*Ex-President tasks Akwa Ibom against vandalism of govt facilities
Okon Bassey in Uyo and Agnes Ekebuike
Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has described the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, as a focused leader whose tenure will be impactful.
Speaking at a special thanksgiving service to mark the 60th birthday celebration of the governor, held at the International Christian Worship Centre, Uyo, Jonathan expressed satisfaction with the state of affairs in Akwa Ibom and the large crowd which turned out to identify with and celebrate the governor.
He noted that since the return of democracy in 1999, Akwa Ibom has been blessed with good and focused governors, adding that the operational philosophy of continuity has remained a major factor in the development trajectory of the state.
While congratulating the governor on his 60th birthday, Jonathan said, “I must say that from Victor Attah down to Udom and to the current governor, Akwa Ibom has been choosing people that are focused. The governor we are celebrating today is focused. He has been here for less than a year, but with what I have seen, I am quite confident he will do very well and will be a good example that the church will be proud of.”
Also speaking, the immediate past governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, said the thanksgiving service was apt given the many successes Governor Eno has recorded in his life, adding that God has kept him thus far to fulfill his destiny.
While recalling some of the experiences during the last electioneering campaign, he said, “let me borrow from the man who gave the homily today, he said from Psalm 103, when you want to thank God, you have to go a little bit deeper and and be specific. I think that is where the song writer got it from when he said, “count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
On his part, the Senate President and former Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, congratulated the governor on his birthday and appreciated him for building bridges of peace in the state.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, felicitated the governor on his birthday stating: “I have watched you within these few months, as a pastor you have not disappointed the church, as a politician you have not disappointed us, and as a governor you have been a very good shepherd. You are the champion of peace in Akwa Ibom State.”
The President-General, Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, and Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium LGA, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, described Governor Eno as a man with the fear of God. “I have known him as a man of peace and peace radiates around him. He is a man to be trusted. What God has used him to do in the state today, is not surprising to me.”
In his thanksgiving, Governor Eno who was flanked by his wife, Patience, children, grandchildren, siblings and other members of his family, appreciated God for his life and family, and specifically for being the first grandfather governor in the state.
“I want to say, today is indeed a day to thank God. It is one of my happiest days in life. Something happened inside this hall today, and I know that God is leading Akwa Ibom somewhere.
“I would like to thank God for the life He has given to us, my family. I want to thank Him for all the journey He has taken us through. It has not been easy, but we thank God. From ages past, God has been faithful. Our parents left us when we were very young. Our father died at the age of 50, and I am here today at 60, we just thank God.
“So you can only see that it has been God. If not for God, you can not even lift your head from that kind of burden. So I know where I am coming from, I know my story, I know who I am, and I know that God picked me from the dunghill and brought me to eat with kings. So it is a great privilege, and forever, I shall remain grateful.”
The governor, who is widely acclaimed as a man of peace said, “the fact that Akwa Ibom State is united and we are making progress is a great testimony for me. So we can work together. We can stay across party lines and work harmoniously because when there is a problem, we will not be able to gather like this. For me, this is the greatest testimony after my health, after my wife’s health and after my children and grandchildren’s successes.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan has told the people of Akwa Ibom State to be vigilant against anti-social elements and vandalism of public infrastructure in the state .
Jonathan gave the advice while inaugurating life-touching projects embarked upon by Governor Eno.
Some of the projects Jonathan inaugurated include 1.3 Kilometres underground concrete flood control tunnel, the reconstruction of a section of Atiku Abubakar Way, with walkway, drainage system, solar street lights and reconstruction of 1Km Afaha Ube Road.
Performing the inauguration, the former president praised the state governor for his leadership strides having prioritised the needs of the people as demonstrated in his ingenuity of initiating and completing major life-touching projects within his first year in office.
Making reference to a recent flood alert by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Jonathan described Governor Eno as a proactive leader, worthy of commendation.
Speaķing earlier, Governor Eno restated the resolve of his administration to use the common wealth of Akwa Ibom people to put smiles on their faces through life-touching projects and programmes that will ameliorate their sufferings.
“We are committed to touching lives, we are committed to improving the standard of living of our people. We are committed to rural development, and we are committed to providing those soft and hard infrastructures, but the time we are in now demands soft infrastructure.
“The time demands that we feed our people, it demands that we help them go back to the farm, it demands that our people take advantage of all the contracts that are providing jobs for young people and it demands that we keep being in peace to continue to attract investment to our state to be able to provide jobs to our people,” he stressed.
The governor, who described the Atiku Abubakar Road and drainage interventions as products of faith and circumstance, said the project was one of the interventions of his administration in response to citizens’ outcry.
He lauded the contractor, Hensek Integrated Services, for satisfactorily interpreting the government’s vision in the project execution, urging all in state to join hands in ensuring development of the state in line with the Arise Agenda.
“I do not know the young man that sent me that photograph on this road, but we are here courtesy of that young man. So if you notice anything in your environment, you can send it to us. We will look at it, prioritise it, handle it and try to see how we can come to your aid.
“What this shows is that all of us can collectively run this state. The state is not just run by the governor. We try to run an open government.
“We try to run a government across party lines because knowledge is not only based on one person or one party. We can work together as a people. We accept and appreciate constructive criticism, but not those that are borne out of malice and mischief. Together all of us can be in government, whether you are given an appointment or not,” he added.
He cautioned against vandalism of facilities built with funds for the good of all and charged the people to take up the challenge of protecting infrastructure within their domains as a communal responsibility.
“We can not be destroying facilities that government spent so much money to fix. It is not my money, it is your money. It is our collective money. So if you see someone destroying government property, know that it is part of your money being destroyed. You can step forward and caution the person,” the governor advised.
Presenting an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, said the project which was awarded in August 2023 has been completed to specifications, with guarantee of deflooding the entire stretch of Atiku Abubakar Way and its environs as well as restoring life to the city area.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Charles Udoh, and Paramount Ruler, Edidem Sylvanus Okon, speaking on behalf of the stakeholders and people thanked the Governor Eno-led government for bringing relief to the Afaha Ube people by solving a perennial and near hopeless flood situation in Atiku Abubakar Way axis.
Head Teacher of Beulah International School, Mr. Itoro Udokang who spoke on behalf of one of the worst hit institutions in the area, expressed gratitude of the school to the governor describing him as a God-sent and a caring father.
Also speaking during the event, the Youth Leader of Afaha Ube, Akparawa Udoka, described the intervention of Governor Eno in fixing the age-long erosion menace as unprecedented and life-saving.
