The Empire

  A Bill for a Law to provide for a Map for Akwa Ibom State and other matters connected therewith has been passed into law by the State House of Assembly during its Thursday plenary. The new law, which is cited as the Akwa Ibom State Map Establishment Law 2023, takes effect from the 13th day of April, 2023. This followed a report of the Joint Committee on Lands and Housing, Boundary and Conflict Resolution and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, presented by its Chairman, Sir Udo Kierian Akpan (Oruk Anam). According to the report, the Bill, sponsored by Hon. David Lawrence (Eket), will help reduce agitations and communal conflicts, enhance and promote development within the mapped-out boundaries. The report further stated that “The Bill will enhance cultural affinities of the people within the boundaries and make for easy identification and placements. It will also assist in the proper identification and allocation of resources domiciled in the component units.” The report also r

  The people of   Eastern Obolo local government area of Akwa Ibom State are not only prepared for a showdown with Akwa Ibom State Government, but  are  battle ready  to resist  vehemently with their blood and by  every legitimate means should the 7th Assembly of the Akwa Ibom  State House of Assembly insist on going ahead to deliberate and perhaps subsequently pass into a sponsored subsisting controversial bill before it, said to be aimed at annexing the people of Eastern Obolo Local Area with any other local government area.  Speaking on April 5, 2023 on the proposed  remapping of the local government during a press conference held in Uyo, stakeholders of Eastern Obolo said the bill was obnoxious, anti-people, ill-advised, insensitive  and grossly discriminatory in all ramifications against the ancestry and rights of Eastern Eastern Obolo people as bonafide entity.    In a statement rising from the press conference, jointly signed for and on behalf of Ilima Obolo, a pan-Eastern Obolo

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ratified a Bill for a Law to amend the ‘Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP) Law 2012’ and also passed into law the ‘Akwa Ibom State Bonds, Notes and other Securities Bill 2022.’  This follows the reports placed before the House at Tuesday plenary by Hon. KufreAbasi Edidem (Itu) and Hon. Uduak Odudoh (Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo), Chairmen of the House Committees on Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and Appropriation and Finance. According to Hon. Edidem’s report, the amendment of the 2012 AKICORP Law will update the scope of the legal and institutional framework of the Corporation in line with global best practices. "The amendment will strengthen the corporate governance structure of AKICORP to meet with the present and future corporate demands. It will entrench the governance structure of Ibom Airlines Limited to safeguard the investment against undue political interference and instill confidence in investors to invest in the state"

Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has expressed deep felicitations to Mrs. NsikakAbasi Orok on her appointment and subsequent swearing-in as the new Clerk of the House. Rt. Hon. Bassey, the Senator-Elect for the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial Distrct, commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for the choice of Mrs. Orok, maintaining that her appointment is the handiwork of God. He prayed God to give Mrs. Orok the wisdom and enablement to lead and also make easy the enormous responsibilities before her as the Clerk of the House. The Speaker thanked the immediate past Clerk, Mrs. Mandu Umoren, for her invaluable dedication and commitment to the development of the state legislature. While wishing Mrs. Umoren well in her future endeavours, Rt. Hon. Bassey described the retired Clerk as “a true virtuous woman whose humility and motherly love to all remains unparalleled. Your years of meritorious service to Akwa Ibom State have left indelible imprints for pos

The Supreme Court has affirmed Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey as the winner of the May 23, 2022 Senatorial Primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its legitimate candidate for the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District for the 2023 elections in the state. According to the Lead Counsel for Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, Barrister Utibe Nwoko, the Supreme Court dismissed the case for lack in merit and in favour of Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, who is the Senator-Elect for the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District The apex Court affirmed the earlier ruling given by the Court of Appeal on the matter and dismissed the appeal brought before it by Prince Uwem Ita Etuk as lacking in merit. Recall that the Court of Appeal, in its ruling, had adhered to the ruling of the lower Court, which mandated Prince Etuk to pay Rt. Hon. Bassey the sum of N15million as compensation for false accusation.  Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, a former State Chairman of the PDP, was one of the aspirants in the May 23, 2022, Sen

  Elders and stakeholders of Uyo Senatorial District under the aegis of Akwa Ibom North-East Consultative Forum have honoured and celebrated their sons, who emerged victorious at the 2023 general elections. The victory celebration event took place on Tuesday at the Forum’s Secretariat, 23/23 Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo. Among the people honoured and celebrated were Pastor Umo Enor (Governor-Elect for Akwa Ibom State), Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey (Senator-Elect for Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District), Obong Paul Ekpo (Member-Elect for Etinan/Nsit Ubium/Nsit Ibom Federal Constituency), Barr Ime Okon (Member-Elect for Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency), and Elder Mark Esset (Member-Elect for Uyo/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan/Uruan Federal Constituency). The Forum is led by a former Senator for the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Senator Effiong Bob.

Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Senator-Elect for the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Rt. Hon Aniekan Bassey, has appreciated members and Local Government Coordinators of his Campaign Council for their show of love, solidarity and support, which led to his victory at the February 25, 2023 polls. Rt. Hon. Bassey, who made the note during a thank you parley on Thursday at his Osongoma residence, Uyo, appealed to his campaign team to reciprocate the same gesture to all PDP candidates in the forthcoming Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, scheduled for March 18, 2023.  According to him, “I want to thank all of you for your many sacrifices and support towards my landslide victory at the polls on February 25, 2023. The victory is attributed to your loyalty, steadfastness and unprecedented support. I sincerely thank you and also appeal that you go back to your respective Units and mobilize voters for the PDP on Saturday, March 18, 2023 elections