Sometime in Long Beach, Califonia U.S.A December 29 a Prince was born to a Royal family. Welcomed with joy, happiness and gladness about a great Akwa ibom son that has touched the surface of mother earth, the whole community was startled.
As a young man his charisma and strength in adversity partly explains his love to lead his peers, despite his childhood background his love for his fatherland was paramount.
His credibility was proven when he touched down in Nigeria in 1986 to acquire educational and social skills in preparation for his call to serve his fatherland. He acquired a first school leaving certificate at Christ the King Nursery and Primary school Uyo Akwa Ibom state in the late 80s. As a young man he exercised a high level of intellect in school just like Solomon in the Bible he was an intellectual king among his peers . Due to his high level of intellect he was given admission into the prestigious St Mary's senior science college Ediene Abak and he came out in flying colours. Because of his digital knowledge and love for upgrade he later enrolled for a university degree in Information Systems and operations management in the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond U.S.A. Like every transformational hero; a statue professional, consummate God-fearing gentleman, a man of proven quality, a man of humble beginnings whose crucibles did not Marr him but inspired deep motivation and determination to succeed in the face of challenges he recorded experiences as a career specialist in Texas Workforce Commission Richardson, Texas. U.S.A, a computer system analyst Microsoft Irving, Texas U.S.A, And was Awarded Honours in Academic Achievement and Outstanding Services in the University of Central Oklahoma U.S.A in the year 2000. He was appointed a Supervisor for Health/ Social Services Uruan Local Government Area Akwa ibom state in 2008. He was the MD/CEO IYAKETE NIG. Ltd/ oliver's farm in 2011. A prince in the Uruan Land, a man of Timber and Caliber, as our Elders use to say. "Eyen Owong Eyere Ubok Asana, Adia Mkpor Ye Mme Mbong" Meaning as a son washes his hands clean, he dines with kings. He has achieved a level of friends in the society through respect and humility. A supervisor for health in Uruan Local Government Area transition committee in 2015, Co ordinator Akwa ibom young professionals leadership initiative (AKPRO) Uruan Chapter, Co-ordinator the new breed Uruan chapter, National Executive Member Transport Initiative for Empowerment of Ibom People Youth Wing, Youth Leader Central Uruan Ward 2 Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA). Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers and Sisters . Behold a friend, high spirited and fun loving brother Hon. Prince Inyang Atakpo.
Composed by : Nyongessien Mfon.
Uruan unity project 2016.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday formally resumed in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Since his inauguration on May 29, 2015 President Buhari had been
working from the Defence House, Maitama, owing to what his spokesman,
Garba Shehu attributed to ongoing ‘renovation’ works at the Presidential
Villa.
Shortly after arriving his office, Mr. Buhari was joined by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).
As the vice president trekked the long distance from his office to
that of the president, he was seen exchanging pleasantries with some
State House workers along the way.
Buhari and Osinbanjo thereafter met with some of their top aides.
While the meeting was ongoing, it was learnt that the Service Chiefs
also arrived the Presidential Villa to meet him President Buhari.
With his official resumption at the seat of power, activities of governance are expected to pick up immediately.
President
Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a U.S-based journalist, Mr Laolu Akande,
as the spokesperson of Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Mr. Akande, who was The Guardian’s North American Bureau Chief, was
named Senior Special Assistant to lead the media and communication unit
in Prof. Osinbajo’s office, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
Chairman of the Silverbird Group and Senator in the 8th
National Assembly, Ben Murray-Bruce has advised President Muhammadu
Buhari to take a cue from President Joyce Banda of Malawi in a move to
resuscitate the country’s dwindling economy.
Responding to reports of the annual cost of maintaining the
presidential fleet, the Bayelsa East district Senator described the
development as a complete waste of public fund.
According to him, the N5 billion Nigeria currently spend to maintain
the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) can be used to provide business
start-up grants of over five N500,000 to 10,000 NYSC members.
The media mogul took to his twitter page to make this known.
See below;
In his full address made available to This Day, Ben Bruce urged
President Buhari to sell off all 11 presidential jet and should consider
issuing an Executive Order mandating all government officials to fly
Nigerian airlines except in those cases where a Nigerian airline does
not fly to the destination in which they are headed.
He said: “President Buhari should take a cue from President Joyce
Banda of Malawi who not only sold off that country’s presidential jet,
but also sold off 60 Mercedes Benz limousines attached to her
Presidency. So impressed was he by President Banda’s move that Andrew
Mitchell, the UK International Development Secretary, immediately handed
over 32 million pounds of British Aid to her government.”
