Akpabio Receives Best State Government Award from CBN

Akpabio Receives Best State Government Award from CBN

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio will on Tuesday February 7, 2012 be awarded the Best State Government Award in recognition of the State’s giant strides in Infrastructural Development and Support for the Women Agro Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WAEPEP) in 2011.
In a release by the Central Bank of Nigeria, signed by Mr. Paul Eluahiwe, Director, Development Finance Department, the award will be conferred on Governor Akpabio on behalf of the State during the 6th Annual Microfinance Conference and Entrepreneurships Awards of the apex bank.
The award will be presented by President Goodluck Jonathan on Governor Akpabio during the Opening Session of the Conference at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja. 
The Women Agro Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WAEPEP) is an initiative of the state government in conjunction with the state ministry of Agriculture, aimed at improving agricultural production of the state and boast the state food production.
The programme has empowered 4500 women and youths with an interest free loan of N250,000 each to engaged in large scale agricultural production and other agro-enterprises.

ACN Rejects February 25 Guber Polls Date in C’River
Joseph Kingston, Calabar
Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, supporters, Friday, took to the streets of Calabar in their numbers to protest against the February 25, 2012 governorship election date for Cross River State, fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently.
The party seems to be in support of the April 14, 2012 date fixed earlier by INEC, going by their placards, some of which read ‘Jega, reverse the February 25 date’, ‘Nothing is wrong with April 14’, ‘Help our growing democracy’, amongst others.
The protesters marched along major streets of Calabar metropolis down to Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre where they addressed journalists on reasons for their protest.
In his brief address, the State ACN Chairman, Hilliard Eta said his people have vehemently rejected the February 25 election date and wondered why INEC had to change the initial date “as if the Supreme Court ruling has any significant effect on the April 14 date”.
Hilliard said the sudden change of date “offends not only the Electoral Act but the Constitution’’ adding that ’’the membership of ACN feel shortchanged.”
According to him, though the party is poised to participate in the forthcoming poll with a view to take over power, ACN would not allow illegality to take preeminence over justice and equity, adding that the party was a respecter of the law and of due process.
“We know the law says you must submit list of candidates within 60 days but if you count from the day the election date was announced to February 25, it is not even up 30 days. So who will be injured if the April 14 date stands? What is the hurry about?’’, he queried.
Eta hinted that the party has already notified INEC of its protest and will resort to seeking legal redress in an event where INEC insists on the new date, but explained that while in court over the issue, the party will go into the election with a view to changing the mantle leadership in the State.
It was observed that before the arrival of the protesters, the Police had already cordoned off the press centre with the State Police Commissioner, Mr Sampson Wudah leading. 
Meanwhile Eta had announced plans by the party to conduct “valid primaries soon where a viable, crowd -pulling candidate will be chosen to fly the party’s flag in the gubernatorial poll.”