*Meets Stakeholders, reviews activities, reels out plans
By Ime Silas
Hon. Uko Friday Umoh has hinted that his earlier aspiration for Chairmanship position was helping him in carrying out seamlessly the mandates of his office upon his appointment by the governor as the Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area.
Uko Umoh who dropped this as part of his assertions at his Uyo residence on Sunday, January 7, 2024 during a New Year Sit-out with opinion leaders and stakeholders of Etinan, while suing for peace, love and unity, also solicited their support to enable the repositioning of the area.
Appreciating the Akwa Ibom State governor; His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno for the opportunity given him to serve his people, the Council Boss further noted that he had begun the processes of bringing everybody together for what he termed ‘Etinan First’ Project.
Briefing the stakeholders on some of his activities in his One Month in Office Hon Uko Umoh said “By the special grace of God, today marks exactly One Month since I was appointed by His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno as the Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area. As someone who doesn’t want to lead alone, I decided to use this New Year festivities to have this Sit-out with all of you in order to brief you, the Stakeholders on our journey so far and our plans ahead. Everyone who supposed to be here had been invited”.
Reviewing some of his activities and reeling out his plans, the Chairman continues “Fortunately for me, I had aspired for the office of the Chairman of Etinan. During my campaigns and consultations, I had met virtually all of you here during which I told you my plans for Etinan. Those plans I penciled down are helping me today in carrying out the mandate of my office.
Top on my list is to bring everybody together for the Etinan first Project, the Unity Project. As I speak, I have started the processes of repositioning. We started by touring the Council Secretariat to ascertain its current condition and to identify areas we would touch to give it a facelift.
To ensure safety and security, we had a meeting with all security stakeholders in Etinan and we are working actively to address the recommendations made. We have also met with Council Staff under the auspices of NULGE, Etinan Chapter, during which they expressed their concerns.
We have met with the women, the youths, the political appointees of Etinan extraction, our Party- the PDP and so forth. In the spirit of the Yuletide, we have also done the needful to enable all the groups and individuals we met to celebrate the festivities. We can say that we have touched virtually all sectors in this direction.
“In order to boost our economy, we want to return Banks to Etinan. Towards achieving this, I have met with the Globus Bank and next week, we will meet with Zenith Bank and others. Soon, we will get the impacts.
To keep Etinan clean and make it an attractive destination, I have mandated the Supervisors to engage the community youths in clearing the overgrown grasses on both sides of the major road traversing the local government area.
We are going to take advantage of this dry season to grade our roads. On or before Tuesday, grader should be in Etinan to commence this project.
On the area of agriculture, I am liaising with our community leaders. Soon, we will replicate in Etinan what we have in Nsit Ubium. We’re also planning with a prominent economist from our local government on our proposed Etinan Economic Summit. This is to mention but a few. All I want is your support, prayers and for all of us to be united so that together, we could have an Etinan we all would be proud of”.
Earlier in his remark, the PDP State Auditor; Prince Ibanga Udofia commended the Council Chairman for his pragmatic approach to leadership and prayed God to grant him the enablement to succeed. Other attendees who also made their remarks thanked the Council Chairman for the interactive meeting he convened.
Among the attendees were member representing Etinan State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly; Hon. Uduakobong Ekpo-Ufot, Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters; Rt. Hon. Sam Ikon, Vice Chairman; Hon. Imaobong Michael and the immediate-past Chairman of Etinan LGA; Hon. Cletus Ekpo.
Others were former Chairmen of Etinan; Hon. Donald Uko and Hon. Kufre Ikono, former Council Secretary; Hon. Emmanuel Titus as well as Elder Etop Ufia, Hon. Unyime Essien, Engr Billy Etuk, Mr Anietie Atai, Mrs Eseme Essien, Elder Gabriel Akpan, Mr Emmanuel Udoh, Barr Ime Umoh, Hon. Tony Eboh, Hon. Imo Asangausung, Dr Archibong Afia, and others.