Ben Bruce reactions comes hours after the presidency denied knowledge
of President Muhammadu Buhari alleged order for disposal of nine VIP
jets.
It was earlier reported that the country leader made an unprecedented
move to reduce the cost of government, which is to sell the luxury
aicrafts from the presidential fleet
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa on Monday approved an upward
review of the allowances of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members
posted to the state.
Mr. Al-Makura announced this at the end of a three-week orientation
for Batch C corps members held at the Majaji Dan –Yamusa, NYSC,
orientation camp in Keffi.
In an address to the 1,782 corps members, Mr. Al-Makura said the
allowance would be increased from N2, 000 to N5, 000 because of current
economic situation in the country.
The governor urged the corps members to use the lessons gained during
the orientation period to improve themselves, their host communities
and the country at large.
Mr. Al-makura also urged the corps members to contribute to the state government’s effort at peace building.
He called on them to relate freely with members of their host
communities and participate in the peace process initiated by the state
government.
“The government strongly rejects out rightly the mischievous call for
a state of emergency as being not only political but also unpatriotic”.
He gave the assurance that all necessary machineries had been put in
place to ensure the security of both the corps members and all
law-abiding citizens of the state.
While Islamist terror group Boko Haram uses automatic weapons and tanks
against the population of Nigeria, civil defense groups armed with
simple weapons are determined to defend their country.
"We can become invisible – and then we fight them at close quarters,
face to face," Yusuf said. He is a hunter who lives in the northern
Nigerian state of Adamawa. Yusuf is not his real name, he does not want
to be recognized. He is a Nigerian civilian fighting against Boko Haram.
"Our prayers protect us against their weapons. Soldiers only have
weapons. We have other means of luring Boko Haram into a trap," Yusuf
told DW. He and his companions know the area well, they know where they
can hide, and then emerge to take the Boko Haram fighters by surprise.
That was the strategy they used to expel Boko Haram from the town of
Mubi.
Yusuf used to hunt wild animals in the bush. But as the attacks by Boko
Haram became more frequent and more brutal, he volunteered to join the
guerilla war against the group.
Traditional clothing and amulet worn by a Nigerian hunter
"A real hunter wears amulets," Yusuf said. "They take away our
fear. We also wear clothing that is woven in a traditional way and is
specially made for hunters." Strengthened by their belief that only God
can decide over life and death in battle,Yusuf and his companions go to
war. Stronger than the army?
"What's interesting about the rise of these vigilante groups is the fact
that they typically don't fall along sectarian lines. It's an almost
spontaneous response by local communities to the failure of the police
and military to maintain order,"Hilary Matfess, a political scientist at
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, told DW.
The Nigerian security forces have now launched large-scale operations in
a bid to counter the Boko Haram insurgency. According to Nigerian
media, 20 percent of the budget is currently being used for defense
purposes. However, many soldiers complain that much of the money does
not reach the right places. "What we see in a lot of conflicts with Boko
Haram is that the Nigerian military is overwhelmed militarily and
flees," Matfess said, adding that the police force was often "predatory
towards civilians rather than acting as a source of stability." She says
this is also a reason for the growth of civil defense groups.
But can a civilian group armed only with simple hunting weapons be more
successful in the fight against a terror group than an entire army? In
order to understand this, one must take a closer look at the Nigerian
security apparatus, Mattfes says. "You have the military that is not
particularly well trained or well funded. The police force in Nigeria is
actually the country's largest employer. One of the latest estimates is
that the police force employes nearly 400,000 people. It is difficult
to train and properly arm a force of that size."
Nigerian soldiers display an armored vehicle captured from Boko Haram
Call for financial support
Of course, says another hunter from Mubi, the army does have a certain
amount of modern weapons, whereas "we use hunting weapons made by our
local smiths. Some have a bayonet attached." Nigerian newspapers print
photos of hunters who, armed only with bows and arrows, protect their
villages against Boko Haram attacks. These are effective tactics, the
hunter says, since "the animals we usually hunt and kill are also
stronger than we are."
Idris Abdullahi lives in Gombi in Adamawa state and applauds the
hunters' initiative. "Right from the start, they supported the fight
against Boko Haram. They know who belongs to Boko Haram in their
villages," he said. Abdullahi thinks the military can play an important
role but "in order to be really successful, above all in the forests,
the vigilantes and hunters have the advantage of knowing the territory
better, every inch of it."
