Uduak Umo: UYO- "Build the youths: Build the nation!"
On Saturday, at Eket sports stadium, this chant sounded to me more like "We the Youths! We the nation!!" And it was easy to understand the sentiment of such a mammoth crowd of youths who trooped out in appreciation of their leader and Governor Udom Emmanuel - his government is after building the youths and indeed the entire Akwa Ibom people.
Governor Udom Emmanuel came to power on the promise of manpower development, amongst other commitments. And who would be most suitable to empower than the youths? Naturally, none. And his has been the most youth-centric governance in all of Nigeria since May 29, 2015.
A look into the 2016 budget he submitted to the state House of Assembly reveals an enviable future for Akwa Ibom, but particularly for the youths. The provision for investment in the Science & Technology and ICT development sector, one dominated the world over by youths, is a singular proof.
But even before the budget was drafted, the governor had already been keeping the youths busy with training programmes all over. If it wasn't Oracle database development, it was training in mechanized agriculture at Israel; not to mention the power sector training, the film production training, the special youth pilgrimage programme and several others.
In his appreciation, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Barr Onofiok Luke, who also is the de facto voice of all Akwa Ibom youths, reaffirmed the permanent support of the youths for the Governor; repeatedly insisting that not only is Governor Udom governing well, the governor's administration also represents equity, justice and fairplay for the people of Eket senatorial district, as well as a fulfilment of the yearnings of Akwa Ibom youths. To this, the Speaker drew deafening shouts of affirmation from all around the arena. And to me, that shout is an emphatic statement for how infamous the APC ambition to govern Akwa Ibom has become.
For myself and few friends who found our way to Eket with the mind to independently witness what the Eket people had to offer in this event, we left there beyond-impressed.
We were blown away first by the turnout of youths, women, elders, and people of every category; next by the energy of the atmosphere and lastly by the vehemence with which the people of Eket senatorial district seemed to forbid any of their sons from paying attention to detractors, who have chosen to occupy themselves with blasphemies against an apparently performing administration, in the name of politics.
The stadium did not contain the people. Nearby sit-outs and shops were all thronged, and the owners had to connect via cable TV so the crowds could join in; they were viewing it on Channels TV, AIT and local stations who beamed it live. Yet, this was a reception for the Governor, and not a political campaign rally.
On his part, the Governor was visibly reinvigorated by the billows of gratitude and love for him that wrapped the arena. And he spoke with an even more zeal for development for the people than before. He did not give a speech, like politicians do; his voice was accompanied throughout by the complementing voice of a patriotic multitude in that stadium.
I learnt so much from this event. I thought to myself that any government that has only an immediate use for youths is destroying the nation. Mr Udom Emmanuel has captured the heart of Akwa Ibom youths with his sincere and thoughtful governance and I believe he can rest assured of their irreversible support for his government.
#AkwaIbom
0 comments :
Post a Comment