Stop Gary Foxcroft's Criminal Activities in Akwa Ibom State

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State Government House Wellington Bassey Way Uyo 15th August, 2016 Your Excellency, Stop Gary Foxcroft's Criminal Activities in Akwa Ibom State

I want to respectfully draw your attention to another smear campaign against the state and Nigeria as a whole that is about to be launched by a notorious Briton by name Gary Foxcroft. This man who hides under the pretext of doing charity work for children in Nigeria but weaves millions of pounds while blackmailing the state, the country and certain persons using some locals who are his unwilling assets and whom he dishes out peanuts to at the end of his sordid voyage. I have also been made aware of the invasion of Akwa Ibom State by some espionage documentary filmmakers hired by Foxcroft, who went around paying some parents, centers to coerce children to make false and disparaging statements against certain persons of their target interest and indeed the state government to add flavour to their documentaries and sell in millions of pounds. They have done this before and are on it again; but this time round, it's on a frightening proportion. The group works with some desperate, identifiable five individuals from Akwa Ibom and two from Calabar as guides and covert agents. These individuals should be investigated for their involvement in espionage activities and abetting the fraudulent mercenaries. I can authoritatively state that about five weeks ago, Foxcroft accompanied these unpatriotic individuals to the Divine Children Center, Uyo where they bribed caretakers of the center to give them opportunity to interview those children, initially with secret cameras. Not minding that some of these children have grown up and don't need publicity stunts or being used anymore as pawns for egregious money machines. The center was later besieged by an espionage group again called Red Rebel or Red Label hired by Gary Foxcroft to continue the secret filming of the children. The Red Rebel or Red Label is headed by a lady who goes by the incognito Mags Gaven or sometimes Mags Graven. What baffles any right thinking person is the easy access to the government center granted by the center operators to these charity scam artists who became nouveau riches overnight. There is need to overhaul the center and bring in patriotic individuals and persons who are not despicably desperate in the sight of these white con-men. These white scam artists claim to support children and reverse superstitions as their primary goals which may look good on the surface, but for the past ten years, they are still doing the same job in Akwa Ibom State. How long are they going to continue with such machinations without scrupulous checks? A few questions to also ask here are: Do their unwholesome activities not have a planned duration or time-bound? Do they not have a goal setting in place? Must Akwa Ibom or Nigeria be their only place to run their nefarious activities and in perpetuity? I am willing to give out the names of the dubious individuals who are colluding with these white con-men led by Gary Foxcroft. So far, I have been able to unearthed the names and addresses of three of them, known to be indigenes of Akwa Ibom State while the two from Calabar have also been identified with their names and addresses. Your Excellency, the time to take action is now! Yours faithfully, Mfon Joseph CC: 1. DG, DSS 2. Chair, EFCC 3. Chair, ICPC 4. IGP 5. DG, NIS Stepping Stones Nigeria, Safe Child Africa, WHRIN

VICTORIA AND THE NIGHTMARE OF AKWA IBOM ‘WITCH’ CHILDREN

Written By

Mecky I. Peters

pmeckfree@yahoo.com



My heart bleeds as I read the story of Victoria. How her own parents subjected her to midnight torture; when everywhere has been calmed, waking her up at night and burning her with candle to extract confession. This time not Victoria Climbie, but Victoria Akwa-Ibom. We reject our own for others to pick and make good use of as if our own ignorance is incurable. The story of Akwa Ibom Child Witch Story is an endless one of the levity with which the government subjected it to.



In Akwa Ibom State, it is very terrible situation while our government tries a lot to make a window dressing as if nothing bad is going on; and the very the church that causes this whole problem is trying to blame humanists and atheist groups for the very problem that they initiated in 1999, brainwashing people with films such as "END OF THE WICKED," "ESCAPE ROOT" and "The COVEN" And books like ''The Seat of Satan Exposed'' ''UNVEILING THE MYSTERY OF WITCHCRAFT'' written by Apostle Helen Ukpabio. The latter states, in part: “If a child under the age of two screams in the night, cries and is always feverish with deteriorating health he or she is a servant of Satan.” This is however a common phenomenon in the rustic Nigerian communities where malaria epidemic is nothing to write home about and given the avalanche of mosquitoes from pot holes, stench-emitting blocked gullies and garbage heaps



Years back, we witnessed how aged people were accused of witchcraft, causing unheard-of atrocity were abused, neglected or killed openly, (Remember Akpan Ekwong who led the killings of people in the early eighties?); no child was ever accused of being a witch. But after such films, music and pulpit theology laced with fear of witchcraft and how children have taken over the witch world, the fate of Akwa Ibom child changed for the worst. In every 2 children accused of witchcraft in Nigeria 1 is from Akwa Ibom. Outside Nigeria, in every 4 children accused of witchcraft, 1 is from Akwa Ibom State. But we continue to downplay on the magnitude of this problem and castigate those who dare to work or campaign to reverse this ugly and dangerous trend. Thank God that this very story is not written by an Akwa Ibom person otherwise they would have referred it to blackmailing AkwaIbom State government at the detriment of child



As I write this piece, inside my mind, I frown at Aniekan Umanah, the present Akwa Ibom State Information Commissioner, for lying to the world that no child has ever being harmed or hurt on account of witchcraft while children continue to face death penalty in churches and their family homes. As we walk the streets daily we see more and more children on the Street because the misinforming, sorry LIAR Commissioner of Orientation and Information has disoriented the people and not help to enlighten his society. I frown at him for not educating the people about the wicked brainwash of these vile and renegade churches.



Some journalists who had reported about the true child witch story to expose the atrocity of these churches and the parents, have been paid by Aniekan Umanah and the Liberty Gospel Church to write a reverse story. With time, I believe we will work with some human right lawyers to face his paid journalists for the monumental deceit. All is not yet Uhuru for them. Let them get paid and tell lies about the fate of children of Akwa Ibom origin. But I must strongly commend some of the journalists and right groups who stood their ground and refused to be paid with blood money to sacrifice our children. Those who see the truth and tell it the way it is; those who have refused to be bought to tell lies. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the News Watch magazine and The News for misleading the public with their paid job to belch cannon of lies about the right groups that work to rescue and protect these vulnerable children. Those who are here knows the truth and cannot be deceived



As I write now, one child is facing jungle justice out there for no crime he or she has committed. Her only crime is that she was born to an Akwa Ibom person, or perhaps in a poor family. The Akwa Ibom Child Fate is that of witch branding, stigmatisation, torture, abandonment, suffocation, trafficking, rituals and DEATH. The government has not done anything to enlighten the folk and religious groups on the superstitious belief of child witchcraft simply because most government officials believe that those children deserve such fate since they are guilty as charged. They pay much attention to buy the media to tell the world that those who campaign for stoppage of child stigmatization; torture and killing are doing so for pecuniary reason without offering an alternative.



Thank goodness, the federal government of Nigeria through Dr Idris Kuta, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development recently issued a statement acknowledging child witch palaver and made a strong condemnation on those stigmatised and torture children in the name of witchcraft.



