

I believe strongly that the Governor has a right to be interested in who succeeds him. All of us would. Show me anyone who wouldn’t and I will show you someone who still believes former President Olusegun Obasanjo is still the President of Nigeria, meaning he is living in outer space and is not in tune with our inner situation as a nation. Even in our small corners as clubs, associations, committees, name it, presidents, chairmen; we crave from the cradle of our tenure to the crest of its expiration to replace ourselves with our choices.

Immediate past Gov Victor Attah of AKS

Why would the Governor have that right? Because he has seen it all. He has met several people, amongst them those angling to take over his seat in 2015. He knows the capacity and the capability of most of them. He also has his own human-prone biases and prejudices – he may prefer someone with a chocolate complexion to one that is fair; he may prefer a former banker to a politician; he may prefer someone from Eket Senatorial District to someone from Uyo Senatorial District. You cannot deny him that right. It is inalienable. It is also incontrovertible.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of AKS, Nigeria

A little peep into the tunnel of history shows that our leaders have always had and exercised that right. Obong Victor Attah, sometimes called the architect of modern Akwa Ibom, had a certain Dr. Udoma Ekarika, his son-inlaw, in mind to occupy the seat on which Governor Akpabio, sometimes called the builder of modern Akwa Ibom, sits. Obong Attah did all he could to make sure Dr. Ekarika became the choice of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) faithful in the state. At the end of the day, Dr. Ekarika did not win the primaries.

Bishop Akpan Opens up on 2011 agreement with Akpabio

…Declares Ambition for 2015 Gov’ship…Consults PDP State Executives, as he opens campaign office in Uyo

By Ekebo Ekanem

The 2015 governorship ambition of the former state deputy Chairman of PDP, Bishop Samuel Akpan recently gathered momentum, following his endorsement by political groups and the people. The Ibibio museum park, Venue of the declaration ceremony was filled to capacity by thousands of supporters and party faithful.

The Governorship hopeful, Bishop Samuel Friday Akpan during the event also consulted the PDP State Executive committee members of the Party to seek their support for his ambition.

Bishop Sam Akpan, Governorship Aspirant,AKS

At the Party Secretariat, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, the former P.D.P Deputy State Chairman, Bishop Akpan who was flanked by his wife, Vivian, members of his Campaign organization and his supporters, was received by the state Chairman of P.D.P Obong Paul Ekpo and other SWC members.

Addressing the PDP State Exco members, Bishop Akpan said he was at the Party Secretariat to inform the Party of his ambition to govern Akwa Ibom State and to seek their support. He noted that as an active member of P.D.P, he has worked, obeyed  and rendered great services for P.D.P in Akwa Ibom State, adding that he knew how P.D.P  started in the state.

Akpabio, Udom, Akwa Ibom in Time Sequence

By Joe Iniodu

The world we live in is a system, an organized structure credited to a creator. It is the height of absurdity to maintain that the power which planned this world planned it ill. The scripture records God as stating: “My thought for you is a thought of good, not of evil”, referring to Christians whose faith in God may be forlorn based on encounters and prevalent vagaries that may confront them. God thinks good of man and the land but man oftentimes abuses self and mismanages the land plunging creation into uncertainty and despair.

Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio
of Akwa Ibom State

God’s consistency and faithfulness are manifest in the story of creation in Genesis. The systematic sequel noticeable in some dualities like night and day; land and sea; man and woman; day and night affirms Him as God of orderliness. Even when there is a curve in the order, it is said to be for a purpose. Analysts of Nigerian political life have used the Abacha era in Nigeria to typify such learning curve. They hold the view that the Abacha administration exposed the hypocrisy and lack of patriotism on the part of our political elites. It was clear that most of them could not stand up to be counted when it mattered most. Like some frightened squirrels, those who could not scurry to safety had to jettison principles and compromise on all fronts. These were witnessed in the five-million man match; the adoption of one man as sole presidential candidate by all political parties; the widespread endorsement of Abacha by eminent Nigerians etc. Nigeria had become one large closet of castrated men and timid women only existing to be herded in any direction. But God was still interested in the affairs of Nigeria and at an appointed time, He did His will.

Battle for Uyo Catholic Diocese Bishop’s Stool Settles At Last

…Most Rev. John Ayah installed as new Bishop…Attah, Akpabio, Chris Ekpenyong, Ors grace event       
 

By Ekebo Ekanem

The battle for the occupant of the office of the Bishop of Uyo Catholic Diocese was laid to rest recently, as Most Rev. John Ayah was formally installed as the new Bishop of Uyo Catholic Diocese.

Performing the installation ceremony, the head of the Universal Church, Pope Francis who was represented by the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria Archbishop Augustine Kasujja congratulated the new Bishop and the Diocese on their cerebrations and called on members of the church to give him the necessary support so as to enable the new Bishop to succeed. 

Most Rev. John Ayah, Catholic
Bishop of Uyo Diocese

In his opening remarks, the Chairman on the occasion and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Henry Akpan thanked Catholic faithful in the State and Nigeria for honoring Uyo Diocese in their celebrations and described the new Bishop as a worthy servant of God who have contributed his wealth of experience to growth and development of the church in the country.

Delivering sermon at the installation service, Most Rev. Anthony AdaJi of Idah Diocese, Kogi State admonished church faithful to accept and rally round Bishop Ayah on his pastoral assignment.

The man of God who drew his text from 2^nd Corr. 11 28- 29, challenged priests to focus on winning souls for Chirst.

Uyo Women Declare total Support for Barr. Stella Udoh

… Entrust her with Mandate to Liberate Women

By Augustine Akpan

The women of Uyo massively declared total support for Lady Barr. Stella Ezekiel Udoh’s House of Assembly aspiration last weekend during the latter’s consultation with the women at Uyo Local Government Council Hall.

The women, who turned out in their numbers under the flagship of a famous socio-political group in the state called Women In Politics (WIP) Uyo Chapter, , said they have had enough of failed representation by past ‘promise and fail’ politicians, who only succeeded in aggravating their plights rather than alleviate them. The body expressed its readiness to queue behind a credible, honest and God-fearing aspirant with the interest of the people at heart and assuredly stated that they have found one in Lady Barr. Stella Ezekiel Udoh.

Tension Mounts in AKWA Poly as Students Demand Elected Union Leadership

…The SUG will be in Place before October is out – Chairman Governing Council

By John Effiong

Students of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, barricaded the school gate for hours today demanding an elected Students’ Union Government(SUG).

The spokesman for the aggrieved students, Mr. Akpan Idongesit, said that all the students wanted was a duly elected students union government in line with the constitution approved by federal school authority. He maintained that students would return to classes if they were reassured by management.

The Registrar of the Institution, Mr. Emmanuel Umoh, who claimed to represent both the Rector and the Governing Council Chairman, promised there will be an election in two weeks time, adding that management and council will meet with select members of the students to work out a timetable.

The Rector, Barr. Israel Affia and Chairman of Council, Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko were reportedly left  with the Dean, Students Affairs Mr. James Etim Ekikor whose duty it was to oversee the election after more than ten years of either no Students Union Government or lame duck caretaker governments.

Students claimed to have been intimidated by Mr. Ekikor instead of their grievances being forwarded to management.