8 A'Ibom Students Need N23.8 To Graduate From Aviation College
All is not well with 8 final year students of AkwaIbom origin in the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
The students in a letter addressed to Governor Udom Emmanuel through the state Commissioner for Education, hinted that their hope of their studies as aviation graduates may be dashed except the state Governor comes to their aid.
The aviation students including Mr. Essien Robert, Itok George, EshietOkon and four others the letter endorsed by the Principal Assistant Registrar1/Academic Secretary, MrImoh E. Ekoh said they need a total sum of N23.8 million to pay as their final year fees or risk their studentship in the college.
While expressing their appreciation to the state government for its commitment in the sponsorship of the students admitted into the college since inception, the students expressed hope that the patronage and support will be sustained for benefit of future generations of AkwaIbom people and the country at large.
The students who are expected to proceed for field attachment shortly after the last phase of their training, have accordingly called on the State Government for some financial assistance to enable them successfully complete their studies.
Retired General Proposes Adequate Security in A’Ibom Communities
By Ime Ben
The key to achieving the industrialization dream of the State government and other developmental strides in every part of AkwaIbom State have been attributed to adequate security of life and property in the State.
Retired military personnel in the State, Brigadier General Anthony Etukudo made this known yesterday in Eket while playing host to Apostle RoselineManufor, during the programme ‘’Do Good on Radio’’ on Heritage Radio, Eket.
Speaking on the need for adequate security of life and property in every part of the State, the General said security issues should not be left only in the hands of the government agencies rather should be seen as a collective task to every citizen of the State both in rural and urban communities.
He said there is need for communities in the State to establish what he described as Community Crime Watch (CCW), which, according to him, is a system where every citizen will always have the sense of security consciousness in their environment.
While appreciating the efforts of security agencies in the State in checking menace of insecurity, Etukudo used the medium to advise citizens of the State to always develop the sense of security consciousness in them and report any suspicious movement noticed in their areas to security agencies nearest them.
Speaking further, Elder statesman also appreciated the ‘Dakada’ initiative of the State governor Emmanuel, saying the initiative has helped in charging AkwaIbom people to stand up to their destiny and join hands in moving the State forward.
DEAN CHARGES STUDENT UNION LEADERS
By: Grace imaikop and Joyce Mustapha
As the student union body embarks on its journey of leadership in AkwaIbom state university, member of the executive has been admonished to learn the rudiments of leadership. The charge which was made by Prof. Ifiok Johnson from the University of Uyo during the two days leadership workshop held at the main campus, centered on unionism and the ethics required in order to operate as a leader.
The 2-day leadership workshop which began on the 27th of April,2016 at the man campus of the institution was in collaboration with the ideal consortium organization which focuses on building capacity. Be that as it may, the event had a recognition the vice chancellor of the universityrepresented by the dean of student affairs Professor Aniefiok Out AkwaIbom State University as well as Dr. Mrs. Edna Akpan The vice dean of student affairs AkwaIbom State University to mention the entire executive of student union and its parliamentarians.
Furthermore, Professor Ifiok Johnson admonishes the students on the scope of unionism laying emphasis on the origination of unionism in Nigeria; Professor Johnson explained the various functions, processes and was of practicing unionism in the university environment. In his words, he advised the students to abide by the constitutions guiding them “… If you ever want to succeed in life as a leader, you must learn to abide by the books; leaders are public figures who must learn to exert positive influence on their public wherever they find themselves.” He equally stated that student unionism should be seen as a platform for negotiation and coordination and not an opportunity to disobey rules ad constitute thorns in the flesh of the school administration.
Speaking decisively to the executives, he disclosed that being appointed as leader’s means they must excel in ever scope of life especially in their academics.Taking a brief break, the leadership session returned with the guest speaker educating the students on the importance of communication. In his words, he states that man cannot not communicate, this moves to show a dialogue in any association giving examples of diverse union or relationship which has crashed due to lack of communication. He also implored the executive not to do anything without proper documentation less they face the consequences that comes with it.
Speaking with our correspondent, one of the parliamentarians, Hon. Itohowo Ignatius says the lectures has been of great benefit to him and has granted them greater exposure on leadership qualities.In addition, comrade KufreApkanikot the incumbent President of the Students Union expressed his joy towards the event, adding that the lecture has indeed enlighten the entire body on the task ahead. However the event came to end with words of advice to the executives.