I just read in media how the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio is working with the state House of Assembly to gag the media with headlines such as “Gov Akpabio’s Akwa Ibom Assembly arrogating Power to Itself to Gag Journalists." “Akwa Ibom Govt moves to gag media over critical reporting of Governor Akpabio”



While I am yet to come to term with this, I will no doubt encourage government to pay attention to the myriads of problem that bedeviled the fate of stigmatised children and do more to curb the menace instead of wasting time establishing repulsive laws that will attract more criticism and cynicism. I agree that the law has been passed since 2008, but how many pastors or parents have been prosecuted. Not a single one! Rather we eulogize them and expect every body to do same. Unfortunate! Apart from the mere arrest and bail-out no one has ever face prosecution. Those who report such pastors to the government or its agency, risk being gunned after, blackmailed, even by same government agents with tacit support from the executive government. Akpabio and his government agents have been very infamous in launching vicious and calumnious attack on the right groups backed up by organisation such as Liberty Gospel Church that invented the child witch imbroglio and indeed phenomenon in Nigeria.



The Story of Victoria from Akwa Ibom State whose parents work in INEC and live in Karu, Abuja tells you that Akwa Ibom Child is not save any where in the world with brainwash launch by the Christian fanatical groups and government inaction or lack of intervention. Victoria's story reminds me of the Good Samaritan who wasn’t a Christian but stopped to rescue the dying Christ. Barrister Aja N. Aja who rescued Victoria is not from Akwa Ibom and may not be a Christian but dovetailed to help Victoria who is an Akwa Ibom Child.



Apart from the Child’s Right and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) whose, founder (Sam Itauma) and members are Christians all other right groups that are today campaigning for the end to Child stigmatisation are not Christian by inclination or concept but they work tirelessly to save the lives of children who are manacled in churches and starved to death in the name of exorcism and the streets. So what the fusses about atheist and humanist groups when Christian groups have failed us? What the fuss when churches have failed us; when pastors, evangelist, Apostles, Bishop, Prophets have failed us?



I recently attended the attended a UNICEF advocacy meeting here in Akwa Ibom, where a government representative stood up and argued that some of the accused children might be witches. If a government official made such remarks in a high profile advocacy meeting like that, what does one expect how such children will be treated by the an ordinary person?



Such helpless children continue to dot the streets, taking refuge in abandoned structures and becoming prey to human traffickers and ritual killers. What could have happed to all these children if these groups did not step up campaigns to protect them? Reporting such abuse, torture or killing of children on the media is seen as fighting the government. The Akwa Ibom government continues to flaunt its bloated ego sweeping such cruelty on children under the carpet with the archaic cliché “Akwa Ibom Ado Ok”. Meaning Akwa Ibom is Ok! And now, it is “the Uncommon Transformation!” But whatever transformation that may have set in, while the human trafficking business in Nigeria or Africa continues to boom because the syndicates know Akwa Ibom State is a repository of abandoned children only compared to Nepal as a whole, makes such transformation a lip-service.



Truly if the Channel News TV that aired Victoria’s story was in Akwa Ibom, it would not have gone unscathed. The TV anchorman would have been under crucible investigation now by the government security agents. No doubt Governor Akpabio is working round the clock to gag the press using the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as a puppet, defying the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill that was passed into law by the federal government of Nigeria.



While appreciating the fact that state government had enacted the child protection law, I bemoan bitterly as the implementation still remains a mirage. How many of these pastors or parent have so far been prosecuted, apart from the arrest and bail? One strong question that refuses to depart the lips of many is: What would have happened to the thousands of children stigmatised children if the civil society and right groups had taking to sitting on the fence? Clearly, with about 50 thousands churches in Nigeria, only one church is leading a campaign against witch hunting; with zero tolerance to witchcraft belief. This is Solid Rock Kingdom Church with Apostle John Okoriko. Can other churches and pastors borrow a leaf here?



To this end, I wish to dole out my Diadem of Honour to the right groups and civil society organizations with the following acronyms for working hard to save the witch children of Nigeria: CRARN, UNICEF, NAPTIP, SSN, YHN, CEHRD NHM and indeed the initiator of Anti Child Witch-Hunt Campaign Mr. Sam Itauma for donating time, resources and love for the ostracized children right to life.



Peters writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

EKET DEVELOPMENT CONGRESS (EDC) USA POSITION ON FUEL SUBSIDY AND THE AMAKPE REFINERIES

Gov Akpabio, hunted by Amakpa Referies


PRESS RELEASE: EKET DEVELOPMENT CONGRESS (EDC) POSITION ON FUEL

SUBSIDY AND HOW THE

COMPLETION OF AMAKPE REFINERIES WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.



In light of the recent fuel subsidy crisis in Nigeria which almost

derailed our fragile Democracy and its continuous aftershocks, Eket

Development Congress USA Inc. (EDC) has decided to add its voice to those

of millions of Nigerians who believe that the solution to the subsidy

issue is within our power to ameliorate. The Federal Government and the

Akwa Ibom State Government in particular should seize this golden

opportunity to jump start talks with Amakpe Refinery, a Project with

benefits that would extend beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Like many Nigerians of different works, EDC is at a loss as to why the 8th

largest producer of Crude Oil in the world, Nigeria, is unable or

unwilling to refine adequate fuel for at least local consumption? Why do

we have to subsidize fuel imported from outside the country when we can

refine enough within the borders of Nigeria? Many have argued that it is

not profitable to refine locally as long as we are subsidizing imported

fuel, if we as Nigerians know what the problem is, why are we not willing

to fix it by creating the environment to promote the establishment of more

local refineries.


EDC notes with interest Governor Akpabio’s recent statement in which he

expressed his support for the removal of the subsidy, and maintained that

the subsidy was applicable to fuel imports, and therefore had no potential

to generate employment, or add to the country’s gross domestic product.

The Governor was also quoted as saying that rather than subsidizing

consumption, the government should subsidize production, pointing out that

under the subsidy, those who ran refineries were not eligible for subsidy

but were expected to sell at the regulated price, while those importing

fuel were benefiting from the subsidy.


Given the above comments and recent pronouncements by the government of

Akwa Ibom State, led by Governor Godswill Akpabio, to release the sum of

one billion dollars for the industrialization of the state that has

prompted EDC to assume that Governor Akpabio would fully support an

immediate commencement of talks with the Amakpe Refinery promoters with

the aim of finding a lasting solution to the impasse.


The Amakpe Refinery Project requires the sum of $30 million to fund the

pending receivables and construction costs to complete full implementation

at the Project site in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, and will start-up production

and be operational within six months of shipment of the completely

fabricated Refinery Equipment. Implementation of the Amakpe Refinery

Project will create over 1,000 direct jobs and about 5,000 indirect jobs

in the restive Niger Delta of Nigeria which would go a long way in

assisting the Federal Government Militancy Rehabilitation Program. Within

a few years of operation, the 6,000 BPD Amakpe Refinery will increase

its refining capacity through 12,000BPD to 50,000 BPD, and would create

over 3,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs, with the ability to

reduce militancy and kidnappings in the Niger Delta Region .

Furthermore, the development will support the genuine efforts of the

Federal Government of Nigeria aimed at increasing local crude oil refining

capacity and making Nigeria Energy independent, which will help to address

the problem of Fuel subsidy.

Prayers:

EDC is requesting Your Excellency, Governor Godswill Akpabio to note the

urgent importance of the Project towards your Industrialization program in

Akwa Ibom State and by extension, Nigeria’s economic growth and

development and;


(a) Intervene in the seeming misunderstanding between the Primary

Promoters and the Akwa Ibom State Government.

