The Empire

Fresh crisis greeted Qua Iboe Church Nigeria, 112 Ikot Ekpene Road, Oku, Uyo last Sunday following the announcement by the Secretary of the Church, of the decision by the Church Committee and other stakeholders to join the National Council of Qua Iboe Church Nigeria, in spite of the inconclusive legal battle said to have been embarked by some members of the church in view of the schism, which has engulfed leadership of the church in recent times, over the issue of name change. The Church Secretary, Mr. Sylvester Edem, while making the announcement during church service, admitted that the church had been encircled by a number of issues over the years, as a result of attempts by some members of the church to change of the name of the church from Qua Iboe Church to United Evangelical Church. He noted that Quo Iboe church, Oku, had remained neutral in the naming conflict, expecting resolution of the conflict by leaderships of the factions in the conflict, until last Saturday, when

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Speaker of the 7th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, on Monday called on the people of the state, irrespective of their political affiliation and positions in the society, to “re-enact the indomitable and patriotic spirit of the state’s founding fathers.” Rt. Hon. Bassey, in a goodwill message, charged the people of the state to emulate “the likes of Egbert Udo Udoma, Ibanga Udo Akpabio, Bassey Udo-Adiaha Attah, Udo Idiong, Antia Obong, Nsima Lawson, Clement Isong and many others who envisaged and worked for a united, peaceful and a prosperous Akwa Ibom.” “They worked for the progress of Akwa Ibom. Let us keep to that same path,” he added. The Speaker used the opportunity to felicitated with Governor Udom Emmanuel and the people of the state on the occasion of the 32nd Anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State. In his word: “Your Excellency, I salute your courage, dedication, dogged commitment, determination and focus towards the path of our f

By Edet Okpo The all-inclusive press conference organized by the Management of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, September 20, 2019 offered media professionals a one-on-one opportunity and broader pedestal to hear and see things by themselves, in sharp contrast to what may have been peddled by wrong sources and a mischievous band of credulous critics. The press chat which was held in the ultra-modern 1000-seat capacity auditorium constructed by the present administration, with a wall-to-wall giant LCD where slide and motion pictures were shown to the audience, had as special quests renowned  journalists from general and maritime-oriented interests, as well as the Management team and other staff of the Academy. Welcoming the media experts to the interface, the Rector of the Academy, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd.), thanked them for honouring the invitation even on the shortest notice. He however stated categorically that the reason for the m

by Mfonobong Ukpong Nigeria's Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo has hailed Governor Udom Emmanuel for his foresight which has culminated in the various investment drive recorded in the state in the past 4 years since he took over the leadership of the state. Osinbajo who made the remarks, Saturday in ONNA, while inaugurating a 500 ton per day Kings Flour Mill, a Plywood factory, and a Power Sub-station in Ekim, Mkpat-Enin, said Governor Emmanuel and his team are doing excellent work in the state. The country's number two citizen had recalled that on 23rd September, 2017 he had commissioned a Syringe Factory and some other projects initiated by Governor Emmanuel in the state. "I want to congratulate the Governor of this state and his team for the excellent work you are doing here. I was here in September 23rd, 2017 to commission another very innovative foresight project initiated by Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. Today we are here to celebrate something more interesti

By A. M Ekanem/ B.I Bassey Today, September 19, 2019, the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital affirmed the victory of His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party at the March 9, 2019 general elections. The Petitioners, Obong Nsima Ekere and the All Progressives Congress had, on the May 29, 2019 filed a petition challenging the result of the March 9 elections that saw the re-election of His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The Petitoners approached the tribunal, after several amendments on two grounds, to wit; a) That the Election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2015 (sic); or b) That the 1st Respondent, Mr Udom Emmanuel was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election. In their Petition, the petitioners prayed for the following reliefs; 1) That it may be determined and declared that the 1st Responde

The Village Head of Ikot Udoro Oku in Uyo local government area, Chief Effiong Udo Ikpe has pledged his resolve to wade into the lingering crisis between family members of late Chief Peter Sam Udoh and the management of Kings College, Uyo. Chief Peter Sam Udoh made this position known yesterday while fielding questions from journalists on the wanton damage of school properties by suspected thugs from the area. According to him, a senior staff of the College accompanied by some Police Men from the state Police Command had stormed his palace on Sunday morning where they informed him of the ugly development which he suspected was carried out as a reprisal attack over an age long land dispute between the school and some members of the community. Meanwhile, the management of the school have expressed concern over the continuous attack on the school property and have called on relevant agencies of government to safeguard the school. The Proprietor of the College, Prof. Princ

Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, on Sunday paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Paramount Ruler and Nsom of Uruan, Edidem Effiong Bassey Ekanem. The Speaker condoled with the family and the people of Uruan Local Government Area on the loss of their Patriarch and custodian of its heritage and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul. Rt. Hon. Bassey, who made this known when he visited the deceased`s Ituk Mbang home in the company of his aides and friends, said “the late Monarch will be remembered for his good works and contributions to the promotion of peace and development of Uruan and Akwa Ibom State in general.” He further described the late Edidem Ekanem as a thoroughbred professional whose contributions to infrastructural development within and outside the shores of Akwa Ibom State are unparalleled, maintaining that his death was not only a loss to the engineering profession, the people of Uruan and Akwa Ibom State

A Five-man management team from ExxonMobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited led by it's Executive Vice Chairman, Udom Inoyo on Wednesday visited the lawmaker representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Onofiok Luke in his office. Mr Inoyo said the visit was to assure the Federal Lawmaker of the company's readiness to partner with him to unlock the massive potentials that  abound for the country in the petroleum industry. He posited that the right policies must be in place to enable the industry succeed so as to improve the economic fortunes of the country adding that investment opportunities abound in the country despite numerous challenges. He however decried the high unemployment rate in the country as well as difficulties in establishing and sustaining investment. Hon. Luke in his reaction, appreciated the EVC for the visit and commended ExxonMobil for the synergy with members of National Assembly from Akwa Ibom State. He

