Pastor Umo Eno’s contract with Akwa Ibom people yielding dividends
By Lucy Daniel
When on November 8, 2022, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, flagged -off his campaign in Uyo, he publicly declared his avowed intention and commitment to serve the people of the state as his contract with the people.
This contract, he reiterated, is for Akwa Ibom people ,both at home and in the diaspora and includes the pledge to continue in the path of peace, security and development.
Besides, the contract, he said, encompasses job creation and enlargement of paths for economic prosperity, maintenance and advancement of infrastructure, food security, quality education and a contract to stem rural -urban migration among others.
Pastor Umo Eno, on that occasion, unveiled a contract for peace, unity, brotherhood and above all, a contract with God as the Author and Finisher of our lives.
In summary, he summed up that contract in one word, ARISE, which stands for Agricultural revolution, rural development, infrastructural maintenance/advancement, security management as well as educational management.
These lofty ideas, like the proverbial harmattan wind, captured the minds of the electorate which instantly believed and embraced it up to the point of demonstrating same during the 2023 guber polls.
Good beginning
Upon his inauguration as governor on May 29, 2023, Pastor Eno declared his commitment to religiously execute his programmes and policies based on the ARISE Agenda, to the satisfaction of all Akwa Ibomites.
Hopes and anxiety filled the land as many waited for the dreams and visions to come true while others saw it as mere political gimmicks which are never realised.
One Year on
Almost one year into Governor Eno’s tenure, he has demonstrated his zeal and capacity by delivering the much-needed dividends of democracy to the Akwa Ibom people.
In the area of agriculture, he has declared every first and third fridays of the month as farming days while government offices remain closed.
Also, he has attracted the Songhai model farm into the state in a bid to enhance food sufficiency for the masses.
Moreover, agricultural inputs have often been distributed to farming groups and individuals in addition to loans and grants aimed at boosting food production in the state.
In the area of education, the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre in Ibiono Ibom and model schools at Christ The King School, Uyo and Ewet Offot have been completed.
This is in addition to provision of basic facilities at Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden as well as the State Polytechnic at Ikot Osurua and College of Education at Afaha Nsit.
Primary and Secondary Schools have also benefited tremendously as new facilities have been provided to improve on the teaching and learning activities.
Retired primary school teachers in the state whose gratuities were not paid for years now are now smiling as the government has paid outstanding gratuities to them.
So far so good
On infrastructure, contract for the construction of over 100 roads have been awarded . Works are either ongoing or completed in some of them across the state.
Gully erosion is also receiving adequate attention while desilting of drainage is being intensified, especially as Akwa Ibom is one of the states mentioned as flood-prone states this year.
To oil the machinery of government, new permanent secretaries have been appointed and trained for effective execution of their duties.
Civil servants have been trained and provided with the necessary working tools to enhance their performance.
For traders, the governor has been visiting them and giving them money to improve their businesses and income.
In collaboration with the private sector, the governor, since his assumption of office last year, has been creating a conducive environment towards the establishment of business ventures to absorb some of the unemployed youths in the state.
He has also encouraged entrepreneurs to improve their services and output.
The rural areas being the main focus of his government, Pastor Umo Eno has provided potable water, electricity, market, health facilities and good roads to improve the quality of life in the areas and also encouraged the people to live in their villages and carry out farming activities to feed the people.
In the security sector, Neighbourhood Watch has been established in all communities while the government has donated gun-boats and other facilities like patrol vehicles to security agencies to ensure the safety of the state on land and sea.
Recently, forty Hilux trucks were handed over to the police to check the activities of criminals in Akwa Ibom.
Within the past one year, the governor has been meeting with investors, both local and foreign, with the sole aim of getting them to establish their business in the state.
He has so far ensured that investors have access Akwa Ibom conveniently from the air, land and water.
So far, Akwa Ibom is the aviation hub of Nigeria as Ibom Air, the only state -owned airline in Nigeria, is extending her services to neighbouring countries in West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Cordial relationship with FG
In collaboration with the Federal Government, the Ibom Deep Seaport is soon to become a reality after spending many years in the drawing board.
Above all, Gov Umo Eno has established a very cordial relationship with the Federal Government to attract federal amenities into Akwa Ibom.
So far, the Federal College of Education has been established while work is ongoing at the power station in Idedep, Ibiono Ibom as well as Calabar -Itu Road.
The traditional institution, women and youth have also been touched positively by the administration.
Within one year in office, one can state unequivocally that Governor Umo Bassey Eno has delivered on his mandate as encapsulated in his ARISE Agenda and is hungry to do more within the next three years and beyond.
