Rt Hon Cletus Ekpo Emerges Akwa Ibom NALGON Chairman

••• Promises a new dawn for peace, unity, national cohesion

The National Association of Former Local Government Council Chairmen in Nigeria (NALGON) has announced the emergence of Rt Hon Cletus Ekpo, former two-term Executive Chairman of Etinan Local Government Council, as its Akwa Ibom State Chairman.

Ekpo’s emergence was confirmed during the inauguration of the One Nigeria Project by the National Association of Former Elected Local Government Council Chairmen in Nigeria (NALGON EMERITUS), held yesterday, at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Abuja. The event attracted an impressive array of national leaders, development advocates and stakeholders committed to strengthening unity across the federation.

The One Nigeria Project, led by a national team headed by His Excellency Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari as Chairman; Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Board of Trustees; and Rt Hon Shaba Ibrahim, National Chairman of NALGON EMERITUS, among others, is conceived as a long-term platform for healing old divides, promoting peaceful coexistence, and enhancing collaboration among Nigeria’s diverse communities.

In a chat with newsmen shortly after his swearing-in, Rt Hon Ekpo said the One Nigeria Project stands above tribe, faith and region, stressing that “whether Christian or Muslim, North, South, East or West, this country belongs to all of us.”

He commended the Federal Government for ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening national stability, saying the One Nigeria Project will complement those efforts by deepening community trust, encouraging dialogue, and cultivating shared responsibility at the grassroots.

Ekpo added that his leadership in Akwa Ibom will embark on a comprehensive sensitization campaign across the local government areas to preach One Nigeria as well as focus on programmes that promote peacebuilding, civic engagement, and mutual respect. 

He stressed that the initiative offers a timely opportunity to re-awaken the values of unity and collective purpose, assuring that the state chapter will work closely with the national structure to champion activities that reflect the true spirit of a united Nigeria.

With his inauguration, expectations are high that NALGON in Akwa Ibom will help chart a new course for harmony, bridge-building and national understanding, reinforcing the broader push for a more cohesive and peaceful country.

Mary Slessor–Akan Glo Foundation Empowers 800 Multiple-Birth Families as Mary Slessor Day Is Marked

 

… Progenitor Dr Glory Edet Assures Expanded Outreach In 2026

The Mary Slessor–Akan Glo Foundation on Tuesday staged a remarkable humanitarian outreach as it commemorated the birth of Mary Mitchell Slessor, the Scottish missionary whose courage ended the killing of multiple-birth children and the banishment of their mothers in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Abia States.

At a well-attended event held at Ibom Hall grounds, Uyo, the Progenitor of the Foundation, Dr Glory Edet, presented empowerment equipment, including sewing machines, hair dryers, ovens and complete accessories, to parents of multiple births earlier sponsored for vocational training by the Foundation.

Our Correspondent reports that the gesture drew wide commendation, not only for its scale but for its consistency. Since inception, the Mary Slessor–Akan Glo Foundation has taken the front seat in humanitarian service, especially for women and vulnerable groups across different age brackets. Its programmes have focused on helping ordinary women acquire skills, stand on their feet, and become meaningful contributors to their families and communities.

However, Tuesday’s event carried the same signature. Beyond the equipment handover, more than 800 multiple-birth families received food and non-food support items, a lifeline many beneficiaries described as timely, transformative, and reflective of the Foundation’s culture of compassion.

Dr Edet, who is the former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Akwa Ibom State, said the outreach was designed not merely to honour Mary Slessor’s legacy, but to deepen the culture of protecting and uplifting families who once suffered cultural hostility. She noted that multiple-birth households often face heightened economic pressure, and the Foundation will continue to open opportunities that ease their burden.

The University Don reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to sustaining structured empowerment programmes, targeted welfare interventions, and continuous skill-support initiatives designed to help women attain stability, dignity, and economic relevance. She added that these efforts complement the superlative performance of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, whose administration has consistently demonstrated deep interest in humanitarian and gender-focused development across the state.

Meanwhile, the Foundation says it will expand its outreach in 2026, with new clusters of skill incubation, small-business support, and welfare programmes already being designed for rollout across the state.

Ekpri Nsukara Offot Condemns Campaign of Calumny Against Eteidung Asikpo By Aggrieved Losers in The Village Headship Contest

 

Eteidung Asikpo

...As Uyo High Court Slams Serial blackmailer, Others With N3m Damages*

The Ekpri Nsukara Offot Village Council has again strongly condemned the continuous ill-motivated campaign of calumny against Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo by one Udeme Eyo Asuquo, operating under an amorphous group, Voice of Liberation Network (VLN). 

The community says the said Udeme Eyo Asuquo, acting on behalf of himself and others, had soon, after his group lost out in the race to have their desired aspirant to emerge as the village head in 2023, consistently embarked on the mission of spewing falsehood and writing unfounded petitions against Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo. 

"Since then, Udeme Eyo Asuquo and his group have taken it upon themselves to concoct, instigate, fabricate and raise non-existent happenings against Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo in a bit to tarnish his reputation and cause crisis in the community with the sole intention to have him removed from the throne," the community leaders stated. 

In a statement on Saturday, November 29, 2025, Comrade Morris Silas Bassey, Chairman, Village Council; Elder Domingo Bassey Etim, Secretary, Village Council and Mr. Pius Okon, Youth President of the Village, therefore urged members of the public to disregard a news report published in an online media - the Sahara Reporters of Thursday, November 27, captioned "Akwa-Ibom Residents Petition Tinubu, Accuse Police Officers, Village Heads Of Land-Grabbing, Attempted Murder. "

According to the community, the mastermind of the online news reports won't be anyone else other than Udeme Eyo Asuquo as the name of his group, Voice of Liberation Network (VLN), is mentioned as the petitioner. 

The community recalled that Udeme Eyo Asuquo had equally sent a petition to the Deputy Inspector General of Police on February 27, 2025, which led to the unlawful arrest and detention of Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo from March 8 - 12, 2025 at both the Akwa Ibom State Police Command and the Police Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

"However, the petitioner Udeme Eyo Asuquo was unable to provide any tangible evidence to buttress any of the allegations, which caused the Police authorities to release Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo, and then requested the Paramount Ruler of Uyo to look into any dispute between the parties.  Surprisingly, Udeme Eyo Asuquo failed to show up on the date the case was fixed. Again, after being granted the request for adjournment, he still dishonoured the traditional council by failing to appear on another hearing date," they stated. 

The community said Udeme Eyo Asuquo still came up with another Shenanigan, by raising fresh petition again Eteidung Asikpo to the Police Headquarters in Abuja, leading to another round of arrest, and yet he could not substantiate his claims. 

The community added that upon sensing his possible interdiction for his ignoble activities, Udeme Eyo Asuquo absconded from the Police headquarters and abandoned the matter only to resurface now with cooked up information to the online media outlet, Sahara Reporters.

The community officers warned Udeme Eyo Asuquo to desist forthwith from his penchant of recycling false allegations against the village head and by extension the entire village, and to accept the reality that kingship comes from God. 

Meanwhile, an Uyo High Court presided over by His Lordship Hon. Justice Bassey J. Ekanem has given judgement in a suit filed by Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo against Udeme Eyo Asuquo, Inspector David Etim, Furtune Bassey and others, seeking for the enforcement of his right to dignity of human person, right to personal liberty and right to freedom of movement as guaranteed under sections 34(1), 35(1) and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

The Court upheld that that the arrest and detention of  Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo for a period of five days without trial amounted to an infringement of his personal liberty under section 35(1) and his freedom of movement under section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. It held that the Police misuse of its powers was at the instigation of Udeme Eyo Asuquo. 

The Court stated that "while the Police have a duty to investigate criminal complaints, this duty must be exercised judiciously and not be allowed to become an instrument for civil coercion."

"Having considered the totality of the facts and circumstances of this case, and guided by relevant authorities and constitutional provisions, I find and hold that the complaint made by the 1st respondent (Udeme Eyo Asuquo) to the Police was malicious and made without reasonable or probable cause. 

"A detention period of five days is clearly unconstitutional, being far beyond the 48-hour limit. No remand order was shown to exist, nor was any compelling justification offered by the Respondents. In my respectful view, this constitutes a grave and flagrant breach of the Applicant's right to liberty guaranteed under Section 35 of the Constitution.

"From the totality of the evidence and the law, it is clear that both the arrest and subsequent detention of the Applicant were unlawful. The arrest was effected without adherence to due process or reasonable suspicion supported by facts, while the detention exceeded the constitutional time limit without lawful justification. The actions of the Respondents, therefore, amounted to an arbitrary and unconstitutional violation of the Applicant's fundamental rights. Accordingly, this issue is resolved in favour of the Applicant," the judge ruled.

The Court, accordingly awarded damages in the sum of N1million against Udeme Eyo Asuquo for violation of the applicant's fundamental human rights and also awarded N2milion against Inspector David Etim and Fortune Bassey, jointly and severally for violation of the Applicant's constitutional rights. 

It also granted injunction restraining the Respondents, their agents and servants from further harassing, intimidating, or threatening to arrest and detain the Applicant in connection with the subject matter of this case.