Date Published: 03/11/11

Akpabio sad over delay in completion of Essien Itiaba-Odobo Okobo Road

Godswill Akpabio

THE Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, is not happy about the delay in the completion of Essien Itiaba-Odobo Okobo Road awarded to Zerock Construction Company some years ago.

The road was awarded by the past administration following the closure of Oron–Uyo Road during the construction of Akwa Ibom International Airport, to serve as a shorter route to Oron axis, traversing Okobo and Nsit Atai Local Councils.

Akpabio, who disclosed this on Wednesday during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally at Government Primary School, Okobo, blamed the company for the delay, stating that he compelled the same company to complete part of Oron-Uyo Road as soon as he took over the government.

While apologising to Okobo people over the delay in the construction of the road, he pledged to ensure speedy completion of the road soon to enable the people to ply the road.

The governor further promised to award contract for the construction of Ebighi Eta-Atabong Road before May to alleviate the sufferings facing the road-users.

He thanked the people for voting for him during his first-term in office, and appealed to them to vote for him again in April general elections, adding: ‘’I will industrialise this area in my second-term in office. I will add value to your life development wise’’.

The Director-General of 2011 Godswill Akpabio Campaign Organisation, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, described the governor as the best product in the field and called on the people to vote massively for him.

Also, a member representing Okobo in the state House of Assembly, Asuquo Odiong, said in 2007, the people gave 99 per cent to the governor and commended the PDP for recording outstanding successes.

Odiong said he would remain with the party despite his loss for re-election bid during the primaries and pledged to support the governor’s re-election into office.

A PDP woman, Chief Felicia Bassey, welcomed the entourage to the area and pledged the support of women to re-election of the governor in the forthcoming general elections.

A PDP stalwart, Chief Jerry Okpo, assured that the 35,000 voters in Okobo would vote for the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Godswill O. Akpabio.

More than 100 people defected from ANPP, ANC and CPC in Okobo defected to PDP and were received by the state PDP Chairman, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk.