Essien Udim Councillor stripped naked

* I made her a legislator, she insulted my aides, says Nse Ntuen

A female Councillor in Essien Udim Legislative council Hon Eno James was last weekend beaten up and stripped naked at Ikot Onwo, Essien Udim Local Government Area last week by aides of the Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area Mr. Nse Ntuen.

Sources at the scene of the event informed our reporter that Eno James who represents the people of Ekpenyong ward 2 was beaten up and stripped naked during a marriage ceremony that held last weekend in Essien Udim. THE INK learnt that the victim Eno James is a strong supporter of Prince Akpabio and had been singing praises for the Governor’s aide when he was honored by the PDP some time ago. Those sympathetic to her had however pointed accusing fingers at the Essien Udim Council Chairman and ALGON boss Nse Ntuen.

Confirming the incident in a telephone chat with our reporter on Saturday night the female councillor while responding to a question on whether she was actually beaten up by the council Chairman’s aides said “no be small my dear” on why she was beaten up and stripped naked, she said there was no reason only that his attackers called her a prostitute.

When our reporter sent sms to the ALGON boss Nse Ntuen on why his aides led by his cousin and PA 1 Barr Augustine Etim had to attack, beat up and stripped Hon Eno James, the Essien Udim council boss calling back almost immediately had referred this reporter to some personalities who were there amongst the names he mentioned were commissioners for Agriculture and that of lands, Hon Godwin Afangide and Hon Eno Akpan respectively as well as the Hon member for Essien Udim State Constituency Hon Emmanuel Akpan. And that whatever those ones tell the reporter, THE INK can go ahead to publish those responses as they were witnesses to the event that led to the incidence. When our reporter probed further, Ntuen raised his voice a little heavier and said, he made Eno James a councillor through the wife of the Governor Unoma Akpabio.

The ALGON boss said when the female councillor Eno James came to their table that she did not greet him. In his words, “da bip anye bo sia anye akeduk ndo mmeye ama nkom mien “

Speaking further, Nse Ntuen said “nko afo to umi, (apparently asking our reporter whether he understands the Akwa Ibom Vernacular and when the reporter responded in the affirmative), Nse Ntuen informed that Eno James had said to his aides, ndufo nto ufok ifot ami. (Meaning that the female councillor had described the chairman’s aides as witches and wizards). And this must have been responsible for his being attacked and stripped by the Essien Udim Chairman’s aides.

Speaking further, Nse Ntuen said he had not told anybody that he is contesting election to the position of the member of the House of Assembly in the year 2015. He said if Prince wants the position of member representing Essien Udim in the House of Assembly by 2015 that, that is his own.
The State ALGON boss maintained that concerning Essien Udim House of Assembly 2015 that the Governor has not said anything yet and that he will do whatever the Governor will ask him to do as the Governor Godswill Akpabio is the leader of the Party in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

 He maintained that he was returned to the council for a second term courtesy of the influence of the Governor as according to him nobody has ever won a second term into the council of Essien Udim as Executive Chairman noting that he is the first to achieve such feat. He noted that except someone does not want to recognize the leadership of the Governor Godswill Akpabio and that whatever the Governor told him he was going to do it concerning the race for Essien Udim House of Assembly seat for 2015.

Meanwhile all attempts by the councillors to meet last Friday at Essien Udim and issue an official statement condemning the attack on one of them failed due to the pressures on them by some major stakeholders of the Local Government area to sheathe their swords and allow the matter to die down. Those said to be interested in the matter and who have in one way or the other contributed towards the resolution of the crises are the Hon Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Godwin Afangide and the member representing Essien Udim in the State House of Assembly Hon Emmanuel Akpan. Prince Ukpong Akpabio is not happy about the incidence at all, an informed and very reliable source told THE INK Newspaper gathered.

Source: THE INK

Bassey Albert rallies support for Governor Akpabio's Administration

Immediate past Akwa Ibom State commissioner for finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan has called on the people to support the administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio to the end.

Mr. Albert made this known while receiving various groups who paid solidarity visit to him at his residence. 

He hinted that he will support the Akpabio led administration till the end and called on his supporters to be calm and show maturity in their dealings.

The former finance boss labelled his Seven years of service to the state under Chief Akpabio as phenomenal and advised the people to be law abiding in pursuit of the political future of the state.

The ex-banker described Govenor Akpabio as a friend, brother and source of inspiration, whose leadership qualities he said has transformed the state. He said Akwa Ibom people should see it as a necessity to consolidate on the achievements of the Governor to project a new Akwa Ibom. 

Mr. Albert was appointed commissioner for finance since inception of the Akpabio administration in 2007. He was relieved of his appointment following a minor cabinet reshuffle on Thursday.


Here are some images from the event...

Bassey Albert: A Project Manager with Depth and Vibrancy

Sustainability and Utilization of resources is a function of effective management. For resources to be efficiently managed to yield increased productivity and continued availability, the services of Project Managers are required to ensure accountability, credibility and consistency.