Many Nigerians no longer trust the police
The army and government are happy that the vigilantes have
joined the fight as they have succeeded where the army has so far
failed. Civil defense groups have liberated Mubi, Hong, Gombi and Maiha –
all in Adamawa state – from Boko Haram. The residents of these towns
have felt increasingly abandoned by the authorities and they trust the
local hunters. "The hunters should receive more support, be it from the
government or from wealthy people," said Bilkisu Aliyu Adam, who lives
in Gombi. He argues that financial support should be forthcoming since
anyone who takes up the fight against Boko Haram has little time or
resources left to look after his family.
BAUCHI, Nigeria — Two teenage female suicide bombers blew themselves up
Tuesday in a crowded market in Nigeria’s northeastern city of
Maiduguri, killing at least 30 people, according to witnesses and a
security official.
Boko Haram, Nigeria’s Islamic extremist rebels, are suspected of the
bombings, as they have carried out many similar attacks. The bombings
highlight Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity in which 1,500 people have been
killed by the militant’s insurgency this year, according to Amnesty
International.
The two girls dressed in full hijabs entered the busy marketplace and
detonated their explosives, said Abba Aji Kalli, the Borno state
coordinator of the Civilian Joint Task Force.
The first set off her explosives and killed about three women, said Kalli.
Jossy Ola/APA
victim of a suicide bomb attack committed by two teenage girls at a
market receives treatment at a specialist hospital in Maiduguri,
Nigeria, Tuesday.
When others gathered around the scene, the second bomber screamed and blew herself up, killing about 30, he said.
“I am right here at the scene and I have before me 11 corpses ... many
have been taken away by relatives, while others are taken to the state
specialists’ hospital,” said Kalli.
Soldiers and police officers cordoned off the area while rescue workers
helped survivors to the hospital. Nigeria’s police have not yet issued a
statement on Tuesday’s blasts.
I am right here at the scene and I have before me 11 corpses.
Today’s blast is the first in Maiduguri since July 2 when 56 people
were killed in the same market area when a car bomb hit a group of
traders and shoppers.
Maiduguri is the provincial capital and largest city in Borno state,
one of the three states in northeastern Nigeria that are under a state
of emergency because of the extremist violence.
In April Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from Chibok,
about 125 kilometers (78 miles) southwest of Maiduguri. The schoolgirls
are still missing and their plight has aroused international concern and
prompted the (hash)BringBackOurGirls social media campaign.
Jossy Ola/APThe
two suspects dressed in full hijabs entered the busy market and
detonated their explosives, killing at least 30 people, officials said.
Last month, on Oct. 17, the parents were encouraged when the Nigerian
military announced a cease-fire with Boko Haram and said negotiations
had begun for the release of the schoolgirls.
Those hopes were quickly dashed, however, when Boko Haram fighters
continued attacks and seized several cities and towns across the
northeast. In a video statement, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau
denied the ceasefire and scoffed at claims of negotiations to release
the schoolgirls.
Boko Haram still holds many centers in an area covering an estimated
20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles) and has declared the area
to be an Islamic caliphate where they are imposing their strict version
of Shariah law. The insurgents want to impose Islamic rule over all
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous state with its 170 million people about
evenly divided between Christians and Muslims.
Patience and steadfastness are two attributes critically lacking in
Nigerian politics. Very few politicians remain patient and steadfast if
their interests are not guaranteed. There is hardly a spirit of
sacrifice.
This explains the constant defection of politicians from one party to
the other. These politicians often have a defense in politics, there are
no permanent friends and permanent enemies but permanent interests.
‘While I hold my own political views, it’s important not to get too
wrapped up in individual candidates and personalities, but instead to
focus on the real issues’.- Marcus Samuelson.
As 2015 general election is fast approaching, many aspirants have
indicted their intentions to invest their wealth of experience in the
service to the people.
According to Peter Drucker ‘Effective leadership is not about making
speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes
. As such Leadership is not a mere gift but it is an in-born potential
that springs up as a result of being able to empower and motivate
people, During an interview session with group of Journalists in His
office, a humble personality, a technocrats with quality years as a
private Entrepreneur, Engr. Donald Bassey speaks on his Aspiration to
vie and represent Nsit Ubium State Constituency comes 2015. Read the
Excerpt below:
Good Day Sir, Please Can we get to know You?
