CONNOISSEUR Exclusive: The Big Stories that shaped 2013

2013 has been a fantastic year for newshunters and media people (especially those in the editorial department) as they have had amazingly big stories. Some of these stories shook the state and shaped the year under consideration. www.connoisseurNG.compresents you the biggest stories of the year. These stories were picked based on how far they travelled, how long it was talked about by people, how long they dominated newspaper headlines and they extent they went viral on social media.

Don Jazzy, Governor Akpabio, Yvonne Nelson to bag Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador Award

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, will alongside his wife, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, Don Jazzy, Dele Momodu, Yvonne Nelson amongst other well known celebrities bag the Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador award on 31^st of October, 2013. A release by the organizers of the award shows that John Okafor a.k.a Mr. Ibu, Egor Efiok, Oluchi Orlandi, Edem Duke will also get awards in an award dinner that will take place at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. Below is the full text of the press by the organizers….

Gov. Akpabio finally joins twitter

Governor Godswill Akpabio has finally joined social network platform, Twitter. He opened his account today. With a twitter handle @GovAkpabio, he wrote on his bio “Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. All tweets emanate from my fingers”. He has started having followers already. He is yet to tweet. Welcome on board sir. #DigitalGovernorTingz

Journalists fight over Gov. Akpabio’s N5m

Joe Effiong

A brawl broke out on Saturday, 21 July 2012 when journalists involved in a scuffle for N5m given to the state branch of NUJ to share to its members who were present during a press conference organized by the state government.

The Akwa Ibom State Government had organized the press parley to clear the air on the brewing issue of the 76 oil wells awarded to Akwa Ibom at the expense of Cross River State by the Supreme Court. Over 300 journalists (and non-journalists alike) thronged the new banquet hall, venue for the event. Some were there since morning, but the press conference started at about 9pm.

Day Community Pulse publisher wept; consoled by Gov. Akpabio

Uko Umoh, arguably the most influential newspaper publisher in Akwa Ibom State last week, couldn’t control his emotions as he saw his late mom, Late (Dr.) Lucy Eboh, a university don being lowered in to the great beyond.

But the revered CEO of Community Pulse group of newspapers who is also known as Uko Biafra was however condoled by the executive governor of Akwa Ibom State who visited him two days after the burial to commiserate with the family.

Connoisseur.com brings pictures from the burial and the condolence visit by the multiple award-winning governor. Click read more for view more photos....

Five time boxing champion, Evander Holyfied visits Gov. Akpabio

Evander Hollyfield. You remember him? The five time boxing champion whose ear was bitten by Mike Tyson in a boxing rematch. He is in Nigeria in order to reconnect with his African roots. He was in Lagos on Saturday and today, Monday he visited the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio at Government House, Uyo.

Connoisseur.com learnt Holyfield is in the state to help develop boxing. He was given a souvenir by the generous and ever-smiling Akpabio.

Click read more to see more pictures...

PAUL EKPO RESIGNS FROM GOV. AKPABIO’S CABINET

Mr. Paul Ekpo, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Akwa Ibom State has resigned from his position.

Connoisseur.com learnt exclusively that the Etinan born politician resigned from Gov. Akpabio’s cabinet to contest for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairmanship position in Akwa Ibom State.

He resigned from his appointment today and we have spoken to some of his colleagues who confirmed this to us.

GOV.AKPABIO SPLASHES MILLIONS ON INI EDO AND EMEM ISONG

The premiere of I’LL Take My Chances,the wave making film co-produced by Ini Edo-Ehiagwina and Emem Isong is regarded as the best star studded movie premiere ever hosted in the industry.

However, not everybody is aware of the secret behind the success.

Going by the information gathered from insiders,Akwa-Ibom State Governor,Obong Godswill Akpabio is said to be the pillar behind the premieres of the movie that took place first in Uyo,the State capital last year which coincided with the State’s 24th year anniversary and the one that took place in Lagos a few weeks ago.

ABOUT ACTOR KANAYO O. KANAYO’S INCESSANT VISITS TO AKWA IBOM

Billionaires Club star actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo has been frequenting Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital in recent times. The main purpose of his incessant trips to the town has not been ascertained.

He was heavily present at both the Traditional Marriage and Wedding ceremonies of Mfon Akpabio, sister to Sir Emem Akpabio who works in Shell (both relatives to Gov. Akpabio).

AKPABIO: A ‘DIGITAL GOVERNOR’ WITH A DORMANT TWITTER HANDLE

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, undoubtedly the most decorated and award-winning governor in the history of the world is dubbed the ‘digital governor’. But Connoisseur.com feels that His Excellency has failed to live up to the billings attached to the name. To show that he is the ‘digital governor’ in the digital age, he has a Facebook account though he rarely updates his status.

GOVERNOR AKPABIO GRABS CBN AWARD

Governor Godswill Akpabio today received Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Best Governor Award. He was given the award because Akwa Ibom State emerged the Best State in infrastructural development, best in human empowerment, etc.

GUBER TRIBUNAL: UDOEDEHE WINS AKPABIO (UPDATED)

Gov. Akpabio/Sen. Udoedehe

The Gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the last year elections in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe was today, Tuesday, given some hope by the new tribunal sitting in Uyo. The petition filed by the Counsels to His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Chief Godswill Akpabio which prayed the tribunal not hear the case (of electoral fraud as filed by Udoedehe) because it was not filed within 180 days as specified by Electoral Act was struck out by tribunal today.

Actor Moses Armstrong appointed Special Adviser to Gov. Akpabio? No, it’s a hoax…

Moses Armstrong

Rumours making the rounds has it that actor Moses Armstrong has been appointed Special Adviser on Entertainment to Governor Goodwill Akpabio. This has been the discussion of some stakeholders in the industry and some celebrity sites have published stories insinuating that Armstrong has been given the