As Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, launches his 2023 presidential campaign in Oyo state on Thursday, it appears that the alliance between the party’s G-5 governors has broken down. Oyo state governor Engr. Seyi Makinde has agreed to attend.
Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu are the leaders of the G-5 group.
According to a former minister and close ally of Makinde, after a series of reconciliation meetings, Makinde, the only governor of the G-5 running for re-election, has promised to cooperate with Atiku in order to
The Federal Government has presented certificates of registration to the two new academic unions in the university system, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, made the presentation with official gazette in Abuja, at a special press briefing.
Speaking before the formal presentation, Ngige said if a group of people felt that they were no longer useful or were forced out of a union, they reserved the right to aggregate themselves and ask for registration as a union, as guaranteed by Sections 40 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and 87 of ILO conventions.
He recalled that NAMDA and CONUA were earlier issued letters of recognition by his ministry on the recommendation of committees set up by the ministry to consider their applications for registration as trade unions in the university system.
Ngige said, “The certificates are here for you to operate fully as trade unions. Letters have gone to the security agencies, to accord you all rights given to other unions, for your meetings, AGMs and delegates assembly.
“Same has been done to all government ministries, departments and agencies, including the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, so that your check-off dues will be deducted from source and given to you. Don’t behave like ASUU. Render your accounts to your followers and government.”
Reminiscing on the events that brought about the two unions, Ngige said a group of teachers in the university system applied to his ministry in 2018 to be registered as the Congress of Nigeria University Academics and they set up a committee, which did their work and by early 2019, recommended that the union should be registered.
“Nevertheless, we did not register the union because we wanted to make sure that we are on the right path. By 2020, the request came back and this time around, they explained that they had been expelled from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and therefore denied protection. And that the expulsion was as a result of their unwillingness to go the way of ASUU. They complained of lack of democratisation inside ASUU and lack of transparency in the management of finances of ASUU, just like the ministry pointed out to ASUU that it has not audited its accounts.
“As of the time they were saying this in 2020, ASUU had not audited its accounts for four years. We wrote ASUU, asking them to tender the accounts for the years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, but nothing was done. So, the committee felt that this association had a case. If check-off dues are deducted from your salary, you have a right to know how they are spent.
“And we as the Ministry in charge do not also know how it was spent whereas it is our law that they are operating. Talking in terms of deduction of check-off dues at source, the RTU 18 and Section 37 of the Trade Union Act, talks about rendering account to the Registrar of Trade Union (RTU). It says that those accounts must be rendered before June 1, every given year.
“The letter was unattended to in 2020. In 2022, ASUU was asked to respond to that letter and show cause why the penalty spelt out in that section 37 of Trade Union Act, should not apply to them. This includes also the withdrawal of the certificate of registration as a trade union, which ipso facto grants them the powers to receive check-off dues from their members monthly from their salaries.
“So, to cut the story short, the ministry decided to register members of CONUA to operate as a full-fledged union and we gave them letter of recognition. By the processes of the law, after the letters of the union is given, you gazette that union. It is part of Section 3 (2) of the Act and this section permits the Minister to regroup an existing union when its functionality is no longer guaranteed. And that is what we have exercised with CONUA.”
Regarding NAMDA, Ngige said the medical doctors in academics, including pre-clinical teachers complained that they were not being protected by ASUU and applied for registration as a union.
According to him, the medical teachers said ASUU negotiations do not cover them, in terms of their welfare, conditions of service and allowances.
“A committee was empanelled to look into it and it discovered a lot of rumblings in the sector, by which after a residency training programme, a medical consultant who has his part 2, coming into academics, loses seniority and even emoluments on CONUASS system scale. These are issues that have lingered over the years and they made their complaints. We thought we should streamline some of these things. The committee recommended that they come out of ASUU and have their own association.
“This is not an abnormal thing. We have unbundled the Nigerian union of Pensions in 2018. We now have contributory pensioners and pensioners in the public service agencies.
“Unbundling is dynamic. It is change. Change is constant in line. It is only a dead institution that does not want a change. We must change. As human beings, some cells die in the body and are replaced.
“Even the other PHCN was unbundled into generation, transmission and distribution. So, it is not a new thing. NNPC was unbundled the other day. This is life. Today, these bodies have come to receive their registration certificates.”
He assured that the government would address the issue of witheld salaries of members of the two unions.
He noted that members of CONUA were not part of ASUU strike but were locked out by the management, while the medical lecturers graduated medical doctors during the strike.
Responding, the Coordinator of CONUA, Dr Niyi Somonu, described the event as historic and appreciated the Minister for the registration of their unions, saying his members have been liberated from the shackles of ASUU.
Somonu said they would use the platform to promote the interest of their members, conscious of national interest.
Similarly, the National Vice President of NAMDA, Dr Ali Mohammed Ramat, praised Ngige for the courage to take the bold step, assuring that it would impact on the quality of medical doctors produced from our medical schools.
“You cannot keep the medical students at home for eight months and expect quality medical doctors.”
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a former president of Nigeria, has warned the political establishment to let the court carry out its constitutional duties since society is dynamic.
In Yenagoa, the state capital, Dr. Jonathan offered the warning last week during the book presentation/reception that concluded a week of events honoring Justice Kate Abiri, the chief judge of Bayelsa State, who is retiring.
The former president commended Justice Abiri for the crucial role she played in avoiding a constitutional crisis by ordaining Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State. He also cautioned politicians against becoming enamored with their own positions of power.
Jonathan also urged legal professionals to uphold the law which he noted was significant in the delivery of justice.
His words: “I advise politicians that while in office, let us not try to blackmail the judiciary because it is conservative. When we get political power, we get so blinded. Politicians should know that society is changing.
“Today, we are celebrating our retiring Chief Judge because she has served meritoriously. In 2015, she left Bayelsa for Rivers to perform the swearing-in of the governor thereby averting anarchy. It appears that the judicial arm is more functional than the executive.”
In his remarks, Bayelsa governor, Sen. Douye Diri, hailed Justice Abiri for her outstanding achievements, noting that during her 15-year term as Chief Judge, she swore in three governors in Bayelsa and one in Rivers. They are Chief Timipre Sylva (2008), Senator Seriake Dickson (2012), Sen. Douye Diri (2020) and Nyesom Wike (2015).
Governor Diri described Abiri as a legal icon who rendered unblemished and meritorious service in three decades of legal practice. He added that the state would still require her services due to her commitment and wealth of experience.
Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), who chaired the occasion, described Abiri as an elegant, brilliant and hardworking jurist who represents the best in the legal profession.
Chief Olanikpekun also commended Gov Diri’s administration for supporting the judiciary, expressing the belief that in a few days a substantive Chief Judge would be appointed for the state judiciary.
Responding, Justice Abiri expressed appreciation to Gov. Diri for his support and encouragement to the judiciary owing to its financial autonomy, stressing “the state judiciary now executes quality projects without external supervision or stifling of funds”.
However, the three books unveiled include “Kate Abiri: Footprints on the Bench,” “Judges and Judging in Nigeria” and “Bayelsa State Law Reports: Volume One.”
Chief launcher and Chairman of De Wayles Group of Companies, High Chief Emonena Victor Wayles Egukawhore, JP, expressed his appreciation for the honour to launch the books. He commended the authors for their initiatives, expressing the confidence that the books would enrich knowledge and enhance understanding of their subjects and purpose.
He acknowledged the efforts that obviously went into bringing the books to fruition and wished them well in their future endeavours. He went on to donate the sum of $100,000 and N20 million for the books, while both the Rivers and Bayelsa State governments donated substantial amounts with a plethora of donations from individuals.
Dignitaries at the colourful event include wife of former president, Dame Patience Jonathan, Justice Chima Centus Nweze, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, (HRM) Justice Francis Tabai, JSC (rtd), Zamfara State Chief Judge, Justice Lulu Aliyu, Gov. Nyesom Wike and Gov. Godwin Obaseki (represented), other serving and retired Justices, legal icons/luminaries and a host of others.
According to the Department of State Services (DSS), there was no invasion of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to detain Governor Godwin Emefiele.
In a brief statement released on Monday, its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, stated: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has been alerted to the false rumors circulating that its agents raided the Central Bank of Nigeria and detained its Governor today, 16/1/23. This is false information that is quite deceptive.
Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has since returned to work following his yearly holiday.