AfighIwaadEkid Lauds A’Ibom PDP on Successful Congress
By Ime Ben
The recent successful hosting of the People Democratic Party (PDP) congress in AkwaIbom State from ward to the State level has continued to generate more commendations from the concerned AkwaIbomites and the general public.
The latest is from AfighIwaadEkid, a foremost socio-cultural organization in Eket Federal Constituency.
In interaction with our correspondent in his office recently, the leader of the organization, UdieneObongIwaad, Etiene Bob, on behalf of the entire members of the Afigh, appreciated the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency, MrUdom Emmanuel and the entire PDP family in the State for a successful and peaceful hosting of the party’s congress in various wards, chapters and the State level.
Describing AkwaIbom as a PDP State, UdieneObongIwaad Bob said the State has benefited from the PDP government over the years and such would always motivate AkwaIbom people to always support PDP in the State.
While admonishing AkwaIbom people to support the new leadership of the party in all level, Bob also called on the new leadership of the party to have the general interest of the people at heart and not betraying the trust and confidence the people had on them.
While congratulating Governor Emmanuel’s led administration in terms of effective governance in the State, the leader called on the government to continue to extend its effective administration to every part of the state and as a continuous administration, continue in the projects initiated by the previous administration as well as initiating new ones in the State.
Seven Cheat Death as Fallen Palm Tree Destroys Building in Eket
By Ime Ben
At least seven people recently escaped death in IkoEket community in Eket local government area as a palm tree fell on a family building, destroying part of the building along with many valuable properties.
It was gathered that the incident happened last Sunday midnight during the heavy night rainfall in the area.
Speaking to our correspondent in the area, the owner of the building, Chief Joseph Eshiet said it was quite surprising to him for such tragedy to befall him and his family in these hard times but thanked God that no life was lost as a result of the incident.
He said, ‘’ I thank God that nobody died when the incident occurred. It was quite surprising to me that such little wind accompanied by the night’s rainfall could pull down the palm tree directly to my house’’.
Also speaking, the village head of the community, Chief Monday Michael Umaobot sympathized with the affected family over the incident and promised to liaise with the local government authority to come to the need of the affected family.
He however, warned residents of the community to always cut down all giant trees close to their surroundings to avoid further occurrence of the incident.
The ClementIsong Centre for Development Studies, tuesday presented a copy of a bill seeking to regulate the activities of cattle herdsmen in the state to AkwaIbom State House of Assembly for consideration and legislative backing.
If passed by the House, the bill which came as a result of indepth research by resource persons at the centre, is aimed at preventing what the centre described as 'herdsmen terrorism' in the state. It will also guarantee a peaceful society for all, protection of farmlands from cattle attack, and as well as generate revenue to the state through taxation of cows.
Presenting the document to the Speaker of the House, the Chairman of the Centre , Prof. ImohUkpong with the assistance of the Director Dr. Etim frank, informed that the decision to draft the bill came following a recent shocking discovery made Dr. Frank while travelling along the airport road to Oron.
He revealed that some where around Ekeneukim he had sighted a cattle rearer attending to his cattle and he observed that the herdsman was holding an umbrella, but he was shocked when he saw that the handle of the umbrella was a riffle.
Wondering what the cattle rearer would be doing with a gun, Dr. Etim said upon close observation he found out that it was actually a gun that the herdsman was holding while attending to the cattle at the location.
On his part, Prof. Ukpong, explained that as a research centre in the faculty of social sciences, the Clement Isong Centre for Development Studies deemed it necessary to put up the document for onward presentation to the legislature for necessary backing. He said it was worrisome to discover that cattle rearers would ever think of carrying guns into the state, saying it was high time the state government, House of Assembly and security agencies be on the alert to prevent such cases of herdsmen attack reported in some parts of the country from occurring in AkwaIbom State.
Also speaking, the Director of the center, Dr. Frank said the bill makes provision for appropriate taxing of each cow that comes into the state. He disclosed that the it is the position of the Institute that the state government could generate revenue from the cows if the rearers were made to pay N50, 000(Fifty thousand naira) per cow that enters the state, among other recommendation.
Receiving the bill, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Luke, commended the Institute for the initiative, saying what they have done is in tandem with the position of the 6th assembly which has always urged members of the public to come up with private bills that would further the course of the state.
"When i saw the letter and its intent,i had to respond immediately because it is in line with our avowed commitment to be on the side of the people. We don't have the super natural to be every at the same time".
