Aretha Franklin, America’s undisputed Queen of Soul dead
at 76.
ICMS, Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D
Aretha Franklin, commonly referred to as the “the undisputed
Queen of Soul,” died today at the age of 76 in her Detroit home with family and
friends at her bedside. She was reportedly gravely ill in recent weeks from
pancreatic cancer and receiving hospice care.
Aretha Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018.)
Born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee USA, Aretha’s
family relocated to Detroit Michigan when she was 5 years old. She was just 10 years old when her mother
Barbara died. Her father, Clarence LaVaughn “C. L.” Franklin raised her with
the help of famous celebrity friends and public figures like Martin Luther King
Jr., Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, and Mahalia Jackson who frequently visited his
home and Church. Her father “C. L.” Franklin was famous on his own right as a
preacher at Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church.
Aretha was a mother of four children. She gave birth to her
first child, a boy named Clarence at the very young age of 12 years. Her second
child, another son named Edward came two years later at the age of 14. Several
years later she gave birth to two other sons, Teddy Richards and Kecalf
Cunningham, in 1964 and 1970. Early motherhood
and associated parenting challenges did not prevent Aretha from beginning a gospel
singing career at the age of 14. She was managed by her father and J.V.B.
Records signed her on enabling her to release her first gospel album in 1956
titled “Songs of Faith.” At the age of 18, she signed onto Columbia Records and moving
into secular music and charting a number of single hits on American pop and R&B
charts.
Aretha Franklin (The 1960's)
Aretha had an illustrious singing and music career which
lasted over sixty years establishing her as one of the most influential music artists
in American music history. Her accomplishments are numerous and include among
others, winning 18 Grammy Awards and selling over 75 million records globally.
She was the first female music performer inducted into the renowned Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame and recording 112 charted singles on the Billboard and setting
the record for the most charted female artist in the trade magazine’s history.
Some of Aretha’s popular and well known music hits include
"Rock Steady", "Jump to It", "Freeway of Love",
"Who's Zoomin' Who", "Chain Of Fools", "Until You Come
Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)", "Something He Can Feel",
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with George Michael), and a
remake of The Rolling Stones song "Jumpin' Jack Flash".
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Unhappy Ugandan politician Patrick Okumu-Ringa, upset with
his constituents’ seals up boreholes and development projects he had
initiated in the area to punish his constituents. ICMS, Inc Reports By Tom Okure, Ph.D ------------------------------
Ugandan lawmaker Patrick Okumu-Ringa, angry and very hurt
after successive decisive defeats in a recent parliamentary by election, blames
his constituents for his defeat and not voting for him.
Ugandan Politician Mr. Okumu-Ringa
In retaliation for what he says is his
constituents ungratefulness and failure to appreciate his efforts to empower
them; the lawmaker stops all community development projects he initiated in
the area for his constituents and dismantles all the boreholes he had sunk
that have been supplying free water to residents in his constituency area free
of charge over the last two decades.
Mr. Patrick Okumu-Ringa has made a number of unsuccessful
bids to return to the Ugandan Parliament but has failed. His latest comeback
attempt and defeat as an independent candidate by the ruling party candidate Mr.
Hashim Mukulanga was “the final straw that broke the camel's back” for the politician.
He was miserably defeated coming a distant third and only securing a paltry
1,270 votes out of the 9,940 votes cast. The ruling party candidate Mr. Hashim
Mukulanga garnered 4,283 votes, while second place with 4,159 votes when to another
candidate Robert Onega of FDC Party.
Three days following the announcement of the election
results, Mr. Patrick Okumu-Ringa began the process of dismantling the development
projects including the boreholes he had initiated in his constituency area to
punish his constituents.
Read the full story:
ELECTION LOSER DISMANTLES BOREHOLES, TELLS VOTERS TO LOOK FOR WATER ELSEWHERE
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Ikot Ekpene APC Celebrates Godswill Akpabio defection from PDP as Governor Emmanuel Udom removes detractors from his cabinet.
ICMS,Inc Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D
__________________
The All Progressives Congress (APC) political party of Nigeria rolled out a large welcome celebration today in Akwa Ibom State’s Ikot Ekpene township stadium to welcome Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is formally defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and joining the APC.
Senator Akpabio is defecting and carrying along with him many prominent Akwa Ibom State PDP chieftains to the APC. According to news media sources, the list of who is who among the defectors to APC include some members of the State House of Assembly and:
“former works commissioner in the state, Mr Don Etim, former senator Effiong Bob, Leader of the House, Mr Udo Kieran Akpan, former Speaker and House of Reps member for Etinan Federal Constituency, Mr Sam Ikon, respective House of Reps members from Abak and Essien Edim/Etim Ekpo/Ika, Mr Emmanuel Akpan and Mr Emmanuel Ekon, former Information Commissioner, Mr Aniekan Umanah, state House of Assembly members, Nse Ntuen, Usoro Akpanusoh, Aniekan Uko, Aniekan Bassey, Idongesit Ntekpere, Uduak Ududoh, Mark Esset, among others."
