The Tell-it-All Drama That Is Unfolding In The Nigerian Senate

The Drama Unfolding in the Nigerian Senate 

ICMS, Inc. Reports

Commentary: 

by Tom Okure, Ph.D

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A tell-it-all drama is slowly unfolding in the Nigerian Senate between the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In an ongoing feud and drama in the Nigerian Senate, a female senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against Nigerian Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio alleging defamation by Akpabio and his senior aide Mfon Patrick.

In the lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on 25 February through her attorney, Victor

Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, President of the Senate

Giwa, Senator Natasha is demanding N100 billion in general damages and N300 million to cover her litigation costs. According to allegations in the lawsuit, Mr. Mfon Patrick published a defamatory post on Facebook after a heated argument that occurred last Thursday between Senate President Akpabio and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over a change in her seat in the Senate chamber. Apparently, this is not the first incident between Akpabio and Nathasha, consequently, one can suppose that the two are not good friends. 

Senator Natasha in the Senate Chamber

Senator Natasha in a recent social media interview raised some concerning points in her address at the

BEREKETE program that perhaps the Nigerian Senate Media office should pay attention to and correct. In the interview, Natasha complains that she is constantly being harassed and has been quiet for a long time because she didn't want to be misinterpreted wrongly. She just wants to be left alone to do the job which she was elected to do for her constituency. 

Nathasha alleges that she is deliberately sidelined in the Senate and that many of her Senate privileges have been denied her unjustly. She gives many examples of being discriminated against, including being removed from many international travel events that she was supposed to be part of. 

The Lawsuit against Godswill Akpabio
by Senator Natasha Apoti

She mentions a United Nations activity she was not allowed to attend. By limiting her ability to attend many international functions, she alleges that the Senate leadership is "limiting her ability to attract democratic dividends to her constituency." She further complains about being removed from the Senate Committee on Local Content over alledged claims that she was using her office to divert resources intended for the Niger Delta to her region. Under these circumstances, Natasha states that she has been forced to use her own personal resources to fund her official trips abroad to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians and her constituency. 

Regarding her recent Senate floor outburst where she directly challenged the Senate President over a new seat assignment which she objected to vehemently, Senator Natasha states that the seat assigned to her "is a far corner seat where no one will notice if I raise my hand." In that far corner, seat according to Senator Natasha "It will be difficult for the camera to capture me" among the 109 Senators in the Senate red chamber. The key takeaway point that Natasha makes in her complaint is the fact 

that the seat allocation assigned to her will not give her adequate exposure.

Natasha at her Senate Office.
Source: her Facebook page.

The particular incident that appears to trigger her lawsuit against the Senate President Godswill Akpabio stems from a recent Facebook post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright.” 

In the article, Akpabio's senior aide Mr. Mfon Patrick states that "It is bottled up anger by the Kogi lawmaker, who knows nothing about Legislative rules. Mr. Mfon Patrick further states in his Facebook article that "she thinks that being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers.” 

Public sentiments over the lawsuit and remarks are varied in the social media, with some commentators on the matter supporting the Senate President, while many other commentators oppose the remarks of his senior aide as uncalled for and very disrespectful to the female Senator. Indeed, if this incident occurred in the western world, women advocacy groups would be very outraged, and would protest against such remarks as chauvinistic and intolerable in any governmental setting, not to talk of in the legislature.

One can suppose that after such a display and outburst as Natasha displayed recently on the Senate Chamber, Senator Godwill Akpabio as the Senate President has taken notice of her complaint, and would instruct his media office to look into the matter urgently to ensure that the senate cameras provide adequate coverage to all members in the senate chamber, even if the member is isolated in a far corner, as Nathasa complained about. Proper camera positioning, view and exposure of each senator is necessary to enable each senator to air their views adequately during floor debates without hindrance. Senator Natasha's outspokenness in her media interview further suggested that an internal power struggle may be brewing within the Senate Chamber.  