Emefiele, who had taken a leave of absence in December 2022, started working again today, January 16.
The Governor resumed with renewed vigour to perform his duty ahead of the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23 to 24, 2023.
A statement signed by Osita Nwanisobi Director, Corporate Communications, said Emefiele remains committed to performing the task before him in line with his oath of office and the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“While thanking the public for keeping faith with the bank, we urge Nigerians to continue to support the policies of the bank aimed at ensuring a stable financial system and the Nigerian economy in general”, Nwanisobi said.
At the last meeting in November 2022, the MPC voted to increase the benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points to 16.5per cent, the highest since 2001. The MPC said the tightening would curb a higher rate of inflation and restore investors’ confidence. Highlights of the MPC meeting included: increase MPR by 100 basis points to 16.5per cent; the asymmetric corridor of +100/-700 basis points around the MPR was retained; the CRR was retained at 32.5per cent; while the Liquidity Ratio was also kept at 30per cent.
The apex bank had increased the MPR from 11.5 per cent earlier this year to 15.5 per cent across three consecutive rate hikes.
Experts are not united about the possible outcome of the meeting there are calls for the bank to continue tightening by a section while others are looking for commencement of easing going forward
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, promised on Monday at Chatham House in London that, if elected, his administration would destroy the criminal justice system that had been used for years to repress the nation.
Additionally, he disclosed that an Obi-Datti presidency would foster competence, character, and capability, fostering the development of talents and ideas.
The LP Presidential Candidate bemoaned what he regarded as the existing transactional practices that foster corruption in government while fielding questions from a cross-sector audience at the renowned British International Policy Institute.
These he identified equally enhance inefficiency, as he allayed fears of a logjam between the legislature and executive if he emerges President in 2023.
Though the National Assembly may be dominated by other parties, Obi said he went through such experience as Governor of Anambra state when none of the 30 members of the State of Assembly came from his political party, adding that what he needed to navigate such case is to do the right thing, avoid nepotism and transactional policies, because even the parliamentarians desire good governance.
Regarding allegations of refusing to condemn secessionist agitations by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) the former Anambra State governor said that for him and many other reasonable Nigerians including Igbos, the Biafra war ended 53 years ago. But he is not oblivious of the agitators’ demands for justice.
“We are going to look into the issue of justice and marginalization in which some of them are hinging their grievances.
“We are going to apply the carrot and stick in dealing with the agitators. But in the end there can only be one government and we will be in charge,” he explained.
The presidential frontrunner while answering questions asked by a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, on attracting investors to Nigeria, likened his economic blueprint to bee and honey, adding that he will create an enabling environment where rule of law thrives.
This is as he identified security as his top priority, insisting that everything will be done to secure the environment and he will do this by first turning the country into production and pulling people out of poverty and adequately utilizing our military.
“Our military once secured Africa and they should secure Nigeria and we will provide the needed leadership and political will,” he supplied.
He also answered questions on the independence of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying that what is happening in the apex bank now is a consequence of mix up of responsibilities and not necessarily of competence, a situation he assured his regime will correct by ensuring that square pegs are in square holes both in personnel and policies.
Obi also said that the on-going fiscal rascality in the system will be dismantled and order and discipline injected into the country’s monetary policies.
On how to navigate the so-called ‘big boys’ to be able see through his beautiful policies if elected, the LP standard bearer said the challenge will be surmounted as there will be no sacred cow.
The former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fidelity Bank provided insight on his plans for the country’s education, Health sectors, debt servicing among others.
Accordingly, he warned that the country’s problem is so serious and does not require a President idling away.
According to a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report, the headline inflation rate decreased by 0.13% over the period under review from November 2022’s headline inflation rate of 21.47% to 21.34% in December 2022.
According to the research, which was made public on Monday in Abuja, the headline inflation rate was 5.72% points higher in December 2022 than it was in December 2021 (15.63%).
According to the report, “In December 2022, the headline inflation rate eased to 21.34% compared to November 2022 headline inflation rate which was 21.47%.
“Looking at the trend, December 2022 inflation rate showed a decline of 0.13% when compared to November 2022 inflation rate.
“However, on a year on year basis, the headline inflation rate was 5.72% points higher com pared to the rate recorded in December 2021, which was (15.63%).