(b) Facilitate the approval of a US$30 million loan request made by

Sterling Bank to the Bank of Industry (“BOI”) to support the completion of

the Project; and

(c) Encourage the Federal Government to grant Amakpe Refinery Project the

benefit from the Department of Petroleum Resources Fiscal Incentives for

development of Private Refineries.

EDC urges Akwa Ibom State government to reconsider its position in the

interest of the overall good of our citizens, as it strives to create

gainful employment for the citizens of Akwa Ibom State in particular and

Nigeria in general. EDC also urges both parties to enter into good faith

negotiations and find a way out of the quagmire. We believe that the

Government of Akwa Ibom State as a "senior member" of our society should

invite the Amakpe Promoters for talks in the interest of our State and for

the benefit of all.

We thank you and we look forward to your commissioning of the Amakpe

Refinery Project in the very near future.

Margaret Itauma Nwaessien Essien

National President National Secretary

Eket Development Congress USA Inc

--

PRESS RELEASE: EKET DEVELOPMENT CONGRESS (USA) INC.

PO Box 540106, Houston Texas USA 77254

Http://www.eketusa.org/

The NewsWatch Big Rip-Off and The Fuss About Sam Itauma

Written By Marshall Jones

I might have missed this as well. The NewWatch magazine edition of December 5, 2011 is smack of shame to new breed journalism in Nigeria and indeed a dent on their image. It calls for probe of those who are on the editorial board of the magazine as their integrity has been called to question. I think an attempt to blackmail Mr Sam Itauma or CRARN for the rescue mission work is merely sacrificing the heroes for the villains. Is this the only way you can seek revenge for the Liberty Gospel Foundation Church after failing in the court battles? A gracious loser in all court cases against CRARN for that matter! This is indicating that our judicial system, in spite of the mounting challenges, can still be relied upon for the dispensation of justice. I know I might be criticised at this point. But this is the fact.

Ini Ubong of LAGOS, Andy Effiong in faraway BELGIUM, and others who try to make people believe the deliberate calumny stunt of NewWatch magazine need to come out with their fact and not breeding insinuations. I think if they cannot surf the web to get the correct truth or find out about this cooked and distortion story of Victor Ukutt, the lazy lawyer of Helen Ukpabio or that of master liar of Godswill Akpabio called Aniekan Umanah they better humble themselves and ask those who are in the state to help with the truth. Or are they deliberately trying to sell themselves for the BIG buyers of lies as a few of them are doing? This might be why those requesting the actual whereabouts of Itauma might be having a dubious motif, given that they already know geometric rise in the number of the present government’s hit-men. Are they quick to forget that Itauma who does not believe in witchcraft and campaigns against dubbing children witches was arraigned in Oron High Court by Gov. Akpabio himself for accusing children as witches? This is how a lot of people are made to face trump-up charges by this government and made to rot in the jail if not die.

Truly, you guys have not still got off the wood blanketing your eyes for good. I already have reports on this but sometime don't need to border myself much because I always thought people know the truth about this. Or may be putting out at the appropriate time could be ok.

Have you ever sat down to wonder why Victor Ukutt is trying to push this stuff again into the public domain when he was given an ample opportunity to make his case in the Godswill Akpabio’s Child Witch Commission of Inquiry but failed woefully because he did not have fact to prove his lies? Do you know that he had failed in all the cases he and his paid mistress dragged CRARN to court for daring to orientate people not to believe in witchcraft and torture children in the name of witches? Do you know that 'End of the Wicked' a home-made video of Evangelist/Apostle/Dr/Ms Helen Ukpabio is one of the biggest NIGTHMARE that brought about the child witches problem in Nigeria? I am sick of this frame-up you are bringing up again. It will be injurious to the psyche if not treacherous to those who know the truth but fail to tell. This is a way of trying to distort history. Those who work hard to save lives in any cruel part of the world are always the victims. You can go ahead and celebrate your villains; it is not strange. It seems it is part of our own society and culture to celebrate the corrupt and the villains. But those whose consciences are sacred to them will stand up for the truth and be counted for good.

This is the same magazine that did what was seen as a professional and balanced reportage in its January 4, 2009 edition, tagged: The Ordeal of Kid Witches. It opens its story line with “In Akwa Ibom State hundreds of children labeled as witches have died or have been badly tortured and brutalised by their own parents and relations…” Was NewsWatch ripping people off then? Which of the stories should one believe now? Other news outfit have done their researches and reports, which one do we believe? Or between NewsWatch and UNICEF which should I believe? Between NewsWatch and the UK Channel 4 TV which should I believe? NewsWatch and BBC which one should I believe? NewsWatch and US HBO which should I believe? NewsWatch and Dutch TV which should I believe? NewsWatch and our own Tell Magazine which should I believe? NewsWatch and Sahara Reporters, which one should I believe? The question is endless.

The NewsWatch magazine scraps christened ''A Big Rip-Off...'' is a shame to the magazine's editors like Dan Agbese and and Ray Ekpu for allowing the once dignified Nigerian tabloid to become a rotten egg eaten by the 'unkempt'. The story is just a vendetta from those who feel guilty of the crime they have committed against innocent children or those who failed to protect them from the hands of religious war lords who called themselves prophets. In no distant time we will bring reports of this kind including, the UNICEF research work which indicts Helen Ukpabio of crime against humanity which until now the Akwa Ibom State government has turned a blind eye because some of the government officials are sheepishly worshipping her.

Bishop Sunday William Ulup-Aya had made his confession of killing 110 people including children. Before the open confession, he was already recorded with undercover camera by Mr. Itauma who was trying his best to expose the criminal act and brutality carried out by these so called men of God who tag children and aged people witches and wizards and consign them to all sort of danger including their early graves. The new part of the story you are hearing now is Aniekan Umanah's version; assisted by Victor Ukutt. But who doesn't know Umanah, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information for his captivating eloquence in lies production and fabrication!! If you go to Enwang, Ibaka, Unyege, Afi-Uda, Uko Ntighe, Urukim (Ulup-Aya's maternal area, along Mbo River) in Mbo Local government Area of Oron Axis, you will get the real stories about the level of killings that took place in 2001/2002 orchestrated by the self-made Bishop himself. But for the intervention of former Inspector of General Police, Mr Etim Inyang who himself, too, is from Enwang, more than 500 lives would have been wasted by William Ulup-Aya, according to one Mr Edet Esin from Ibaka. The former police boss had made William to be detained for about three years before he was released, without trial. He had also confessed to using his "spiritual gift" of identifying and killing of witches to now delivering them. Sources in Urukum say, though William has changed the practice or otherwise of the modus operandi, but his former boys are still doing so covertly. 'It is not strange to hear that a person has been escorted...this means that he was taken to the forest and killed.' A 58 year old man who trades in fish had said on account of anonymity. He explained that in a village called Asak Ikang, every body is believed to be a witch. Witchcraft suspicion is the dominant factor there. 'No body is willing to collect water from you and drink let alone food..." he said. This is where the government should invest in orientating the people beyond rhetoric. This will help save lives and improve the economy and make the people have some level of trust in consonant with our age-long culture.

If you take a street survey in Akwa Ibom and parts of Cross River and River States, you will realise that today children mostly from Akwa Ibom origin are swimming the streets because they have been dubbed witches or wizards. This is disheartening, in spite of the much trumpeted free education that is said to be in our state. To say that the only organisation (CRARN) that started the campaign and rescue of these children is constantly hounded and under attack is making an understatement. This has given the religious profiteers the leeway to continue their job of stigmatising and torturing children at will. It is not too late for this government to start a vigorous campaign to end this war on vulnerable children and the aged people. Signing a law is one thing, but implementation is another. Government should stop donating vast of its time on media for blackmail and propaganda brigandage simply because it has control of the media, and resources to do so. It should learn to see criticism as a major tool for improvement and make amends; and not clamping down on dissenting views, if democracy is really anything to go by, which as it is now, it is a far cry from the reality

People who campaign for the right of such vulnerable ones in the society should be encouraged to do so. Doing otherwise is giving a tacit approval to the villains and corrupts to take over the society that we belong.

Mr. Jones is an Uyo based journalist and human right activist.

The Nigerian SSS and Godswill Akpabio: Who is Fooling Who?

Written by
Thompson Essien Tel: 503-661-6368



The Mental State of Godswill Akpabio


The People of Akwa Ibom State know that Godswill Akpabio is a paranoid individual who is troubled by the blood of innocent men and women he has contributed, directly or indirectly, to the untimely loss of their lives since 2007. Godswill Akpabio is also a man with an inferiority complex developed since childhood as a result of uncertainty about the identity of his real biological father. These two factors may be the actual reasons why Akpabio is unsettling, restless, cries easily, and frequently exhibits traits that many people often use in describing him as a man with dual personality. These two factors may also be the reason why Akpabio is generally known as a man who enjoys telling lies, even if his two hands are caught, re-handed, deep inside the cookie jar.

Is Godswill Akpabio suffering from Paranoia?


There is something about Godswill Akpabio which I find very interesting, though intriguing; his ability to use his dual personality trait to manipulate the Nigerian system, as in the ability to manipulate the Nigerian SSS agents into believing that his enemies, real or imagined---mostly imagined-- are out to kill him and his family. At least within the last two years, Akpabio has filed several complaints with the SSS complaining about all sorts of people with allegations that these people are out to "get" him.

The most bizarre case is the allegation that Thompson Essien is the head of a group that detonated a bomb at the premises of Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation. Interestingly, in spite of the careless statements issued to the media by Nsima Ekere, (Akpabio’s Deputy), in which he mentioned that Thompson Essien was the head of the group that detonated the bomb, no available evidence was presented to that effect, other than a letter sent to him (Thompson Essien) on the Internet by a group, which claimed responsibility for the bombing----a letter which Thompson Essien purposely posted on the Internet with a note which clearly stated that maybe it would help security agencies in their investigations. And let me add here that if Thompson Essien had anything to do with the bombing of the AKBC, he never would have been as stupid to the point of releasing the letter to the public, knowing very well that he could be linked to the bombing situation.

There is also another bizarre case. At the end of the Congress of Ibibio People's Union held in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 2011, a Communique was issued, in which there was a line about mobilizing villagers to start a militia (vigilante) group to watch over their villages against the waves of kidnappings in the State since the Government of Godswill Akpabio did not seem to care about the safety and security of the masses. But lo and behold, and in his typical mood of sheer paranoia, Godswill Akpabio felt threatened that IPU was going to replace his militia groups (the AKPF, ADUMA, and ADV) with one of its own.

Akpabio panicked to the point of hysteria, as evidenced in his speech at the Akwa Ibom State National Convention in Miami, Florida, the following week, during which he screamed, "Oh! They (IPU) say they are forming a militia group. Is that the type of group you need? I am going to make sure that all those who want to form a militia group in Akwa Ibom State are deported from the United States." Some people in the audience clapped, without even knowing what Akpabio was talking about and without knowing that at that moment, Akpabio was at the peak of a serious mental drain, caused by the minimizing effect of his psychotic medication, which was wearing out of his blood stream at a dangerous rate.

As soon as he returned to Nigeria, Akpabio compiled all sorts of manufacturing reports against Ibibio People's Union (IPU) and sent them to the State Security Services as evidence that IPU is an organization formed to overthrow his government, with Thompson Essien as its leader. However, what Akpabio did not mention to the SSS was his motive behind his complaints against IPU.

The Reasons and the Real Target of Akpabio’s Gripes


Those of us that organized the IPU Congress in Atlanta know very well that Akpabio's gripes with the organization are because Senator Akpan Udoedehe was invited to the event, while Akpabio was ignored. A few days to the IPU Congress in Atlanta, a gentleman telephoned me from Houston, Texas, and wanted to know what would happen if Akpabio, without invitation, showed up at the IPU Congress. I asked him if Akpabio wanted to attend the event. He said yes. "Tell Akpabio," I instructed the caller, "that if he shows up at the IPU Congress, he would do so at his own risk because he would be venturing into a very hostile environment. Tell Akpabio that he was not invited and we don't want him. I also want you to tell Akpabio that if he shows up, without invitation, as the leader of the organization, I will personally affect his arrest for trespassing." The message must have been delivered to Akpabio because he did not show up.

People who read this may be tempted to jump to the conclusion that I sent the above message to Akpabio because I don't like him. It is true that I don't like Akpabio. But my rationale at the time was my concern for his safety. At the time, my quick instincts instructed that with Senator Akpan Udoedehe (a man whom Akpabio has lied against, twice, for his arrest and detention) at the event as the Guest of Honor, there was no way I could envision what might have been the reaction of his (Udoedehe) supporters towards Akpabio. In my mind, I couldn't imagine Senator Akpan Udoedehe and Godswill Akpabio physically together in the same hall. I did not want to be blamed for heading an organization and hosting an event which might have resulted in a situation where someone could have been seriously hurt. I don't know if such fears might have materialized, but I just did not want to take the risk.

My second line of reasoning was based on the fact that majority of those that attended the Congress were people with very strong feelings against the policies, or lack of it, of Godswill Akpabio as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. It was very likely that within the audience there would be men and women, whose relatives have been kidnapped, assassinated, murdered, robbed, and unjustly locked up in prisons. All it would have taken for all hell to break loose at the Congress hall would have been a single unguarded statement by Godswill Akpabio, no matter how well intentioned it might have been.

On the surface, those who read the ordeal of Chris Udoh with the SSS may think that Thompson Essien is the reason why Godswill Akpabio went to the SSS. It is not. Godswill Akpabio’s complaints to the SSS about Thompson Essien are a ploy to get to Senator Akpan Udoedehe. Akpabio was and still is angry that he was not invited to IPU Congress. Akpabio believes strongly that the Senator is the brain behind the refusal of the IPU Executives to invite him (Akpabio) to the event. And, according to information from some members of his inner circle, nothing pained Akpabio so much as knowing that he and his opponent (the Senator) were in the United States at the same time to attend events hosted by the people of Akwa Ibom State.

According to Chris Udoh, the SSS asked him about Thompson Essien, about who finances this and who finances that. They also asked what he knows about the bomb in Akwa Ibom State. Let it be on record that in November (2011), when Senator Akpan Udoedehe was invited for questioning by the SSS in Abuja, he was put through the same line of questioning that Chris Udoh endured last week with the SSS in Port Harcourt.

How Professional is the SSS?

