By Assam Abia
To me, there is nothing wrong when an organization or group of persons allow conflict take dominance over their sense of reason because from the beginning of time, conflict has always been the mathematical equation of puzzles and differences spanning all strata of God’s creation. But there is something wrong when the crusaders of such conflict allow themselves to be used by the unrefined bestial element of the animal in us, into destroying others either by gun, bomb or mere use of pernicious languages as recently done by some self-seeking egoists within the Afigh Iwaad Ekid.
The present ego-centric crisis coated with all manner of allegations that has for now almost destroyed the only leading socio-cultural youth organization of the Ekid nation, the Afigh Iwaad, is nothing new. What is new and distasteful is the puerile dimension the crisis has been manipulated as a glass door of insult and assault on some most highly respected elders and leaders of Eket Community. A development that has so vexed many right thinking people of Ekid nation including yours truly.
On Monday November 28, 2011 an advertorial captioned, “open letter to His Excellency, our Grand Patron, on the deliberate attempt by self-seeking political gladiators bent on hijacking the leadership of our body with intent to carry out a smear campaign on the Executive Governor ahead of 2015” was placed on page 14 & 15 of the pioneer Newspaper by some aggrieved members of Afigh Iwaad Ekid. The intention of this write-up is not to dabble into mattes concerning the crisis but succinctly, to point out and condemn in its totality the spurious and damaging allegations carried out in the said advertorial against the persons of Chief Nduese Essien, Brig. Gen. Anthony D. Etukudo (Rtd) Otuekong Akwa Ibom and Obong Iwaad Emman Mbong among others. These gentlemen are highly respected not only in Akwa Ibom State but across the nation because of their respective contributions to nation building. Chief Nduese Essien and Gen. Etukudo (Rtd) are founding Grand Patrons of Afigh Iwaad Ekid and have always been instrumental to conflict resolution within the apex youth body. But unfortunately, their attempt to broker peace this time around, has been misconstrued by myopic minds as an attempt to “hijack” the body of fight Governor Akpabio in 2015, when the Governor is by constitution leaving office by then. What a myopic way of thinking?
The signatories in the said advertorial attempted to paint their target black but only succeeded in reporting themselves to the Governor that they should not be trusted and believed. They insinuated that because the appointment of Hon. Aniekan Akpan as Transition Committee Chairman of Eket Local Government was opposed by Chief Nduese Essien and others, the alleged opposition, they claim amounts to rebellion against the Governor come 2015. They went further to ignite security alert that “the 2011 Ekid Cultural Festival has been slated to be used as an instrument to attack the person of the Executive Governor, as part of the grand plot leading to the 2015 Governorship race”. The advertorial literally castigated Chief Nduese Essien, Gen. Etukudo, Obong Emman Mbong as rebels, just to draw the attention of Governor Akpabio for selfish reason. Luckily, the Governor who is for now too busy to complete his second term is such an intelligent young man who knows the line between truth, blackmail and sycophancy. The people of Akwa Ibom has taught the Governor how not to dance to all drum beat no matter how melodious. He himself has been a victim of blackmail severally and can tell the voice of Jacob from the deceitful hand of Esau.
In a desperate move to crucify our leaders for a crime they never committed, the signatories to the said nauseating advertorial went to court in an attempt to illegalize the Obong Iwaad Nku led’s Caretaker Committee of the Afigh Iwaad from organizing the 2011 Ekid Cultural day festival which is billed for Saturday December 17, but the court saw no legal reason to grant them their request. The Court affirmed that the Ekid day must hold.
I know the parents of some of the aggrieved people, they are humble and will never take delight in insulting their leaders. These children needs some thinking. “Sons honour your parents and leaders so that your days on earth may be long”, so says the Holy Scriptures. We should not do things that will hunt for us tomorrow. Those who have insulted Chief Nduese Essien, Gen. Etukudo and Obong Emman Mbong have pointed their fingers at the wrong direction with four finger pointing back at them.
When the Niger Delta Region was boiling, Obongiwaad Emman Mbong was among the few selected youths of the region who gave Late president Ya’ Adua the road map to the Peace we now know today. He did not rebel against constituted authorities. He has over the years been instrumental to the peace enjoyed in Eket and has never shown any sign of rebellion against Akpabio’s administration. So why call for his head when no proof is found against him.
Again, when some of us were hiding in the fishing creeks of Esit Eket during the Nigerian Civil War, Gen. Etukudo (Rtd) was at Ore Sector fighting to keep this Country united. He did not rebel against the Federal Government and till date has remained a patriot to Akpabio’s administration and the federation. Why blackmail him for brokering peace in Afigh Iwaad, why point questionable fingers on such a gallant solider without proof of any wrong doing?
Chief Nduese Essien is a man known for excellence, truth and service. If he has anything against Akpabio, he will not need Afigh Iwaad Ekid as a vehicle of criticism. He mobilized the people of Eket to vote for Governor Akpabio during the just concluded general election. What does Akpabio have at take in 2015 that will so worry Chief Essien to want to fight against? Why insult a man who has impacted positively on the Ekid nation, without any proof of wrong doing?
Afigh Iwaad Ekid palaver should not give anybody the leverage to cast aspersion and back-stab our venerable leaders. Enough of such absurdity. Age and wisdom are twin blessing from God. Any insult on people with such gift is an insult on God. Man know thyself.
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Perspectives on The pathetic Electricity Situation in Akwa Ibom state
By Dennis Udoma
The Federal Government’s effort to actualize the nation’s vision of additional 3000 megawatt of power generation by 2015 is still a nightmare as power situation in Akwa Ibom frequently deteriorates. This writer, Dennis Udoma in today’s FOCUS unravels why darkness prevails in the state:
For a country like Nigeria with its total population figure of about 170 million people with huge economic potentialities, the provision of quality and steady power supply is still a nightmare.
This situation has become a critical and fundamental frequently ask question by Nigerians has always been as to when they will ever experience uninterrupted power supply even as governments usually boast of improving the situation even in the state with a Hi-tech power infrastructure like the Independent Power Plant [IPP] at Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
Though, there has been concerted efforts by the Federal Government to fix power with an estimated 3000 MW improvement for the country before 2015, the hope of actualizing our dream of becoming one of the leading economies in 20 20 20 may not be realize with the present development unless the power sector is strengthened to increase investor’s confidence and that of Nigerians.
Over decades, Nigerians have groaned in darkness due to the rot in the power sector as succeeding administrations in the country pursue inglorious and personal agenda with little attention to issues of national growth.
It is this worrisome outlook of the nation’s power situation that drew the anger of the Senate President, Senator David Mark during the inauguration of Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy in Abuja recently, as he was quoted to have described as shameful and irritating, the low level of power generation so far noting that, “The 3000 megawatt being targeted by the Federal Government is nauseating for a country like Nigeria”.
Mark was speaking as a true and honest public office holder when he further maintained that, “It is a serious problem because the whole thing, we have been talking about vision 20 20 20, all the development and dreaming will just remain the same unless the power situation changes. There is no magic about it.
“From the look of things forgive me; I don’t see any improvement and that is the truth. There are a lot of things and nothing has changed so far for the end user. I don’t have solution and I don’t know who has but I believe with all these heads put together, we can achieve something tangible in the power sector.
“Few years ago Brazil and Indonesia were on the same level before, but now they have left us behind. We are talking of producing 3000 megawatt. We should not even be mentioning it, 3000 megawatt is meant for small nations not a nation like Nigeria. I think something has to be done”.
Therefore, Akwa Ibom State is not different from this scenario being painted by the Senate President as residents of Uyo, Eket, Ikot Ekpene and its environs eclipse in the present state of development in the country as most businesses have either closed shops, grappling to operate or relocate resulting from inadequate power supply.
While some have it in short supply, others do not and the situation keeps on deteriorating day in and day out since business survival hinges on power.
The people are now, calling on the government to make power available believing that, there is the tendency of business growth as well as life becoming more meaningful.
Mr. Chidi N. Kanu is a self employed graduate who runs a unisex beauty saloon in the high brow area of Uyo metropolis.
He told this writer that he could not make any meaningful profit, ever since he established the business two years ago due to inadequate power.
Kanu maintained that instead of making profits, he pays more in buying fuel to sustain the business and move ahead to settle salary bills of his workers.
“If there has been a steady supply of electricity, I would have employed more workers, then make more profits but now as, the money I supposed to serve as a skilled worker is used in buying fuel for the generating set.
He noted that, at the end of the month, he would have settled his bills with Power Holdings Company of Nigeria [PHCN], and keeps the profits which would then give him the confidence to employ more workers.
“So, for our businesses to develop fully and grow, I call on the PHCN to come to our help, by giving us a steady power even if it would mean giving us half a month [15 days] since it is becoming difficult to give out 100 per cent that would be more profitable.
Others who also spoke on the issue during the survey expressed bitterness querying, why should the government not provide a sustainable power system to drive the state’s economy.
Mr. Eno Umoren is a cool room operator at Ikot Ekpene, who corroborated Kanu’s lamentations adding that, most times he runs his outfit at a great loss as he makes refund to customers as liability for spoils goods.
The worst hit presently with power problem is the Nigeria’s foremost Aluminum Smelter Company [ALSCON] located at Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state as management expresses worry over its inability to meet its full production capacity since it started production in 2008 owing to power frustration.
It generates only 5 megawatt power from its plant and released same to PHCN for distribution to Ikot Aabsi urban and the environs which has sustained the living conditions of the people in the community as well as improved services provided by local hospitals, banks and small businesses thereby reducing operating costs.
It however maintained that, production process in a plant like ALSCON therefore requires massive constant power or it could face serious catastrophe such as; solidification of molten metal which sometimes results in financial loss, loss of raw materials, man-hours, and repairs to mention a few.
This compels the current collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President, Ministry of Power, Bureau of Public Enterprises [BPE], Ministry of Petroleum in finding a lasting solution to the frequent power inadequacy.
Akwa Ibom State government too, is partnering The Septa Energy in the construction of gas pipelines from Esit Eket to Ikot Abasi to deliver gas to Ibom Power Plant and ALSCON in order to address the gas challenges in providing power to the state and is expected to be completed next year.
The state government, it is alleged has attained 85 per cent electricity coverage of the state through the Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Projects while records show, The Ministry of Rural Development has also electrified about 2,209 villages out of 2, 671 communities in the state to meet government target and vision of providing uninterrupted power supply in Akwa Ibom.
