Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
It was on May 29, 2015 that H.E Mr Udom Emmanuel just like his counterpart in the country assumed the office of the governor of th state after the general election keenly contested and won, though challenged at the tribunal.
Looking at his 100 days, what can rightly be said are the achievements of the state government under the leadership of Mr. Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom State? A lot have been put on paper and on record what he has been able to achieve and from the pundit of live and opinion of the people, it is very clear that the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel has prove himself creditably, as a man who was prepared for leadership and he has shown evidence of work done which in my opinion is beyond superior performance and he should be encourage to do.
He came with the primary aim of industrializing Akwa Ibom , under his 5 Point Agenda of (1) Wealth Creation (2) Employment Generation (3) Poverty Alleviation (4) Infrastructural Consolidation (5) Economic and a PPP policy to improve the economy of the state; so far, he has lay the framework that will see to the realization of his manifestos during his electioneering campaigns and I can attest to the fact that 100 days is not enough, that he should be given the support to actualize the four (4) years Divine Mandate bestowed on him, which may be renewed with the spirit of sustaining superior performance that he his carrying.
Speaking on his 100 days in office, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel in a thanksgiving service on Saturday 5/9/2015 used the forum to appreciate all his lieutenants, the clergy, services chiefs, the army polices, SSS, FRSC, Civil Defense and other persons who were present. Chairman of FDI, a large number of Akwa Ibom Professionals, socio cultural organization, and all his supporters from the days of consultations up to date. “Sincerely, it has been a good journey so far and I can only say to god be the glory. I really want to thank God for what he has done on this state for the past 100 days.” this was how Governor Udom Emmanuel begin to expressed himself while addressing Akwa Ibom community at the banquet hall of the government house,Uyo.
He based his thanks/ praise on the theme: if God was not on our side, probably the peace enjoyed in the state wouldn’t have been possible, he said adding that when he took over government, they decided to hand over the state to God in a dedication service, followed with three days fast where the CAN president (Cletus Bassey) observes that this is the first time, the government is going to govern with a word and not sword, and we are moving and speaking with inspiration of God, Udom added.
Over this 100 days after handing over the state to God, we offered some prayers and God had actually answered the prayers. Within the short period of time, even with the paucity of fund due to drop in our revenue by 58% but that did not deter what God wanted to do.
In his word, within these 100 days we have done few ground breaking ceremonies and I want to stand here to thank God for the numbers of genuine foreign investors who have renewed interest to actually invest in Akwa Ibom State. I remember during our three days fasting, we asked God wherever investors could be in this country, let they not be at peace until they locate the land of Akwa Ibom State, and I want to believe God answered our prayers.
Within this period we saw a group of investor coming from Israel and they took interest before the ground breaking of the Auto Assembling Plant and we are progressing on that. We also had a group of investor from Europe who are already here, so we have to do the ground breaking of the Led Company and we are progressing on that too. We have brought in dear communication yesterday we had a ground breaking ceremony of a Special Fertilizer Blending Plant; how is it special, Governor Udom Emmanuel said the company is coming to blend in line with the content of Akwa Ibom soil. That is the fertilizer will be made to correspond with the land texture of each part of the state. Gov. Udom Emmanuel had also brought back to live, the moribund Peak Cock Paint Industry. He thanks Catholic Church as a mark of honour noting that St. Luke hospital which has been revamped is the only place women do deliver their babies.
“The other day, I was just passing throw that hospital, I didn’t know if those building where hospital or something else. Also of a sudden, I was sitting in my office I couldn’t rest, I drove down they and unfortunately immediately I entered I saw a baby crying, the mother that delivered the baby just pass on, I say no, even if I wouldn’t do any other thing, I must turn around this hospital’’, Udom stated. He stressed readiness to partner the Catholic Church to take the hospital to international standard. He saw the need to provide a general hospital for Uyo metropolises which has none.
Also within these 100 days, we have been able to clear arrears of gravity of some local government areas in the state, some which dated back 2002-2011 and we will look into other years, even the primary school teachers, in salaries we have done a whole lot, in the area of gratuity we will continue to look at it.
Over this period of 100 days, Gov Udom Emmanuel said the state have commenced the construction of about 80kilomiters of roads and bridges, construction of 73kilometers Ikot Ebekpe Ikot Ibidang Road.
The governor explained said the construction of the name road born out of necessity and economic value and the investors who indicated interest to utilize clear deposit in the area to make ceramics and we have to create the access.
The governor has also constructed of about 3.5km Ikot Udom Road, with 15 meters Span Bridge in Ibeono Ibom Local Government Area, construction of 5KM Ikot Usoh- Ikot Edeghe-Ikot Ekpuk road with 30 meters span bridge in Mkpat Enin, the construction of about 5km Mkpok Road in Onna Local Government Area.
Government has also resumed the construction of Eket-Ibeno Road which was totally abandoned and the materials on ground considerably can finish the project. More so, Governor Udom Emmanuel have also commence urbanization project in Eket L.G.A he started with total flood control/urbanization in Oron.
Unarguably, there has been a lot of electricity improvement in the state and Governor Udom Emmanuel has promised to build more substations to actually sustain the power.
In the area of committees, the governor have successfully inaugurated a committee on Foreign Direct Investment, inauguration of Technical Committee on the construction of the Ibom Deep Seaport, inauguration of committee on Agric and Food Sufficiency and the government is working very seriously to turn around the state positively.
In the area of youth empowerment, Governor Udom Emanuel within 100 days in office has trained about 100 youth on Agric in Israel and has returned and will continue for the second face. He has also trained 1000 youth in ICT and two companies have afforded to support the oracle training.
Governor Udom also commenced the completion of underground drainage system along four lanes in Uyo in contract with Julius Berger and they will be mobilizing to sit soon.
Gov. Udom Emmanuel has made public is plan for Christian community, the clergymen. He said he will named after God, this will come to pass in 2016, when completed Udom said will build an Altar for God that will be better than the altar of Solomon in Brazil and it will be attracting pilgrims across the country.
Governor Udom was again very appreciative of the support of the people on the hundred days in office; he made a special offering to widows, orphans and those who find it difficult to eat, by this, God blessing will flourish in the state.
However thanking all Akwa Ibom people for their support from primaries to the general election, Governor Udom Emmanuel also thanked President Buhari for his love and care for Nigeria as a country. “Since he was elected, he is no more the president of any political party, but now the president of Nigeria, a father of the nation, I used this opportunity also to thank and appreciate him for everything”
The governor re-assured Akwa Ibom people no matter the challenges, the state will surmount it all.
As we can recalled, Gov Udom Emmanuel on the day of his swearing in, performed his first assignment by naming the International Stadium after his predecessor Chief Godswill Akpabio. This was followed with a thanksgiving service held at Ibom Hall grounds where the governor dedicated the state to the God Almighty. I can remember him praying thus: Let the wickedness of the wicked one come to an end in Akwa Ibom State. It did not stop there, the governor announced a 3 day fasting and prayer for the state which was rounded off with a solemn assembly at the banquet hall of the government, uyo which had a cross section of clergies in attendance. Since Mr Udom Emmanuel came on board, there has been increasing power supply, some pipe born water have been reactivated, the street light have been on, no insecurity, the heath card system have on, live and kicking; the governor even started with provision of free mobile medical services to the people which is ongoing in partnership with an NGO.