After his interrogation with the SSS in Abuja, Senator Akpan Udoedehe commended the agents for their professionalism. After his encounter with the SSS in Port Harcourt, Chris Udoh wrote; “One important thing I must bring out up-front is that the SSS officials were organized, respectful, and civil in attitude. I believe they are well trained. If the Nigerian police or other security agencies can borrow 10% of their professionalism, we will have a great nation – the guys were so good and receptive.” I have no reason to doubt the way the two gentlemen assessed the SSS. And I have no doubt that the SSS has clearly stated rules, or policies, that spell out expectations and high degree of professionalism among its agents.

However, I am highly convinced that there are some rogue-agents in the agency, whose mandate is to give the SSS a bad name and a bad image. These rogue agents are the ones that collude with evil and corrupt politicians, such as Godswill Akpabio, to harass innocent citizens in the name of State Security.

As an instance, when Chris Udoh appeared at the SSS office in Port Harcourt, a representative from his employer---Shell--- asked to know if Chris Udoh’s invitation was a private matter or connected to his employment. He was told the invitation is a private matter. Now, here is the question; if the reason Chris Udoh was invited was personal, why did the SSS send the letter of invitation to Shell---his employer? Is that professionalism?

After Chris had introduced himself, he asked the Director for his name. But the Director refused. Instead, he told Chris; “I have told you that I am the director of SSS, why do you need my name? There is only one director of SSS in River State, and that is me, (pointing to himself), everybody knows me. Let us proceed with the reason for today.” Here the Director was behaving as if his name is so sacred that one needs a combination to unlock the Covenant for access to the coveted name. What arrogance from a man who is paid by taxpayers to serve the people. If this behaviour of the Director could be described as professional, then I rebuke it in the name of Jesus Christ.

And, as to add insult to injury, the Director objected to interview Chris with his lawyers present. Is that professionalism? If I were Chris Udoh, I would have told the Director that I would not answer any question or cooperate, unless and until my lawyer sits beside me. Such a stand would have educated the arrogant Director to know that there are people in Nigeria who have refused to be intimidated by the wickedness of a few people entrusted with governance.

Akpabio and the SSS: Who is fooling who?


Let me say that the SSS and Godswill Akpabio are playing games with each other. Akpabio knows that he has no evidence, whatsoever, to connect Thompson Essien with any of his maddening accusations and allegations as reported to the SSS. The agents of SSS, on the other hand, know very well that Akpabio is playing gimmicks due to paranoia. But for some reason, the men and women at the SSS are either too timid or afraid to tell Akpabio, "listen, Governor, your report lacks merit. Therefore, we are going to put it where it should go; trash bin."

The reason I say this is because Thompson Essien is not a fugitive, who is in hiding. He is very visible in all aspects; on the Internet he posts where he lives and sometimes he would include his telephone numbers. If the SSS had any evidence to whatever allegations Akpabio has filed against Thompson Essien with the agency, I am of the opinion that, by now, the agency would have contacted him, at least for questioning. If the SSS had any proof of his connection to the bombing at AKBC, they could have contacted him a long time ago. So far, they have not done so. Instead, some agents regale themselves in harassing innocent citizens pretending appear serious about the madness of Godswill Akpabio.

What I don't understand is why the SSS is cooperating with Godswill Akpabio to harass innocent citizens under the pretense that they want to know about Thompson Essien. When Senator Udoedehe appeared at the SSS in Abuja, they asked, "What do you know about Thompson Essien? Who is Thompson Essien?" When Chris Udoh appeared before the SSS in Port Harcourt, they asked, "What do you know about Thompson Essien? Who is Thompson Essien?" Asking Chris to tell them about Thompson Essien is laughable. At least Thompson Essien has had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Senator Udoedehe. As for Chris Udoh, Thompson Essien has never met the guy. Yet this is the same man SSS agents are bombarding with questions about Thompson Essien’s profile. If the SSS wants to know about Thompson Essien, let them contact Thompson Essien, instead of asking people about him. Thompson Essien is not a fugitive, whose profile must be obtained through covet intelligence gatherings. I have provided the information below where Thompson Essien could be contacted, if the SSS feels like doing so.

What is Thompson Essien’s Position on Godswill Akpabio?


Since the SSS is beating around the bush, let me take this opportunity to give them more information they can add to my profile, by clearly stating my position regarding Godswill Akpabio. I am not under any cover, I want Akpabio removed as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State; this is not a secret where the SSS has to consult an oracle to find out. I want Akpabio out because he is responsible for all the kidnappings, assassinations, rape, murders, and all the incarcerations of innocent Akwa Ibom people---all in the name of politics. I want Akpabio out because of the corruptions and theft of the people’s money. I want Akpabio out because he is a thief, who has stolen, not only the people’s resources, but also their mandate. I want Akpabio out so that there could be peace, safety and security in Akwa Ibom State. I want Akpabio out because he is a bad and terrible leader.

Does that mean I want Akpabio dead? Hell, no! There are no doubts that Godswill Akpabio is a devil. So, who in his right mind would want his hands soiled by the blood of a devil? I don’t. Therefore, why would I want to kill Akpabio? As a matter of fact, I pray daily for God to save the life of Akpabio so that when he is finally kicked out office, he could be brought to court to give an account of all the people’s resources he has stolen since 2007.

He must live to tell the people where he got the money to acquire all the lands in Akwa Ibom State. He must live to give an account of where he got the money to build all the mansions he owns. He must live to give an account of all the money he is hiding in foreign banks. If for some unfortunate event Akpabio happens to die (God forbids!) before he can account for his atrocities, it is Akwa Ibom people that will lose-out on everything. That is why Akpabio must live, but he must get out of office.

Conclusion

Finally, let me take this opportunity to repeat myself; Thompson Essien is not the reason Akpabio went to the SSS. Akpabio wants Akpan Udoedehe---dead! Since after the Election, Akpan Udoedehe has reasonably stayed away from Akwa Ibom State, which makes it difficult for Akpabio to commit a crime and blame it on the Senator. So, Akpabio's rationale is that if he could link Akpan Udoedehe to Thompson Essien, his strongest critic, then Akpan Udoedehe would be arrested and sent to Uyo where Godswill Akpabio would have a good chance to kill the Senator. It is called politics---Akpabio's style.

We could recall that Godswill Akpabio has said, on many occasions, that he would rather kill Senator Akpan Udoedehe than allow him to succeed as the next governor of Akwa Ibom State. With the pending case in the Tribunal, a situation where Akpabio never thought would occur, and with the pending case of Engineer Frank Okon against Akpabio for forging a Certificate of Clearance, Akpabio knows that it is becoming inevitable, whether he likes it or not, that Senator Akpan Udoedehe will emerge as the next governor of Akwa Ibom State. Now you know the full story.

Essien writes from Portland, Oregon

Again: Akaninyene Eyo and His Self-Imposed Duty

                                      Akpabio: A misgiuded Nigerian governor

"I felt pity for Nigeria and especially my people. What could have informed the choice of such man (like Akaninyene Eyo) of very little intelligence and confused mind to represent a people in the National Assembly"-Unyime Mkposong Ikpeme Esq

Only corruption, the urge to acquire corrupt power, and illegal earnings; "have informed the choice of such a man" for any public office - (S)elective or not. People who jeer at hard, honest work; and who are ungrateful to anyone who has ever been the source of their elevation in status, must necessarily go down the same path of licking asses, kissing boots, and destroying the chances which Almighty God had given to them, through HONEST help; such as Dr Imeh Umana had given to the unfortunate, ungrateful, and self-destructive Akaninyene Eyo. I read his diatribe and could not help wondering if anything he wrote had any dictum of truth in it. I was prompted by the vileness of that publication to praying to Almighty God for speedy retribution for all evil-doers, ingrates and sycophants; and may I indicate that I do not know either Imeh Umanah or Akaninyene Eyo. I do not need to know either man to discern the brazen acts of injustice and ingratitude conveyed in Akaninyene Eyo's vitriol against Ime Umanah. It takes a Godly heart to repudiate any and every evil-doer and evil; and so I thank Barrister Ikpeme for his gratitude to a man who lent a hand of help to see to the academic success of the Barrister, and for his repudiation of an evil act/person. Indeed the few Ibibio and Annang people who have followed Godswill Obot Akpabio unquestioningly, supporting his acts of mayhem even if some bits of goodwill are spread over his atrocities, are digging their graves of grief; and such giefs which they have accrued unto themselves will certainly knock on their doors in this life-time, not by man's appointment, BUT by God's.

"Annang land may be enjoying the privilege of producing the governor, but we must not lose sight that one day that reign will end."

Truth, indeed does not have to come in buckets!

A little truth like this becomes a life-saver for those who love that mustard seed. Many Annang people who hail Godswill Obot Akpabio and his cultist reign, by repudiating their sons and daughters who are of different political dispensations, or who as matters of principles, oppose the evils inherent in Mr. Akpabio's reign; and/or who HATEthe Ibibio for opposing Godswill Obot Akpabio's RIGGED second coming; seem to forget that without the Ibibio, Godswill Obot Akpabio would never have been governor in the first place. They also have forgotten that many greedy and cultist Ibibio stood with Godswill Obot Akpabio to RIG the election of last April. They, like Godswill Obot Akpabio , have bitten the very fingers that fed them.

Such actions and uttering by the Annang, or by the Ibibio, or by Oron citizens, or by Eket people, must be handed over to God, to judge; in the pending trial of Godswill Obot Akpabio and his goons before God; for all eyes to see and for all ears to hear. There is no politics before God; ONLY good or bad actions. The adage of our elders posits that when anyone forgets where he took shelter when there was inclement weather, the next time bad weather surfaces, such a person will have no hiding or resting place. Those who have forgotten not only justice and fairness, but also blood relations - in-laws and grandchildren, wives and husbands - to stand with sectional evils and greed, cultivated and perpetrated in the Akpabio government, have forgotten where shelter can be found in the time of inclement weather . They are very far from the Godhead - what shall it profit them to gain politics in an evil political era, at the loss of their own souls; and to lose all that is dear to mankind? Many have forgotten to learn any lessons from the past, or from similar history.

Those who stand for TRUTH, JUSTICE and FAIRNESS, are nearer the Godhead; so those who have failed to repudiate the evils of cultism and sectionalism and murders and kidnappings, or even the mistakes of Godswill Obot Akpabio, must remember, each time they enter any house of prayer dedicated to God, that they are heaping burning coals upon their heads; and they will cringe in their hearts and in their spirits when Godswill Obot Akpabio's EVIL actsand doings eventually manifest in the open. If such is worth losing the Ibibio, the Annang, the Oron, and the Eket relationships; OR the joys which in-laws and grandchildren and wives and husbands bring to the human breast; may they have what they have asked for!!

There should be no pity felt for the likes of Akaninyene Eyo who are ungrateful, or for those Annang people who see their sons and daughters who oppose the evils or even the politics of Godswill Obot Akpabio, or who see the Ibibio, as the enemy; because of their unquestioned support for Godswill Obot Akpabio, they have made their beds , they must lie on them when the time comes. As for all speakers of TRUTH, all who see injustice and repudiate it, all who see unfairness and reject it - Ibibio, Annang, Oron, and Eket, or wherever they may come from - a rich reward awaits them; not only in Heaven, but also here on Earth; and that TIME is fast approaching when we will all reap what each of us has sown!!!

OduduAbasi ( Nicolas Edet)

oduduiniso@yahoo.com

DFW

THE DEATH OF FUEL ERA IS VERY CLOSE: RISE UP

  By Michael Ukanga Ekpo

  mike_ekpo@yahoo.com

Samsung launches solar powered computers & laptops, Nissan launches Nissan Leaf (a car that can run for years without fuel - electric car sold for less than (N4 million), Airtel & other telecom companies to launch solar powered base stations worldwide, Nigerian banks and many more Nigerians clinch to solar & power inverters too. From the foregoing, very soon, our oil will be needless & useless. Now is the time we need to quickly fix Nigeria's big challenges fast & then start shopping for alternative means of livelihood & source of income b4 it's too late.

We must not continue to tolerate our figureheads & watch this great nation fall flat because ONLY we the masses will suffer it as they have all stolen monies enough to cater for even their generations unborn. We have to take after Egypt & Libya on peaceful demonstration but if they continue waging war against us, we might have to take the bull by the horn & begin to respond violently. Enough is enough. Boko Haram, Fuel Subsidy Removal, No Light, No Roads, ASUU on Strike, No Water, No Health Care, No Education, No freedom of Speech, Bad Governors, Bad Senators, Bad Rep. Members, No Government Airlines, Even Police & Army are used against the poor alone. Innocent boys & girls have turned Kidnappers, Scammers, Fraudsters, Armed Robbers, Prostitute & other alternative means of survival! How long must we continue 2 suffer in abject poverty even when we are naturally blessed by God from origin?

Time to act is now!! Even the kingdom of God suffereth violence & violence taketh it by force. We need to do it at least for our children & grand children. 28th JANUARY 2012 IS THE BIG DAY. Make plans 2 join other Nigerians in Abuja as we storm d FCT to demand our rights. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan & his CLUELESS team have to work or GO! Please support this move by keeping this message circulating till every Nigerian has read/gets it. Signed by all Nigerian youths! Kill that fear & pass this on.

Michael Ukanga Ekpo

Accra, Ghana

The Earth is the Lord…

Oyinbo Is Not Stupid - Nija Take Note!

"The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria, and continues to recommend U.S. citizens avoid all but essential travel to the Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers; the Southeastern states of Abia, Edo, Imo; the city of Jos in Plateau State, Bauchi and Borno States in the northeast; and the Gulf of Guinea because of the risks of kidnapping, robbery, and other armed attacks in these areas. Violent crime committed by individuals and gangs, as well as by persons wearing police and military uniforms, remains a problem throughout the country. This notice replaces the Travel Warning for Nigeria dated October 19, 2010, to update information on recent violent activity and crime in Nigeria. "



The above excerpt is Paragraph One of the travel warning for Nigeria with the US State Dept. The website address is http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5580.html. This website was updated on 10/31/11.