The remaining 462 communities are now contending that, the same gesture accorded other villages in the state should be extended to them should the state government plans to meet its 100 per cent target on uniterrupted power supply before end of the current administration in the state.
One of such agitations, is the current appeal by the Paramount Ruler and Head, Akwa Ibom Community in Rivers State, HRH [Obong] Patrick Johnson Udoh whose village, Ekpuk in Ikpa-Ikon Clan, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom has not benefited from any government development project.
Between September 2007 and October 2011, he has written both the Niger-Delta Development Commission [NDDC] and Akwa Ibom government appealing for a donation of transformers for the electrification of Ekpuk Community and all entreaties fall on deaf ears.
The Royal father in a series of letters to the state government on why his community should be provided with electricity explained that, the donation of two transformers will step-down as well as complement the high tensions across his village, Ekpuk and its environs [Ikot Abasi Akpan, Ikot Essen, Ekpuk and Ikot Ekpaw] from Ekparakwa in Oruk Anam local government through Etinan which is approximately, two miles.
“This is an area where no amenities can be found in the old Ikot Abasi local government area before being carved out as Mkpat Enin local Government.
“There is no single Bore-Hole not to talk of adjoining road networks except the NDDC road from Ekparakwa to Etinan which at present, a substantial area has gone bad.
“It would be appreciated and interesting if an inspection will be undertaken to authenticate our claims…”, The Abai of Akwa Ibom appealed.
Further investigation has also revealed, there is more to the perennial power outage in the state apart from non availability of gas to power the generating plant [IPP] at Ikot Abasi.
Such factors include; capacity limitations at various levels arising from over-loaded transformers, poor facilities at the three injection stations servicing Uyo Business District and lack of spare parts for the evacuation of available power to the consumers.
The same scenario may also be the reason why the electricity consumers in Eket and Ikot Ekpene Business Districts of PHCN resort to generate own power to service their businesses.
Presently, most of the transformers are obsolete and can hardly sustain the level of power from the generating plant at Ikot Abasi which sometimes led to the load-shading frequently experienced by end users in the state.
While the generality of residents of the state blame PHCN for the woes, the impression about the state of power supply in some quarters is that, things are getting better as PHCN said, there is improvement in power generation in the state already.
The District Manager of Power Holdings Company of Nigeria [PHCN] in Uyo, Engr. Chukwueme E. Otiji while interacting with this writer gave the impression that, “Because of the work done by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Integrated Power Project [NIPP] powered by the Niger-Delta Power Holdings Company of Nigeria [ND-PHCN], there is improvement in power generation into the system nation-wide though, he regretted that there were some problems some couple of weeks ago, as a result of the repair work done on the gas pipe lines feeding power generating stations across the country.
He said, the maintenance work had affected power evacuation since many of the generating stations were affected.
He gave reasons why people experience power inadequacy in the state especially, Uyo Business District saying that, both Uyo and Ikot Ekpene are seriously affected by capacity limitations which compels PHCN to embark on load-shading.
According to him, “We have some challenges here even in my Business District and Ikot Ekpene. The challenge is that of capacity limitations at various levels; at transmitting stations and the transformers are getting over-loaded which impedes the amount of power that could be evacuated from the transmitting station to the down-stream.
“Also, the three public injection sub-stations in Uyo are suffering from capacity limitations too.
“Among the ones along Oron road [two transformers] in Uyo here, one is on while the other one is having some problems.
“At the State Secretariat [Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat] within the state capital the Encomia Panel also has a problem and now, we are feeding it because the type of panels there are alien to us.
Engr. Otiji however confirmed that, there was load shading because of no spare parts which they resorted to using one out-going cable to feed to back-feed power into the system.
“That out-going cable has its own capacity which is about half of the one coming in and because we have done that, the capacity of the entire station is reduced by half. And no matter the fact that there could be supply at all times, it can only take one feeder at a time”, he said.
He maintained that, PHCN was working assiduously to improve on the power supply very soon as proposal had been presented to the appropriate quarters for approval.
Therefore, with these background the issue of uninterrupted power generation in the country needs a holistic approach if government at all levels could muster courage to over haul the power system.
A visitor to Uyo, the state capital in the night may sometimes mistake the light on the high ways or major streets to availability of power.
Without sounding immodest, the fact remains that, this remedial measure undertaken by the state government is a window dressing as the presence of those lights are powered by the generating sets strategically put around town to boosts power supply on gate-ways into the city while residents suffocate under intense noise pollution and heat emanating from private generating sets.
It is this elusive government assurances of providing uninterrupted power in the state which now turned a practical joke, that compelled the Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] to insist that, strike by the Nigerian workers is inevitable should the Federal Government implement the removal of oil subsidy in the guise of investing the monies on roads, power sector and other infrastructure.
Akwa Ibom Chapter Chairman of NLC, Comrade Unyime Usoro did not mince words when he tasked both state and Federal Governments to ensure there is adequate power supply in the country should the Federal Government removal of oil the subsidy becomes a reality by January next year.
He lamented that, over the years Nigerians go through pains and hardship in generating their power for domestic use and wondered what government was doing to cushion such effect.
“If there was adequate power supply, investors will not run away, industries will thrive and small scale industries will expand and produce at full capacity” adding that, power was an important infrastructure needed for economic development by every nation.
“Those who are feeding fat through generator importation and servicing, were sabotaging efforts in a bid to ensure constant power supply”, Comrade Usoro warned.
To this end, the power situation in Akwa Ibom may not be different from what is obtained in other states of the federation even with the present effort to step up power supply by the state government to boost the socio-economic activities.
While many believe that, the Federal Government holds the ace in the business of power development and that, it must complement the efforts of the states by holistically and convincingly prosecuting the power sector reform project, Nigerians await such moments in the life of the nation when power problem would become a thing of the past rather than making promises that would never be fulfilled END.
Dennis Udoma is Akwa Ibom based media practitioner.
Email-denudo@yahoo.com, Tell-08022863779.
The Federal Government’s effort to actualize the nation’s vision of additional 3000 megawatt of power generation by 2015 is still a nightmare as power situation in Akwa Ibom frequently deteriorates. This writer, Dennis Udoma in today’s FOCUS unravels why darkness prevails in the state:
For a country like Nigeria with its total population figure of about 170 million people with huge economic potentialities, the provision of quality and steady power supply is still a nightmare.
This situation has become a critical and fundamental frequently ask question by Nigerians has always been as to when they will ever experience uninterrupted power supply even as governments usually boast of improving the situation even in the state with a Hi-tech power infrastructure like the Independent Power Plant [IPP] at Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
Though, there has been concerted efforts by the Federal Government to fix power with an estimated 3000 MW improvement for the country before 2015, the hope of actualizing our dream of becoming one of the leading economies in 20 20 20 may not be realize with the present development unless the power sector is strengthened to increase investor’s confidence and that of Nigerians.
Over decades, Nigerians have groaned in darkness due to the rot in the power sector as succeeding administrations in the country pursue inglorious and personal agenda with little attention to issues of national growth.
It is this worrisome outlook of the nation’s power situation that drew the anger of the Senate President, Senator David Mark during the inauguration of Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy in Abuja recently, as he was quoted to have described as shameful and irritating, the low level of power generation so far noting that, “The 3000 megawatt being targeted by the Federal Government is nauseating for a country like Nigeria”.
Mark was speaking as a true and honest public office holder when he further maintained that, “It is a serious problem because the whole thing, we have been talking about vision 20 20 20, all the development and dreaming will just remain the same unless the power situation changes. There is no magic about it.
“From the look of things forgive me; I don’t see any improvement and that is the truth. There are a lot of things and nothing has changed so far for the end user. I don’t have solution and I don’t know who has but I believe with all these heads put together, we can achieve something tangible in the power sector.
“Few years ago Brazil and Indonesia were on the same level before, but now they have left us behind. We are talking of producing 3000 megawatt. We should not even be mentioning it, 3000 megawatt is meant for small nations not a nation like Nigeria. I think something has to be done”.
Therefore, Akwa Ibom State is not different from this scenario being painted by the Senate President as residents of Uyo, Eket, Ikot Ekpene and its environs eclipse in the present state of development in the country as most businesses have either closed shops, grappling to operate or relocate resulting from inadequate power supply.
While some have it in short supply, others do not and the situation keeps on deteriorating day in and day out since business survival hinges on power.
The people are now, calling on the government to make power available believing that, there is the tendency of business growth as well as life becoming more meaningful.
Mr. Chidi N. Kanu is a self employed graduate who runs a unisex beauty saloon in the high brow area of Uyo metropolis.
He told this writer that he could not make any meaningful profit, ever since he established the business two years ago due to inadequate power.
Kanu maintained that instead of making profits, he pays more in buying fuel to sustain the business and move ahead to settle salary bills of his workers.
“If there has been a steady supply of electricity, I would have employed more workers, then make more profits but now as, the money I supposed to serve as a skilled worker is used in buying fuel for the generating set.
He noted that, at the end of the month, he would have settled his bills with Power Holdings Company of Nigeria [PHCN], and keeps the profits which would then give him the confidence to employ more workers.
“So, for our businesses to develop fully and grow, I call on the PHCN to come to our help, by giving us a steady power even if it would mean giving us half a month [15 days] since it is becoming difficult to give out 100 per cent that would be more profitable.
Others who also spoke on the issue during the survey expressed bitterness querying, why should the government not provide a sustainable power system to drive the state’s economy.
Mr. Eno Umoren is a cool room operator at Ikot Ekpene, who corroborated Kanu’s lamentations adding that, most times he runs his outfit at a great loss as he makes refund to customers as liability for spoils goods.
The worst hit presently with power problem is the Nigeria’s foremost Aluminum Smelter Company [ALSCON] located at Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state as management expresses worry over its inability to meet its full production capacity since it started production in 2008 owing to power frustration.
It generates only 5 megawatt power from its plant and released same to PHCN for distribution to Ikot Aabsi urban and the environs which has sustained the living conditions of the people in the community as well as improved services provided by local hospitals, banks and small businesses thereby reducing operating costs.
It however maintained that, production process in a plant like ALSCON therefore requires massive constant power or it could face serious catastrophe such as; solidification of molten metal which sometimes results in financial loss, loss of raw materials, man-hours, and repairs to mention a few.
This compels the current collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President, Ministry of Power, Bureau of Public Enterprises [BPE], Ministry of Petroleum in finding a lasting solution to the frequent power inadequacy.
