Health
Akwa-Ibom: Udoedehe’s ‘Endorsement’/ Ekanem’s ‘Inauguration’: APC group faults actions
The recent purported endorsement of a serial governorship aspirant, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, by some self-acclaimed Stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been faulted and seen as capable of derailing the prospect of the party in the forthcoming general election.
Similarly, members of the party in the state have been advised to discountenance the purported inauguration of Augustine Ekanem as the state chairman of the party, saying,” no such decision was taken and those peddling the lies and falsehood on what transpired in our party headquarters in Abuja, on 3/2/2022, is a figment of the imagination of those peddling the lies”.
A statement by a pressure group within the state chapter of the party; Akwa Ibom Progressive Coalition (APC), endorsed by its National Coordinator, Otuekong Iniobong John, and made available to newsmen also warned that the purported “inauguration” of Mr. Augustine Ekanem as the state chairman of our party, if not properly handled was capable of causing disunity among party members.
The statement titled: THAT PURPORTED ENDORSEMENT OF SENATOR UDOEDEHE BY THE APC CHIEFTAINS AT CHIEF DON ETIEBET’s RESIDENCE
States:
“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t want to join issues with elderly and eminent personalities whom we hold in high esteem, but it is necessary and urgent we point out fallacious and erroneous impressions consciously or unconsciously created by them in their communique which has caused well-meaning members of the party serious embarrassment, at this point in our great party, such desperate act was not expected of anybody in the party.
“As a body within the party, we’ve vowed not to allow any person(s) or group of persons cause us the electoral calamity we suffered in the 2019 elections. No affliction shall rise a second time.
1.”We are not against any form of adoption or endorsement in politics nor are we against the communique, using whatsoever nomenclature. Anybody is free to adopt, endorse or come up with a communique for anybody or group of persons and if anyone is not satisfied with such adoption or endorsement, it is left for such a person or group of persons to equally organize his/her adoption and communique. We don’t think there’s a limit to that.
“However, there’s something wrong with this adoption/communique and that’s the lies being told specifically in Paragraph 5, which states as follows;
“That we felicitate with Mr. Augustine Ekanem on his inauguration as the State Chairman of Akwa Ibom APC on Thursday, 3rd February 2022 by the Chairman of the CECPC in Abuja, and also appreciate him for promptly inaugurating other members of the State Executive Committee in Uyo on Thursday, 4th February 2022.
“The stakeholders wish him and his State Executive members a successful tenure in the pilot of the party affairs in Akwa Ibom State.
“Whereas there was nothing like the inauguration of state party chairmen on the 3/2/2022 by the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party in Abuja. Nobody and we repeat nobody including Ekanem took the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance on the said date as the chairman of APC Akwa Ibom State and as such Ekanem, cannot assume and perform the duties of the state chairman of the party(APC) just yet.
“What took place was the issuance of Certificate of Return to Ekanem and this is on record.
“Even Senator Udoedehe, while presenting the Certificate of Return, had said and we quote: “I’ve been directed to issue you with Certificate of Return, as the duly elected State chairmen of states”.
“These are the exact words of Udoedehe on that day and on that occasion. That’s the only thing that took place as carried out by Udoedehe himself. We can safely state that it was a one-agenda event; The Issuance of a Certificate of Return.
“Although, the twist was in clear contrast to what was supposed to take place that day as was stipulated in the party timetable released earlier. On the Time Table, the inauguration of state chairmen was scheduled for that day. Why and how that changed to Issuance of Certificate of Return, is one big question that has not been answered by the Caretaker Committee and that’s the crux of the matter.
“Something is not adding up. It seems to us that the Caretaker Committee was compelled, forced, coerced, or directed to rather issue only Certificates of Return on a day that was meant for the inauguration and that’s a story for another day. There was no inauguration and no oath was administered to anybody.
“How the above translates into Ekanem being inaugurated as state chairman to the extent of conveying legitimacy on him to further inaugurate the state Exco is completely unimaginable and unacceptable. This is “iberiberism” apologies to Rochas Okorocha.
“We challenge the promoters of this charade to make public pictures or video clips of where any state chairman of APC was inaugurated on the 3/2/2022.
If they do, we’ll instantly withdraw this, and tender an unreserved apology to them, but if the reverse is the case, they are also free to believe their lies
“This act is against Article 29 of the APC Constitution, which mandates every elected or appointed officer of the party to subscribe to Oath of Office. “Every Officer elected or appointed as an Officer of the Party shall subscribe to the Oath of Office as provided in Schedule II to this Constitution before an appropriate Principal Officer of the party.”
“Chief Don Etiebet and his group of endorsers were expected to work for the cohesiveness and formidability of the party before resuming their business of endorsing candidates.
“They were the same people, who endorsed Obong Nsima Ekere for the 2019 election, but overtly and covertly worked against his candidacy and the APC in the elections.
“Since 2003, Chief Don Etiebet has been in the business of endorsing candidates who never won any election. In 2003, he was the National Chairman of the defunct ANPP. He endorsed the late Dr. Ime Umanah in that year’s gubernatorial election and he lost it. In 2007, he endorsed himself for the PDP’s Gubernatorial race after resigning his position as National Chairman of the defunct ANPP. He was one of the 57 persons who were heavily defeated by Senator Godswill Akpabio for the PDP gubernatorial ticket. In 2015, he endorsed Obong Umana Umana and of course, Obong Umana was defeated in that election. In 2019, he assembled his ilks at his residence to endorse Obong Nsima Ekere for the gubernatorial race.