Who are we deceiving ?????? That an American company will ignore the warning from its own State Dept and do considerable investment deals with us?
I have not heard any dialogue nationally or otherwise on how we will take this country off that list !!!!
We need Investments and Trade Deals but every American Company before leaving the shores of the United States checks out with the US State Dept. When a deal is made it is not a hidden thing. The three trade deals worth billions of dollars with Panama,South Korea and Colombia were announced worldwide. Real deals are announced openly,they are not hidden !!!!! Real investment like Range Rover going to India is announced openly ,or like google setting shop at Sweden or AT&T trying to merge with Sprint etc.
However there are rules of engagement. We will not force Oyinbo to invest with us(Which involves them spending their money) in the midst of Assassinations,Kidnappings,Murders,Corruption and all other kinds of chaos. Contrary to what sycophants may want to say, things are relatively peaceful where these huge companies and conglomerates open shop at. We may smile at them and they may smile back at us but the fact remains that they are not stupid. They know everything that is going on and they will surprise you if they want to describe your own environment for you !!
The sub division of the G-20 countries ,the G-8 (Canada,France,Italy,Japan,United Kingdom,United States and Russia) control the world's economy and they have standards. We will not dictate to them, they rather dictate to others. Silent observers to this group include China,Brazil,India,Mexico and South Africa.
So we can go for investment meetings, theycan even be gracious enough to open the wine bottle for you but it ends there. When it is over they will open the door and let you go quietly with your issues. You will not force them to invest in your chaos ridden society reeking of corruption.
All that Akwa Abasi Ibom state needs is one,I mean one Fortune 100 Company to come and open shop in Uyo and Three-Quarters of Akwa Ibom is employed in no time with a huge crowd of foreigners working and living there and buying land too and building houses !
However,whenever I put my ear to the ground it always us doing deals with some company that is so africanized that they are as corrupt as the people themselves like Julius Berger etc.
How about a Fortune 100 company like HoneyWell, Google, Cisco, Northrup Grumman,Boeing, Apple, Microsoft, Dow Chemical, Walgreen, Walmart, Proctor and Gamble , HP, Dell, 3M, General Dynamics, Intel just to mention a few of them. You cannot close a deal with these guys by force. They will not invest in your area when you cannot even take that stuff in the travel warning off from the US State Dept website.
So who are we deceiving ??
Investment is not having all the outfits in the state being co-ops of the State Government. Investments for Akwa Abasi Ibom State should "Heavily" affect the lives of the common man. I would rather prefer a Fortune 100 company coming into Uyo and the service companies to that investment belong to the common man. Say Intel came to Uyo and opened a Billion dollar plant. Let the Cafeteria Caterer be from Akwa Ibom state,same for the Stationary supplier,Car Fleet Managing Company,Pharmaceutical Supply Company, Maintenance supplies,Travel Agency,Auditing Firm,Technical supplies and the list goes on and on.
When it is real it is open. CNN would just announce that Microsoft is going to Uyo, nothing is hidden. Trade deals are announced openly and worldwide. In fact it is like a kind of signal that the country or area is opened for high powered business with the atmosphere to match. So all these "hidden" attempts to pull investment into the state is just something else. It is a reflection of a forgone era that we will not let go. The fact also is that instead of admitting the truth ,people would rather die in silence.
Ghaddafi figured this out and he spent millions of dollars with consulting firms trying to regain the image of Libya and it paid off . So what are we doing to attract investment ? Rather Nigerians want to eat their cake and have it. With all the inconsistent electric power, Assassinations,Corruption,Kidnappings, we believe we will make the world come in and invest in us by force !!!! Obama in fear of Nigeria will announce a major trade deal with Nigeria or Akwa Abasi Ibom State ! Right?
I repeat again and again as some people who travelled are beginning to realize. Oyinbo are not stupid. Like most of our people are beginning to recognize, after all the talk ,they opened the door and the team left. If there was a major trade deal signed or investment agreement signed and made,we would have heard about it in their own foreign TV stations and ours too and CNN does not miss that kind of news with Fox Business Channel too. Never heard Nigeria mentioned not to talk about Akwa Abasi Ibom State.
Oyinbo are not stupid,they will not spend a dime in your land if the atmosphere is not conducive. They do not have a problem taking your money and building Airports/Repair Hangers and Seaports and Hotels and stuff for you. However it is another story when you say that Mercedes Benz has decided to build the Assembly plant for the next generation S-class in Akwa Abasi Ibom State. This would entail Mercedes Benz buying land in Uyo and building their own Residential Estate,then a huge Industrial complex and employing the local populace and then shipping the finished product from a Sea port in Akwa Abasi Ibom State to the rest of the world. That is real investment and Oyinbo are not moved by words to invest in less than ideal conditions and spend their hard earned money where they could easily get killed or kidnapped or get annoyed by Corruption.
It is a bit humbling ,the day you go to Boeing and start trying to have them assemble engine parts of the New Dreamliner 787 in your state not to talk about country. That is when you know how powerful you are in the world business scene. Asking Wal-mart to use your state as an "experimental hub" to penetrate the African market(knowing that entails them spending millions of dollars) and they delay you in a hotel room cuz they cannot wait to penetrate your part of the world and want you to sign a deal.

Oyinbo are not stupid

If this administration is not careful,they will end up being the administration with a record that succeeded in paying huge sums of money to foreign companies for contracts and services rendered but could not attract a single solid fortune 500 company to invest likewise in the land.
A super spending state that spent every single dime away.

Bringing Life changing investment is where the real work begins and we shall come to notice that Oyinbo are not stupid.

They are rather ready to give you awards than to bring a company to your land that will make 2000 Americans to be permanently stationed in Uyo spending cash like no man business.Oyinbo are not stupid.

Until we get our name off that travel warning list no solid company will want to do business with us and we can continue to act like we are superior to them and that we do not need trade and investment with Europe and the United States of America.
In fact we don't need their help because oil money is flowing and AIDN will figure out how to get companies into Akwa Abasi Ibom State with the name of our state on a warning list.

I also anticipate all those that will attack me for bringing to notice the fact that the name of Akwa Abasi Ibom State is on a travel warning list.

Oyinbo are not stupid
 
Clayton Udoh
Defender of the Down Trodden Masses.

Gov. Akpabio's Corrupt Practices: A LETTER TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

                                              Gov Akpabio: Indicted

A LETTER TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

THROUGH

THE SENATE PRESIDENT,

THE SPEAKER OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX,

THREE ARMS ZONE,

ABUJA-FCT.

Your Excellences, Mr. Senate President and The Hon. Speaker

House of Representatives

RE: NIGERIA; A NATION OF DOUBLE STANDARD AND COMPLICITY

Let me crave your indulgence to address you on the above topic in my capacity as a tax payer and bonafide citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In 2009 when our President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alhaji Umaru Yar’dua became incapacitated by illness, the issue of vacuum was resolved through what is now known as the doctrine of necessity through which the Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan became acting President and Commander in Chief of Armed Federal Republic of Nigeria.

May I also recall that the event that led to the manipulated impeachment of former Governor of Bayelsa State Dr. D. S. P Alagmehsia by the Obasanjo Presidency in addition to state of emergency declared in Plateau and Ektit States by that regime.

My belief is that those actions were taken to launder the national image at a time there was a need to do so. Right now, Nigeria is in more desperate position as it is deep in the mud water of corruption and other anti democratic tendencies.

I wish to draw your attention to what is happening in the 21^st state of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State, otherwise known as The Land of Promise. The present regime ruling the state came into existence by fraud and corruption and has no accountability to the people. This is manifested in the exhibition of total impunity and recklessness.

Governor Godswill O. Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State does not understand the Federal Government Procurement Act and to him the due process theory belongs to the winds. Bills of quantities used in construction in the state are probably copied from the astral world as 1 kilometer of road is estimated and fixed between N1b and N3b Naira.

