WE SAW A RAINBOW WHEN AKPABIO PRESENTED UDOM TO GOD –DR. UDO

WE SAW A RAINBOW WHEN AKPABIO PRESENTED UDOM TO GOD –DR. UDO

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Godswill Akpabio on Power and Managing Director of Ibom Power Company, Mr. Victor Udo, recounts experience, extols Akpabio and Udom. In an on-the-spot chat, he also gives highlights on electricity situation in the state. Excerpt:

As an unbiased umpire, what would you say has been the achievement of Governor Godswill Akpabio, and what are your expectations for the incoming government of Udom Emmanuel?

It is always good to talk about my boss, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, and I also have a lot of passion for the incoming Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel. I said somewhere that in the current administration, we prayed “Let God’s Will Be Done,” and God’s will has been done. For the incoming administration, we are saying “Emmanuel: God Is With Us.” This is to say that God’s will has been done and God has come to dwell with us. To me, it is the fulfillment of the name of our state, Akwa Abasi Ibom State. The outgoing and the incoming Governors are both great sons of the state. They are people that fear God, Chief Akpabio in particular is a nontribal person and he is well respected across Nigeria. The other day I went to Bida in Niger State and all the people were calling me the Uncommon Transformation. This is because we have a leader that has taken our state to that level of recognition. This is something that we all should be very proud of.

During the interdenominational service in honour of the Governor and his wife at Ibom Hall Grounds, I saw women crying when the Governor literally brought in Udom Emmanuel as his successor. Chief Akpabio is a leader that we have been praying for and God will continue to use him. He is not perfect because no human being is perfect, but as he continues to serve the people, God will continue to prosper him to be able to speak for us across the country and the world.

I do not want to talk about his achievements because they are there for everyone to see. The free education policy and the free medical care for the people. Not to even talk about my area, the Power Sector. It is the greatest thing that people don’t know about. He has given us the building block in power, gas facility, power generating plant, transmission lines, investments in power distribution and transformers to most villages. And for these, the greatest thing he has done is to make sure someone that will build on these accomplishments succeeds him. Because it would have been a terrible thing for all of these foundations to be laid and a wrong person come to build upon it.

So, Udom Emmanuel is someone that I am well pleased and comfortable with. He is a man with passion. Let me tell you this, we saw a rain bow when the Governor presented Udom to God. It was very symbolic during the Church Service, after Chief Akpabio introduced and handed over to Udom in the presence of the people and men of God, we saw a rainbow behind the Chief Akpabio. It might not mean anything to the people but to me that was symbolic. That showed that there is a covenant between the people with God. And as Deacon of the Qua Iboe Church, you can be assured that the things he promised he will fulfill. I want to also assure the people that the dream that we have been having for the state is going to be fulfilled through Udom Emmanuel and I am very happy to have been part of the success story.

I believe Akwa Ibom is going to be an island of great opportunity and success. It has been great all the way and I believe as Chief Akpabio hands over, he is not going to run away. It is going to be a great teamwork. There will be no Abuja front or home front but Akwa Ibom front at home, Abuja and the rest of the world. So, we should be very grateful to God.

Recently, there has been noticeable fluctuation in power supply and at time total blackout. What is the way out?

I am not going to speak for the incoming Governor because I know he is much focused and has a plan. He knows the challenges of power as far as Akwa Ibom is concerned. We are blessed to have a Governor like Godswill Akpabio who saw ahead of other government and invested in gas. The major problem of power in Nigeria is gas. But today, we have gas in Akwa Ibom, we have power generating plant and transmission lines. The reason we are not seeing steady power is because of the privatization which has given the distribution of power to a private company, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), that is still learning the game.

There is power in Akwa Ibom but the company is purposely not delivering the power to the people because in their minds, the people were not going to pay bills. This is something the incoming Governor is aware of and will certainly handle. Once the distribution management problem is solved, there is no reason Akwa Ibom will not have steady power supply. So, it is a pure commercial reason that the people are not having power and this is something we must holistically look at; because in fairness, power is not free and it is very expensive. So, basically it is really a commercial issue right now.

What about the issue of pay-as-you-use. That is the prepaid meter?