The full impact of Akpabio’s defection on the current governance structure in Akwa Ibom State and the competitiveness of PDP against the APC in the upcoming 2019 elections is unclear. One thing however is clear, and that is, the unleashing of anger, desperation, fear and political uneasiness among the political elite class in the state.
Senator Akpabio with a APC Chieftain Bola Tinubu after news
broke of his defection and acceptance into APC
One can feel the sense of betrayal, confusion, suspicion and anger among the PDP political base across the state who for the first time in many years feel vulnerable and fear that the invasion of APC into the state political fabric has finally taken root.
A jubilant crowd of both PDP and APC supporters welcomes Akpabio back to
Akwa Ibom State in Uyo upon on his return en route to Ikot Ekpene to
announce his formal defection from PDP
Under the present circumstances, the existing PDP chieftains in the state have become alert, and everyone is advising Governor Udom to rid the PDP party hierarchy and the state government of all Akpabio’s moles embedded within the state governance structure prior to the next election.
Governor Emmanuel Udom Cleanses the State Executive Council of Detractors
In response to Akpabio’s defection, Emmanuel Udom's Akwa Ibom state government has taken some immediate decisive actions to rally his political support base, ensure loyalty among the remaining political leadership and eliminate any potential detractors within the current administration. The defection of Akpabio provides Udom with the unique opportunity to finally get rid of his political opponents in his government and the image that has trailed his political career as a political puppet of Senator Akpabio who was not elected by the masses but installed by Akpabio and beholden to him.
Immediately affected in the governance structure cleanup exercise by Udom are the removal from office and the State Executive Council with immediate effect of two prominent state commissioners.
Mr. Ibanga Akpabio dismissed as AKS Commissioner for
“gross misconduct and non-compliance with public service rules.”
Mr. Ibanga Akpabio from Ikot Ekpene who is a younger brother of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Victor Antai from Oron. According to the State Government press release, their dismissal from office was necessary due to “gross misconduct and non-compliance with public service rules.” Mr. Ibanga Akpabio served as the State Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Manpower Development.
Mr. Victor Antai also dismissed as AKS Commissioner for “gross misconduct and non-compliance with public service rules."
Mr. Victor Antia served as the commissioner in charge of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mr. Victor Antai is alleged to have welcomed Senator Akpabio in Ibom International Airport upon his return to the state following the news of Senator Akpabio’s defection from the PDP to the APC.
Akpabio in preparation for his formal defection from the PDP formally tendered his resignation as senate minority leader in the National Assembly. Akpabio's resignation has further fueled rumors about his political ambitions and intention, perhaps to take over the national assembly senates leadership under the banner of the APC. Senator Murray Bruce, one of Akpabio’s colleagues who represents Rivers state on
Tuesday called Akpabio a traitor, and blamed him in part for the undemocratic siege
of the National Assembly by the DSS.
Read more about Akpabios defection from PDP to APC
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The Recycling of Nigerian Political heavy weights between the
two major political parties PDP and APC: The Case of Akwa Ibom State.
Commentary ICMS,Inc Reports By Tom Okure, PhD
The Recycling of Nigerian Political heavy weights between
the two major political parties PDP and APC is very puzzling and a unique Nigerian
Phenomenon. The switching of major politicians between the two major parties
has made news headlines over the past several weeks. The trend has finally
spread to a very strong PDP dominated state in Akwa Ibom.
Senator Godswill Akpabio of PDP meeting with President Buhari of APC
Lately there has been an ongoing rumor that Godswill
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, is concluding arrangements to
dump the PDP and consequently diminish the euphoric celebrations that recently
took place at the PDP headquarters, over the defection of some heavy weight senators
and three governors from the APC.
This morning, Propeller Newspapers states affirmatively that
Senator Godswill Akpabio and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State is defecting to
the current ruling party APC and has been issued his membership card. The
newspaper also indicates that some other Ikot Ekpene politicians are joining
Senator Akpabio to the APC. A list of
who is who among the alleged defectors are highlighted to include:
“former works commissioner in the state, Mr Don Etim, former
senator Effiong Bob, Leader of the House, Mr Udo Kieran Akpan, former Speaker
and House of Reps member for Etinan Federal Constituency, Mr Sam Ikon,
respective House of Reps members from Abak and Essien Edim/Etim Ekpo/Ika, Mr
Emmanuel Akpan and Mr Emmanuel Ekon, former Information Commissioner, Mr
Aniekan Umanah, state House of Assembly members, Nse Ntuen, Usoro Akpanusoh,
Aniekan Uko, Aniekan Bassey, Idongesit Ntekpere, Uduak Ududoh, Mark Esset, among
others. At least 10 house members are said to be ready to defect to the APC
with Akpabio”
Akpabio meets with Buhari in London
If the news of Akpabio’s defecting with a number
of major political heavyweights to APC is true, what does this mean to the
current governance structure in Akwa Ibom State? What is the impact of this
change on the APC party in Akwa Ibom and even more important on the competitiveness
of PDP against the APC in the upcoming 2019 elections?
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