…Says Unity Park offers a space for Open-Air events
The Honorary Special Adviser to Governor Umo Eno, Hon. Aniekan Umana has submitted that the International Worship Centre built by the immediate past administration has not been abandoned or neglected.
He said this when he was hosted by members of the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA) on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, during a live interview on Premium FM.
The former Information Commissioner and immediate past member representing Abak/Ika/Etim Ekpo Federal Constituency gave the explanation to dismiss insinuations that Governor Umo Eno was not interested in owning and using the Worship Centre.
He further countered claims that the green area of the Unity Park used for the just-concluded State Carol was distorted.
“The Worship Centre has not been abandoned. The concept of the Worship Centre is a place to hold International Worship events indoor”, he stated.
“The concept of the Amphitheatre is to create a permanent Open Air ambiance that allows the setting to have that natural nature in that green area without necessarily distorting the greenness of the area. It’s a beautiful concept and there’s no distortion of the green area”, he maintained.
Umana who spoke extensively on the ARISE Agenda said it was an acronym for Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Development, Security and Education Management.
“The ARISE Agenda has five cardinal points and 18 sub-units under these cardinal points which the current administration lays its foundation. What Pastor Umo Eno has done is to transit the ARISE Agenda from being his document, to being a political party’s document and now, to becoming a state document and the compass with which the ship of his administration would be navigating through the seas of development”.
For these, he applauded the State Governor for looking deep into the developmental gaps of the society and filling them with his Agenda. He further commended the Governor for keeping to his campaign promises of making his impact felt across all sectors of the State, through various human empowerment including the recent appointment of 600 aides; payment of gratuities, refurbishment of Christ the King Primary School along Wellington Bassey Way, among others.
In his response to why Governor Umo Eno was yet to execute a major project since the commencement of his administration, the aide explained that the Governor came into office and inherited the budget of the immediate past government, and will soon have his budget passed into Law.
“The first time the Governor is going to have his own budget and project clearly outlined and mapped out is in the 2024 Appropriation. It will come because it can only come through the instrumentality of the Law which is the Appropriation Act, the Bill will become law by 2024. So, Akwa Ibom people should exercise patience”, he said, while calling on people of the State to support Governor Eno’s administration.
On why he accepted the offer to be one of the Honourary Special Advisers to Governor Eno, Hon. Umana posited that he agreed to the appointment because he is in full support of the Governor, his governance of Akwa Ibom State and the ARISE Agenda. “I cannot be bigger than the government. If I am invited to participate in the governance process in any capacity that the Governor deems fit, I have a duty to honour him”, he stated.
“The role we’re privileged to play is advisory. I’m asked to play that role and I know I’m competent to offer such advise and knowledgeable enough to operate in that ecosystem”, he expressed.
He therefore promised to bring to bare his wealth of experience in his advisory role, while ensuring that strategies such as media intelligence, reputation mapping and tracking which requires indepth knowledge and contact across ecosystems within the country are effectively utilized.
©Priscilla Akpanettot