No endorsements by Chief Don Etiebet has ever worked in Akwa Ibom State
” President Muhamadu Buhari and the National Leadership of the party cannot be misled or hoodwinked by such charade by Chief Etiebet and his group of endorsers.
“When Chief Etiebet assumed the National Chairmanship of the defunct ANPP, the party had 9 governors, but by the time he defected to the PDP in 2006, the party was left with only 2 governors. That was how well he grew the party.
“Going forward, we want to urge well-meaning members of the party to continue to remain calm, resolute, and tenacious in their loyalty and commitment to the cause of the party
“The leadership issue in our great party would soon be resolved and we’ll have a capable leadership that will lead us to victory in the 2023 elections
“Let nobody be distracted, perturbed nor dismayed by such charade. There is no cause for alarm.
“To rescue the party and win the 2023 election, is a task that must be done.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, has pledged to support the breast cancer awareness programme of the ABC Foundation founded by former Oyo First Lady, Dr. Florence Ajimobi.
Oseni, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), made the commitment on Thursday in Ibadan at the flag-off of Pink Month 2025, an initiative of the foundation.
Contained in a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, the lawmaker described the campaign as a “lifesaving mission” given the rising burden of breast cancer in Nigeria, with over 28,000 new cases and thousands of deaths reported annually.
The APC chieftain said the free screening of 1,000 women planned by the foundation was timely, stressing that early detection remained the strongest weapon in the fight against cancer.
Hon. Aderemi Oseni exchanging pleasantries with former Oyo State First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, at the event.
“Health is life. Only this June, I moved a motion at the National Assembly which led to the Federal Government subsidising dialysis treatment nationwide. Today, dialysis is either free or heavily discounted in federal health facilities,” Oseni said.
He listed his personal interventions to include funding hospital bills of indigent patients, construction of hospitals in Ido and Ibarapa East, establishment of primary health centres, and organisation of medical outreaches. He also disclosed plans to deploy mobile clinics to rural areas.
Commending Mrs. Ajimobi for sustaining her late husband’s legacy through humanitarian service, Oseni assured of partnership with the foundation, saying women’s wellbeing and empowerment remained central to his vision for Oyo State.
In her remarks, Mrs. Ajimobi said the foundation had offered medical care to over 85,000 patients and conducted more than 100,000 investigations since its inception. She added that the campaign was not just corporate social responsibility but “a moral duty and sacred trust.”
The former first lady, who lost her daughter Abisola to breast cancer earlier this year, said the experience had strengthened her resolve to save other families from such tragedy. She appealed to women to take advantage of the free screening and called on partners and development agencies to support the fight.
Chairman of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr. Fidelis Akhagboso Ayebae, and Chief Executive Officer of Hazon Holdings, Dr. Victor ’Gbenga Afolabi, are set to lead discussions at the second edition of the D’Bio Wellness & Selfcare Summit.
The event is scheduled to hold on September 24 and 25 at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
This year’s summit has the theme: “Self-Care as a Driver of Optimal Health and Wellness.”
Ayebae will serve as chairman of the event, while Afolabi, who is also the co-founder of Wellness HMO, will deliver the keynote address.
Ayebae, founder of Fidson Healthcare, is regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading pharmaceutical entrepreneurs. He is a fellow of the Institute of Directors Nigeria and the Institute of Corporate Affairs Management, and has held significant roles in the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
Afolabi has more than 20 years’ experience spanning healthcare, finance, technology and marketing. He is also the founder of the Eko Innovation Centre, a Lagos-based technology hub that supports start-ups and young entrepreneurs.
Convener of the summit, Dr. Monica Hemben Eimunjeze, said the event would focus on practical steps to improve health outcomes through self-care.
She said, “We are excited to welcome Dr. Ayebae and Dr. Afolabi as pivotal figures in our quest to enhance health literacy and empower individuals to prioritise self-care. This summit is not just about discussions; it is about actionable insights that can inspire and transform lives.”
The organisers said the two-day summit is open to the public and will feature panel sessions with health and wellness experts, attracting healthcare professionals, advocates and business leaders.
The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Apata, Ibadan, has joined the campaign to eradicate malaria in Nigeria.
The initiative followed the unveiling of the Geneith Health Competition on the institution’s campus on Tuesday.
The competition, organised by CEOAfrica in partnership with Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and powered by Coatal Forte Softgel, targets students of tertiary and secondary schools nationwide to spread knowledge on malaria prevention.
Convener of the project, Mr. Cletus Ilobanafo, said the programme was designed to raise awareness through a structured health contest at the state, regional and national levels.
He said Geneith Pharmaceuticals has committed N1 billion to the project, with N400 million earmarked for scholarships and N600 million for gift items to motivate participants. “By promoting education and prevention strategies, this competition underscores the dedication of all stakeholders in combating malaria and improving public health in Nigeria,” Ilobanafo added.
The Provost of the College, Dr. Chidi Okpeze, praised the organisers for selecting the institution as a launch platform for the campaign. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, for their commitment to repositioning the livestock sector to boost national growth.
“Our students are ready to key into this initiative. They are articulate, active, and have represented us well in international competitions. We are confident they will excel in this campaign too,” he said.
The Provost urged the students to brace up for the task ahead and uphold the institution’s tradition of excellence.
Some students, who spoke on behalf of their colleagues, pledged to support the anti-malaria campaign by intensifying environmental sanitation on campus. They also commended the organisers and sponsors for giving them the opportunity to contribute to the fight against malaria.
They promised to sustain clean surroundings and spread the message beyond the school to ensure malaria is eradicated from the system.
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