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Tag: Bassey Albert Akpan

  • Senator Akpan dumps PDP

    Senator Akpan dumps PDP

    By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo

    Cerebral politician and Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum (Upstream) Mr Bassey Albert has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    This followed months of speculations and anxiety over his fate in next year’s guber elections in the state following his disenchantment over the conduct of the state ward congresses where he and several other guber aspirants consistently alleged that they were disenfranchised.

    In a letter dated July 15,2022, addressed to the ward chairman of his Ibiono Ibom Eastern Ward 1, Ibiono Ibom Local Council and obtained by newsmen in Uyo on Friday, Albert, who represents Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom said his decision to leave the party was to enable him actualize his political ambition.

    “I have been a loyal and committed member of the Official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria for over 20 years and have through the platform of the party serve our people, state, and nation diligently without any blemish, and I have by the grace of God contributed positively and impactfully to the growth and development of our dear country, state, and our people in general.

    “I believe as a law maker and a distinctive one at that, I must at all times advocate and pursue virtues and values that promote and sustain the effective adherence to the rule of law.

    “As you are aware, my aspiration to serve our dear state in the office of the Executive Governor is not personal or selfish but rather the collective ambition of our people, based on the principles of justice and equity, to achieve a better and prosperous Akwa Ibom State.
    In words of Jean Anouilh and I quote “The only immorality is not to do what one has to do when one has to do it”.

    “Therefore, after an extensive consultation with my God, family, friends, supporters, and well-meaning believers in a just and equitable Akwa Ibom State across the world, it’s obvious that these collective yearnings and aspirations cannot be actualize under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Consequently, guided by the sentiments, concerns and worries of our people so expressed on the need to take immediate steps for the actualization of their aspirations. I am therefore compelled to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) forthwith.
    I am convinced that this action will enable me to take the next positive step to meet the hopes and expectations of Akwa Ibom People.” The letter concluded.

    Our correspondent gathered that OBA as he is popularly called has concluded arrangements to join the Young Peoples Party.

  • 2023: Sen. Akpan calls for new reward system in PDP

    2023: Sen. Akpan calls for new reward system in PDP

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Bassey Akpan has called on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to review it’s reward system in favour of those who has made sacrifices for the party.

    Akpan, who is a gubenatorial candidate of the PDP in Akwa Ibom made the call on Monday in Uyo when he consulted the state leadership of the party to intimate them of his intention to run for governor of the state.

    Addressing an enlarged Exco of the party, he urged leaders of the party to also ensure a level-playing field for all the aspirants in the contest and expressed confidence of winning the party’s primaries.

    The Senator commended the state party chairman, Mr Aniekan Akpan, for steadying the party by his recent comments and actions after concerns were recently raised over the objectivity of the party.

    He debunked claims in a section of the media that he had problem with Governor Udom Emmanuel and recalled that the love he always had for the Governor made him step down for him in 2014.

    The same love, the Akpan said, was also repeated in 2019, when he remained the only senator standing by the governor for a second term, after the others decamped to APC.

    Enumerating his life-touching impacts, he said he has spent more than N400 million in sponsorship to 426 undergraduates with 21 of those students graduateding with first class honours.

    The state chairman in his response commended Akpan for effective representation in the senate, describing him as “one of the finest”.

    Announcing that the PDP in Akwa Ibom is one united family, the chairman maintained that political parties are for service and promised a level-playing field for all aspirants.

    Akpan called for tolerance and maturity when campaings eventually commence and advised Akpan to focus on his campaigns.

  • 2023: Sen Akpan tasks Security Agencies over murder of supporter, Emah

    2023: Sen Akpan tasks Security Agencies over murder of supporter, Emah

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream and frontline gubernatorial aspirant in Akwa Ibom, Senator Bassey Akpan has tasked security agencies in the state to unravel the gruesome murder of one of his strongest allies and supporters, Chief Bassey Emah.

    Akpan in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday described the murder as “one killing too many”, adding that the death of Emma must not be swept under the carpet.

    “Without leaning on any conspiracy theory, I hereby charge the security agencies to, as a matter of urgency; do all within their powers to unravel the circumstances surrounding the needless murder of Emma B.

    “The perpetrators of this heinous crime, no matter their status in the society, must be brought to account and soon too.” He said.

    Akpan acknowledged the contributions of the deceased to his gubernatorial ambition in but regretted that his murder would deprive his young family of a sustainable means of livelihood.

    He also expressed dismay that Emah was the third of his supporters who had been brutally attacked in recent times after Mr Augustine Ekanem and Mr Idongesit Idiok

    He however urged his supporters to remain calm and allow the security agencies to do their work and urged them to remain resolute and not be intimidated

    While praying for the Lord to grant the family of Chief Emah, his friends and allies as well as the campaign organization the fortitude to bear this great loss, he promised to stand by his family through this moment of grief and after.

  • Sen. Akpan empowers 5,000 constituents in A’Ibom

    Sen. Akpan empowers 5,000 constituents in A’Ibom

    Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District  and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Bassey Albert-Akpan has said that more than 5,000 persons has benefited from his empowerment programmes in the past six years.


    He has also said that  through the activities of his  constituency office, more than N350 million have been spent in impacting the lives of constituents in allowances and general services in the last three years.

    Akpan who made this known in a statement in Uyo yesterday maintained that his representation has been able to make a clear departure from the past by touching on the core needs of the people of his constituency.

    “Our constituency empowerment and human development programme have given succour to over 5,000 indigenes. This covers allocations of over 110 Cars including Jeeps. We have also given out hundreds of Motorcycles, Tricycles, Sowing Machines, Hair Dressing equipment and various Trade/business empowerments to enhance the living standard of our people.

    “It is worthy to note that our projects in the nine (9) local government areas in the Senatorial District cover facilitation of roads construction/ Flood and Erosion Control, Market Stalls/Toilet facilities, Solar-powered Water Schemes, Fish processing Plants/Equipment, Skills Acquisition Centres, Swimming Pool, amongst others. 

    “Clearly, the 94 Wards in the nine (9) local government areas of the constituency form the focus in all of these primary empowerment programmes while our secondary phases cover institutions, bodies and indigent persons across the entire State.

    “Our scholarship scheme for indigent students in the Senatorial District and across Akwa Ibom State as a whole covers 381beneficials studying in various higher institutions across the country. The scholarship covers 100 % of tuition fees plus N20, 000 upkeep stipends to each beneficiary annually.” The statement said. 

    He said that apart from reaching out with cash transfers to constituents and others in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic,  his office also supplied palliatives and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to health workers, government and private offices, unions, socio-cultural bodies, market women, transporters, and medical institutions worth over N100million. 

    In the Senate, Akpan said he sponsored a Bill for the amendment of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act, CAP D3 LFN 2004 which made the country to regain its lost ground from an estimated loss of over $40 billion (Forty billion dollars) in oil revenue.   

    “I was also instrunmental to the historic signing of the NNPC/Chevron EGTL Revised Agreement, which provided an instant leap for Nigeria in her energy sector and led to the reversal of the Joint Venture sharing ratio of 25:75 % to 60:40 % in favour of Nigeria and Chevron Limited respectively with a cost savings of over $6B.

    “I am also working on other outstanding Bills .“The National Youth Employment and Development Bill”; “The Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan Bill,”;  “Constitutional Amendment to make Sovereign Wealth Fund, as a first-line beneficiary of the Federation Account.”

    “Others were the “Federation Account Amendment Bill 2021”: “The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) Act of 2021” and “The Gas Flaring Prohibition and Punishment Bill 2020.” All these bills are currently undergoing various legislative processes.” He said.