What people need to know are two things. The prepaid meters are not free and are expensive. We have the issue of people who said they have paid for it but have not been given. This is because the meters are not available right now. Again, there is no justification for the distribution company to be in a rush to import them because they get more money by estimating. When they estimate, they can charge you whatever they want. That is why the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, the only legalized body that can enforce regulation and standard, is coming in.

The distribution company really need to sit-up, give the service and charge people accordingly. So, prepaid is good but it is expensive. Ultimately, I believe since the state government own about 12 per cent share of PHEDC, the incoming administration will have to look at that for the distribution of power in the state. There is no excuse for the people of the state not to have steady power after all the investment we have made as a state.

Advice for the incoming government

Well, nothing more but to congratulate the Governor of this state, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, my boss. I want to thank him for giving me an opportunity to be a part of his team. I want to also thank God for blessing him with a good wife and family and for making him what he is today. I also want to congratulate the incoming Governor, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel that God has brought to us to continue and consolidate on what his predecessor has done in order to ensure sustainable development. In all, I want to thank God that Akwa Ibom is on the “Right Side, the Ubok Udom Abasi, Udom Emmanuel.”

Why Not Onofiok Luke?

Why Not Onofiok Luke?

By N. T. A. Efo

        I had just one encounter and I knew that some legislators, including Onofiok Luke, a lawyer and member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, were i

n the House of Assembly for serious reasons – to represent their people in the scheme of things in the State; to make extant laws for the people of the State and make sure the executive arm of government performed at the dictates of the people’s conscience.

        It was the day newly appointed commissioners – some were returning – in Governor Godswill Akpabio’s first second term cabinet were before the House for screening. The screening was anything, by any standard, screening.  It was more or less a sing - song afternoon, the lead vocalists being the legislators representing the nominees who in their choruses asked for those they sang for, to be permitted to take a bow and leave.

        It was few days after the Senate in Abuja had screened ministerial nominees. In Abuja, there was screening in all the sense of the word screening.  Though some Senators amongst them were told to take a bow and leave, some of them were still asked some questions pertinent to their nomination.

        You could see how disillusioned. I and some great minded Akwa Ibomites were, to watch the charade called screening at the State House of Assembly. Few people, including Luke, tried to ask questions but were overruled by the Speakers, who most times led the refrain in singing the praise of some of the nominees. On more them one occasion, he had tod the nominees, before putting the vote to the floor; “I know you performed in your office last time.  This time I know you will perform better”.  Who would ever not get cleared before such an Assembly?

        Immediately the charade was over, I called Luke and Bassey Etienam, another lawyer and member representing Urue Offiong Oruko State Constituency.  They had just left my circle in the Forum of Personal Aides to the Governor and moved to higher grounds.  So, I could easily connect with them.  They both picked the calls – they still pick my calls anyway – and based on their answers to my complains about the screening, I knew the duo were in the House for serious business.

Luke told me he had prepared questions for each of the nominees.  He never had the opportunity to ask them. Ditto Bassey. Why? The leadership decided to conduct the screening in a manner that did not allow the House to function, and the public to calibrate the scales of those to secure them.

        There are cries already in the public domain about the quality of representation thrown up by the last election.  Some say most of them can not really point hands to any valuable experience other than God’s favour and political brinkmanship.  In such cases, some believe it is only an experienced, informed, articulate, creative, sound and intelligent leadership that will make the new set of parliamentarians change agents.  Change sweeps across the nation.  All Nigerians yearn for change.  All Akwa Ibom people whether in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, the All Progressive Congress, APC, the Labour Party, other parties and even non-political citizens, yearn for change.  The change we yearn for is not about a change in leadership – though it is very important – but mostly a change in the attitude of leadership – in the things they say; in the things they do and in the things they accomplish.  People keep questioning the rationale behind a new five star hotel in Uyo and the four star hotel in Ikot Ekpene.  Yet, we put money on them and I join in betting that in two years, the two hotels will go under.  Why?  The local economy cannot feed them – with the Le Meridian Ibom Hotel and Resort being in a prime location and unique point to keep floating – not swimming - if you know the challenges of power, management et cetera, facing them. It was the House of Assembly which could have advised the government against such investments but allowed it.  All the Hose needed to do was to set up a team of consultants to look at the pros and cons of such investments and report back to the Executive.  I am sure no team could have adviced them to praise the Executives for such projects.  Ikot Ekpene needed an international market, one probably around Ikot Umo Essien axis where goods from Aba could upload for people to pick them and move them into Calabar, Eket, Uyo and the interlands, much more than a four star hotel.  Who will sleep in those hotels?  Certainly not the local populace who struggle daily to keep body and soul together.  Certainly not also the back up tiny business clan and political heavy weights who will prefer the quiet of the Nwaniba beach front to the noise of the Ikot Ekpene Plaza.