Akwa Ibom State government too, is partnering The Septa Energy in the construction of gas pipelines from Esit Eket to Ikot Abasi to deliver gas to Ibom Power Plant and ALSCON in order to address the gas challenges in providing power to the state and is expected to be completed next year.
The state government, it is alleged has attained 85 per cent electricity coverage of the state through the Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Projects while records show, The Ministry of Rural Development has also electrified about 2,209 villages out of 2, 671 communities in the state to meet government target and vision of providing uninterrupted power supply in Akwa Ibom.
The remaining 462 communities are now contending that, the same gesture accorded other villages in the state should be extended to them should the state government plans to meet its 100 per cent target on uniterrupted power supply before end of the current administration in the state.
One of such agitations, is the current appeal by the Paramount Ruler and Head, Akwa Ibom Community in Rivers State, HRH [Obong] Patrick Johnson Udoh whose village, Ekpuk in Ikpa-Ikon Clan, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom has not benefited from any government development project.
Between September 2007 and October 2011, he has written both the Niger-Delta Development Commission [NDDC] and Akwa Ibom government appealing for a donation of transformers for the electrification of Ekpuk Community and all entreaties fall on deaf ears.
The Royal father in a series of letters to the state government on why his community should be provided with electricity explained that, the donation of two transformers will step-down as well as complement the high tensions across his village, Ekpuk and its environs [Ikot Abasi Akpan, Ikot Essen, Ekpuk and Ikot Ekpaw] from Ekparakwa in Oruk Anam local government through Etinan which is approximately, two miles.
“This is an area where no amenities can be found in the old Ikot Abasi local government area before being carved out as Mkpat Enin local Government.
“There is no single Bore-Hole not to talk of adjoining road networks except the NDDC road from Ekparakwa to Etinan which at present, a substantial area has gone bad.
“It would be appreciated and interesting if an inspection will be undertaken to authenticate our claims…”, The Abai of Akwa Ibom appealed.
Further investigation has also revealed, there is more to the perennial power outage in the state apart from non availability of gas to power the generating plant [IPP] at Ikot Abasi.
Such factors include; capacity limitations at various levels arising from over-loaded transformers, poor facilities at the three injection stations servicing Uyo Business District and lack of spare parts for the evacuation of available power to the consumers.
The same scenario may also be the reason why the electricity consumers in Eket and Ikot Ekpene Business Districts of PHCN resort to generate own power to service their businesses.
Presently, most of the transformers are obsolete and can hardly sustain the level of power from the generating plant at Ikot Abasi which sometimes led to the load-shading frequently experienced by end users in the state.
While the generality of residents of the state blame PHCN for the woes, the impression about the state of power supply in some quarters is that, things are getting better as PHCN said, there is improvement in power generation in the state already.
The District Manager of Power Holdings Company of Nigeria [PHCN] in Uyo, Engr. Chukwueme E. Otiji while interacting with this writer gave the impression that, “Because of the work done by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Integrated Power Project [NIPP] powered by the Niger-Delta Power Holdings Company of Nigeria [ND-PHCN], there is improvement in power generation into the system nation-wide though, he regretted that there were some problems some couple of weeks ago, as a result of the repair work done on the gas pipe lines feeding power generating stations across the country.
He said, the maintenance work had affected power evacuation since many of the generating stations were affected.
He gave reasons why people experience power inadequacy in the state especially, Uyo Business District saying that, both Uyo and Ikot Ekpene are seriously affected by capacity limitations which compels PHCN to embark on load-shading.
According to him, “We have some challenges here even in my Business District and Ikot Ekpene. The challenge is that of capacity limitations at various levels; at transmitting stations and the transformers are getting over-loaded which impedes the amount of power that could be evacuated from the transmitting station to the down-stream.
“Also, the three public injection sub-stations in Uyo are suffering from capacity limitations too.
“Among the ones along Oron road [two transformers] in Uyo here, one is on while the other one is having some problems.
“At the State Secretariat [Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat] within the state capital the Encomia Panel also has a problem and now, we are feeding it because the type of panels there are alien to us.
Engr. Otiji however confirmed that, there was load shading because of no spare parts which they resorted to using one out-going cable to feed to back-feed power into the system.
“That out-going cable has its own capacity which is about half of the one coming in and because we have done that, the capacity of the entire station is reduced by half. And no matter the fact that there could be supply at all times, it can only take one feeder at a time”, he said.
He maintained that, PHCN was working assiduously to improve on the power supply very soon as proposal had been presented to the appropriate quarters for approval.
Therefore, with these background the issue of uninterrupted power generation in the country needs a holistic approach if government at all levels could muster courage to over haul the power system.
A visitor to Uyo, the state capital in the night may sometimes mistake the light on the high ways or major streets to availability of power.
Without sounding immodest, the fact remains that, this remedial measure undertaken by the state government is a window dressing as the presence of those lights are powered by the generating sets strategically put around town to boosts power supply on gate-ways into the city while residents suffocate under intense noise pollution and heat emanating from private generating sets.
It is this elusive government assurances of providing uninterrupted power in the state which now turned a practical joke, that compelled the Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] to insist that, strike by the Nigerian workers is inevitable should the Federal Government implement the removal of oil subsidy in the guise of investing the monies on roads, power sector and other infrastructure.
Akwa Ibom Chapter Chairman of NLC, Comrade Unyime Usoro did not mince words when he tasked both state and Federal Governments to ensure there is adequate power supply in the country should the Federal Government removal of oil the subsidy becomes a reality by January next year.
He lamented that, over the years Nigerians go through pains and hardship in generating their power for domestic use and wondered what government was doing to cushion such effect.
“If there was adequate power supply, investors will not run away, industries will thrive and small scale industries will expand and produce at full capacity” adding that, power was an important infrastructure needed for economic development by every nation.
“Those who are feeding fat through generator importation and servicing, were sabotaging efforts in a bid to ensure constant power supply”, Comrade Usoro warned.
To this end, the power situation in Akwa Ibom may not be different from what is obtained in other states of the federation even with the present effort to step up power supply by the state government to boost the socio-economic activities.
While many believe that, the Federal Government holds the ace in the business of power development and that, it must complement the efforts of the states by holistically and convincingly prosecuting the power sector reform project, Nigerians await such moments in the life of the nation when power problem would become a thing of the past rather than making promises that would never be fulfilled END.
Dennis Udoma is Akwa Ibom based media practitioner.
Email-denudo@yahoo.com, Tell-08022863779.
2015: Zoning and All the Blues By David Augustine
by Weekly Insight Newspapers on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 1:03pm
More than three and half years away, 2015 appears like a breath away to politicians, positioning either themselves or their interests for elective offices. The governorship position, understandably, is for now the most contentious, with all sides trying to make the best of what appears as their strongest points. While some contenders have made bold entry into the fray, others are still playing from the periphery. For now, all concerned are cautiously testing the waters, throwing proxy punches here and there. I have observed the trend of political debates, pursuant to the 2015 governorship election and I have not been disappointed. I have heard all manner of noise and belly-aching on just one issue, zoning. That, I had expected is the most critical issue as far as our politicians are concerned, as most have nothing to offer, often relying on the sinking sands of zoning to aspire to positions they are ill-equipped for. It appears to me that the only thing we should expect as usual from our politicians is their view on which zone should produce the next governor; a well-beaten path that leads to nowhere.
Some commentators have not helped matters; they have devoted litres upon litres of ink on the subject of zoning, so much that if you were a casual visitor to this part of the country you would think that the foremost issue agitating the mind of the people is only to ascertain where the governorship position should go. Some newspaper columnists have so over-flogged the topic that each time you pick up the papers to read, you are confronted by the same timeworn arguments and sentiments. Sounding like broken drums, such writers serve their readers with completely no new insight into the debate, yet they keep penning endless meaningless articles, all in a bid to be seen as apostles of so-called equity. Some barely understand what they are writing about that you get to read stuffs like, “even if it is a goat provided he is from ‘so and so zone’, let him rule because it is their turn”. One not only gets bored hearing such hogwash, but gets insulted when the issue is further reduced to casting of aspersion on aspirants, other than those from the so-called favoured zone. It makes nonsense of intellectual debates to read such statements describing another’s aspiration as being informed by “greed, desperation, or insensitivity” and other such base adjectives.
Apart from the vague mouthing of peace and unity, none has come out to tell us why we must zone or perish. I see no reason why a good argument cannot be made in favour of zoning; but as it stands now, none is forthcoming, other than our fixation to the “turn-by-turn” syndrome of our national life; a fixation borne out of years of the locust. We have lived our lives in this country watching those who had cornered our national wealth, use it at their selfish pleasure without question. We have watched helplessly as some politicians go into office as poor as they come, and come out reeking in questionable opulence. We have collectively acquiesced to that sorry situation, so that instead of asking our leaders to account for their leadership, requiring equity and a just treatment to all manner of men, we retreat into our primordial instincts, getting content knowing that the thief is ours. We have lost our moral voice against bad leadership and hence we channel our voices to the agitation that if there must be a looter, let him be from our side. That to me is the philosophy behind zoning.
Proponents of zoning have argued that it fosters unity and peace. It would have been a beautiful argument if it were true. But the reality is quite the opposite. It is funny that those who proclaim peace and unity as the principal gains of zoning are the same people that would tell you that their place is marginalized by one leader or the other from another zone, or that employment and appointment opportunities have been monopolized by one segment that produced the leader. Presently, you very often hear such troubling sentiments as “Ibibio to be out of power for sixteen years? God forbid! The Annang have cornered everything in the state; if Annang do not support Oro in 2015, it will be a betrayal”. The discerning question would be, wither the concept of peace and unity? The scenario painted above obviously negates both peace and unity, while engendering resentment and clear ethnic jealousy and bickering.
Nigerians are very funny people. At elections they simply listen to politicians bamboozle them with meaningless political discourse and expect a different result when such leaders get into office. We hardly subject those who aspire to rule to critical issues of governance. Political jobbers go to town with all kinds of sponsored advertorials, sing the diminishing song of zoning to high heavens. We sit down and hope that when they get there they will know what to do. Over the years, this strategy has failed us. Every election year we dissipate our effort at puerile issues of zoning, at the end of the day, we lose focus as to what should be the direction of elected leaders.