“This shows that the headline inflation rate increased in the month of December 2022 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., December 2021).
“On a month-on-month basis, the percentage change in the All Items Index in December 2022 was 1.71%, which was 0.32% higher than the rate recorded in November 2022 (1.39%).
“This means that in the month of December 2022, the general price level was 0.32% higher relative to November 2022.
“The percentage change in the average CPI for the twelve months ending December 2022 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 18.85%, showing 1.89% increase compared to the 16.95% recorded in December 2021.
“The increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index most especially in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Transport and Miscellaneous Goods and Services.
“Basically, the likely factors responsible to increase in inflation rate in monthonmonth can be attributed to the sharp increase in demand usually experience during the festive season, increase in the cost of production e.g. increase in energy cost, transportation cost, exchange rate depreciation etc.
“On a year-on-year basis, in the month of December 2022, the urban inflation rate was 22.01%, this was 5.85% higher compared to the 16.17% recorded in December 2021.
“On a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate was 1.80% in December 2022, this was 0.31% higher compared to November 2022 (1.50%).
“The corresponding twelve-month average for the urban inflation rate was 19.38% in December 2022. This was 1.86% higher compared to the 17.52% reported in December 2021.
“The rural inflation rate in December 2022 was 20.72% on a year-on-year basis; this was 5.61% higher compared to the 15.11% recorded in December 2021. On a month-on-month basis, the rural inflation rate in December 2022 was 1.63%, up by 0.33% compared to November 2022 (1.30%).
“The corresponding twelve-months average for the rural inflation rate in December 2022 was 18.34%. This was 1.94% higher compared to the 16.40% recorded in December 2021.
“The food inflation rate in December 2022 was 23.75% on a year-on-year basis; which was 6.38% higher compared to the rate recorded in December 2021 (17.37%).
“The rise in the food inflation was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Oil and fat, Potatoes, Yam and other tubers, Fish, Food Product, etc.
“On a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in December was 1.89%, this was 0.49% higher compared to the rate recorded in November 2022 (1.40%).
“This increase was attributed to increase in prices of some food items like Oil and fat, Fish, Potatoes & Tubers, Bread & Cereals, and Fruits etc.
“The average annual rate of food inflation for the twelve-months ending December 2022 over the previous twelve-month average was 20.94%, which was 0.53% points increase from the average annual rate of change recorded in December 2021 (20.40%)” reads the statement in parts.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is allegedly arming armed militia members to obstruct the 2023 general elections, according to allegations made by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday.
The party claimed in a statement that the formation of a dangerous militia known only as the “Jagaban Army” has confirmed its suspicions that the APC has finalized plans to wreak havoc during the elections. The statement was signed by Debo Ologunagba, the party’s national publicity secretary.
The statement reads ” The PDP alerts that the establishment of a dangerous militia code-named ‘Jagaban Army’ by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, further confirms PDP’s position that the APC plans to unleash violence on innocent Nigerians and disrupt the 2023 general elections”.
“By establishing a militia and draping them with military uniforms, the APC and Asiwaju Tinubu have declared war on Nigerians and openly dared the Nigerian Military apparently with the aim to undermine our national security architecture and sovereignty as a nation”.
“Nigerians can recall that our Party has on several occasions alerted the nation of the vicious plots by the APC to destabilize the electoral process and called on the security agencies to place APC leaders on watch list and take immediate steps to stop their evil scheme against our nation. The APC and its Presidential Candidate is a clear and present danger!”
“Our Party holds that the formation of this dangerous militia is in the series and plots and steps in compliance with the directive of Asiwaju Tinubu in London to members of the APC to take power by all means”.
“In his directive in the leaked video, Asiwaju charged his followers that “political power is not going to be served in a restaurant, it is not served a la carte. It is what we are doing; It is being determined; you do it at all cost; fight for it, grab it, snatch it and run with it”.
“There are already apprehensions in the public space that the APC has been recruiting, training and arming thugs and terrorist elements in secret locations across the country and stockpiling ammunitions for the harassment maiming and killing of Nigerians before, during and after the 2023 general elections. Evidence of their nefarious activities are already manifest in many parts of our country”.