"I want to thank the Clement Isong Centre for deeming it fit to honour a great son of the state, the Late Dr. Clement Isong, who contributed his quota to the development of the then Cross River state as governor and Nigeria as CBN governor"
The Speaker said the legislature remains committed to partnering the executive and Judiciary to advance the development of the state. He recalled how he had in called the attention of the House in the previous assembly to the worrisome menace posed by cattle rearers, explaining that the current assembly had also deliberated on the matter where the relevant House Committee was mandated to initiate a meeting with security agencies, the representatives of the various ethnic groups resident in the state for the purpose of ensuring a peaceful society.
He used the opportunity to call on herdsmen in the state to ensure that they carry out their activities peacefully without allowing their cattle to destroy people's farmland.
Barr.Luke, assured that the document will be forwarded to the legal department for scrutiny after which it would be sent to the House Committee on Business, Ethics and Privileges for further legislative action.
Present during the visit were other research fellow from the Institute including, Dr. Rogers wilcox, Dr. Ini-UbongAsa, and Dr. Victor James
Pollution: Groups protest against Mobil
A group, Peace Point Action, fishermen and women, fish sellers, farmers, and youth groups have protested against the alleged continued oil exploration and exploitation in Ibeno, AkwaIbom by ExxonMobil.
The protesters, who assembled at Ibeno Beach beside the ExxonMobil headquarters in the state, asked the company to seek for alternative energy source that is environmental friendly and leave the oil and gas in the soil.
They expressed their grievances through various descriptions on placards like, ‘Break free, leave the oil in the soil’, ‘Oil is a crude business’, ‘If oil cannot promote our dignity, leave it in the ground’, ‘Clean up Ibeno now’ and ‘Keep it in the ground’.
Others are, ‘Thanks for the sad memories, time to say goodbye’, ‘Oil destroys our planet’, ‘A world without pollution’, ‘With oil, the future is dark’, ‘Oil brings death, leave it in the ground’.
The group’s Executive Director, UmoIsua-Ikoh, said AkwaIbom, despite being the highest oil-producing state in Nigeria has some of the worst social and economic indicators in Ibeno and other oil producing communities.
According to him, the development shows that oil wealth does not directly translate to wealth and sustainable development for the people, but generates environmental disaster, time bomb, poverty, disease and conflict.
“Our environment is our heritage. We cannot continue to treat Niger Delta environment with impunity. That is why we have gathered here on Saturday, to join concerned citizens all over the world to say the time has come to end our fossil fuel lifestyle, notwithstanding what ExxonMobil and all the oil multinationals may think.
“If we are sincere about doing our part to fight climate change, then we must leave the oil and gas in the soil. The road to a cleaner, healthier and sustainable future has nothing to do with coal, oil and gas. Nigeria has what it takes to invest in clean energy,” Isua-Ikoh, said.
A fisherman, NnimoBassey, stated that with whales dying one after the other, it meant that for every single whale that died, thousands of other smaller fish might have died in the ocean.
He stated that fish were nowhere near the shore except deep in the Atlantic Ocean, and this, he noted, had been problems to fishermen in the area.
He added that the shoreline and the rivers around oil producing communities had been polluted with fish dying in their millions.
Bassey maintained that many surviving fish caught in such areas were so polluted that consuming them would be like someone taking poison.
He said, “We need our environment so that we can fish and farm. Water is not producing fish for us again and our farmlands have also been destroyed as they have not been giving us the necessary yield.”
A’Ibom Attorney General assures of justice over murder of barber in Uyo
The AkwaIbom State attorney-general, Barr.UwemedimoNwoko, has assured members of the public that justice would prevail in the gruesome murder of a barber, late Daniel Bassey.
Daniel, until his death was a native of IfiayongUsuk of Uruan local government area of the state.
He was killed by Stephen Anona, who dismembered his body including the head, hands and legs, before dumping it on the roadside.
Anona, a native of Njikoka in Anambra State allegedly killed Daniel whom he opened a barber shop for in UruaEkpa Road over alleged N750,000 debt.
Speaking with newsmen after the hearing on the matter at the high court, Uyo, attorney general of the state and commissioner for Justice, Barr.UwemedimoNwoko, condemned the act.
Nwoko, who is the prosecution counsel in the matter, said the evidence and testimony given by the two prosecution witnesses was an indication that there was light at the end of the tunnel.
He said no one has the right to take the life of anyone, hence, perpetrators of crime must face the full weight of the law to serve as deterrent to others.
The first prosecution witness in the witness is the wife of the deceased, Victoria Willie, while the second prosecution witness is Mr Celestine Akpan, the landlord of the house where the barber was murdered.