Senator Natasha does not appear to be finished with her agitation and complaints over the harassment and injustice that she claims she has endured for a long time in the male-dominated Nigerian Senate. She vows to reveal and expose Senator Godswill Akpabio over the next coming weeks, and in a planned national television interview, she is going to make. Her brawl with the Senate President over seating re-arrangement seems to have awoken her silence and latent anger over a past incident where she accused Senator Akpabio of undermining her efforts and contributions within the red chamber. Because of the public outcry over the previous matter at the time, Senator Akpabio had publicly apologized to her over the unguarded "Nightclub" remark he made.  

We await more follow-up drama regarding this unsatisfactory seat allocation and defamatory issue matters, especially because the Nigerian Senate leadership has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the senate’s disciplinary committee over her alleged procedural infraction on the chamber floor.

 

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D. CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc. (or ICMS Inc.). ICMS, Inc., is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York      

Motivating young minds at MBHS Oron, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria

Motivating young minds at MBHS Oron, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria during a campus visit.

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Please don’t forget to like, share the video, and subscribe to my YouTube channel 

Link: https://youtube.com/@tom_okure?feature=shared

Thank you!

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D. CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc. (or ICMS Inc.). ICMS, Inc., is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York      

ICMS, Inc Videos: Shorts & Reels: "I Want To Be Your Man”

I Want To Be Your Man

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Love is great and beautiful, especially when both couples love and respect each other and reciprocate their affection. Please don’t forget to like, share the video, and subscribe to my YouTube channel 

Link: https://youtube.com/@tom_okure?feature=shared

Thank you!

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D. CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc. (or ICMS Inc.). ICMS, Inc., is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York      

ICMS, Inc Videos: Shorts & Reels: Photo News Flashback Series #1

Photo News Flashback Series #1

Please don’t forget to like, share the video, and subscribe to my YouTube channel 

Link: https://youtube.com/@tom_okure?feature=shared

Thank you!

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D. CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc. (or ICMS Inc.). ICMS, Inc., is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York    

ICMS, Inc Videos: Shorts & Reels: Seth’s Ist Year Birthday Celebration

Seth’s Ist Year Birthday Celebration

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D. CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc. (or ICMS Inc.). ICMS, Inc., is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York      

ICMS, Inc Small Business Mentoring and Advisory Services

 ICMS, Inc Small Business Services

ICMS, Inc has a proven track record of evaluating and assisting small and micro-enterprises to run their businesses effectively, whether you are just trying to startup or trying to expand.

We offer virtual online business advisory services for small business owners. You can schedule an appointment for a virtual consulting session to explore whether we can be of assistance to your business by texting your request to 5184663169 (USA) or 09049227196 (Nigeria).You can negotiate your own rate for our mentoring and consulting services in dollars or Naira for your convenience. Reach out to us for your answers to Startup, Operating, and Regulatory problems.

Razor Sharp Teeth Piranha Fish: A victim of its own aggressive eating frenzy

ICMS, Inc Reports

By Tom Okure, Ph.D
July 30, 2021

Piranha are fish with razor sharp teeth found in the Amazon River. The Piranha Fish is a vicious fresh-water fish known in Venezuela as the ‘caribe.’ It is a common native fish in the lowland streams, floodplains, lakes and reservoirs in South America in the area known as the Amazon basin.

 The Red-bellied Piranha Fish

Piranhas consist of many varieties differing extensively in ecology and behavior depending on the specific species. There are about 20 known species of piranha, but only four or five of them pose any significant danger.

The red bellied species (or Pygocentrus nattereri) are notorious as ferocious predators that hunt their prey in schools. The red-bellied piranha is very aggressive and nasty in behavior and eats almost anything including other fish, sick animals and any human parts. Sick cattle that mistakenly bent their heads down to drink river water in the river have been known to be seized by the nose and mouth and dragged into the river and totally gobbled up by adult piranhas.

A bite from a piranha fish can be extremely powerful, painful and dangerous and is caused by the fish’s large jaw muscles closely attached to the tip of its jaw. Its strong jaws combined with the finely saw toothed shape teeth make the piranha fish adept at tearing flesh effectively. 