Good Day, My name is Engr. Donald Uko Bassey, born into the family of
Engr./Hon. Mrs Bassey Gideon in Ikot Akot Ubium in Nsit Ubium Local
Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Am a graduate of Civil Engineering
from the prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri. By the
grace of God, am the President of ShadeCover Group.
Tell us About Your Success in Business World?
Well, this year makes ShadeCover Group 10 years old, we started from
building of two legs suspended carport, I brought in the innovation into
this part of the world, and over 10 years counting, we have been doing
that very well in production and customer satisfactions remains our core
priority. We expanded our service and innovation by introducing other
associate products like Danpalon, Golden POP ceilings, Steel gates
/rails, Interior and Exterior finishing. So far so good, we have
employed over 200 people since we started and our staff strength now is
about 50, then we are still employing and empowering of trained staff.
Your Community Support Programme?
Over the years, we have introduced a community support programme, as a
way of giving back to the society and empowering the less privileges.
Last Year we were in Leprosy Home in Etinan and also in Salvation Army
Children Home in Akai Ubium in Nsit Ubium. This year we are going back
to those places and likewise extend our support programme to other
humanitarian homes.
As a business man, what do you think Akwa Ibom State needs for the businesses and the private sector to grow?
What Akwa Ibom needs is industries. That is all we need to create jobs
and wealth for the common people. We need the kind of industries you
find in China, Korea even in Taiwan. The next government should
industrialize the State; attract foreign investors to come in and invest
in the state; create an enabling environment for people to come in and
invest. With that, the centre of excellence in Lagos will move to Akwa
Ibom. So I believe the next government should pursue industrialization
of Akwa Ibom State. As someone who is into shipping.
Why Venture into Politics?
Already in the Private sector there is politics, so I wouldn’t say am
just venturing into politics for the first time. Basically, through my
wealth of experience, I have gone through a whole a lot of processes in
terms of empowerment, community development and communication with the
Masses. So I feel and understand both their plights and difficulty they
pass through just to access basic social amenities. So my Kind of
politics is to apply, those success keys that has made me, who I am
today in the Society.
Acceptability?
Acceptability has been warmly welcome and embrace by The Elders, Youths
and Women. They have giving me their blessing and support that I should
contest and represent them as the Next House of Assembly Member for Nsit
Ubium State Constituency.
Pressure from Group?
Well, over the years I have received over 500 awards from corporate and
socio-political groups. Most of them have tipped me severally to vie for
any elective position. So this is like answering their Clarion call to
service. I promise not to fail their believe, trust, and hope they all
have in me to cause that DESIRED CHANGE comes 2015
The race to all political offices is around the corner. The opinion
of the people is divided into two unequal parts where majority wants
zoning of political offices to rotate among the different political bloc
while the other few insist on a free for all contest. Though the
constitution allows a free for all contest, but for brotherliness, love
and peace offices are shared into different camps.
Just like power rotates along the three senatorial districts at the
state level, Uyo senatorial district also has its own unique way of
sharing the senatorial set among the three federal constituencies of
Etinan, Uyo and Itu/Ibiono.
Since 1999 upon the return of democracy, Uyo federal constituency took
the first shot with Senator John James Akpanudoedehe who spent just one
tenure and vacated the seat for Senator Effiong Bob in 2003 who by sheer
luck won a second term ticket. In 2011, the elders decided that while
other local governments wait for their turn, Ibiono under Itu federal
constituency should produce the next senator a decision that gave
otuekong Ita Enang had the opportunity to serve in the red chambers.
Ita Enang emerge the choice not because he was the most qualified but
because in 1992, Itu state constituency represented the district in the
senate with Senator Anietie Okon seating on that seat for Uyo Senatorial
district. Today those same leaders of thought have agreed that Uruan
State constituency under Uyo federal constituency should produce the
next senator. Ibesikpo Asutan is another local government that is yet to
produce a senator but because they once had an elected governor Uruan
won the day. This explains why we have more aspirants from Uruan local
government eying the seat with few from Ibesikpo Asutan.
It is only sad that those who championed the rotation of the set
especially in the build-up of the 2011 general elections are the very
set of people who are reluctant to vacate the seat despite the
realization of the writing on the wall. Uyo Senatorial District with
nine local government areas should allow the seat to go round so that
others that are still queuing can also seat there. Truth be told, if one
man or one local government should go more than one term when will
Etinan, Nsit Ibom, Ibesikpo or Itu have a shot? Supporting Uruan now
means the others will soon have an opportunity. This is in line with our
party’s belief in fairness, justice and equity.
