AKWA IBOM IN HER BEST MOMENTS WITH UDOM EMMANUEL –INFO BOSS

By Umoh-Obong Kingsley

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh, has stated that the Udom Emmanuel-led state government is in her finest moment to have a Governor who shares the people’s concerns on the development of the State, compared to what was obtainable in the previous administrations 31 years ago.

Speaking during an interactive session organised by the Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly (ACA) for Government Officials and the Christian community in the state at the ACA Secretary, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo on Wednesday, the Information Commissioner presented the incomparable achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel to the participants.

He said that the Governor runs the affairs of the state on a tripod agenda of industrialization, tourism and agriculture for the people of the state to have a steady means of income, thereby saving the hitherto civil service state where every young graduate queued to apply as a civil servant.

According to him, Governor Emmanuel, on assumption of office in 2015, decided to change the narrative by creating alternative source of wealth, income and employment, adding that the Chinese were able to leverage the power of people for them to get to their current status, as well as Singapore which is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms landmark, but currently in the premiere league of the economic world.

Mr. Udoh further stated that Governor Emmanuel, through his vast business network, has been able to attract investors to do business in Akwa Ibom State by creating enabling environment for investors to bring business and employ the teeming youths, and over 12 industries have been attracted to the state in just three and a half years including the Africa’s largest syringe manufacturing company.

He also informed the people that peace has been the order of the day in the last three years and gave the reason for the peace enjoyed to be job creation which he said has taken the youths off the streets and are no longer being used as political tools for violence, adding that every industry attracted to the state has a guarantee to employ at least 80% of Akwa Ibom people.

The Info Boss further disclosed that before the Governor came on board in 2015, there were cases where people went for malaria treatment in one of the dilapidated general hospitals in the state but ended up with snake bite, while another who went for treatment of ulcer returned with cholera, but the Governor waded in renovated all secondary healthcare systems across the 10 Federal Constituencies including Etinan General Hospital, Ikono General Hospital, and Ituk Mbang General Hospital, adding that children of 0-5 years of age enjoy free medical attention.

In education, he said every indigene of the state enjoy free and compulsory basic education and over N600 million is being paid by the state government every year as WAEC fees for secondary school, as well as renovation of class room blocks and distribution of 500 desks to all schools in the state every week.

Speaker further, Mr. Udoh said payment of workers’ salaries has become an achievement in some parts of the country, but in Akwa Ibom, Governor Emmanuel pays workers even without receiving monthly allocations from the federal government, and workers are paid as when due.

Also speaking, the Secretary to State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, in his speech, urged Christian leaders not to be intimidated by the antics of the opposition as the state cannot afford not to reelect Governor Udom Emmanuel in the forthcoming 2019 elections.

Describing the Governor as a prudent manager of resources and God fearing leader, Dr. Ekuwem stressed that “As Christians, this is our finest moment to have a Governor who shares the people’s concerns on the development of the State.”

The Director General of the Divine Mandate Campaign organisation for the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Air Commodore Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, on his part, spoke glowingly of the Governor and why he deserves a second term in office come 2019.

In their separate remarks, Chairman, Fathers of Faith, His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Mbang, and the President, ACA, Archbishop Cletus Bassey, said the essence of the interactive session was to raise the church’s consciousness on why Governor Emmanuel deserves the support of the Church, in view of the governor’s achievements in all sectors of the economy, especially the prevailing peace and security in the State.