“The PDP has been made aware of plots by the APC to use the “Jagaban Army” which is designed to operate in fake military outfits similar to that adorned by the APC Youth Leader at a public event recently to pose as soldiers to harass and terrorize innocent Nigerians”.
“The PDP for the umpteenth time, demands that President Muhammadu Buhari should take immediate steps to ensure Asiwaju Tinubu and the APC do not derail our democracy just because they have been rejected by Nigerians”.
“Our Party also charges the security agencies to take immediate action to invite the Presidential Candidate of the APC for questioning as well as arrest the APC Youth Leader, Dayo Israel and other APC leaders involved in this threat to the existence of our nation”.
***Atiku calls for detention , interrogation of Tinubu.
The attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to distract the public from the problems facing Nigerians was criticized by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as being irresponsible.
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization has called for the arrest and interrogation of Senator Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, and has called the construction of a uniformed squad by the APC code-named “Jagaban Army” a treasonous act.
PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, has also described as irresponsible Tinubu’s atrocious record and the vexatious misrule of the APC by demanding that the PDP Presidential Candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar should withdraw from the Presidential race on account of simulated allegations by the APC.
The statement reads; “It is indeed ironic that an embattled Tinubu, who is beleaguered by uncountable cases of fraudulent activities, including perjury, forgery, treasury looting, corruption and narcotic-related conviction can attempt to impugn on the unimpeachable integrity of the PDP Presidential Candidate.
“For clarity and for the interest of Nigerians, it is on record that Atiku Abubakar is one of the most investigated public officials in this country. It is also on record that in all the investigations undertaken over him and his affairs, Atiku Abubakar was never found culpable in any of the allegations.
“In contrast however, the APC Presidential Candidate has litany of confirmed legal impediments on very grave issues including those that boarders on international crime, namely; trafficking in narcotic and taking proceeds of narcotic.”
The PDP said that in the recent case revealed in the United States of America, it is on record that the APC Presidential Candidate forfeited the sum of $460,000 which was confirmed and found to be proceed of trafficking in narcotic; an international crime for which Nigeria, being a signatory to International Convention on trafficking in narcotic is obliged to enforce.
“The effect of the conviction and forfeiture of the sum of $460,000 by Asiwaju Tinubu confirms that he is ineligible and not qualified to contest for the Office of the President of Nigeria as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the party said.
Explaining further, the PDP said: “For clarity, Section 137 (1) (d) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that:(1) “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if… (d) He is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or for any other offence, imposed on him by ANY COURT or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court or tribunal.”
The PDP said: “Having been convicted, sentenced and fined for narcotic trafficking in a criminal suit filed pursuant to the United States Criminal Code, Asiwaju Tinubu cannot by virtue of Section 137 (1)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) seek office as President of Nigeria.
“The APC Presidential Candidate has not come out to deny the conviction and forfeiture or show evidence of any attempt by him to challenge or appeal the judgment, apparently believing that it will slide with time. Asiwaju Tinubu ought to know that time does not run against the State in a criminal matter!
“He should therefore withdraw from the Presidential race having been found ineligible and not qualified to run or to contest for the Office of the President of Nigeria under the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.”
In the same vein, Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization, in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan said that the Jagaban Army, which is apparently set up to disrupt the 2023 general elections and raid the polling units for votes on behalf of APC Presidential candidate, Senator Tinubu, is a direct affront to the Nigeria Armed Forces and other security agencies as well as an assault on the sovereignty of the nation.
“It is reprehensible that Tinubu can create a rogue force just for the purposes of undermining the electoral and security arrangements of our nation.
“Our Campaign holds that this nefarious act of the APC Tinubu/Shettima Campaign lend credence to the position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and well-meaning Nigerians that Tinubu as well as his rank and file has set out to make our nation ungovernable and therafter disrupt the 2023 Presidential election scheduled for February 25, 2023 using his army of ‘Jagabandits’.
“The notion of Jagaban Army is a ploy to bring hoodlums, thugs and gangsters together under the cover of the APC and turned them into official militia that will be used to unleash mayhem on the day of election.
“This reckless anti-democratic plot by the ‘Jagabandits’ must also be condemned by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria and across the world over,” the campaign said.
The campaign called on the security agencies to save the lives of Nigerians and protect the electoral process by immediately going after this dangerous formation, arrest those behind this design and save the nation from electoral violence.
