Smear campaign against Senator effIong Bob taken too far

Edidiong Nya

The ongoing smear campaign against Distinguished Senator Effiong Bob, the political leader of Nsit Ubium has gone too far. The campaign which is sponsored by agents of blackmail, who does nothing than recruit rascals to go on social media, notably Facebook to post articles, videos, and make comments just to drag the high reputable Senator Bob to the mud.

God will punish Blessing Mbakara, her supporters – son of alleged kidnap victim

The uproar that occurred yesterday in Nsit Ubium following the arrest of Hon Blessing Mbakara has gotten deeper as the missing widow's son, Mr Ezekiel Uboh, invoked the wrath of God on Blessing Mbakara and her supporters, who thought they can play politics on the disappearance of his mother. He expressed regrets that some people are happy over the disappearance his mother, he discarded the rumor that Sen Effiong Bob is the person behind her arrest.

Effiong Bob and Son: Senator's gamble may affect his focus on Udom's second term project - Osondu Ahirika

By Osondu Ahirika

Senator Effiong Dickson Bob is his name. An old war horse. Tried and tested in the uncanny and murky terrain of our local and national politics. He has fought many political battles. Won some, lost some.
Senator Bob is currently embroiled in the mother of all battles, apologies to late Saddam Hussein. The project of delivering his son, Barrister Otobong Effiong Bob, as the next member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, will be akin to rolling water uphill.
Senator Bob, like his colleague, Senator Ita Enang, belongs to the exclusive caste of grassroots politicians who has seen it all, rising from the lowest rung of our political 'stratosphere' to the top. He cut his political teeth as a Supervisory Councilor for Works And Transport in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area in 1990. He got elected to represent his State Constituency and served as Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly between 1992-1993.

AKHA 2019: Uproar in Nsit Ubium as Effiong Bob orders arrest of son’s opponent

There is currently uproar in Nsit Ubium Local Government as “Distinguished” Senator Effiong Dickson Bob, on Friday facilitated the arrest of his son’s opponent, Blessing Mbakara by the police.

Bob’s son, Otobong Effiong Bob, a young and budding lawyer who barely has 3 years post-bar experience has been drafted into politics by the father.

Senator Bob wants his son to replace Speaker Onofiok Luke as the representative of Nsit Ubium in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly of Assembly come 2019. Rt. Hon. Luke is not seeking a third term in office as he eyeing the Etinan/Nsit Ubium/Nsit Ibom Federal Constituency seat in the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja.

Niger Delta Civic Engagement Forum holds in Uyo

The Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement Project with support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) is hosting the Niger Delta region to the 2017 Niger Delta Civic Engagement Forum (NDCEF) with the Theme: Strengthening the Niger Delta through Civic Engagement.

New PPRO for Akwa Ibom State Police Command

The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has a new Public Relations Officer. He is DSP Bala Elkana. He replaces DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu.

Udom to inaugurate EARCOM, AKISIEC tomorrow

Governor Udom Emmanuel will tomorrow, Wednesday inaugurate the newly constituted Law Reform Commission, Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission and Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC). According to a release made available to CONNOISSEUR, the event will take place at Exco Chamber, Governor's Office, Uyo, by 5 pm. The release invites exco members, Chairmen of Boards & Commissions, Perm. Sects to the event.

Michael Bush blasts Sam Ikon, tells him to apologize to TheMail Newspaper

The CEO of Bush House Nigeria, Akparawa Michael Bush has blast the Member Representing Etinan Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sam Ikon for using foul language against TheMail Newspaper. The newspaper outfit had published a news report where Ikon’s constituents gave the lawmaker bashings for not empowering the people he represents.

Rev Patrick Edet opens own ministry in Ibom Hall, names it Covenant Grace Assembly

It is one news item that has dominated the public space since last Wednesday. It has made inroads into the deepest ends of the world.

The announcement on radio last week by former priest of the Catholic Church, Fr. Patrick Edet of his resignation as a priest shocked many. It was a development that many could not relate with immediately. Even now, many have yet to come to terms that Fr. Edet is no longer a priest of the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Uyo.

Governor Wike appoints new commissioners, sacks special advisers

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has sacked all the Special Advisers to the Governor.

A statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, however, noted that the Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, Bishop Winston Iwo retains his post.