Red bellied piranha school 

Despite their often description as extremely dangerous in the media, piranhas normally do not represent a severe risk to humans. Even so, attacks do happen, particularly when the piranhas feel confined in dense groups and stressful situations especially during the dry season when the water level is low and food is relatively scarce.

Dense piranha fish groups swimming near fishermen may escalate the risk of attacks due to the commotion caused by struggling piranhas struggling over fish bait in the water. Children are more often attacked than adults because of splashing water which attracts piranhas.

If a person is injured or otherwise incapacitated and in the water, the risk of being attacked also increases. In areas where piranhas are common, warning signs are sometimes placed at high-risk locations and beaches are protected by a barrier.

Notwithstanding their terrible reputation, piranha fish perform a useful role in the system of things in the Amazonian jungles by being a part of the checks and balance apparatus of the ecosystem, eliminating the feeble and sick so that the strong can succeed.

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Watch the Video...Razor Sharp Teeth Piranha Fish: A victim of its own aggressive eating frenzy

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D. CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc. (or ICMS Inc.). ICMS, Inc., is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York        

A guide to help you determine if your business idea is feasible.

By Tom Okure, Ph.D
ICMS, Inc. Reports
Updated: December 1, 2024

Dr. Okure consulting with a business client

Deciding if your business idea has a profit potential can be a difficult endeavor especially if you have never been self-employed before and don’t know how to research your idea. There are several proven steps that you can use to guide your research of the viability of your business idea.  

Below is a guide to help you determine if your business idea is feasible:

1. Create a profile of your potential paying customer.
2. Describe the features and benefits associated with the product or service offering.
3. Determine the target geographic market you plan to sell to in your first operating year.
4. Determine who your competitors are in your target market?
5. What are your competitors charging in your target market?
6. How low can you price your product or service to remain competitive?
7. List distinguishing product and service features that will attract customers to you.
8. Determine the current market or industry trends in your target area.
9. Determine the potential for growth in the market.
10. Determine how you plan to make potential customers know you exist.
11. What are your sales and revenue projections in your first year?
12. What government permits and approvals are needed to start your business?
13. Describe the process of manufacturing or producing your product.
14. Briefly describe your fulfillment process.
15. Determine your first-year production/manufacturing capacity.
16. Who are your potential suppliers?
17. What resources do you need to have in place before you start your business?
18. Determine what your fixed and variable monthly operating cost will be to run your business.
19. What personal strengths and weaknesses are likely to impact your business operations?
20. Describe your contingency plans to enable you to buffer market /operational shocks.

Planning ahead is not an easy process especially because you cannot readily get feedback as to its value. Nevertheless, when you start planning for the success of your business, the objective and advantages of planning become clearer.

Planning enables you to deal with unforeseen circumstances that may suddenly plunge your business into a sudden difficult situation through no fault of your own. Planning for all types of eventualities that may confront your business allows you to deal with them in a rational manner and still reach your objective in spite of temporary setbacks. On the other hand, failure to plan can spell disaster or bankruptcy for your business.

If you are starting a business or have an existing business and think you or your firm can benefit from a thorough assessment of your business idea or existing plan, don't hesitate to contact us at icmsinc@aol.com or okuret@gmail.com with your questions and a price quote for technical assistance.

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc. (or ICMS Inc). ICMS, Inc, is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York.

Nara Ekela Mo: Global version of the song performed by resonance and friends

Nara Ekela Mo: Global version of the song 

Nara Ekela Mo (English meaning - Take my thanksgiving) If I had ten thousand tongues. It still won't be enough.

By Tim Godgrey
Performed by Resonance and Friends

A joyous taste of united praise from tour global Church family: 37 people in Brazil, England, France, Indonesia, Singapore and Spain sing united praise to the Lord.

Song based on 'What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?' from Psalm 116:12 (ESV). Global cover version of the Song in Igbo and English by Tim Godfrey. Performed here by the Global Resonance Multicultural Worship Collective, Arts Release (WEC International).