In the build up to the 2011 election, instead of Nigerians asking those aspiring to lead what they had in stock for the nation, we were busy fighting for which zone should produce the president. Nobody bothered about vital issues that needed urgent attention. The fight for zoning was fought with such bitter gusto that the wound it inflicted in our national psyche would take years to heal. Today nobody is asking where the president comes from. All we are now asking is why he has decided to remove oil subsidy; why he is at the verge of restoring tollgates; why he has been ineffectual in the fight against crime and insecurity; why our educational sector is still comatose; why our health care is still in the woods. We have forgotten that we never bothered to ask him how he would tackle our crumbling economy; how he would deal with pressures from Breton wood institutions in the handling of our economy, how he would handle corruption and other intractable malaise bedeviling our country.
As it were, we cannot morally take our president to task on any serious issue because he promised us nothing other than that he is the candidate from our zone! One commentator once said of Jonathan, “Let him be there. Let him also eat, after all, his zone produces what others have eaten all these years”. That is our collective attitude. Our politicians understand that perfectly well and that is why there will never be an end to the creation of imaginary nations within the nation. Every day we hear of newly carved out empires for political gains. A featherweight politician who cannot face the regular open political competition soon carves out an enclave and the agitation for equity would begin. Tales of marginalization would follow and then, subtle threat as to what would happen if not given equal opportunity would commence.
Back home, it is the same attitude. Weak politicians cash in on any mention of zoning to make any entry. One would have expected that at the level of our development, leadership recruitment should be such that the only thing that matters should be the BEST MAN for the job. But what do you find? Even politicians that you would think could make a difference would rather hide under the cover of zoning. The worst are those who have no business aspiring to any position who would rush in because it is “our turn”. To me, the only consideration for the high office of president or governor should be the person’s capacity to deliver. The electorate should be able to scrutinize the credentials of prospective aspirants. They should tell us about their pedigree; they should tell us what they are bringing into the mix; they should be able to tell us what they have been able to do for the society; they should be able to tell us what we stand to gain by voting for them; they should be able to tell us what employment strategy they have to care for millions of our unemployed youths. These should form the central issue in our election discourse not some self-serving subjects like zoning.
In our search for the BEST MAN, we should devote our time to explore every possible means of finding a man who would look at the state as a unit of development. It does not make sense to have a sectional leader, one who knows only what is good for his zone. If we claim to be so detribalized, then why should our emphasis be on where a candidate comes from? We should trust the person we select to do the right thing to every segment of the state. That to me is unity! When we realize that, the concern of hunger agitating the mind of the common man in Essien Udim is the same agitating the mind of another common man in Nsit Atai, that to me is unity in interest. When we realize that, the sick man in Uruan would require a hospital, just as another sick man in Oron, then we are talking about unity. What we need is a perceptive leader that would yield to the cries of the greater majority of Akwa Ibom persons, not some ethnic warlords hiding under the cover of some anachronistic zoning.
The world is moving very fast and we must keep pace with it. Zoning cannot afford us the opportunity to select the BEST MAN from our bests. Our choice should pass the test of acceptability that cuts across the entire state. He must be accepted based on his potentialities and credibility and not through the narrow prism of zoning. If indeed we want to continue on the path of progress and development, we must look beyond such destabilizing issues as zoning, ethnicity and other such divisive considerations and zero in on the personality we want. Let all those interested come on board, from Oron, from Obolo, from Ibibio, from Ekid, from Annang. The common denominator should be who would serve us better. Any person that considers himself worth being a governor should not be afraid to contest the position among the very best in the state. After all, even, the ability to face fierce competition should be a very critical criterion to consider, because our governor should not shy away from national competition and political contests when our interest is at state at the national level.
Who is that man that can articulate what we can do, assuming we wake up tomorrow to discover that the nation’s oil wells have dried up? What economic blueprint would make us the wealthiest, in terms of sustainable economic growth? Who among our best would galvanize our youths to make the best of available resources? Who would, in concrete terms translate our collective wishes into attainable goals? Who among those jostling for the plum job would best harness our abundant man and natural resources to make us less dependent on funds from the federation account? The questions are as numerous as our individual needs, and a leader worth his onion must have answers to them.
If only we would wake up to the demands of such a high office and take it away from the grip of adventurous politicians who cannot stand the heat of unfettered competition; if only we can step up our debate from the ridiculous pedestal of zoning to the sublime pinnacle of competence, then our journey to 2015 would have begun on a promising note. The more we dissipate our energy on the fruitless search for a leader based on ethnicity and its euphemism, zoning, the more we would be throwing away an opportunity to select the BEST MAN from among our best.
History and Akwa Ibom 2015
By Haniel Ukpaukure
Lagos-based public commentator
History is one fact of life a lot of people would love to rework because it is often so inconvenient, even threatening in its raw form to those who would rather duck the unpleasant parts of their past. So the better to cauterise it, cure it of its inconvenient rough edges, and thus remake it to suit individual interests. Well, it is not just possible to reinvent history for the simple reason that as the communal repository of the past, history is accessible to all and sundry without the intermediation of a gatekeeper. No one can shut out the people from their story; they know it, even intimately, and would eagerly point out—and even readily resist—any attempt to distort it.
UYO SENATORIAL DISTRICT ELDERS COUNCIL
That is precisely the point Uyo Senatorial District Elders Council made in an advertorial in Thisday of November 23 2011—that it is specious to argue, as some party members have done, that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination for the governorship race 2015 in Akwa Ibom State should be reserved for one or the other of the three senatorial districts in the state, since 2015 is the turn of a particular senatorial district. The unstated side of the argument of turn-taking is that in the past other senatorial districts had had to wait for the district that produced the victorious candidate. In their public position, the elders’ council appealed to history, the impartial arbiter in a dispute of this nature, seeking to stand the argument of exclusive preserve on its head. The elders held that right through the history of Akwa Ibom, since its creation in September 1987, electoral contest for the office of governor has always been an open race in which everyone who was willing and able from all the three senatorial districts of Eket, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene freely participated. No one senatorial district was ever barred, nor was anyone ever preferred in all the races in 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, the elders said.
This intervention seeks to interrogate the electoral history of the state in order to see whether the facts support the position of Uyo Senatorial District Elders Council, or that of the champions of ticket reservation or zoning for the party’s mandate in the gubernatorial race.
AKWA IBOM GUBER RACE 1991
The first real contest for political party primaries in Akwa Ibom took place during the era of military rule, following pressure for the restoration of democracy. Under the General Ibrahim Babangida military administration, two parties were set up, namely, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The late Obong Akpan Isemin, who hailed from Uyo Senatorial District, was a member of the NRC and sought the endorsement of his party to run for governor. Sir Sunday U. Akpan, a political leader from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, who was also a member of the NRC, equally sought the mandate of his party to run for governor. Both of them were cleared by the party leadership to contest their party primary election. Obong Isemin won the NRC primary election and eventually became governor of the state. Other party members who contested for nomination with Isemin and Akpan were Mfon Amana from Eket Senatorial District and E.W. Ekpontak of Uyo Senatorial District.
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE 1999
The election which Chief Isemin won was part of a nation-wide effort to return the nation to civil rule. But that effort was not taken to its logical conclusion because the military took power again in December 1993. For the next seven years Nigeria was ruled by a military junta. However, democratic rule was restored in 1999 after political parties had been formed and elections conducted in 1998 and 1999. One of the new political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) became dominant in Akwa Ibom, and many sought political power, including the mandate to be governor, on the platform of the party. In the gubernatorial race for the PDP ticket in 1998, there were contestants from at least three senatorial districts. They included Obong (Arc) Victor Attah from Uyo Senatorial District, Mr Benjamin Okoko from Eket Senatorial District, Dr Ime Okopido of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, the late Etukudo Ekpro of Uyo Senatorial District, Dr Ekeng Anamdu and Dr David Ekanem, both of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Obong Attah won the party primary election and the governorship election to become the second democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State.
AKWA IBOM GUBERNATORIAL RACE 2003
Another election year in Akwa Ibom was 2003. This time the situation was remarkably different from 1991 and 1999. In 2003 there was an incumbent governor seeking re-election. Governor Obong Attah had ruled for four years and was seeking a fresh mandate of his party, the PDP, to contest the general election. Due credit must go to the PDP leadership at the time who, in spite of the power of incumbency, deferred to the democratic tradition of the people and opened up the party primary to whoever was willing and able.
Party members who went into the 2003 PDP primary election included incumbent governor, Obong Victor Attah from Uyo Senatorial District; Mr Benjamin Okoko from Eket Senatorial District, who later withdrew from the race; and Samuel Udonsak of Eket Senatorial District. Obong Attah won both the party primary and the subsequent general election, and went on to rule the state for eight years.
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE 2007
The contest for the office of Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2007 was similar in its key element to the contests in 1991 and 1999. There was no incumbent who was running for re-election, Obong Attah having come to the end of his maximum eight years. There was therefore expectedly a large field of ambitious party members at the beginning who aspired to the mandate of the party to run for governor. In the end three party members went to the primary. They were Obong Nsima Ekere, the current deputy governor of the state, who is from Eket Senatorial District; Mr Larry Esin, who is also from Eket Senatorial District; and Chief Godswill Akpabio, now the incumbent governor, who is from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Chief Godswill Akpabio won the party primary and went on to win the governorship election.
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE 2011
The race for office of governor in Akwa Ibom in 2011 was similar to that of 2003: an incumbent was seeking re-election. And consistent with tradition, the race for the party’s ticket to contest the gubernatorial election was thrown open. Many party members joined the race but three candidates were eventually cleared for the contest. The contestants were the incumbent, Governor Godswill Akpabio from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District; Mr Frank Okon from Eket Senatorial District and Mr Imo Udo from Uyo Senatorial District. Governor Akpabio won the party primary and was re-elected in the general election that followed to lead Akwa Ibom till 2015.
THE 2015 RACE
The foregoing review of the electoral history of Akwa Ibom State clearly shows that the Uyo Senatorial District Elders Council are right when they say that the PDP ticket for the governorship race in Akwa Ibom had never been zoned or reserved for any particular senatorial district at any time since the state was created 24 years ago. They are equally right in saying that the contest for the mandate of the party for the gubernatorial race in 2015 should be handled the way it was handled in 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. In the years cited, the party had allowed all parts of the state to put forward their best candidates. The outcome of opening up the political space was that the PDP had the good fortune of selecting the best and brightest from a large pool of competent members of the party. We would argue that what Akwa Ibom has enjoyed in phenomenal progress since the restoration of democracy resulted basically from how the ruling party in the state selects candidates for election. We would also like to point out that even in the opposition camps in the state; contests for nomination to run for governor have also been open to all senatorial districts of the state.
