“…this project reflects a governor that has focus” -GEJ
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has insisted that since the funds at his disposal belong to the people, he will continue to allow sound opinions and suggestions to guide his policy framework and formulations.
Speaking at the inauguration of flood control and road projects at Atiku Abubakar Way in Uyo, the Governor said he was ready to continue depending on constructive engagements with the people to administer Governance to the people.
The projects included the construction of a 1.3KM, 8 meters deep 2X2X0.3M Underground Flood Control Tunnel along Atiku Abubakar Way; reconstruction of a section of Atiku Abubakar Way with Street Light, and reconstruction of Afaha Ube Street, Uyo
At the event which had former President Goodluck Jonathan’s special guest, Governor Eno revealed that, “the projects we are gathered here to commission is a product of fate and circumstance.
“Someone sent me a picture during one of the events we had in church, it was a picture of this road on a rainy day fully flooded.
“So I showed it to the deputy governor. The road was completely impassable. And I told the deputy governor that we must visit this place immediately from the church programme.
“What this shows is that all of us can collectively run this state. The money is not my money but belongs to all of us.
“Anything you see that you believe government should intervene, you should bring it to our table. You can draw our attention to such issues and we will work with you.
“We try to run an open government, one across party lines because knowledge is not based on one person or in one party. We can do it together. Together one of us can be in government. But please, as government fixes these things, do not destroy them.
“Do not vandalize projects that government has spent a lot of money to build. It is not my money, it is our collective money. And so if you destroy government property, know that it is part of your money that you are destroying”, the Governor said.
Inaugurating the project, former President Goodluck Jonathan, expressed satisfaction with the developments witnessed under Pastor Eno’s tenure in less than a year.
He said that from the caliber of people in his team and the nature of projects he has embarked upon, the Akwa Ibom Governor is performing well.
“Nobody expects you to conduct a major project and complete it in hundred days.
“But if you see somebody who has focus, in the first hundred days, the caliber of people he recruits to work with him will show in their credibility, people knowledgeable enough to drive the departments of government.
“Looking at this project, you’ll see how the road has been transformed from a once flooding area to what we all witness today. In a world where flooding through global warming is affecting places like Dubai that is in the desert, this project reflects a governor that has focus.
“This project that we are commissioning today is a very critical one and it shows a focused leadership and we must commend the governor and his team.
“I am happy that he said that the state money is not his money. I know of a governor who whenever he talks about the state money he refers to it as his money. He appropriates the state money to be his money but Eno calls it everyone’s money.
“I want to say if you see somebody trying to vandalize the state or federal government’s infrastructure around you, you must report the person because it is your money that was used in doing that project”, Jonathan said.
Goodwill messages were received from several guests including Sen. Samuel Anyawu, PDP National Secretary while the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof Eno Ibanga and the project contractor, Engr Uwem Okoko provided insight into the project.
A pupil of a nursery school, Ofonono Edidiong Peters who was accompanied by his principal, Mr Udokang Itoro, took time to eulogize the Governor in a tribute that stunned the entire audience, highlighting how her school, Beulah International School, has been rescued from the persistent floods that drove most of her classmates away.
Earlier in their messages of appreciation, the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon, Paramount Ruler of Uyo, the transition chairman of Uyo, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, and stakeholders of Uyo extraction through the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Charles Udoh, thanked the governor for making Afaha Ube and Atiku Abubakar roads to be motorable again.
They emphasized how businesses had collapsed due to the poor condition of the roads and the flood, and wished the Governor well on his birthday.