In what appeared to be tbe climax of all the Judgements given by the National and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal, sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, today, September 11, 2019, The court upheld the victory of Senator Christopher Ekpenyong as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the February 23 elections as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District at the Senate of the National Assembly. Senator Akpabio, the 1st Petitioner had challenged the elections on the ground that; a) that Senator Christopher Ekpenyong was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the February 23, 2019 elections for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District; b) That the election that produced Senator  Christopher Ekpeyong as  winner was invalid owing to non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of the elections. The court dismissed the petition of Senator Akpabio wherein the senator had claime

The National and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal, sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital, today, September 11, 2019 upheld the victory of Hon. Aniekan Umanah as the winner of the February 23 elections as member, representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency. The Petitoners, The All Progressives Congress and Hon Emmanuel Ekon had challenged the election of Hon. Aniekan Umanah on two grounds to wit: 1) That the election and return of the 1st Respondent, Hon. Aniekan Umanah is invalid by reason of substantial non-compliance 2) That the 1st Respondent, Hon. Aniekan Umanah was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the elections. The Petitioners consequent on the foregoing grounds prayed the court to cancel the elections same being held, not in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, nullify the certificate issued to the 1st Respondent as the winner of the February 23 elections or in the alternative, declare the 1st Petitioner

The Deputy Speaker and Member Representing Okobo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey, has challenged political leaders and stakeholders to pay sufficient and pragmatic attention to the challenges facing education in the state and country. The two-term lawmaker made the remarks earlier today on receiving an award of Excellence in Community Development and Women Empowerment from the Faculty of Education, University of Uyo,  during the Annual National Conference on Education, held in the Onyema Okechukwu Hall of the University. Rt. Hon. Princess Bassey emphasized her using her political platform for community development, women emancipation and youth Empowerment was motivated by her passion and the  compelling necessity in those areas. Available record indicates that, as a former chairman of Okobo Local Government Area and ranking state Legislator, the Deputy Speaker  is best known and celebrated  for the lofty and all- e

Wife of the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mrs Itohowo Bassey, has urged women in the state, to play active roles in the sustenance of peace and development in the society. Mrs Bassey gave the charge at the One-day Seminar organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Women Affairs on the Theme, Royal Women and Healthy Living at the Women Development Centre, IBB Way, Uyo, on Monday. While lauding organisers of the programme, the Speaker's Wife described women as custodians of peace and unity and called on them to foster societal development by training their children in the fear of God. She further appealed to the women to put into practise necessary health tips offered at the event and advised them to remain hardworking, prayerful and supportive to their families. The Keynote Speaker at the event, Mrs Bassey Eshiet, urged the women to help curtail societal ills by advising their children and family members against drug abuse, alcoholism and cultism. While

By Emeka Awaziema A recent news report published in a Nigerian maritime oriented magazine wherein the writer exposed his shallow and lopsided knowledge of current happenings in the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) has attracted wide spread condemnations from industry watchers and close followers of the phenomenal transformation the institution has witnessed in the past two years under the Management of the incumbent Rector, Commodore Duja Emmamnuel Effedua (Rtd.) The said news story by one Ebisen Aginighan which was  published online in the Shipping World Magazine edition of September 2019 (shippingworld-ng.com/index.php) had the title: “Two years after, jury is out on Effedua’s tenure at Maritime Academy, Oron”.  Among the many wild assumptions and condemnable misinformation in the account was the allegation of how management of the Academy purportedly in the last two years have received the sum of #18 billion from the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMAS

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has announced the postponement of its earlier scheduled sitting of Tuesday, September 10, 2019. A circular by the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Mandu Umoren, informed that “the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey has approved that the House do reconvene, and will accordingly reconvene on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 10.00am prompt.” According to the circular, “the postponement is necessitated by the fact that the Honourable Speaker, the House Leader and the Clerk of the House are billed to attend a Technical Reflection Meeting organised by ECP-PERL in collaboration with the Conference of Speakers in Abuja from Monday, September 9, 2019 to Wednesday, September 11, 2019.” The Clerk also regretted inconveniences caused by the postponement.

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, said the ongoing 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa Regional Conference, “has offered members of the state legislature ample opportunity in parliamentary and diplomatic relations as well as enhancing our legislative capacity.” CPA exists to develop, promote and support parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and to implement the enduring values of the commonwealth Speaking from Zanzibar, Tanzania, on Tuesday, Rt. Hon. Bassey, who led Honourable Members and staff of the State Assembly to the Conference, themed “E-Parliament: Seamless Platform for Facilitating Democracy,” said the event, and many others, will aid the 7th Assembly achieve its legislative agenda, work to support good governance, democracy and human rights. The Speaker, through a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Mr. Darlington Udobong, further said

By Ime Ben The Project Impact Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Anietie Ukpong has joined thousands of Nigerians to congratulate His Excellency distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON  for his appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Niger Delta Ministry. Dr. Ukpong,  in his message of felicitation described Senator Akpabio as an uncommon transformative leader, saying his appointment could be nothing but a divine one for a region ravaged by poverty and gross neglect.  Ukpong, a Governorship Candidate of the Change Nigeria Party, CNP in the 2019 Governorship election in Akwa Ibom State,  expressed optimism in Akpabio's appointment saying "as you led the transformation of a greater part of Akwa Ibom, I am sure you will bring same rigor to the transformation of the Niger Delta region". He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his vision and understanding in putting a square peg in a square hole with Senator Akpabio's appointmen