The proponents of ticket reservation for the governorship primary do not have the support of history. Their argument is a hard sell. They have offered no reason to persuade anyone on why the party needs to change its winning formula in the race for 2015.
If we may extrapolate from George Santayana, the late American philosopher of Spanish descent, those who distort history are bound to fail because the people know what is true of their past.
AKS Moves To Sharpen skills of Information Managers
In a bid to make information officers and Government Information Managers more responsive to the challenges of the 21st Century Information Management, the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information and Communications, on last week organized a one-day capacity-building seminar for them at the Le Meridian Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort.
The one-day seminar under the theme “Managing Government Information Machinery: 21st Century strategies for optimal productivity, was well attended by government information managers and officers comprised of eminent scholars and professionals drawn from the academia, and the media community.
Welcoming the participants to the seminar, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Aniekan Umanah said the seminar was organized because of the imperative need to train the newly employed information offices, as well as refresh the old ones, as well as government information managers on the need to adopt 21st century strategies to face the challenges of the 21st century information management.
Mr Aniekan Umanah who acknowledged that information, in this age moves with the speed of light, charged the participants to be fully prepared for the emerging global reality, expressed hope that with the quality of resource persons selected, the overall objective of the seminar would be achieved.
The Information and Communication boss also reminded information managers of their critical role in informing the people about government policies especially in the importance of policies for their development and wellbeing.
The Chief of staff to the Governor, Mr Godwin Afangide who declared the seminar open described the theme of the seminar as apt given the need for managers of Government strategic information system to be adequately trained and updated to meet the challenges and dynamics of the 21st Century Government information.
Mr Afangide who said that it has always been the responsibility of government to meet the ever increasing needs of the people on a daily basis, stressed the need for the public to understand government.
The Head of Service, Mrs Cecilia Udoessien charged Information Managers to be objective and balance in their reporting / referring to the freedom of information law, she advised information officers to take advantage of the law but exhibit utmost patriotic zeal in order to protect the soverieginty and integrity of the state and nation.
Mrs Udoessien pledged government commitment towards training and retaining of government information managers and other offices in the services.
Seven papers ere presented at the seminar. They include; Strategies for improper information and communication management; Managing Government Image: Perspective and Strategies; Utilizing ICT Strategy to ensure optimal productivity of information managers; Public Speaking / Conference Skills / Managing Ceremonies; Government Community Relations Strategies; 21st Century Information Management: Perspective in Press.
Lagos-based public commentator
History is one fact of life a lot of people would love to rework because it is often so inconvenient, even threatening in its raw form to those who would rather duck the unpleasant parts of their past. So the better to cauterise it, cure it of its inconvenient rough edges, and thus remake it to suit individual interests. Well, it is not just possible to reinvent history for the simple reason that as the communal repository of the past, history is accessible to all and sundry without the intermediation of a gatekeeper. No one can shut out the people from their story; they know it, even intimately, and would eagerly point out—and even readily resist—any attempt to distort it.
UYO SENATORIAL DISTRICT ELDERS COUNCIL
That is precisely the point Uyo Senatorial District Elders Council made in an advertorial in Thisday of November 23 2011—that it is specious to argue, as some party members have done, that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination for the governorship race 2015 in Akwa Ibom State should be reserved for one or the other of the three senatorial districts in the state, since 2015 is the turn of a particular senatorial district. The unstated side of the argument of turn-taking is that in the past other senatorial districts had had to wait for the district that produced the victorious candidate. In their public position, the elders’ council appealed to history, the impartial arbiter in a dispute of this nature, seeking to stand the argument of exclusive preserve on its head. The elders held that right through the history of Akwa Ibom, since its creation in September 1987, electoral contest for the office of governor has always been an open race in which everyone who was willing and able from all the three senatorial districts of Eket, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene freely participated. No one senatorial district was ever barred, nor was anyone ever preferred in all the races in 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, the elders said.
This intervention seeks to interrogate the electoral history of the state in order to see whether the facts support the position of Uyo Senatorial District Elders Council, or that of the champions of ticket reservation or zoning for the party’s mandate in the gubernatorial race.
AKWA IBOM GUBER RACE 1991
The first real contest for political party primaries in Akwa Ibom took place during the era of military rule, following pressure for the restoration of democracy. Under the General Ibrahim Babangida military administration, two parties were set up, namely, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The late Obong Akpan Isemin, who hailed from Uyo Senatorial District, was a member of the NRC and sought the endorsement of his party to run for governor. Sir Sunday U. Akpan, a political leader from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, who was also a member of the NRC, equally sought the mandate of his party to run for governor. Both of them were cleared by the party leadership to contest their party primary election. Obong Isemin won the NRC primary election and eventually became governor of the state. Other party members who contested for nomination with Isemin and Akpan were Mfon Amana from Eket Senatorial District and E.W. Ekpontak of Uyo Senatorial District.
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE 1999
The election which Chief Isemin won was part of a nation-wide effort to return the nation to civil rule. But that effort was not taken to its logical conclusion because the military took power again in December 1993. For the next seven years Nigeria was ruled by a military junta. However, democratic rule was restored in 1999 after political parties had been formed and elections conducted in 1998 and 1999. One of the new political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) became dominant in Akwa Ibom, and many sought political power, including the mandate to be governor, on the platform of the party. In the gubernatorial race for the PDP ticket in 1998, there were contestants from at least three senatorial districts. They included Obong (Arc) Victor Attah from Uyo Senatorial District, Mr Benjamin Okoko from Eket Senatorial District, Dr Ime Okopido of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, the late Etukudo Ekpro of Uyo Senatorial District, Dr Ekeng Anamdu and Dr David Ekanem, both of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Obong Attah won the party primary election and the governorship election to become the second democratically elected governor of Akwa Ibom State.
AKWA IBOM GUBERNATORIAL RACE 2003
Another election year in Akwa Ibom was 2003. This time the situation was remarkably different from 1991 and 1999. In 2003 there was an incumbent governor seeking re-election. Governor Obong Attah had ruled for four years and was seeking a fresh mandate of his party, the PDP, to contest the general election. Due credit must go to the PDP leadership at the time who, in spite of the power of incumbency, deferred to the democratic tradition of the people and opened up the party primary to whoever was willing and able.
Party members who went into the 2003 PDP primary election included incumbent governor, Obong Victor Attah from Uyo Senatorial District; Mr Benjamin Okoko from Eket Senatorial District, who later withdrew from the race; and Samuel Udonsak of Eket Senatorial District. Obong Attah won both the party primary and the subsequent general election, and went on to rule the state for eight years.
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE 2007
The contest for the office of Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2007 was similar in its key element to the contests in 1991 and 1999. There was no incumbent who was running for re-election, Obong Attah having come to the end of his maximum eight years. There was therefore expectedly a large field of ambitious party members at the beginning who aspired to the mandate of the party to run for governor. In the end three party members went to the primary. They were Obong Nsima Ekere, the current deputy governor of the state, who is from Eket Senatorial District; Mr Larry Esin, who is also from Eket Senatorial District; and Chief Godswill Akpabio, now the incumbent governor, who is from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Chief Godswill Akpabio won the party primary and went on to win the governorship election.
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE 2011
The race for office of governor in Akwa Ibom in 2011 was similar to that of 2003: an incumbent was seeking re-election. And consistent with tradition, the race for the party’s ticket to contest the gubernatorial election was thrown open. Many party members joined the race but three candidates were eventually cleared for the contest. The contestants were the incumbent, Governor Godswill Akpabio from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District; Mr Frank Okon from Eket Senatorial District and Mr Imo Udo from Uyo Senatorial District. Governor Akpabio won the party primary and was re-elected in the general election that followed to lead Akwa Ibom till 2015.
THE 2015 RACE
The foregoing review of the electoral history of Akwa Ibom State clearly shows that the Uyo Senatorial District Elders Council are right when they say that the PDP ticket for the governorship race in Akwa Ibom had never been zoned or reserved for any particular senatorial district at any time since the state was created 24 years ago. They are equally right in saying that the contest for the mandate of the party for the gubernatorial race in 2015 should be handled the way it was handled in 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. In the years cited, the party had allowed all parts of the state to put forward their best candidates. The outcome of opening up the political space was that the PDP had the good fortune of selecting the best and brightest from a large pool of competent members of the party. We would argue that what Akwa Ibom has enjoyed in phenomenal progress since the restoration of democracy resulted basically from how the ruling party in the state selects candidates for election. We would also like to point out that even in the opposition camps in the state; contests for nomination to run for governor have also been open to all senatorial districts of the state.
The proponents of ticket reservation for the governorship primary do not have the support of history. Their argument is a hard sell. They have offered no reason to persuade anyone on why the party needs to change its winning formula in the race for 2015.
If we may extrapolate from George Santayana, the late American philosopher of Spanish descent, those who distort history are bound to fail because the people know what is true of their past.
AKS Moves To Sharpen skills of Information Managers
In a bid to make information officers and Government Information Managers more responsive to the challenges of the 21st Century Information Management, the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information and Communications, on last week organized a one-day capacity-building seminar for them at the Le Meridian Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort.
The one-day seminar under the theme “Managing Government Information Machinery: 21st Century strategies for optimal productivity, was well attended by government information managers and officers comprised of eminent scholars and professionals drawn from the academia, and the media community.
Welcoming the participants to the seminar, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Aniekan Umanah said the seminar was organized because of the imperative need to train the newly employed information offices, as well as refresh the old ones, as well as government information managers on the need to adopt 21st century strategies to face the challenges of the 21st century information management.
Mr Aniekan Umanah who acknowledged that information, in this age moves with the speed of light, charged the participants to be fully prepared for the emerging global reality, expressed hope that with the quality of resource persons selected, the overall objective of the seminar would be achieved.
The Information and Communication boss also reminded information managers of their critical role in informing the people about government policies especially in the importance of policies for their development and wellbeing.
The Chief of staff to the Governor, Mr Godwin Afangide who declared the seminar open described the theme of the seminar as apt given the need for managers of Government strategic information system to be adequately trained and updated to meet the challenges and dynamics of the 21st Century Government information.
Mr Afangide who said that it has always been the responsibility of government to meet the ever increasing needs of the people on a daily basis, stressed the need for the public to understand government.
The Head of Service, Mrs Cecilia Udoessien charged Information Managers to be objective and balance in their reporting / referring to the freedom of information law, she advised information officers to take advantage of the law but exhibit utmost patriotic zeal in order to protect the soverieginty and integrity of the state and nation.