Now that Uyo Senatorial District are on the same page with our party
as far as sharing rotating the senate seat, let us search inwardly and
go for a grassroot democrat who has the people’s interest at heart.
Whoever goes to the senate for us in 2015 should be accessible and ready
to take the problem of his people as his personal problem and look for
ways to either solve it or cushion its negative effect. Being accessible
implies that apart from presenting our common problem he should also
come home to brief us on actions so far taken since our problem was
presented on the floor of the senate. We need somebody who will come
home with a good account of his representation and not one of those who
will only vibrate on national issues while the people at home continue
to suffer deprivation.
After the awesome representation of Chief Nyong Essien from Uruan in
the 1930s, Uruan have not had opportunity to represent Uyo people in the
red chambers. Chief Nyong Essien results of effective representation
could be linked to creation of our dear state, Akwa Ibom. Just as we
yearn for dividends of democracy and stomach Infrastructure. I am of the
opinion that all should rise up in support of Uruan Local Government to
produce another Nyong Essien.
This will give Uruan people a feeling, that they haven’t been sidelined by the PDP and the Government.
Some youths acting on the basis of Northern Youth Forum
donated N2m to President Goodluck Jonathan for him to buy the
presidential form for the 2015 elections.
President Jonathan addresses the general debate of the 69th of the General Assembly. Photo: UN/Cia Pak
The move to support Jonathan’s desire for re-election was announced
on Saturday, October 25, by Forum coordinator Engr Bello Bichi during
Kano State rally, Punch reports. “We decided to support Mr President with this token amount to
enable him purchase the nomination form for the presidency. The youths
in the north believe that President Jonathan has the country and youth
at heart in view of his commitment toward transforming the country.”
Bichi expressed commitment of northern youths to stand for Jonathan who earlier this week finally declared interest to contest.
Education Minister Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, on his part, urged youths
not indulge into acts that might cause chaos during the elections.
He was quoted saying: “Gone are the days when we should take up dangerous weapons
during the election. As youths, you are expected to conduct your affairs
peacefully, especially during election in order to ensure peace in our
state and the country. We have a herculean task ahead of us, so you have
to come out en masse and vote so as to ensure the success of the party
at all levels in 2015.”
He also praised the youths for the generous gesture adding that
Jonathan himself wanted to appear at the occasion but did not manage to
do so because of the “pressing national matters”.
Jonathan has already established the committee for the official declaration, with is set to be made on November 11
A 45-year-old Pastor Amos Odorimo and a married woman,
Roseline are currently cooling their feet at the Ebonyi state Criminal
Investigation Department over their involvement in the untimely death of
the woman’s husband.
Wife, Roseline and Pastor Amos Odorimo arrested for killing her husband
According to Sunday Sun the deceased, 45-year-old Nwebonyi Nwuguru, a
native of Edukwu Inyima had given his pastor Amos Odorimo who is the
General Overseer of Divine Salvation Ministry one hectare of land to
buid a church auditorium.
Apparently when the late Nwebonyi Nwuguru discovered that there was
more to the relationship between his 41-year-old wife and the pastor as
they were having a love affair, the suspects decided to kill him as they
were not willing to end their illicit affair.
The pastor and the wife of the deceased decided to execute their evil
plan on September 30, 2014, after Pastor Odori had offered to give the
Nwuguru a ride to the farm. Along the way he stopped and killed the late
Nwuguru.
Speaking with Sunday Sun at the Ebonyi state police command, the
Pastor Amos Odori confessed he was romantically involved with the
deceased’s wife: “I am married and have five children. The deceased Nwebonyi
Nwugwu was nice to me. He gave me a hectare of land to build my church. His wife, Roseline Nwuguru attended my church. It was from there
that I started having love affair with her. When the love was getting
deep we found out that the deceased was disturbing us and we have to
plan for him,” Odorimo said. “I took deceased’s cutlass and cut him on the head. His wife also
hit him on the head with a big stick. He died on the spot and we ran
away to Benue State, but men of the local vigilance group arrested us
and handed us over to the police.”
The wife of the deceased, Roseline Nwuguru, who hails from Ado Local
Government Area of Benue State and has seven kids for her husband
narrating how herself and the pastor killed him said: “Actually I was having a love affair with Pastor Odorimo. I don’t
regret my action and joining in killing my husband. He was a wicked
man, because he prevented people from entering the church.”
Ebonyi State Commissioner, Maigari Dikko has said after investigations has been concluded they will be charged to court.