The Canvassers

25/08/2024

03/09/2017

Former Premium Times Editor, Ibanga Isine wrote:

"I have read many posts criticizing Governor Udom for promising Super Eagles $10.000 for each goal they scored in the match played yesterday in Uyo. I have also read so many things written in support of the gesture. But am worried.

Am worried because it seems the governor can never be right no matter how hard he tries. When he prays, we criticize him for abandoning governance and resorting to prayer to get things done. But we all pray and we people to pray for us.

When he initiates a programme, we look for an aspect of it that does not favour our fancy and we criticize harshly for not knowing what to do. When he encourages people who deserves such like the Super Eagles players who were our guests, we criticize him for wasting our resources. But we indulge our guests and even go to the limits to make them happy and comfortable.

I am beginning to think we have created a criticism industry in Akwa Ibom State and journalists have gainful employment. While Udom offered a total of N14 million for four goals, the FG is proposing something higher for the team and we are not criticizing them. The same FG offered N1m for D'Tigress and N500 per official. We know the number of players on the court and those allowed on the bench and could say how much PMB will give out. Why didn't we criticize that gesture of Buhari? Why do you always go to the extreme to rubbish the good intentions of government.

We seem to forget a lot. It was in this country that people elevated hate speech to a frenzy and today, the same people can't tolerate it. I pray we realize that criticizing people for the wrong reasons doesn't make us better than the person we try to bring down and will not add value to who we are and what we will achieve. Criticism is not a Profession. Let's do unto others, what we would have hem do to us. Happy holiday.... Ibanga Isine is my name.

From Aniekeme Finbarr's wall

03/09/2017

Former Premium Times Editor, Ibanga Isine wrote:

"I have read many posts criticizing Governor Udom for promising Super Eagles $10.000 for each goal they scored in the match played yesterday in Uyo. I have also read so many things written in support of the gesture. But am worried.

Am worried because it seems the governor can never be right no matter how hard he tries. When he prays, we criticize him for abandoning governance and resorting to prayer to get things done. But we all pray and we people to pray for us.

When he initiates a programme, we look for an aspect of it that does not favour our fancy and we criticize harshly for not knowing what to do. When he encourages people who deserves such like the Super Eagles players who were our guests, we criticize him for wasting our resources. But we indulge our guests and even go to the limits to make them happy and comfortable.

I am beginning to think we have created a criticism industry in Akwa Ibom State and journalists have gainful employment. While Udom offered a total of N14 million for four goals, the FG is proposing something higher for the team and we are not criticizing them. The same FG offered N1m for D'Tigress and N500 per official. We know the number of players on the court and those allowed on the bench and could say how much PMB will give out. Why didn't we criticize that gesture of Buhari? Why do you always go to the extreme to rubbish the good intentions of government.

We seem to forget a lot. It was in this country that people elevated hate speech to a frenzy and today, the same people can't tolerate it. I pray we realize that criticizing people for the wrong reasons doesn't make us better than the person we try to bring down and will not add value to who we are and what we will achieve. Criticism is not a Profession. Let's do unto others, what we would have hem do to us. Happy holiday.... Ibanga Isine is my name."

From Aniekeme Finbarr's wall.

14/06/2017

NEW PARAMOUNT RULER FOR ONNA LGA EMERGED

ETEBOM Raymond Timothy Inyang, the present Clan Head of Awa Afaha Clan in ONNA LGA of Akwa Ibom State, has emerged the Paramount Ruler of the Local Govt. Area, after a hitch free election where he polled 5 votes to his contender 2 votes. He succeeds the late Akwa Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa following his demise, as the new Paramount Ruler of the oil rich Local Government Area of the State.
Many Congratulations Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang.

02/05/2017

AKWA IBOM GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES WORKERS’ AFFORDABLE MASS HOUSING ..GETS NLC,TUC ENDORSEMENT FOR 2019 RE-ELECTION

Akwa Ibom state workers are in for better times as Governor Udom Emmanuel has announced plans to commence their mass low cost housing scheme in the state, even as they have assured the governor of their resolve to stand by him for eight uninterrupted years.
Governor Emmanuel who revealed that he is stopping the trend where civil servants had to wait until retirements before planning to own houses with their terminal benefits, explained that he is working out “an extremely affordable housing scheme for all his workers.”

The Governor who spoke during the 2017th May Day celebration jointly organized by the State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC at the Uyo township stadium, said had already acquired the land and was ready to use a public private partnership scheme to finance the mass housing scheme for workers in the state.

Governor Emmanuel described the labour force in Akwa Ibom as partners in progress, working harmoniously with government to bring democracy ‘bacons’ to the people, and announced that his government was almost ready to commission an electricity sub-station in Uyo funded solely by his administration to boost power supply in the state and reduce tariff on consumers.

He said “we have covered many miles with glittering milestones” in the last two years through the active support and cooperation of workers in the state, and maintained that “today we are happy that we may not owe you salaries but we owe you gratitude.”

