“Governor Godswill Akpabio is not a Reckless Spender” His Chief Press Secretary gives 6 Reasons Why:

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“Governor Godswill Akpabio is not a Reckless Spender” His Chief Press Secretary gives 6 Reasons Why:

The past few weeks have not been the very best for the Governor of Akwa-Ibom state Godswill Akpabio. There have been several allegations of him misusing the government funds, originating from his donation of a Toyota SUV and plane tickets to Annie Idibia during her traditional wedding. Shortly after that, he offered N1 Million each to six state Chairmen of the Peoples’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the South-South geopolitical zone for lunch during one of their meetings. He was also caught on camera recently, making a self confession on how he rigged the senatorial primary elections in his state.  In a bid to save his reputation, his press secretary, Anietie Ukpe, has released a statement highlighting six reasons why Governor Akpabio is not a reckless money spender.  Please read them and tell us what you think

1. All the money so far spent was budgeted and did not in any way negatively impact on the fortunes of Akwa Ibom and the people of the state.

2. The governor promised and actually donated only one Toyota Prado SUV to Tuface Idibia and his wife, Annie Macaulay, not two such vehicles, as was wrongly reported. When the most respected Highlife living legend, Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya, was honoured with the latest model of Toyota Avensis saloon car by Governor Fayemi of Ekiti State to mark his 80th birthday, did anybody complain?

3. The Governor promised to give twenty relatives of the bride, Annie Macaulay, who is an Akwa Ibom daughter, return tickets to Dubai to attend the wedding. The entire cost of these return tickets came down to just N3 million. Was that enough for such pent up fury?

4. On the donation of N6 million to the state chapter chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party at Port Harcourt, in the 2013 budget, there is a provision for Hospitality, Grants and Donations by the Governor under Section 467/169. This provision is not peculiar to Akwa Ibom State; it is an intrinsic part of all government budgets in the world. How leaders decide on donations is not subject to legislative scrutiny or control, just as the legislature does not control how the provision for the security vote is spent.

5. Concerning the donation of N230 million (N10 million per state) by twenty-three PDP states for developmental projects in Mr President’s immediate community, the projects involved included cancer diagnostic centre, nursery school, primary school, secondary school, skill acquisition centre, hostel for NYSC youths posted to Bayelsa, and a deanery for prayers. All those who are upset about this donation have the option to channel their own donations towards the building of shrines, or even to Satan.

6. There are also issues with the Governor saying that he “once gave a cash gift of N10m to the national Under-17 football team, the Golden Eaglets, for beating Mali in a first leg African Under-17 Championship qualifier in Calabar last November.” Not true! Governor Akpabio met the kids a few weeks earlier at Abuja Airport and on interaction learnt of their financial handicap in prosecuting major competitions outside Nigeria. He pledged N10 million support to the team and redeemed same at Calabar after the team’s match with Mali.

Signed, Chief Press Secretary/Senior Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Anietie Ukpe.

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2face’s Traditional Wedding Gulps N130m

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SPECIAL REPORT: 2face’s traditional wedding gulps N130m

The golden moment finally came for African Pop king 2face Idibia and Annie Macaulay on March 8, 2013 when the first phase of their well-publicized grand wedding kicked off in the small town of Eket Community, Akwa Ibom.

The couple knew the highly anticipated wedding was going to suck millions and seemed to be ready to live it up right from the start

Let’s start with the wedding invitation cards – the IVs were specially designed and printed in gold coloured sleeve. Event planners say the production would averagely cost N1m.

Then there was the cost of transportation. Close to a hundred people made their way to Eket Community from different parts of the country (although most came from Lagos and Abuja).  After wedding organizers failed to secure a deal with an airline company to fly in guests, everyone was billed standard rates – that price hangs around N4m (covering cost of air and land travels. The couple did not foot the entire bill for this as most guests financed their own trips)

Hotel accommodation and feeding at the Villa Marina and other guest houses also gulped a lot of money. Multiple hotels were used to accommodate the bride’s and groom’s friends for several nights (at least four days for close family and friends, and one night for those who came in the night before). We’ve been told about N8m went into this.

The Pre-nuptials party (or 2face’s Bachelor’s Eve party) was held at the De Javu night club on the night before the wedding. All sorts of drinks were brought out for the party – ranging from non-alcoholic, alcoholic spirits, wine and more. Those who attended say the gig which was sponsored by the state governor Godswill Akpabio could not have cost anything less than N2m. And that, we’re told, is a conservative estimate.

Getting to the wedding proper…

The wedding ceremony was organized by two different event planners – I-ma Planners headed by Imabong Ukpong and Imaginationz Events. Both companies made sure they left no stone unturned in delivering a successful traditional event beffiting of the couple’s superstar status.

The couple’s wedding attire was another highlight of the day – 2face’s customized cap, George wrapper, long sleeve top and beads, a stylist says would fall between N300k and N400k. And that also goes for the best man’s attire plus the all the friends of the groom. Annie’s attire including jewellery ‘would  cost nearly two times as much as her groom’s one source told us. Other family members, friends and guests also donned purpose-made traditional attires. Those familiar with Eket fashion tell us the glamorous attires must have cost up to  N2m

Students of the Apostolic High School, where the wedding was held wouldn’t have recognized the school on March 8 as it had been totally transformed into something else – breaths were taken away with the red-themed colourful designs, decorated with bamboo and cane chairs. An event planner tells us all that would cost close to N10m to put together, including the cost for music and other side attractions (And were there many!)

Food and refreshment at the ceremony: Trust, there was a lot to eat, drink and make merry with, we are talking three course meals, ‘small chops’, all sort of drinks ranging from soda to spirits. The groom had to also provide ‘special money’ for the bride’s family to cook 20 different delicacies. Hennessy Nigeria also flew in staff and at least one  bar. It’s okay to put all these at N6m?

The bride price: Depending on the agreement reached by the families, it would vary from N50k – N500k – this, according to Eket indigenes who spoke with NET over the weekend.

Ceremonial gifts: This ranges from traditional attires for the parents, eldest son and daughter, two goats, tubers of yam, alcohol, rolls of cigarette, more crates of beer, bag of salt and monetary gifts to different  youths groups and women in the community. Total cost – N3m

The Godswill Akpabio connection: The Akwa Ibom State’s Governor presented the couple with wedding gifts – two Toyota Prado Jeeps (N14.5m each). There was also multiple cash gifts to the couple and their friends, following a lavish dinner at the governor’s residence. We reliably gathered the total cash expenditure from the governor is over   N50m.

The Governor has also promised to sponsor a 20 man delegation to represent the state at the March 22/23 Dubai white wedding, cost for flight tickets, feeding and accommodation could be  up to N10m or more.

As you can see, the Idibias have tremendous goodwill and the bulk of the money and support came from friends and family, even though they also went all out to make their day successful.

And as we’ve been assured by insiders who know, the upcoming Dubai white wedding will gulp even more. To hold aboard a Yacht which has already been booked, we’re told the couple plan to treat guests (many of who will fly in from Lagos) to the most sophisticated and classy music industry wedding ever on March 22 and 23…Who’s doing what? Find out  next week….

Traditional Marriage Items

1. Bride price varies between N50,000 to N500,000 depending on the agreement reached by the families.

2. Traditional attires for the parents (including singlets, underwears, shoes, headties, caps, staffs, etc).

3. Buy the same for eldest sister and eldest brother of the bride.

4. Attires for grandparents

5. One goat for the family.

6. If the girl is pregnant or has already given birth, the family will require what is called an ‘insult goat’.(Annie already has a baby for 2face and some speculate she may be pregnant with her second)

7. The mother will also be presented a goat, tubers of yam.

8. The father will require an agreed quantity of alcohol (gins, beers, palm wine, etc).

9. Youths in the village-N5,000, rolls of cigarettes, crates of beer, gins, palm wine.

10. Women in the village- N5,000, bag of salt, tubers of yam.

11. Young girls in the village- N5,000, crates of drinks.

12. Special money for food (Udia Ibene) – used for the cooking of various assorted local delicacies for the guests.

13. Money for traditional entertainment

Story Credits : Osagie Alonge

Finally! 2face Gets His African Queen – Photos and Moments From Their Traditional Marriage

2face Idibia today tied the village knot with his lady Annie Macaulay. The event had its fair share of Nigerian entertainment acts as a host of friends, family, fans and the curious were all in attendance at the Apostolic High School, Esit Urua Community, Eket, Akwa Ibom state.

P:ictures for your viewing pleasure

Obong awan (His African Queen)

2face ayaya kpa (looking good)

Ufan mi (friends for life)

Nwan ya Ebe (the couple)

A sak! (smiley time with Godswill Akpabio)

Essien! (the unique walkway)

Ndito Ikwo (Sound Sultan)

Ette! (Kate Henshaw, a guest and the dashing groom)

Mbakara eme di o. (Kate Henshaw delights)

Nyan mi! (Kate Henshaw and Cynthia Amadi)

Ufan Kukere (Iyanya and Friend)

"Holy Spirit Led Me To Start This Church"- General Overseer Of Nigerian Gay Church

Despite the Federal Government's intolerance for Gay activities in Nigeria, Reverend Jide Macaulay, has damned all consequences and reopened his gay church, House of Rainbow in Lagos.

Its primary vision is to reach out to sexual minorities in Nigeria, UK, and around the world.
Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay is a confirmed and ordained Pastor who founded the House Of Rainbow Church in 2006. He openly held Sunday services in a Lagos hotel hall decked out with rainbow flags until the public revolted against the church.
He then fled to the UK after death threats.
Read Pastor Jide's views on homo-sexuality below:
"For me I have always been gay and I never became gay.
I became aware of my same sex attraction whilst living in Nigeria at the age of seven. Boys flirt with each other unknowing all the time and it was at this stage that I was more aware of my emotional, physical, mental and sexual attraction to boys.
I was 14 when I had my first sex with a guy, it was filled with curiousity, passion, embarassment and guilt as with with any heterosexual having sex for the first time.
By this age I had become a youth leader in the church and had spent time reading the bible including discovering chapters that "condemned" homosexuality.
Imagine the furore of my life? Now I have to be discrete, secretive and live a lie. When I look back at my life it never stopped my same sex attractions.
Fast forward thirty years, I am now fully confident that being gay is my natural being and I regretted ever trying to be straight.
I regretted that I did not get the education and appropriate spiritual development to be a gay man. I can understand that and that is why I am determined that the short life I may live in this world I trust God for the development of inclusive Christian education to enable the freedom of the mind, body, soul and spirit.
Recently, my father asked me to prove that homosexuality is genetics. I just looked at him and pointed to myself, "ME" you made me, you gave birth to a homosexual boy he was anxious to know more, so I asked him to prove to me that God is real, not that I don't know but if we were to play "doubting Thomas", lets lay all the cards out.
My homosexuality is real, I am gay and I did not become gay, just like I am black and I did not become black. This is a great way to move forward in life and let the world know that they may hate us but God Adores Us.
House Of Rainbow Fellowship is an inclusive Christian community, that welcomes all people and does not discriminate against LGBTI people (of faith or no faith).
I am proud that the Holy Spirit has led me to start this group, (nearly five years). We are growing with passion and relevance and it is my hope that we would be able to advance the learning and inclusion of all people.
I love myself and it is my daily prayer and hope that millions of LGBTI people around the world, their friends and families will come to understand and love them."