        Anyway, this piece is not about the hotels and some other misplaced investments that have left an opportunity cost in our lives.  There is still poverty glaring in the wanton display of desperation to catch any cash that drops from the Executive table. Tell people money is being shared on Wellington Bassey Way end and see the multitude that will go queue to up sometimes forever.  Sometimes without making a dime at the end.

        The function of the House of Assembly is therefore, very important, in the management of our resources to make sure that the executive gives us our vote’s worth.  We give our vocies to our representatives once we send them to the House.  My voice is now literally bequeathed to Emmanuel Bassey Ekpenyong, member representing Ini State Constituency.  On the national scene, I need to pass all my thoughts to Engr. Iboro Ekanem who will represent Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency and, of course Chief Godwill Akpabio at the Senate.  That is how democracy works. The trio need also to be in constant touch with me and other constituents to feel our pulse on all areas germane to our progress and development.

        It is on this note that I support a vibrant House of Assembly in the coming dispensation.     We have played too much of politics.  We need to move on.  From my fore-arguments, I look forward to a legislator in the mold of Luke to take up the leadership.  Thank God for the rules in the House, Luke belongs to the group of five returning legislators eligible to be voted in as Speaker.  Those who talk of setting aside the rules to allow new members become Speaker do not know how the legislature works.  The clerk cannot preside over such function.  The clerk’s duty is to see to an inauguration and the election of a Speaker.  The law can only be changed after a Speaker has been elected.

        By the zoning arrangement in the PDP, only two legislators are from Uyo Senatorial District.  Aside Luke, there is another lawyer Ime Okon from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area.  Like Luke, he is said to be sound, intelligent, matured and experience.  He actually fits the bill the way Luke fits.  But the Speakership is not all about the maturity of age, which many agree Luke also possesses the maturity to the degree of his youth. The maturity of a young man like Onofiok lies in achieving so much in so short a time.  In the achievement lies an experience age cannot bring about.  This is maturity.  An elderly person who has no achievement and experience to colour his conduct in life is not matured.

        For Okon, many say he is being sponsored by the First Lady, Mrs. Uloma Ekaette Akpabio and Sir Emem Akpabio, fondly called the Godfather and the Leader.  For Luke, he is said to be backed by the Governor, the Governor-elect and incoming legislators led by Hon. Nse Ntuen, Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government.  These connections may be mere beer parlor gist though and cannot be taken with a pinch of salt.  But that is what I heard.  I also heard the First Lady-God help her; she’s too mentioned in the whole mix, including the fact that she is to produce a woman Secretary to the State Governor, SSG, from Oron nation; pray what will Udom Emmanuel’s wife produce – is also considering the Deputy Speaker, Udo Kerian Akpan, as an alternative.  Akpan is a good guy, experienced, matured but lacks the moral ground to stand on, being from the same area the Deputy Governor is from.  People are asking whether there is palpable fear that there may be a re-run and in an event Umana Umana wins, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District will be out in the cold. That shows a lack of confidence in the process that produced the Governor-elect and this shouldn’t be.  Afterall, PDP swept all polling units.  I hope nobody is trying to make us believe otherwise. 

Seriously, Luke exemplifies the new Akwa Ibom we envisage.  In Luke’s speakership will Udom succeed? Udom does not need a rubber-stamp house.  He needs a House that will engage him in robust debates which result will benefit all of Akwa Ibom State.  Luke is well concreted to both returning and incoming members of the House.  In this lies a unified House where no caucuses will be formed to the detriment of the new Akwa Ibom which we all envisage.