Mrs Udoessien pledged government commitment towards training and retaining of government information managers and other offices in the services.
Seven papers ere presented at the seminar. They include; Strategies for improper information and communication management; Managing Government Image: Perspective and Strategies; Utilizing ICT Strategy to ensure optimal productivity of information managers; Public Speaking / Conference Skills / Managing Ceremonies; Government Community Relations Strategies; 21st Century Information Management: Perspective in Press.
THE PASSING OF IKEMBA: Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
As a starter, I want to extend my condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones in the Biafran-Nigerian conflict.
The memories that come flooding back with the thirteen months civil war and the passing of Lt. Col. Chuku Emeka Odemewu Ojukwu, are so horrific that for some it may require some form of collective amnesia to cope with it.
MY FATHER- THE LATE CHIEF ODUOK:
To my father, and brother who suffered the humiliation of being stripped naked before Eket populace and condemned to death by firing squad in Urua Nka square Eket for seeking statehood and the liberation of our people from neo colonialists, you have my special thanks for your enduring sacrifices. We thank God that his intervention spared your lives although you my father lost your hearing as a result of the savage beating and torture by Biafran soldiers.
To my colleague Nkatah -an Annang man who was taken out of police custody in Calabar and shot to death and the body dumped in a dish near calabar hospital by a Yoruba soldier after being arrested by a Yoruba Mobile Police Officer who had issues with you when you were serving at Ibadan, I say thank you and apologize for my inability to convey your greetings to your wife as you instructed me to do because I am still unable to locate your wife to inform her of the circumstances of your death and where your body may be found and the callousness of his soulless killers.
To the late Brigadier General U.J. Esuene; LT. Col. Usoro;
Major Eshiet; Sgt. Sunday Lazarus Etuk and the living Brigadier Etukudoh; Sgt. Ndun Oduok; Kokoette Oduok; Ikpa Asam and a host of other Eket sons and daughters and Akwaibomites, too numerous to list who fought in the conflict, you all have the thanks of a grateful nation the state and its people. Some were not as fortunate as you were to come out alive. We pray for the repose of their souls.
To my good friends Ubong Eshiet, Tim Isong, Azib and Edoho - the vanguards of the civil rights movement -Old Calabar and Ogoja Youth Movement, (OKOYO) I keep wondering what you may be thinking when you witness the mess that is going on in the state that you put your lives on the line to fight for its creation but have definitely been resigned to footnote in history. Those who knew you knew the vital roles you played in our struggles for statehood. You have the thanks of a grateful state and its people.
THE COMMANDER OF THE SOUTH EAST SECTOR OF THE WAR- LT. Col. Adekunle:
We thank you for taking the fight to Biafra from our sector of the war.
Lt. Col. Adekunle hailed from Yoruba but did not build his legacy on his folk’s roots. Instead, he rose to prominence as a military hero in the Biafran-Nigerian conflict. He was a ruthless, bombastic and blood thirsty commander and basked a reputation as self styled scorpion. His bizarre and eccentric behavior defined the woes of our people in the war. Most Yoruba fighters and even police officers took advantage of the fact that the commander was one of their own in committing criminal activities including raping our women leaving them infected with diseases at a time when they could not find medication to treat themselves.
THE BIAFRAN-NIGERIAN CONFLICT:
As a word of caution, we are here not dealing with miracles, Angeles, pervasive spirituality and prayer for deliverance.
Also, we are not talking about exacting annoyances, pulling internet trigger or, doing internet suicide squad.
Furthermore, we are not talking about political dynasty, “political family” or aristocracy, rather, we are here talking about liberation war and addressing the heroes who fought and died in that war so that we can maintain our political identify, live as a free people and the departure of the central player in that conflict.
For thirteen months, we waged a bloody struggle on both sides of the conflict either to keep autonomous provinces or secure our freedom from the tyranny of Biafran Republic . Pick whatever side you wish and you will find that our people paid the price of fighting for their liberty.
The central figure in that struggle was Lt. Col. Odemekwu Ojukwu who has now entered a sleep in which there is no waking up. His passing revives the memories of the conflict and a troubled nation still marred in fending off attacks from rivalries that helps in defining Ojukwu’s legacy.
LT. Col. OJUKWU:
Who was Lt. Col Odmekwu Ojukwu and why does he merit a spot in the nation’s pantheons of hero or revolutionaries?
Lt. Col. Ojukwu in the writers view symbolizes a military legacy that changed Nigerian society forever. History now seems to vindicate Okukwu and his admonition that the North is intent on dominating the South and that we should let them go their way and we our way. That our culture and those of the Northern people do not mix. The unrest in the North continues till this day. Nigeria is still in the throws that led to the conflict. Northerners still massacre Southerners and the prompt violent response from Southerners show a shift that pogrom by Northern barbarians will no longer go uncontested. But this is not who we are.
Some Northerners construe the quiet dignity of our people as a sign of weakness. The callousness of the soulless killers and the extravagance of their wealthy create uncertain future and constitute a menace to our system of government.
he realities of the new era makes absurd the invocation of old practices of Northernization policy to address new political character. The challenges of our times do not allow us to be held back from growing to enable others to catch up with us. It seems that the unbridgeable impasse between the Northern and the Southern cultures has taken a permanent shape and that the two cultures cannot mix. Thus, at some point, the South might have to be forced to go its way if our neighbors do not appreciate our union.
WHERE ARE WE TAKING THE COUNTRY AND OUR STATE?
The future of the country is unpredictable. We do not seem to be heading in the right direction. We fought in the conflict to either change our history and our destiny and for our protection against exploitation of our people by the Iboe government. But the exploitation continues unabated.
The wounds that plagued the country during the Northern pogrom is kept afresh by constant killings of Southerners by Northerners such that all will agree that the country is not going in the right direction.
Our state is in the hands of unworthy leaders who never contributed in any known way nor suffered the calamities of murder and broken lives nor saw a shred of the conflict but are reaping their rewards and constantly sending a message of violence to our people.
LT. COL. OJUKWU -A MILITARY HERO OF THE BIAFRAN-NIGERIAN CONFLICT?
Lt. Col. Ojukwu knew the dangers his people were about facing but that knowledge did not deter him from declaring Biafran Republic . He saw what the Easterners (“yamini”) as we were all called, went through during the Northern pogrom and defended our values and causes. Any rational leader would have done what he did- disassociate himself and his people from such barbarians. He demonstrated that bravery and determination makes us who we are. This makes him a hero in the conflict.
May his soul rest in peace:
Dr. Inyang Oduok
Atlanta, Ga.
Akpabio dissociates self from monarch’s coronation
By Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Government has dissociated itself from the formal coronation of Oku Ibom Ibibio, 111 earlier scheduled for January 13, 2012.
Governor Godswill Akpabio in a statement yesterday stated this at the Government House, Uyo.
He directed the state Deputy Governor, Nsima Ekere, Secretary to the State Government, Umana Umana and the state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Paul Ekpo and other government functionaries to steer clear from the proposed event, saying “Government won’t be involved.”
Akpabio’s disclosure is coming after eight paramount rulers in Ibibio land warned him to desist from interfering in the succession plan of who succeeds the late Oku Ibom Ibibio 111, Edidem Robert Obot.
The monarch had earlier alleged that Akpabio was planning to use the state apparatus, instrument and resources to impose the Paramount ruler of Onna Local Government Area, Edidem Akpabio Ukpa, as the next Okuibom Ibibio on the people of Ibibio race.
The monarchs in a statement signed by the Paramount ruler of Etinan LGA, Edidem Ime Umoette and seven others, expressed dismay over the attitude of the state government, saying the process of selecting Okuibom Ibibio has never been done in Government House as there are spelt out rules guiding the process and procedures as provided in the constitution of Ifim Ibibio and governed by traditional rulers of Akwa Ibom State.
They also said the governor’s anointed candidate had been expelled as a member of Ifim Ibom Ibibio from July 6, 2011 for gross misconduct and insubordination to the leadership of Ifim Ibom Ibibio.
The traditional rulers advised Akpabio to deploy the state funds on areas of need so as to fulfil its electoral promises to the people rather than wasting it on matters that the government do not have authority.
Governor Godswill Akpabio in a statement yesterday stated this at the Government House, Uyo.
He directed the state Deputy Governor, Nsima Ekere, Secretary to the State Government, Umana Umana and the state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Paul Ekpo and other government functionaries to steer clear from the proposed event, saying “Government won’t be involved.”
Akpabio’s disclosure is coming after eight paramount rulers in Ibibio land warned him to desist from interfering in the succession plan of who succeeds the late Oku Ibom Ibibio 111, Edidem Robert Obot.
The monarch had earlier alleged that Akpabio was planning to use the state apparatus, instrument and resources to impose the Paramount ruler of Onna Local Government Area, Edidem Akpabio Ukpa, as the next Okuibom Ibibio on the people of Ibibio race.
The monarchs in a statement signed by the Paramount ruler of Etinan LGA, Edidem Ime Umoette and seven others, expressed dismay over the attitude of the state government, saying the process of selecting Okuibom Ibibio has never been done in Government House as there are spelt out rules guiding the process and procedures as provided in the constitution of Ifim Ibibio and governed by traditional rulers of Akwa Ibom State.
They also said the governor’s anointed candidate had been expelled as a member of Ifim Ibom Ibibio from July 6, 2011 for gross misconduct and insubordination to the leadership of Ifim Ibom Ibibio.
The traditional rulers advised Akpabio to deploy the state funds on areas of need so as to fulfil its electoral promises to the people rather than wasting it on matters that the government do not have authority.
via The Nation
Gowon's broadcast to the nation - May 27, 1967.
Gowon's Broadcast to the Nation, dividing Nigeria into Twelve States
Dear Country men:
As you are all aware Nigeria has been immersed in an extremely grave
crisis for almost eighteen months. We have now reached a most
critical phase where what is at stake is the very survival of Nigeria
as one political and economic unit. We must rise to the challenge
and what we do in the next few days will be decisive.
The whole world is witness to the continued defiance of Federal
Authority by the Government of Eastern Region, the disruption of the
Railway, the Coal Corporation, the normal operations of the Nigerian
Ports Authority, the interference with the flight schedules of the
Nigeria Airways and other illegal acts by the Eastern Region
Government culminating in the edicts promulgated last month by that
Government purporting to seize all Federal Statutory Corporations and
Federal revenues collected in the East.