He assured that backlogs of promotion arrears will soon be cleared, recounting that his government had previously cleared backlog of local government gratuities of over 10years.
He commended the leaders of the labour unions who, saying they have been working with him actively in the interest of the Akwa Ibom project, assuring that his government will not relent in providing programmes that will give value to the wages of workers, and improve their standard of living.
The Governor described workers as he veins and arteries that have circulated development programmes across the state, saying the premium on their importance accounted for his cancellation of all engagements to personally attend the rally.
He also announced that he was ready to unveil a complete new look repositioned General Hospital in Etinan this month , insisting that his administration was ready to completely advance facilities in secondary health centers across the state to meet the affordable health care delivery of the people.
He also assured on his industrialization drive in the state, announcing that the electricity metering project, the syringe manufacturing company, 60,000 capacity flour mill, will soon be completed and their workers will join in the May Day celebration of 2018.
Assuring that teachers and other categories of workers for recruitment in the state would be appointed strictly on merit, indicating that everyone is given equal opportunity to prove himself or herself. Let People be reassured that it is purely on merit not by mercy.”
He urged the workers to display passion for service and reach out to impact on the lives of others in need.
Presenting a solidarity message to the workers on behalf of the state legislature, the speaker, Barr. Onofiok Luke acknowledged the supportive role played by Akwa Ibom workers in the development of the state, and re-affirmed the commitment of the 6th Assembly in supporting the good governance in the state..
Barr. Luke said the House will continually serve as a bridge between government and the people through an open legislation that revolves around the people.
He urged them to continue to show support to the government of Mr Emmanuel, adding that the "Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly will always collaborate with other arms of government to bring dividends of democracy to Akwa Ibom people".
The Chairperson Trade Union Congress Comrade Akamba Awah and the Chairperson Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Etim Ukpong, in their separate messages commended Governor Emmanuel for being a listening governor and for his efforts at putting smiles on the faces of workers.
The announced their resolve as workers to encourage Governor Emmanuel to recontest and continue for another term in office because of his workers –friendly disposition.
They urged lawmakers in the country to rise in support of the implementation of the new minimum wage for workers due to the high cost of living in the Nigeria.
The event featured march past by the different labour and trade unions to the admiration of the Governor who took the salute.

02/05/2017

AK Govt Will Meet Obligation To Workers – Emmanuel.

By Idongesit Akan

Gov Udom Emmanuel has pledged to meet government’s obligation to workers even as he advised the workers to be alive to their duties in the state civil service.
The governor made the pledge during the 2017 Nigeria Labour Congress/Trade Union Congress (NLC/TUC) thanksgiving service at Restoration Grace Assembly, Mkpoette Effanga Crescent, Uyo.
The governor, represented by the head of civil service, Mrs Ekereobong Akpan, charged workers to be diligent and committed to their duties, knowing that God would reward them accordingly.
Emmanuel restated the government’s commitment to partnering the workers through dialogue to move the state to a higher level.
The governor observed that Akwa Ibom in spite of the current recession in the country still lived up to its obligation of paying workers’ salaries and other entitlements due to them.
He appealed to all electorate and those eligible to vote this year to go out enmasse and get registered so that they would not be disenfranchised during voting.
The speaker of the State House of Assembly Mr Onofiok Luke, thanked God for the harmonious relationship between the union leaders and the government and prayed for God’s sustenance.
Luke, stressed that he was a product of labour, praying that God would help the workers to continue to be more committed to their duties, for them to eat the fruit of their labour and be blessed by Him.
The state chairman of NLC, Comrade Etim Ukpong, lauded the state governor for building industries and employing the teeming unemployed youths, men and women to work, thereby alleviating the burdens of poverty in recession.
Ukpong maintained that most states in the country cannot pay their workers’ salaries for months but here “we are enjoying regular payment of salaries through the grace of God.”
He explained that, “It is the grace of God that helped the joint union leaders and the governor to work together, disagree and agree without the next door neighbour hearing of it.”
Ukpong said the relationship has helped to solve some of their workers plights adding that soon his retired colleagues would received their gratuities and other benefits.
The state chairman of TUC, Comrade Akamba Awak, stated that the governor is a milk of kindness to the workers.
Awak stressed that the plight of the workers has been taken care of by the present administration because of the cordial relationship existing between them, thanking God and “the governor for being a listening leader.”
The high point of the occasion was the rendition of a thanksgiving song by the wives of the NLC/TUC leaders in the state.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government had declared today public holiday to commemorate the 2017 Workers’ Day celebration.
The minister of interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) said on behalf of the Federal government in a statement at the weekend by the director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Interior, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido.
He congratulated Nigerian workers for their resilience, hard work and commitment to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari despite current challenges.
The minister urged them to continue to support the President “in his desire to fight corruption, ensure security of lives and property, and stabilize the economy through creation of jobs and diversification of the economy.”
Dambazau further urged the workers to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation and remain productive for the growth and development of the country, particularly now that the government is embarking on the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
The minister wished all Nigerian workers a joyful and peaceful celebration, the statement added.