Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo believes the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government in Akwa Ibom State has recorded enough achievements to enable the state turn a critical bend towards industrialization. Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports
How would you evaluate this particular anniversary?
The anniversary is a major mileage on the road to fulfilling the Akwa Ibom dream of a great people, of a great state and with great minds; the dream of providing the least Akwa person with the best that the life can offer in all areas. In the last six years on his own part of the journey, Governor Udom Emmanuel has effected revolutions in such areas as industrialization, rural and riverine area development, small and medium scale enterprises, human capacity development and security, etc. This anniversary is therefore about the value added by this administration to the fulfillment of the AkwaIbom dream in the last six years.
Would you say the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government has filled the gap in Akwa Ibom between potential and fulfillment?
There is no such gap between potential and fulfillment. What we have is a steady relay race towards a development continuum aimed at achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of Akwa Ibom people. At the moment the baton of that relay is with Governor Emmanuel who is firing on all cylinders and has become a national model with such achievements in the areas of aviation, particularly, Ibom Air; education; sports; road infrastructure and agriculture where such revolutionary projects as the coconut oil refinery have been completed. So there is really no gap, but a continuum of efforts.
Can you name specific achievements that the state should celebrate on this particular anniversary?
The office of the Deputy Governor has congratulated the government and people of Akwa Ibom State at this 34th year of state creation in your newspaper. That is certainly not without some reasons. I can list again the achievements of the current administration which justify this anniversary. They include: Ibom Air, Syringe Manufacturing Factory (the largest in Africa), Rice Mills, Cassava and Garri Processing Mills, Fertilizer Blending Factory, Electric Digital Metering Solutions Manufacturing Factory, Toothpick Factory, Plastic Factory, Ufaini Palm Kernel Crushing Plant, Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil Processing Plant, Flour Mill, Tissue Production Factory and Norfin Shipyard.
About 13 of these completed projects have been listed for commissioning during this anniversary, while several others are at advanced stages of completion.
Regardless of criticisms from political opponents, what are some of the things you think this administration wishes to do better?
A lot more on infrastructure; on agriculture; on sports; in the aviation sector, and all the other areas of development. Governor Emmanuel would wish to so impact the people that in the overall history of Akwa Ibom State-craft, he would be remembered as a reference-point and measuring-rod for enduring development achieved through the kind of industrialization effort which enabled the state turn a critical bend on the way to realizing the Akwa Ibom of our dream.
QUOTE
There is no such gap between potential and fulfillment. What we have is a steady relay race towards a development continuum aimed at achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of Akwa Ibom people. At the moment the baton of that relay is with Governor Emmanuel who is firing on all cylinders and has become a national model