The consequence of these illegal sets has been the increasing
deterioration of the Nigerian economy. It has also produced
uncertainty and insecurity generally and pushed the country with
increasing tempo towards total disintegration and possible civil war
and bloodshed on massive scale.
It has also led to increasing loss of foreign confidence in the
ability of Nigerians to resolve the present problems. This has been
reflected in the stoppage of the inflow of much badly needed
additional foreign investment, it has put a brake on economic
development so essential to the well-being of the common man and the
ordinary citizen whose only desire is for peace and stability to
carry on his daily work.
In the face of all these, I have shown great restraint, hoping that
through peaceful negotiations a solution acceptable to all sections
of the country can be found. Unfortunately, the hopes of myself and
my other colleagues on the Supreme Military council have been
disappointed by the ever increasing campaign of hate by the Governor
of the Eastern Region. Lt. Col Ojukwu has continuously increased his
demands as soon as some are met in order to perpetuate the crisis and
lead the Eastern Region out of Nigeria. We know very well the tragic
consequences of such a misguided step. Not only will the regions
themselves disintegrate further, but before then, pushed by foreign
powers and mercenaries who will interfere, this dear country will be
turned into a bloody stage for chaotic and wasteful civil war.
When the tragic events of 15th January, 1966 occurred, the country
acquiesced in the installation of a Military Regime only because it
desired that order and discipline should be restored in he conduct of
the affairs of this country, that swift reforms will be introduced to
produce just and honest Government, to usher in stability and ensure
fair treatment of all citizens in every part of the country. The
citizens of this country have not given the Military Regime any
mandate to divide up the country into sovereign states and to plunge
them into bloody disaster.
As I have warned before, my duty is clear--faced with this final
choice between action to save Nigeria and acquiescence in secession
and disintegration. I am therefore proclaiming a State of Emergency
throughout Nigeria with immediate effect. I have assumed full powers
as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Head of the Federal
Military Government for the short period necessary to carry through
the measures which are now urgently required.
In this period of emergency, no political statements in the Press,
on the Radio and Television and all publicity media or any other
political activity, will be tolerated. The Military and Police are
empowered to deal summarily with any offenders. Newspaper editors
are particularly urged to co-operate with the authorities to ensure
the success of these measures.
I have referred earlier to some illegal acts of the Eastern Region
Government. You all know that about one third of the entire falling
stock of the Nigerian Railways, including 115 oil-tankers, have been
detained and that the services on the Eastern District of the
Nigerian railways have been completely disrupted for many months.
You are also aware of the fact that they have disrupted the direct
movement of oil products from the refinery near Port Harcourt to the
Northern Region. They have hindered the transit of goods to
neighbouring countries and have even seized goods belonging to
foreign countries. These acts have flagrantly violated normal
international practice and disturbed friendly relations with our
neighbours. That refinery is owned jointly by the Federal Government
and Regional governments. Illegally, since last year, the
Authorities at Enugu have interfered with the flight routes of the
Nigeria Airways. Only recently they committed the barbaric crime of
hi-jacking a plane bound for Lagos from Benin. They have placed a
ban o the residence of non-Easterners in the Eastern Region--an
action which is against the Constitution and the fundamental
provisions of our laws. They have continuously on the Press and
radio incited the people of eastern Region to hatred of other
Nigerian peoples and they have indulged in the crudest abuse of
members of the Supreme Military Council, especially myself.
Despite all these, I have spared no effort to conciliate the East in
recognition of their understandable grievances and fears since the
tragic incidents of 1966. To this end I agreed with my other
colleagues on the Supreme Military Council to the promulgation of the
Decree No. 8 which completely decentralized the government of this
country and even went further than the Republican Constitution as it
existed before 15th January, 1966. But what has been the response of
the Eastern Region Government? Complete rejection of Decree No. 8
and insistence on its separate existence as a sovereign unit.
Only recently, a group of distinguished citizens formed themselves
into the National Conciliation Committee. They submitted
recommendations aimed at reducing tension. These included the
reciprocal abrogation of economic measures taken by the Federal
Military government and the seizure of Federal Statutory Corporations
and Federal revenue by the Eastern Government. These reciprocal
actions were to be taken within one week that is by 25th May, 1967.
It is on record that I accepted the recommendations and issued
instructions effective from Tuesday, May 23. Indeed I now understand
that certain vehicles of the Posts and Telegraphs Department which
went to the East in resumption of services have been illegally
detained in the Region. The response of the east has been completely
negative and they have continued their propaganda and stage-managed
demonstrations for "independence."
Fellow citizens, I recognize however that the problem of Nigeria
extends beyond the present misguided actions of the Eastern Region
Government. My duty is to all citizens. I propose to treat all
sections of the country with equality. The main obstacle to future
stability in this country is the present structural imbalance in the
Nigerian Federation.
Even Decree No. 8 or Confederation or Loose Association will never
survive if any one section of the country is in a position to hold
the others to ransom.
This is why the item in the Political and Administrative Programme
adopted by the Supreme Military Council last month is the creation of
states as a basis for stability. This must be done first so as to
remove the fear of domination. Representatives drawn from the new
states will be more able to work out the future constitution for this
country which can contain provisions to protect the powers of the
states to the fullest extent desired by the Nigerian people. As soon
as these states are established, a new Revenue Allocation Commission
consisting of international experts will be appointed to recommend an
equitable formula for revenue allocation taking into account the
desires of the states.
I propose to act faithfully within the Political and Administrative
Programme adopted by the Supreme Military Council and published last
month. The world will recognize in these proposals our desire for
justice and fair play for all sections of this country and to
accommodate all genuine aspirations of the diverse people of this
great country.
I have ordered the reimposition of the economic measures designed to
safeguard federal interests until such a time as the Eastern Military
Government abrogates its illegal edicts on revenue collection and the
administration of the Federal Statutory Corporations based in the
East.
The country has a long history of well articulated demands for
states. The fears of minorities were explained in great detail and
set out in the report of the Willink Commission appointed by the
British in 1958. More recently there has been extensive discussion
in Regional Consultative Committees and Leaders-of-Thought
Conferences. Resolutions have been adopted demanding the creation of
states in the North and in Lagos. Petitions from minority areas in
the East which have been subjected to violent intimidation by the
Eastern Military Government have been widely publicized. While the
present circumstances regrettably do not allow for consultations
through plebiscites, I am satisfied that the creation of new states
as the only possible basis for stability and equality is the
overwhelming desire of vast majority of Nigerians. To ensure justice,
these states are being created simultaneously.
To this end, therefore, I am promulgating a Decree which will divide
the Federal republic into Twelve States. The twelve states will be
six in the present Northern Region, three in the present Eastern
Region, the Mid-West will remain as it is, the Colony Province of the
Western Region and Lagos will form a new Lagos State and the Western
Region will otherwise remain as it is.
I must emphasize at once that the Decree will provide for a States
Delimitation Commission which will ensure that any divisions or towns
not satisfied with the states in which they are initially grouped
will obtain redress. But in this moment of serious National
Emergency the co-operation of all concerned is absolutely essential
in order to avoid any unpleasant consequences.
I wish also to emphasize that an Administrative Council will be
established at the capitals of the existing regions, which will be
available to the new states to ensure the smoothest possible
administrative transition in he establishment of the new states. The
twelve new states, subject to marginal boundary adjustments, will
therefore be as follows:
North-Western State comprising Sokoto and Niger Provinces.
North-Central State comprising Katsina and Zaria.
Kano State comprising the present Kano Province.
North-Eastern State comprising Bornu, Adamawa, Sarduana and Bauchi
Provinces.
Benue/Plateau State comprising Benue and Plateau Provinces.
Lagos State comprising the Colony Province and the Federal Territory
of Lagos.
Western State comprising the present Western Region but excluding
the Colony Province.
Mid-Western State comprising the present Mid-Western State.
East-Central State comprising the present Eastern Region excluding
Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers Provinces.
South-Eastern State comprising Calabar and Ogoja Provinces.
Rivers State comprising Ahoada, Brass, Degema, Ogoni and Port
Harcout Divisions
The states will be free to adopt any particular names they choose in
the future. The immediate administrative arrangements of the new
states have been planned and the names of the Military Governors
appointed to the new states will be gazetted shortly. The allocation
of federally collected revenue to the new states on an interim basis
for the first few months has also been planned. The successor states
in each former region will share the revenue until a more permanent
formula is recommended by the new Revenue Allocation Commission.
Suitable arrangements have been made to minimize any disruption in
the normal functioning of services in the areas of the new states.
It is my fervent hope that the existing regional Authorities will co-
operate fully to ensure the smoothest possible establishment of the
new states. It is also my hope that the need to use force to support
any new state will not arise. I am; however, ready to protect any
citizens of this country who are subject to intimidation or violence
in the course of establishment of these new states.
My dear countrymen, the struggle ahead is for the well-being of the
present and future generations of Nigerians. If it were possible for
us to avoid chaos and civil war merely by drifting apart as some
people claim that easy choice may have been taken. But we know that
to take such a course will quickly lead to the disintegration of the
existing regions in condition of chaos and to disastrous foreign
interference. We now have to adopt the courageous course of facing
the fundamental problem that has plagued this country since the early
50s. There should be no recrimination. We must all resolve to work
together. It is my hope that those who disagreed in the past with
the Federal Military Government through genuine misunderstanding and
mistrust will now be convinced of our purpose and be willing to come
back and let us plan and work together for the realization of the
Political and Administrative programmed of the Supreme Military
Council, and for the early restoration of full civilian rule in
circumstances which would enhance just and honest and patriotic
government. I appeal to the general public to continue to give their
co-operation to the Federal Military Government; to go about their
normal business peacefully; to maintain harmony with all communities
wherever they live; to respect all the directives of the Government
including directives restricting the movements of people while the
emergency remains. Such directives are for their own protection and
in their own interest.
Let us therefore, march manfully together to alter the course of
this nation once again for all and to place it on the path of
progress, unity and equality. Let us so act that future generations
of Nigerians will praise us for our resolution and courage in this
critical stage of our country's history. Long live the Federal
Republic of Nigeria
Dear Country men:
As you are all aware Nigeria has been immersed in an extremely grave
crisis for almost eighteen months. We have now reached a most
critical phase where what is at stake is the very survival of Nigeria
as one political and economic unit. We must rise to the challenge
and what we do in the next few days will be decisive.