When Mr. President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in his maiden visit to Gombe state 2009 he observed and remarked that the Governor of that State Danjuma Goje was very prudent in management of resources of that state. He openly announced that Federal Procurement Officers may be sent to learn from the State. Mr. President was particularly excited by the cost effectiveness on projects like the Airport and the Banquet Hall of the Government House. The Airport project was put at …… while the Banquet Hall consumed N1.3 Billion Naira. Mr. President did not know that in Akwa Ibom State the Government House built at the cost of N7.4 Billion Naira in 2008 to 2009 also added a Banquet Hall in the 2010 Budget at cost of N10 Billion Naira. Today Akwa Ibom State Government House Complex is worth N17.4 Billion Naira and must be the only of its kind in Africa.

Your Excellences let me reproduce for your perusal a part of the corruption index I wrote and sent to the Presidency on the 6^th Day of September 2010. It covers a period of January 2008 to June 2009 taken as a case study. A compressive review and auditing will reveal that most of the awards upon which mobilization of anything from 30 to 100% were mostly scams. They should be made to publish the status of those jobs that earned 100% in the last four and the half years. They should be made to identify all vehicles purchased during the period. It is noticeable that vehicles are not ordered in the terms of their makes, units and quantities.

All the contracts recorded against the Hon. Commissioner for Works and Transport should be made public in complete details including all those that were mobilized 100% at the first instant.

On Akwa Ibom International Airport Project, which was re-awarded to Alcon Ltd. by Governor Akpabio, there is need to explain the exact job the new outfit did for $150,000,000 in addition to the 80% contract value already paid for by immediate past administration in the State. More so, when the contractor on the runway has not been changed.

Who owns the following companies, PROD GLOBAL LIMITED, CHINTO TECHNOLGIES LIMITED and OAK MOTORS? Please check also the date and the frequencies against each contract award on the enclosed table. The mind bugling revelations therein will be difficult to comprehend.

The highlight shows that the Hon. Commissioner of Works and Transport awarded contract at alarming rate directly to himself and the operating companies are run by his elder brother. Information including bank accounts and the account officers in various banks have been made available to relevant agencies including the anti-graft agencies. Unfortunately, nothing came out of the exercise.

Please find enclosed table for total details.

Recently, association of quantity surveyors of Nigeria cried out at the outrageous contract costs in the country and called for actual valuation of roads and other constructions in the country. There is no doubt that Akwa Ibom in particular is their reference point.

Your Excellences, in Akwa Ibom State Project are mostly designed for the purpose of siphoning our resources to align the pocket of the Governor, his family members and cronies. Today, there is no Akpabio either by birth or marriage that has not joined the league of Billionaires.  Media houses are heavily hired to sing the song of massive infrastructural development. Sycophancy is reaping the highest harvest in Akwa Ibom State. This is the picture of lootocracy and kleptocracy on exhibition in our State. It is more than a calamity.

Recently the House of Representatives rejected supplementary appropriation bill of N96 Billion Naira for the remaining part of the financial year from the Presidency. The reason for the rejection was for non inclusion of details regarding the actual implementation of the whole Budget.

Your Excellences, as I write this letter the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly are busy rubberstamping a whooping N94,000,000,000.00 supplementary estimate  for road construction and payment of salaries for the remaining 2 months of the year 2011. The roads in question are mostly Federal roads including the dualization of Uyo - Ekot Ekpene - Ekot Umoessin to Aba in Abia State, covering a distance about 50 kilometers, Oron Ibaka, Ini to Ikono road among others.

It is doubtful whether any information to warrant such an extravagant spending when the financial year is almost ending is available. This represents the level of inferiority and ineptitude the State House of Assembly.

Currently, the Federal Government and Lagos State Government are having serious friction over who should rehabilitate/construct the Lagos Ibadan Express way.

If Nigeria is not a country of double standard, is it possible an act of this nature could be tolerated? Thus the misapplication of public fund not amount to financial indiscipline and abuse of office?

Form the mouths of Mr. President and Senior Federal Government Officials have clearly stated that any State Government who undertakes building of Federal roads shall be compensated at the standard rate for a single lane whenever they are ready to make such refunds. In other words, dualizations and expansions shall be deemed illegal. If this is the position, is the Federal Government not encouraging fraud and corruption as well as guilty of complicity against the people of Akwa Ibom State? The much publicized war against corruption, where is it being fought from? How does the International Community see this Giant of Africa when people like Godswill Akpabio are given the free hand to destroy and loot away the collective destiny of Akwa Ibom people through massive fraud and corruption?

Your Excellences, personally, the recent statement by our President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to the effect that he was not a General, Lion, or a Pharaoh, to say the least, was not only disappointing, but very embarrassing.

Please Sirs, when next you meet our President tell him that apart from the fact that we need much more, we expecting him to be a Moses. A leader, who was trained in the best tradition and education of the Egyptian Empire, remained a mould and decoy of God and eventually manifested supremely in the emancipation of Israelites from the land of bondage. We certainly need a Moses.

Your Excellences, in addition to the issue of corruption we cannot ignore the case of terrorism and insecurity created in the State by Governor Godswill Akpabio and his government. The recent landmark judgement from two separate High Court Uyo Akwa Ibom State in respect of State sponsored crimes and subsequent frame up of innocents persons for the same crime. Rivers and Bayelsa State have been exposed to be their breeding ground for terrorist, murders, assassins and kidnappers. This is perhaps why Akpabio as a com man has been accusing neighboring state of harboring the bandits.

May I refer you to two judgement mentioned above;

1.     THE HIGH COURT OF AKWA IBOM STATE

HOLDEN AT UYO

CHARGE NO HU/12C/2010

JUDGMENT DELIVERED ON THE 14^TH JULY 2011.

BEFORE THE HON. JUSTICE E . I EDEMEKONG

2.     THE HIGH COURT OF AKWA IBOM STATE

HOLDEN AT UYO

CHARGE NO HU/10C/2010

JUDGMENT DELIVERED ON THE 4^TH AUGUST 2010.

BEFORE THE HON. JUSTICE ANDREW OKON

I enclosed here with certified true copies of the two judgments for your perusal.

In the recent report on the Federal Government Administrative panel on pre and after election violence headed by Hon. Justice N. Aremu, Akwa Ibom State has been indicted. The report, inter alia commented on the sophisticated weapons used in the Akwa Ibom for the violence, whereas those used in the North were mere local items such as knife, matchets, bottles and other minor weapons, the Akwa Ibom action involved weapons such as Ak 47, Machine guns and Grenades among others.

The judgment mentioned above has already showed that the Honorable Commissioner for Works and Transport is the State arms and ammunitions coordinate for the Governor. He is the head of “the Peace House”, the killers squad of the Governor.

Finally Your Excellences I see the National Assembly as the supreme authority with relevant oversight functions to properly fix this Nation for us, our children and posterity. You cannot afford to be indifferent when people like Godswill Akpabio are with impunity making nonsense of the rule of Law and Order as well as general recklessness.  To do otherwise will see you as Emperor Nero of Rome sleeping while Rome was burning. The Auditor General of the Federation has already indicted the National Assembly for encouraging corruption in Nigeria.

Do something.

Thank you

Ime T. Mbatessien