Preface to video

As you enjoy this great gospel song remember this: There is only one God, but many races, cultures and many languages ~ Tom Okure, Ph.D.

This beautiful Nigerian gospel song has been song so many times and by so many people and groups. The original rendition of the song was made in Nigerian Igbo language. The uniqueness of the lyrics of this global version is the fact that it is rendered here in English, Igbo, Yoruba, Mandarin, Tamil, Bahasa Indonesia and French.

Christmas Songs: Old Classics by Nat King Cole,Frank Sinatra,Dean Martin,Elvis Presley,Bing Crosbey

 

Christmas Songs and Entertainment Series: No 3

OLd Classics Christmas Songs by Nat King Cole,Frank Sinatra,Dean Martin,Elvis Presley,Bing Crosbey Classics Christmas with Fireplace

Christmas Carols: Old Classics - Holy Night

Christmas Songs and Entertainment Series: No 2

CANTIQUE DE NOEL BY ADLOPHE CHARLES ADAM

Holy Night Rendition
Courtesy of Harmonious Chorale-Ghana

 

Christmas Carols : Old Classics by Jim Reeves

Christmas Songs and Entertainment Series: No 1

Old Classics Christmas Carols

Reality Check Moments: Back Stabbers

Reality Check Moments

By Tom Okure
Date: Febuary 24, 2016

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Do you have any friends who are Back Stabbers?

Explanation: Friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc., who “Smile In Your Face” all the time, but in reality what they really want to do is stab you in the back, either as a result of spite (vindictiveness) or because they want to take your place etc. Can you relate to that?

Well let me refresh your memory with a real Old School Music on the subject by:

The O'Jays - Back Stabbers

Back Stabbers ©1972 Philadelphia International

Enjoy the Music. Your comments are welcome

Learn more about the O’Jays

Source: Wikipedia.org

The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert (born June 16, 1942), Walter Williams (born August 25, 1943), William Powell (January 20, 1942 – May 26, 1977), Bobby Massey and Bill Isles.

The O'Jays: An American R&B Group

The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with "Lonely Drifter" in 1963, but reached their greatest level of success once Gamble and Huff, a team of producers and songwriters, signed them to their Philadelphia International label in 1972.

With Gamble and Huff, the O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with "Back Stabbers" (1972), and topped the Billboard Hot 100 the following year with "Love Train".

Numerous other hits followed through the 1970s and into the 80s and 90s, and The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.



All rights reserved by Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc (ICMS, Inc). The information included in this publication may not be used, reproduced, transmitted, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written permission of ICMS, Inc. 

Achieving Individual and Functional Independence With Innovative Technology

The Wonders of Innovative Technology…Achieving individual and functional independence with the use of customized technology

LIKE ➡ S. Saint

Posted by S. Saint on Saturday, December 12, 2015

No respite for aid workers as refugees continue to flood into Europe

With Europe tightening asylum qualifications to only those nations where there is open warfare, those whose applications fail will be classed as economic migrants, not refugees. In Greece on the flashpoint border with the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia people from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan are being bussed away after there were fears of violence between them and migrants who are stranded because their home countries are merely poor, not war-torn...Read more No Respite For Aid Workers As Refugees Continue To Flood Into Euripoe

African Cities Facing Climate Change

Many African towns have problems with electricity cuts but the solution is right there, solar panels. Vincent Kitio, a representative from the UN-Habitat agency, confirmed that their use is becoming more widespread:

 “I was very surprised to find in a small village in Burkina-Faso shops selling solar panels. These panels came from China and were on sale in the village shops. This means that we are finding ourselves more and more in a period of energy change because these panels are affordable and there is a demand. People are therefore turning to these new methods.”......Read more African Cities Facing Climate Change

The Effects Of Climate Change Are Being Felt All Over The Planet, But Not Equally

"The effects of climate change are being felt all over the planet, but not equally"

