By Emmanuel Uffot
A ten lane 9.5km Road built by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has been inaugurated in Uyo, the state capital by the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as part of the activities to mark the 35th anniversary of the creation of the state.
While commissioning the road described as a Super Highway, Alhaji Abubakar represented by the Governor of Adamawa State Ahmed Fintri commended Governor Emmanuel for his foresight and vision in executing laudable projects of such magnitude in the state.
He said it was not surprising that through the visionary leadership of Governor Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom State has become a hub for aviation with Ibom Air and a hub for infrastructure, healthcare delivery and agriculture which has endeared the Governor to him.
” Through Governor Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom has become a hub for aviation, a hub for healthcare delivery, a hub for infrastructure and above all what has endeared him to me is that he is making Akwa Ibom a hub for agriculture in Nigeria not to talk of industrialisation “.
According to Governor Fintri, the Presidential Candidate of PDP Alhaji Abubakar directed him to convey his message of hope that he will ensure that the entire country is unified, from the North to the South for the betterment in order to derive that enjoyment in unity. And pledged his continuous support to the party to ensure that the party wins in 2023 elections. ” We will continue to support our party and ensure that we win the 2023 elections so that we recapture our beloved country and place it where it rightfully belongs in the comity of nations”.
Fintri maintained that Akwa Ibom alongside other South South States, is the home of PDP and solicited for relentless support to the PDP to enable the return of PDP to government in one hand and restoration of peace on another hand.
Atiku insisted that the crises in the country are artificial, and therefore sued for sustained prayers from elders and clergies, adding that there are are capable hands in the PDP who are ready to help redeem the country and lauded the Akwa Ibom State Governor and the people of the state for the landmark project. He further stressed that the projects of the Governor were very exceptional and would attract investors to the state.
In his goodwill message, former Senate President Bukola Saraki said he was proud to share in tge history of Akwa Ibom State and insisted that Governor Emmanuel’s performance in office was a pointer to the fact that Nigerians need PDP back to restore the country to its past glory.
” Your Excellency when you told me about this road, I came down because I remember in February 2019, you invited me then for a project many did not believe in and that was the commissioning of Ibom Air.Today we are here again for the Commissioning of Ring Road 111, 10 – lanes and there has never been such in this country. I am not surprised at your performance, the people of Nigeria are not surprised because you are a PDP Governor and if you want a performing country,let PDP lead the way “
Similarly, the Governor of Sokoto State and newly elected Chairman of Nigerian Governor’s Forum Aminu Tambuwal said he was proud to be part of the historic unveiling of the 9.5km ten lane highway which is just one of the laudable projects of Governor Emmanuel cutting across key sectors like aviation, health, industrialisation, education, human capital development, agriculture and infrastructures.
” I congratulate you and it is our conviction that as Chairman of our Presidential Campaign Organisation, you will provide sound leadership to our campaigns for us to win and return PDP to Aso Rock”.
Earlier in his speech, Governor Emmanuel acknowledged and appreciated the Presidential Candidate of PDP for honouring the invitation through a representative being unavoidably absent, his colleagues, well wishers and people of the state for the overwhelming solidarity, which he said was a clear sign that PDP is getting strong and united ahead next year election.
He explained that the project which was handled by an indigenous firm Hensek Integrated Services Limited promoted by Engineer Uwem Okoko comes with 5.4 kilometres underground drainage tunnel and three roundabouts of which two have rainbow water fountains.
He announced the naming of two portions of the road after first civilian Governor of old Cross River State Dr Clement Isong and first indigenous military administrator of Akwa Ibom Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga ( Rtd). He said while the portion from Oron Road Nnung Oku roundabout in Ibesikpo along Aka- Nnung Udo Road is named after late Dr Clement Isong, the stretch from Oron Road to Nwaniba is named after Air Commodore Nkanga.
Goodwill messages were also given by the PDP Governorship Candidate in Akwa Ibom State Pastor Umo Eno, CEO of the contracting firm Hensek, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service Professor Eno Ibanga, Chairman Uyo Local Government Area, Dr Uwemedimo Udo and the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon.
In a related development, the Vice- Presidential Candidate of the PDP Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State had also commissioned a multi- billion Naira flood control drainage at IBB Avenue. Inaugurating the project which took place before that of Atiku, Governor Okowa lauded the courage and ingenuity of Governor Udom Emmanuel in embarking on such a project which was borne out of his passion and selflessness exhibited in handling the project and the 10 water schemes for the communities whose sources of water were affected by the project. He said this was a hallmark of a leader that cares for the people.
The project according to the Governor was a state government and World Bank collaborative project through the Nigeria Erosion and watershed Management Project ( NEWMAP), meant to provide a permanent and comprehensive solution to the decades- long problem that hindered the IBB Avenue, its adjoining streets and surrounding communities from socio- economic activities.
Commissioner for Environment Charles Udo explained that tge project which cuts across 18 communities and three local government areas provides a drainage channels to form a canal to convey water In the entire catchment area of 8.4km with reinforced outfall drains of 0.3km. These are accompanied by 1km grass channel, 15 Road crossing culverts, 2 stream crossing downstream areas, 10 mini water schemes, perimeter fencing/ guard rails at open drain sections.
Speaking on Akwa Ibom at 35 and the commissioning of key landmark projects like the 10 – lane highway, Honourable Uyio Udosen, State Coordinator of Intellectual Think – Tank for Atiku ( ITTA), Akwa Ibom State Chapter said the state has really witnessed a breakthrough in developments in the past 35 years compared to her contemporary and other older states. He attributed this to the developmental foresights of past Governors of the state notably, Brigadier Tunde Ogbeha, Colonel Yakubu Bako Idongesit Nkanga, Akpan Isemin, Obong Victor Atrah, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the incumbent Governor Emmanuel.
He said Governor Emmanuel’s scorecard in the past seven years could be described as excellent given his live touching projects across the state.
He reiterated the fact that Akwa Ibom state chapter of ITTA which is a key support group set up years ago to in the country to work for the actualisation of Alhaji Abubakar quest to become President of Nigeria is fully entrenched in Akwa Ibom with structures in all the 31 local government areas in the state to work for the victory of Atiku, the Governorship Candidate of PDP in Akwa Ibom Pastor Umo Eno and other PDP candidates in next year elections.
According to the ITTA state coordinator in Akwa Ibom, the choice of Governor Udom Emmanuel as the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation was a manifestation of his sterling leadership qualities revolving around his performance.
The PDP Presidential Candidate was also scheduled as the Special Guest of Honour at the Grand Finale of the 35th anniversary ceremony at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo where he was represented by Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tamvuwal.
The choice of Atiku to commission the 10- lane Ring Road 3 named after Isong and Nkanga and as Special Guest of Honour at the anniversary day celebration as well the Vice- Presidential candidate Okowa to partake in commissioning of projects in the state as part of the activities for Akwa Ibom at 35 which is the last to be celebrated by Governor Emmanuel is seen as a prelude to the Presidential hopeful forthcoming campaign tour of the state soon.
