There is a palpable air of relief hovering in and around Akwa Ibom state as the supreme court of Nigeria has committed to flames the most vile, vitriolic campaign of hatred, blackmail and character assassination ever mounted by an opposition since civilization.
Not only has the decision of the apex court evoked natural joy, satisfaction and spontaneous celebration, it has renewed the time tested sense of brotherhood that has defined the union of a people with a common heritage and brave aspirations.
Everyone agrees that it is time to move the state forward. The elections and it's hangover effects have come and gone. There is a leader and a Governor that has the mandate of the people of the state. In moving forward, it is only apt to ask in good conscience, how did we come here to this point as a people? How did we relegate so low in morals and decorum? How do we heal the wounds so ruthlessly made by a campaign of hate and bile? What is our collective image before the world after this fight wherein we deployed everything to bring ourselves so down? How do we put a clog in these wheel of satanic politicking and blackmail? Like Governor Udom Emmanuel preaches, "Politics should not be used as a wedge issue to divide brothers and sisters, politics should not be an instrument that creates disharmony among an otherwise homogenous people, and we should resist the impulse to stoke ethnic fire among otherwise happy brothers and sisters".
The heartwarming truth is that Akwa Ibom people were since blessed with a leader with a heart finer than gold- focused and dedicated gentleman who despite the hurdles and drawbacks never for one second blinked on his passion to deliver on his campaign promises. If he could achieve so much in the past seven months, with all the distractions, you can imagine what is going to happen now that cobwebs have been cleared, the undulating road rendered straight and the vision that had been muddied by blatant blackmail, now super clear.
Governor Udom Emmanuel has demonstrated his focused to leave indelible positive imprints in the lives of Akwa Ibom people. He has not reneged on his campaign promises. He has remained stoically committed to industrialization and infrastructural development. Governor Emmanuel has tapped into the wealth of his contacts and has resulted in the several ground breakings for new industries. Quite interestingly, he has also resuscitated ailing and moribund industries. From LED factory to automobile, and fertilizer plant to others, industrialization is on its wings in the State. Peacock Paints has come alive again.
Nobody with good conscience should make a meal out of the Governor's honest efforts at industrializing the state forgetting that industrialization is a process and not an event. Take the automobile industry in Itu for instance, lot of developments have taken place since the ground breaking ceremonies. The perimeter survey and the topographical survey have been done. The fencing of the area is underway. The parent company in Israel are putting finishing touches to the main fabrication system and the production lines. It will be transported to Uyo in February. At least 6 containers that contain materials for security fence and office setup, plant building, hard-wares for fire protection had since arrived Uyo. Over 100 youths of Akwa Ibom extraction have been sent to Israel to acquire relevant technical skills. The same applies for the other industries as the teams are working round the clock to speed up the process.
There are several road projects ongoing and some nearing completion. The 3.5 km Ikot Udom road with a 15m span bridge in Ibiono Ibom local government Area. Major progress has also been made with the emergency works on roads in Oron. The contractor is set to deliver the project within the specified time frame. The same can be said of the ongoing construction of the Nto Edino-Ekwere Azu Road with 2 bridges, measuring about 45 meters in Obot Akara.
The dualization of 23.4km Eket-Etinan Road with 3 bridges is on-going, while the construction of bridges on the road have commenced in earnest. Eket- Ibeno road dualization, spanning 19.5 km with 4 bridges is on. Udom Emmanuel is embarking on the construction/re-modeling of selected roads in Eket, which would include strategic roundabouts and junctions in Eket metropolis.
In Uyo, the construction of Uyo underground outfall drainage from Nsikak Edouk Avenue through Akwa Efak to the Tropicana is at advanced stage.
The dualization of Uyo-Etinan road with a flyover and water fountain at Etinan roundabout and the dualization of the 23.8km Uyo-Oron road Airport road-Okpedi-Oron road by East West Road with 60m span bridge in Odobo are set to commence.
Other road projects of his administration include the construction of 5km Ikot Usop – Ikot Edeghe – Ikot Ekpuk Road with 30m Span Bridge in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area and construction of 5km Mkpok-Okat road in Onna Local Government Area. These will all be completed in record time, of course depending on the strength of our resources.
Quite a lot in all sectors of the state will has been done and will be done by the hardworking administration of Mr Udom Emmanuel. It is time to close ranks and join the government in moving Akwa Ibom state to surpass superior performance and ensure development that is sustainable, impactful and expansive. We don’t have any other state to call ours except the great Akwa Abasi Ibom State.
#AkwaIbom
0 comments :
Post a Comment