By Kofi Annan
Source: africaprogresspanel.org

"The effects of climate change are being felt all over the planet, but not equally" - Kofi Annan

Posted by Africa Progress Panel on Friday, June 5, 2015

Celebrating Exemplary Annang Public Servants of Ikot Ekpene Descent of the Past

Celebrating Exemplary Annang Public Servants of Ikot Ekpene Descent of the Past

Featuring Chief (Hon) Udo Udo Okure, OBE

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Chief Udo Udo Okure of Nto Umoton Abatekpe

Chief (Hon) Udo Udo Okure of Nto Umoton Abatekpe family group of Ikot Ekpene was a Public Service Commissioner in the former Eastern Regional Government of Nigeria (1960-67) with its capital in Enugu. He was a top government administrator, adviser and policy maker in the Eastern Nigerian Government.

As Public Service Commissioner, he traveled extensively abroad to recruit and bring back many highly qualified Eastern Nigerians who were living or studying abroad. He recruited, hired and mentored some prominent and renowned public administrators from Ikot Ekpene such as Mr. Asuquo Ekanem of Urukuso and Mr. Isang of Abiakpo etc. who later took up the mantle of top administrators and policy makers in former South Eastern State of Nigeria which later became Cross River State of Nigeria. 

In recognition of his outstanding public service to Nigeria and the former British Colonial Government, Queen Elizabeth 11 of England awarded Chief Udo Udo Okure the high honor award of OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire). The Order of the British Empire recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds.

After the military coup of January, 1966, which brought an end to civilian rule in Nigeria, Okure was reassigned and appointed as the First non-white Chairman of the then newly created Calabar Cement Company (CALCEMCO) by the then Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Shortly after the liberation of the mainland portion of South Eastern State of Nigeria, Chief Udo Udo Okure was also appointed by the then military Governor of the state, Governor Esuene to serve as the Chairman of the Rehabilitation Committee for Ikot Ekpene. This was the last public service post that Okure held prior to his death. As a result of a conspiracy to get rid of influential Annang tribesmen, Chief Okure and a number of prominent Annang heroes were arrested and detained during a rehabilitation plenary meeting. Okure was subsequently executed while in Nigerian military detention under the instructions of the area military commander Benjamin Adekunle (also known as Black Scorpion during the Biafra Nigerian civil was). 

After the South Eastern State of Nigeria was liberated, tribal and ethnic sentiments and rivalry between Ibibios and Annangs which had laid dormant during the war resurfaced. Competition for dominance resulted in the plot by Ibibio politicians to eliminate many prominent Annang elites using the military as a vehicle to eliminate opponents. Those who had access to the military field commanders like Benjamin Adekunle employed their services to victimize and murder those considered as potential political rivals.

The essence of Adekunle as a willing murderer solder was well known during the Nigerian civil war. In an interview he gave on August 1977 with a Vanguard newspaper correspondent Mr. Muyiwa Adetiba several weeks before his death, Adekunle appeared to have regretted his image as a legalized murderer soldier. Excerpts from the interview reveals his attitudinal change and regrets as follows:

 ‘’My killing days are over” …. ‘’Hitherto I had been labelled as a legalized murderer by the society called Nigerians …… Right now, I will do any job that will lead to the saving of souls of fellow Nigerians. Not that I regret my period as a soldier, or my killing days as some people would like to refer to it. But there are certain times when you need to do some reassessments. To be a soldier can be a curse in that you are branded. People look at you as if there is no good in you, as if you are just a blood-thirsty cannibal’’.

Read More About Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle

Benjamin Adekunle popularly known as “Black Scorpion” during the Nigerian Civil War, was Commander of the 3^rd  Marine Commando of the Nigeria Military troops during the civil War. Prior to his dead and over a period of more than five years, he had been particularly suffering from various debilitating ailments according to his son, Abiodun Adekunle, but most especially from memory lapses.