Meanwhile, the governor has appointed new commissioners. Names of the new commissioners were sent to the State House of Assembly for confirmation.They are:

Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Diezani’s $37.5m Banana Island Property

Justice Chuka Obiozor, a vacation judge sitting at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, August 7, 2017, ordered the final forfeiture of a $37.5m( N11.75bn) property on Banana Island, Ikoyi,
Lagos allegedly belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The order came following an exparte application filed on July 17, 2017 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. At the last adjourned sitting on July 19, 2017, counsel to the EFCC, A.B.C. Ozioko, while moving the ex-parte application, had urged the court to order the forfeiture of the total sum of USD$2, 740,197.96 and N84, 537,840.70 respectively found by the Commission in Rusimpex USD
account No. 1013612486 domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Ozioko had also urged the court to order an interim forfeiture of the assets and property. The EFCC counsel had further prayed the court to grant an order prohibiting the “disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the assets and property.”

Group fixes dates for protest in Uyo, Lagos over new governor's lodge

Inibehe Effiong

Akwa Ibom Conscience, a non-partisan association of conscientious citizens devoted to the advancement of the ideals and principles of freedom, justice, human rights, good governance, anti-corruption, accountability and the rule of law in Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State in particular, will hold a peaceful protest in Lagos and Akwa Ibom States on Thursday 10th and Friday 11th August, respectively.

LG Polls: A peep into the new template of service Barr. Onuk has prepared for Itu people

Two years after the celebrated visionary leader of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew  left office,  he granted an interview to journalists where he admitted that the swiftness in which he began the tasking job of transforming from a third world to a first world nation was possible because he had prepared a template for the actions he hopes to take once he gets into office.

2019: Uyo reaffirms support for Udom, as Info Commissioner hosts PDP stakeholders

Charles Udoh

Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uyo Local Government Area, have once again risen in unison to drum support for the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel, his second term bid in 2019 and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy,  Charles Udoh.

Akwa Ibom govt official, Imo Udobia dead

An official of the Akwa Ibom State Government, Hon. Imo Udobia is dead. A family source confirmed Udobia’s death to CONNOISSEUR, Sunday morning. The source however didn’t divulge the cause of Udobia’s death. Hon. Udobia, until his death was Chairman, State Secondary Education Board. He is the younger brother to the Political Leader of Esit Eket and CEO of Eden Hotels who is also the owner of Construction Company, Benest Technical Services, Elder Benji Udobia.

Obong Attah extols Udom’s political maturity

Obong Attah speaking at the event

His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel has lauded the political contributions of a prominent politician, Otuekong Idongesit Udokpo, even as former Governor Obong Victor Attah has praised Governor Emmanuel for his political maturity.

Lagos Lodge: Great leaders are always misquoted and misconstrued - Udom

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has described himself as a great leader, stating that great leaders always vulnerable to being misquoted and misconstrued, CONNOISSEUR reports. He stated this as a reaction to the public outcry for the planned construction of a N1.2bn governor’s lodge in Lagos.

Criticism on new lodge is myopic – Udom

Governor Udom Emmanuel has described as myopic, the criticisms that have trailed the controversial proposal for construction of a new governor’s lodge in Lagos, CONNOISSEUR reports. In an interaction with Government House reporters, Mr Emmanuel said the notion by some members of the public that the state does not need to invest in any place outside the state is “a little bit myopic”.

N1.2bn budgeted for new lodge in Lagos is paltry - Udom

Governor Udom Emmanuel has described as paltry, the N1.2bn approved by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for the new governor’s lodge in Ikoyi, Lagos. He made this declaration on Saturday while speaking with reporters in Government to clear the air on the controversial proposed project, CONNOISSEUR reports.  

Media report that 51.6% of married couples in Akwa Ibom are HIV positive is false - AKSACA

The Akwa Ibom State Government has debunked media report that 51.6% of married couples in the state are HIV positive, saying the report is false. In a press statement issued by Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS (AKSACA), the agency said the prevalence of HIV in the state is 10.8%. Read more after the cut…

New Governor’s lodge in Lagos was first contemplated in Attah’s government – Attorney General

The Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko, Esq has said that the idea of building a new governor’s lodge by the AKSG in Lagos was first contemplated during the Obong Victor Attah government. Nwoko made this known while speaking in the “Canopy” (interview) segment of the PDP sponsored Umbrella Show on Planet Radio and monitored by CONNOISSEUR. He said though it was “contemplated” during the Attah administration, the land was bought during the administration of Senator Godswill Akpabio. He said the land has been lying fallow for years, stating that the Lagos State Government can revoke the land if it is not developed, leaving the state to be at a loss. There has been controversy and public outcry over the intention of the Udom led administration to build a new governor’s lodge in Lagos with an estimated budget of over N1b approved for it in the 2017 supplementary budget.