        Whether or not the aspirants are supported by powerful forces, the final authority lies in the members of the House which I implore to please, set sentiment aside and vote in Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke as the next Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. In Luke will they have their independence and freedom to fully cooperate with the Executive to the full extent of fulfilling their separate powers to the full benefit Akwa Ibom State.

Efo, a public affairs analyst, writes from Uyo

UNIVERSAL ENERGY CRISIS: PLANS TO INCRIMINATE UNION UNCOVERED

UNIVERSAL ENERGY CRISIS: PLANS TO INCRIMINATE UNION UNCOVERED

Plans to incriminate and subsequently sack its workers have been uncovered barely 24 hours after a protest by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) branch of the Universal Energy Resources Limited (UERL) against the unfair and inhuman treatment meted on them by its Management.

The Management, through its Shared Services Manager, Mr. Solomon Echerebor, has made uncivilized and unlawful attempt to break into the company’s corporate headquarters so as to link it to the union.

A highly paced member of the union who does not want his name on print hinted our reporter, according to him: “The Management, instead of solving the pending problems and issues raised by the worker asked Mr. Solomon Echerebor to break into the company’s premises and probably take some of the official cars and other incriminating documents. They are looking for a way to indict us so that they will have a reason to sack us. It is unlawful to break into premises that are under lock and keys.”

An insider, who noticed the move by Mr. Echerebor, said “the intruder said he was instructed to break into the compound and carry vehicles that will assist the company’s Project Manager, Engr. Steve Okoko, and other senior staff outside.”

Our investigations revealed that the protesters, who had a prayer session early today, are fight against Management refusal to honour and implement tripartite agreement, victimization of our Union members by the Finance Director, Mr. Basil Monwe, refusal to train staff and unfair labour practices by Management.

PROTEST ROCKS UNIVERSAL ENERGY

PROTEST ROCKS UNIVERSAL ENERGY

… As Workers Sealed off Headquarters, Halt Production

Frustrated by the unlabour practices of its Management, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) branch of the Universal Energy Resources Limited (UERL), sealed off the company’s Headquarters, Uyo, to protest the development and assault by the Finance Director, Mr. Basil Monwe.

Gathered as early as 7.am, the aggrieved workers chanted solidarity songs and moved peacefully with placards that read: “We condemn Management unwillingness to negotiate Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Union. This is anti-Labour; Who owns Universal Energy? Is it Akwa Ibom State Government or Seven Energy? Akwa Ibom must know; Stop threat to life, victimization, tribal sentiment, FD must go; Universal Energy/Seven Energy Management does not respect communiqués and tripartite agreements; Say no to Seven Energy Slavery; Seven Energy don’t kill UERL.”

Top on the minds of the protesters were the issue of abuse of its members by the Finance Director, Mr. Basil Monwe; casualization of staff and outsourcing of manpower, and over deduction of its members’ allowances and pension.

Also, the protesters expressed their displeasure over what they described as ‘unLabour disposition’ of its Management, which recently announced commencement of crude oil production from its Stubb Creek Field following the approval to embark on delivery of oil through the ExxonMobil’s Qua Iboe Terminal, which came on stream in early February 2015.

Lamenting a promised First-Oil-Bonus, a protester, who does not want his name on print, said “there is only one solution to this problem. The Management must be sincere to all its policies thereby treating its staff as human.”

When contacted, the branch Chairman of the Union, Comrade Edidiong Uyouko, said the protest was as result of “Management consistent and deliberate refusal to re-negotiate on expired Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that is subsisting, non-implementation of clauses in the CBA, refusal to address 26 outstanding wage re-opener items.”

“Our protest today is as a result of Management refusal to honour and implement tripartite agreement, victimization of our Union members by the Finance Director, Mr. Basil Monwe, refusal to train staff and unfair labour practices by Management,” he stressed.

Effort to speak with company’s Project Manager, Engr. Steve Okoko, proved abortive, however, its Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Aniefiok Iwaudofia, said the protest was a husband-wife quarrel, adding that Management was ever ready to better and improve working conditions and welfare of its staff

Mr. Iwaudofia urged the protesters not to aid the destruction of life and property while bringing to bare their grievances and assured that Management was seriously looking into the issues raised by the union.