Follow this Link: My killing days are over – Benjamin Adekunle

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Umana Optimistic Of Victory, As Tribunal Resumes Thursday

By Ekele Peter Agbo
Date: Oct 7, 2015
Source: Copyright © 2015 Leadership Newspaper. All Rights Reserved

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After a two week adjournment, the Akwa Ibom governorship tribunal sitting in Abuja resumes Thursday to adopt written addresses by parties in the matter.

Umana Okon Umana

Candidate for the All Progressive Congress in the election, Umana Umana had approached the tribunal challenging conduct of the poll and declaration of Udom Emmanuel as winner.

At the last sitting, the Justice Sadiq Umar-led panel directed that the respondents should file and serve their final written addresses on the petitioners within seven days beginning from Monday, September 21, 2015, while the petitioners should file and serve their final written addresses on the respondents within four days.

In the sitting which lasted for about three months, the prosecution called over 60 witnesses.

The tribunal which was supposed to sit in Akwa Ibom, was relocated to Abuja, following reports of violence.

Shortly after that, one of the respondents in the matter, Udom Emmanuel, filed an application before the Justice Sadiq Umar led panel for it to be relocated back to Uyo, but the tribunal dismissed the application, while tagging other demands by Udom’s counsel as academic exercise that has been overtaken by events.

Justice Sadiq dismissed the motion in its entirety based on security implication which supports the provision in Paragraph 20(2) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act on accessibility.

The petitioner’s (Umana Umana & APC) team was led by Dayo Akinlaja, SAN, Sen Idta Enang with 10 others and for the 1st respondent (Udom Emmanuel) team was led by Paul Usoro, Offiong Offiong, SAN and 10 others, 2nd respondent (PDP) led by Adekunle Oyesanya and 4 others, while for the 3rd & 4th respondent (INEC & REC) was led by Tobechukwu Nweke.

The tribunal granted most of the requests sought by the petitioners during the sitting. Among them was the inspection of ballot papers used for the election. Forensic experts were called to inspect the materials. Testifying before the tribunal, the experts alleged that they found non human prints and multiple thumbprints on the cards. They said over 100,000 ballot papers had non-human prints. The ballot papers were later admitted in evidence. Other witnesses who testified for the prosecution insisted that elections did not hold in the state and that there was wide spread violence. They alleged that several people belonging to the opposition died in the violence. The governorship candidate also took the stand as witness. Video exhibits were used to show what transpired during the polls.

The tribunal saw videos showing Umana addressing the press and highlighting the case of election fraud in his polling unit on the day of election. The next video showed him having a discussion with the Electoral Officer who was confirming that election materials were indeed carted away. The third video showed a set of INEC ad hoc staff (youth corpers) stamping ballot papers behind INEC office days after the election. The 4th video showed a PDP Local Government Chairman presiding over a massive operation of ballot box stamping using thugs. The fifth video showed a police truck and an Akwa Ibom State Corporation bus allegedly used to cart away election materials and intimidate voters who dispersed in fear. The sixth video showed bandits caught with election materials. The seventh video showed a collation centre and how the marks were tallied and written on forms.

In his testimony, Umana maintained that there was no election in his ward and that he was unable to cast his vote. After Umana closed his case, Governor Udom Emmanuel opened defense, with witnesses who claimed that the election was peacefully conducted throughout the state.

The first defence witness, Dr. Bassey Asuquo told the tribunal that the election was conducted without violence and that he voted in the polls.

Led in evidence by Mr Paul Usoro (SAN) counsel to Governor Udom, the witness who claimed to be a medical scientist and polling agent of the PDP denied allegations of ballot boxes hijacking and any form of violence.

He said in his testimony that results were collated from all the 14 units in Uyo local government except in three units where he admitted that the election could not be conducted because of violence.

However under cross examination by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) counsel to the APC and its governorship candidate Chief Umana Okon Umana, the witness admitted that 941 votes were recorded for the PDP in the unit he claimed election did not hold.

The witness also read out results sheets from different units signed by one Joseph Okon Peter who claimed to be a collation agent of the PDP.