The whole world is witness to the continued defiance of Federal
Authority by the Government of Eastern Region, the disruption of the
Railway, the Coal Corporation, the normal operations of the Nigerian
Ports Authority, the interference with the flight schedules of the
Nigeria Airways and other illegal acts by the Eastern Region
Government culminating in the edicts promulgated last month by that
Government purporting to seize all Federal Statutory Corporations and
Federal revenues collected in the East.
The consequence of these illegal sets has been the increasing
deterioration of the Nigerian economy. It has also produced
uncertainty and insecurity generally and pushed the country with
increasing tempo towards total disintegration and possible civil war
and bloodshed on massive scale.
It has also led to increasing loss of foreign confidence in the
ability of Nigerians to resolve the present problems. This has been
reflected in the stoppage of the inflow of much badly needed
additional foreign investment, it has put a brake on economic
development so essential to the well-being of the common man and the
ordinary citizen whose only desire is for peace and stability to
carry on his daily work.
In the face of all these, I have shown great restraint, hoping that
through peaceful negotiations a solution acceptable to all sections
of the country can be found. Unfortunately, the hopes of myself and
my other colleagues on the Supreme Military council have been
disappointed by the ever increasing campaign of hate by the Governor
of the Eastern Region. Lt. Col Ojukwu has continuously increased his
demands as soon as some are met in order to perpetuate the crisis and
lead the Eastern Region out of Nigeria. We know very well the tragic
consequences of such a misguided step. Not only will the regions
themselves disintegrate further, but before then, pushed by foreign
powers and mercenaries who will interfere, this dear country will be
turned into a bloody stage for chaotic and wasteful civil war.
When the tragic events of 15th January, 1966 occurred, the country
acquiesced in the installation of a Military Regime only because it
desired that order and discipline should be restored in he conduct of
the affairs of this country, that swift reforms will be introduced to
produce just and honest Government, to usher in stability and ensure
fair treatment of all citizens in every part of the country. The
citizens of this country have not given the Military Regime any
mandate to divide up the country into sovereign states and to plunge
them into bloody disaster.
As I have warned before, my duty is clear--faced with this final
choice between action to save Nigeria and acquiescence in secession
and disintegration. I am therefore proclaiming a State of Emergency
throughout Nigeria with immediate effect. I have assumed full powers
as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Head of the Federal
Military Government for the short period necessary to carry through
the measures which are now urgently required.
In this period of emergency, no political statements in the Press,
on the Radio and Television and all publicity media or any other
political activity, will be tolerated. The Military and Police are
empowered to deal summarily with any offenders. Newspaper editors
are particularly urged to co-operate with the authorities to ensure
the success of these measures.
I have referred earlier to some illegal acts of the Eastern Region
Government. You all know that about one third of the entire falling
stock of the Nigerian Railways, including 115 oil-tankers, have been
detained and that the services on the Eastern District of the
Nigerian railways have been completely disrupted for many months.
You are also aware of the fact that they have disrupted the direct
movement of oil products from the refinery near Port Harcourt to the
Northern Region. They have hindered the transit of goods to
neighbouring countries and have even seized goods belonging to
foreign countries. These acts have flagrantly violated normal
international practice and disturbed friendly relations with our
neighbours. That refinery is owned jointly by the Federal Government
and Regional governments. Illegally, since last year, the
Authorities at Enugu have interfered with the flight routes of the
Nigeria Airways. Only recently they committed the barbaric crime of
hi-jacking a plane bound for Lagos from Benin. They have placed a
ban o the residence of non-Easterners in the Eastern Region--an
action which is against the Constitution and the fundamental
provisions of our laws. They have continuously on the Press and
radio incited the people of eastern Region to hatred of other
Nigerian peoples and they have indulged in the crudest abuse of
members of the Supreme Military Council, especially myself.
Despite all these, I have spared no effort to conciliate the East in
recognition of their understandable grievances and fears since the
tragic incidents of 1966. To this end I agreed with my other
colleagues on the Supreme Military Council to the promulgation of the
Decree No. 8 which completely decentralized the government of this
country and even went further than the Republican Constitution as it
existed before 15th January, 1966. But what has been the response of
the Eastern Region Government? Complete rejection of Decree No. 8
and insistence on its separate existence as a sovereign unit.
Only recently, a group of distinguished citizens formed themselves
into the National Conciliation Committee. They submitted
recommendations aimed at reducing tension. These included the
reciprocal abrogation of economic measures taken by the Federal
Military government and the seizure of Federal Statutory Corporations
and Federal revenue by the Eastern Government. These reciprocal
actions were to be taken within one week that is by 25th May, 1967.
It is on record that I accepted the recommendations and issued
instructions effective from Tuesday, May 23. Indeed I now understand
that certain vehicles of the Posts and Telegraphs Department which
went to the East in resumption of services have been illegally
detained in the Region. The response of the east has been completely
negative and they have continued their propaganda and stage-managed
demonstrations for "independence."
Fellow citizens, I recognize however that the problem of Nigeria
extends beyond the present misguided actions of the Eastern Region
Government. My duty is to all citizens. I propose to treat all
sections of the country with equality. The main obstacle to future
stability in this country is the present structural imbalance in the
Nigerian Federation.
Even Decree No. 8 or Confederation or Loose Association will never
survive if any one section of the country is in a position to hold
the others to ransom.
This is why the item in the Political and Administrative Programme
adopted by the Supreme Military Council last month is the creation of
states as a basis for stability. This must be done first so as to
remove the fear of domination. Representatives drawn from the new
states will be more able to work out the future constitution for this
country which can contain provisions to protect the powers of the
states to the fullest extent desired by the Nigerian people. As soon
as these states are established, a new Revenue Allocation Commission
consisting of international experts will be appointed to recommend an
equitable formula for revenue allocation taking into account the
desires of the states.
I propose to act faithfully within the Political and Administrative
Programme adopted by the Supreme Military Council and published last
month. The world will recognize in these proposals our desire for
justice and fair play for all sections of this country and to
accommodate all genuine aspirations of the diverse people of this
great country.
I have ordered the reimposition of the economic measures designed to
safeguard federal interests until such a time as the Eastern Military
Government abrogates its illegal edicts on revenue collection and the
administration of the Federal Statutory Corporations based in the
East.
The country has a long history of well articulated demands for
states. The fears of minorities were explained in great detail and
set out in the report of the Willink Commission appointed by the
British in 1958. More recently there has been extensive discussion
in Regional Consultative Committees and Leaders-of-Thought
Conferences. Resolutions have been adopted demanding the creation of
states in the North and in Lagos. Petitions from minority areas in
the East which have been subjected to violent intimidation by the
Eastern Military Government have been widely publicized. While the
present circumstances regrettably do not allow for consultations
through plebiscites, I am satisfied that the creation of new states
as the only possible basis for stability and equality is the
overwhelming desire of vast majority of Nigerians. To ensure justice,
these states are being created simultaneously.
To this end, therefore, I am promulgating a Decree which will divide
the Federal republic into Twelve States. The twelve states will be
six in the present Northern Region, three in the present Eastern
Region, the Mid-West will remain as it is, the Colony Province of the
Western Region and Lagos will form a new Lagos State and the Western
Region will otherwise remain as it is.
I must emphasize at once that the Decree will provide for a States
Delimitation Commission which will ensure that any divisions or towns
not satisfied with the states in which they are initially grouped
will obtain redress. But in this moment of serious National
Emergency the co-operation of all concerned is absolutely essential
in order to avoid any unpleasant consequences.
I wish also to emphasize that an Administrative Council will be
established at the capitals of the existing regions, which will be
available to the new states to ensure the smoothest possible
administrative transition in he establishment of the new states. The
twelve new states, subject to marginal boundary adjustments, will
therefore be as follows:
North-Western State comprising Sokoto and Niger Provinces.
North-Central State comprising Katsina and Zaria.
Kano State comprising the present Kano Province.
North-Eastern State comprising Bornu, Adamawa, Sarduana and Bauchi
Provinces.
Benue/Plateau State comprising Benue and Plateau Provinces.
Lagos State comprising the Colony Province and the Federal Territory
of Lagos.
Western State comprising the present Western Region but excluding
the Colony Province.
Mid-Western State comprising the present Mid-Western State.
East-Central State comprising the present Eastern Region excluding
Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers Provinces.
South-Eastern State comprising Calabar and Ogoja Provinces.
Rivers State comprising Ahoada, Brass, Degema, Ogoni and Port
Harcout Divisions
The states will be free to adopt any particular names they choose in
the future. The immediate administrative arrangements of the new
states have been planned and the names of the Military Governors
appointed to the new states will be gazetted shortly. The allocation
of federally collected revenue to the new states on an interim basis
for the first few months has also been planned. The successor states
in each former region will share the revenue until a more permanent
formula is recommended by the new Revenue Allocation Commission.
Suitable arrangements have been made to minimize any disruption in
the normal functioning of services in the areas of the new states.
It is my fervent hope that the existing regional Authorities will co-
operate fully to ensure the smoothest possible establishment of the
new states. It is also my hope that the need to use force to support
any new state will not arise. I am; however, ready to protect any
citizens of this country who are subject to intimidation or violence
in the course of establishment of these new states.
My dear countrymen, the struggle ahead is for the well-being of the
present and future generations of Nigerians. If it were possible for
us to avoid chaos and civil war merely by drifting apart as some
people claim that easy choice may have been taken. But we know that
to take such a course will quickly lead to the disintegration of the
existing regions in condition of chaos and to disastrous foreign
interference. We now have to adopt the courageous course of facing
the fundamental problem that has plagued this country since the early
50s. There should be no recrimination. We must all resolve to work
together. It is my hope that those who disagreed in the past with
the Federal Military Government through genuine misunderstanding and
mistrust will now be convinced of our purpose and be willing to come
back and let us plan and work together for the realization of the
Political and Administrative programmed of the Supreme Military
Council, and for the early restoration of full civilian rule in
circumstances which would enhance just and honest and patriotic
government. I appeal to the general public to continue to give their
co-operation to the Federal Military Government; to go about their
normal business peacefully; to maintain harmony with all communities
wherever they live; to respect all the directives of the Government
including directives restricting the movements of people while the
emergency remains. Such directives are for their own protection and
in their own interest.
Let us therefore, march manfully together to alter the course of
this nation once again for all and to place it on the path of
progress, unity and equality. Let us so act that future generations
of Nigerians will praise us for our resolution and courage in this
critical stage of our country's history. Long live the Federal
Republic of Nigeria
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