“Our campaign counsels Tinubu to note that his Presidential ambition is not a do or die affair and that he should not set the nation ablaze just because Nigerians have rejected him and his party, the APC for their mass failures,” the campaign said.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday commissioned the recently completed 1.15km Afi-Uko Ntighe Bridge along the 19km Etebi – Enwang Road connecting the Mbo and Esit Eket local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
Remember that the Etebi-Enwang bridge project, which is thought to have been given to a British construction company led by Engineer Fidelis Cobbs in 1949 and is regarded as the fourth largest in Nigeria, received a lot of publicity during the previous administration in the state but was never finished?
Former President Goodluck Jonathan praised Governor Udom Emmanuel for continuously delivering well-structured growth-promoting projects in the state during the project’s Monday inauguration in Mbo, Akwa Ibom State.
Jonathan who was in the state in company of his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, said It takes someone with total commitment to improving the lives of the people to embark on a project of such magnitude.
“A Bridge is very very useful to riverine dwellers. Thia is visionary leadership that gives substantial evidence of well structured growth promoting leadership.
“Your strategic development plans have continued to deliver great dividends to the development of this great state. You have delivered several projects, built many bridges, but this is a flagship project.
” It takes someone with total commitment to improving the lives of the people to embark on this. Your projects have direct impacts on the lives of the people in remarkable ways. Your award as Governor with best economic blueprint was befitting.
“This is the third time I am coming to Akwa Ibom to commission a project. This must be one of the longest bridges in West Africa. Let me also commend the people of this community for cooperating with the construction team.
“You build both economic, human and social bridges. People like you are the stars and heroes of our democracy. You work hard to ensure that democracy produces good fruits for the people, we need more people like you”. He said
The former President of Nigeria therefore urged whoever would emerge incoming governor of the state to effectively follow the footprints of Governor Emmanuel.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State said the completion of the bridge was in fulfillment of his electioneering promise to open up riverine communities in state.
The Governor returned all glory to God for the enablement to impact on the lives of people and communities across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.
He thanked members of the community for the support shown throughout the duration of the construction and assured Akwa Ibom people that no amount of blackmail would distract him from his avowed commitment to continue to drive the state in a path of rapid industrial growth.
Explaining components of the bridge, the Commissioner, Ministry of Works and Fire Service, Akwa Ibom State, Prof Eno Ibanga said the bridge is 1.15km, longest in South south, longest ever commissioned by any state government in the country and sits on 212 piles with a minimum depth of 30meters, segmented into 52 spans of 22.5m each and the spans sit on 408 precast beams, with an impressive lifespan.
On his part, the Managing Director of AMITEC Construction Company, Aiman Saimua said the company was awarded the project four years ago but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay in the project which was completed two weeks behind schedule.
Saimua commended Governor Emmanuel for providing the funds required for the project and the community for their support, saying without it, they would not have been able to complete the project.
Secretary to State Government and son of the soil, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem in his welcome remarks said the bridge has created a major gateway for industrial revolution in the state.
“The bridge will enable ibom industrial city to be approached, Ibom solution hub, Forward Operation Base, Dakada Global Oil. This is a part of the rapid industrialization agenda of the governor. Longest bridge in south south Nigeria”. He said.
In their goodwill messages, the National Presidents; Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo fnipr, and the Catholic Archbishop of Calabar, Most Rev Dr Joseph Ekuwem all eulogised Governor Udom Emmanuel for his remarkable strides in Akwa Ibom State.
Operatives from the Department of State Service (DSS) allegedly raided the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offices in an effort to detain its governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Remember that the DSS and the CBN governor have reportedly been engaged in ongoing disputes over alleged financial terrorism.
Emefiele is now abroad on his yearly leave, which expires on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, and the secret police had requested a court order to arrest him.
The DSS was forbidden by an Abuja federal high court in December from inviting, arresting, or detaining the troubled Emefiele.
On Monday afternoon, January 16, 2023, DSS operatives stormed the apex bank with about 20 vehicles with armed personnel.
On arriving at the bank, the security operatives barred staff of the CBN from having access to Emefiele’s office.
A query sent to the spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, was yet to be responded to as of the time of writing this report.