Other witnesses were Mr. Godwin Ndukude, Isaiah Abia and one Maxwell. In his evidence, Mr. Godwin Ndukude, a former commissioner for transport claimed that the election was free and fair and that he voted in the poll.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is the 2nd Respondent, on its part closed its defence abruptly after failing to call more witnesses at two previous sittings of the tribunal. The PDP had listed 23 witnesses. One of them, who is Chairman of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area and PDP chapter collation agent for the April 11,2015 Governorship election, Barr Chris Okorie contradicted himself when he denied ever knowing that Barr Emmanuel Enoidem was the PDP State Collation Officer of the PDP. He had earlier made two witness statements on oath before the tribunal, one as a witness to the 1st respondent where he admitted that he accompanied Enoidem from the Etim Ekpo Local Government Collation center to the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) where the results were collated and declared and another where he deposed to on behalf of PDP of which he was cross examined as a witness.

After the PDP closed its case, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to open its defence on the allegation of aiding election malpractice.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Sadiq Umar, made the order after counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), announced that the party will not present additional witnesses originally listed to testify at the tribunal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission called four witnesses in the matter. The commission had listed a total of about 100 witnesses. One of INEC’s witnesses, Mr. Pius Nwankwo, the head of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Department of INEC in Akwa Ibom State told the tribunal that his responsibility during the governorship election included oversight on the Card Reader.

Nwankwo told the Justice Umar-led panel that the Card Reader malfunctioned in most of the polling units in the state. On the challenges of the Card Reader, he stated that there were three problems that affected the use of the Card Reader. Firstly, he stated that the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) has internal micro chips where particulars of voters are stored and also has an antenna that communicates with the Card Reader.

According to him, if the PVC is manhandled it affects the Card Reader and that will make it not readable. Secondly, he stated that human error equally affected the Card Reader.

The witness added that the Assistant Presiding Officers (APO) whose duty it was to handle the Card Readers were not skilled because they were trained for just one day. He added that the Card Reader itself may not function if there is no Internet.

After two other witnesses, Alex Ejesieme, told the tribunal that the person he intended to call as their fifth witness “suddenly developed health problems.”

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Link to original article below:
Umana Optimistic Of Victory As Tribunal Resumes Thursday

Remarks at Flag Raising Ceremony by US Secretary of State John Kerry in Havana, Cuba

Posted by Tom Okure, Ph.D
Date: August 14, 2015

Jose Marti once said this:  “Everything that divides men…is a sin against
humanity.”  ~ Remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Secretary of State John Kerry
at Flag Raising in Havana, Cuba

Secretary John Kerry also said this:  “My friends, we are gathered here today because our leaders – President Obama and President Castro – made a courageous decision to stop being the prisoners of history and to focus on the opportunities of today and tomorrow”

“For more than half a century, U.S.-Cuban relations have
been suspended in the amber of Cold War politics. In the interim, a whole generation of Americans and Cubans have grown up and grown old. The United States has had ten new presidents. In a united Germany, the Berlin Wall is a fading memory. Freed from Soviet shackles, Central Europe is again home to thriving democracies…… Let me be clear: The establishment of normal diplomatic relations is not something that one government does as a favor to another; it is something that two countries do together when the citizens of both will benefit. And in this case, the reopening of our embassies is important on two levels: People-to-people and government-to-government.

First, we believe it’s helpful for the people of our nations to learn more about each other, to meet each other. That is why we are encouraged that travel from the United States to Cuba has already increased by 35 percent since January and is continuing to go up. 

Raising the Flag at the US Embassy in Cuba 

We are encouraged that more and more
U.S. companies are exploring commercial ventures here that would create opportunities for Cuba’s own rising number of entrepreneurs, and we are encouraged that U.S. firms are interested in helping Cuba expand its telecommunications and internet links, and that the government here recently pledged to create dozens of new and more affordable Wi-Fi hotspots.

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Follow the link below to read the full video and text of remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry in Havana, Cuba at the Flag Raising Ceremony:

Remarks at Flag Raising Ceremony