A project manager initiates, plans, executes, monitors, controls and gives tentative feedback to relevant stakeholders of a project. These are some of the sterling qualities of Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, the young, energetic and resourceful Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for finance. The 41 year old as a modern politician has contributed immensely to the success of the Governor Akpabio led administration.

When Governor Akpabio took over leadership of the state in 2007, fears that development may not be felt in rural areas because of continued neglect of locals were predominant together with increased dilapidation of few available social amenities in remote areas. These and many more were reasons why Governor Akpabio established the Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee. As commissioner for finance, Mr. Albert was asked to coordinate affairs of the committee in line with the uncommon transformation agenda of the state.

Gov. Akpabio and the masses as major stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom project were eager to witness transformation of the state from rural to urban centers for the people to witness true dividend of democracy. Mr. BasseyAlbert’s duty as project manager was to serve as a mediator between stakeholders and end users. The quest has been challenging and rewarding. The result of his stewardship and commitment caught my attention when the people of Akwa Ibom poured encomiums on the Chief Akpabio led administration during the recent town hall meetings and commissioning of over 5,000 projects across ten federal constituencies of the state.

As a project manager, risk bearing is one of the fundamentals of success. Mr. Bassey Albert utilized the experience he garnered over the years as top managing staff of various financial institutions to manage risks involved in execution of projects under the committee by instituting a progress based payment model for service providers.

His human resource management proficiencies traced back to the banking industry, where he managed over three hundred capacity building assets with efficient service delivery for over a decade. A good project manager develops capacity to manage resources with limited or no incentives. Mr. Bassey Albert demonstrated such qualities when he managed over fifteen branches of a financial institution across the South-South Geo-Political zone of the country.

Mr. Bassey Albert is visionary, organized, efficient, honest, reliable, possesses high communication skills. He is action oriented, vested with leadership flair, experienced and knowledgeable. These are some outstanding attributes of a good project manager.

He demonstrated his risk management expertise when he crossed miles of water to visit a project site in a remote village in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area during a tour to the area. Before the visit of the Inter Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, the area witness mild Government presence since inception of Akwa Ibom in 1987. Mr. Bassey Albert integrated his project management skills and negotiated for peaceful completion of projects undertaken by the Akpabio led administration in the area.

While stakeholders are busy providing the much needed funding and resources, Mr. Bassey Albert has directly been engaged in research and development to meet deadlines set by stakeholders. He successfully developed a model capable of answering the 4W question of When, Where, What and Who before initiating any project under the committee. These ensured no repetition of projects and adequate placement of projects where needed.

Mr. Bassey Albert fancies a matrix organizational structure for day to day running of affairs of the Inter Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee, where all functional managers are allowed to perform numerous tasks irrespective of job specifications. Members of the committee exhibit distinctive teamwork potentials to consolidate the magnanimous qualities of their leader. These have been the reason behind effective actualization of the uncommon transformation agenda of Governor Godswill Akpabio as they have recorded no abandoned project since inauguration of the committee.

A good project manager must be vast and detailed. Mr. Bassey Albert as Chairman of the Inter Ministerial Direct Labour Committee has visited many areas in the state. As one with a listening ear, he relay messages from the masses to the principal on issues relating to rural development. Mr. Bassey Albert as a proficient manager with verve and vibrancy successfully identifies key areas of need of the people and make recommendations to relevant stakeholders for implementation of the people’s demand.

For the past seven years as commissioner for finance and Chairman Akwa Ibom State /Local Government derivation committee, he has selected appropriate processes required to meet project objectives by using defined approach to meet stakeholder’s expectations and balance the competing demands of scope, time, quality, resources and risk to produce specified products, services and results.

Mr. Bassey Albert Commands authority, Possess quick sifting abilities, knows what to note and what to ignore, ask good questions and listen to stakeholders. He hardly sees information as a weapon or means of control, but adheres to predictable communication schedules. His self reliance and confidence showcases independent and fair consensus-building skills when conflict arises. As a source of inspiration to many, he relies on extensive informal networks inside and outside his work base structure to solve problems that arises and shows absolute commitment to work.

His contributions to the management of state resources endeared his kingsmen to honour him with the title “Enin Ibiono Ibom” in 2009. This was further consolidated with the award of Chieftaincy Title of “Obong Uforo Akwa Ibom State” by the Paramount Ruler of Etinan, His Majesty Edidem Dickson Umoette.

The wealth of experience gathered by Mr. Bassey Albert over the years cannot be ignored at a glance. His thrust can numerically be analyzed to make predictions for the future by using available and relevant data. From a political stand point, a project manager is seen as a technocrat who helps in developing and realizing the goals of Governance.

With the rapid transformation witnessed in the state in recent times, it is imperative to note that qualities of Mr. Bassey Albert will be very defining in the New Akwa Ibom. As a project manager vested with skills and resources, he has been tipped to be a realistic team player in the next political dispensation as a result of his undisputed loyalty to the current administration.

For project “Akwa Ibom” to maximally attain its set goals, noble sons and daughters of the state like Mr. Bassey Albert should be encouraged to activate more effective management models for continued transformation and sustenance of our democracy. He is a delight to integrate without a differential constant.

Promise Etim
Uyo