Akpabio harps on Akwa Ibom, Cross River partnership

Governor Godswill O. Akpabio has stressed the need for Akwa Ibom and Cross River States to work together for the peace and overall development of the South-South geo-political zone.

Akpabio who made the call today when his Cross River counterpart, Senator Liyel Imoke paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Uyo, described the two as sister States with a common ancestry having existed together for years before the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

“There is no reason Akwa Ibom people should not co-exist together as a brother or sister. After all, Akwa Ibom was created for administrative convenience and for the purpose of receiving additional financial chunk from the Federation Account for the development of the State”, he argued.

The governor harped on the need for the two States to support one another economically, socially and otherwise to sustain their growth in the comity of States.

“Let us allow the Federal Government to deal with boundary issues between the two States which is purely for administrative reason rather than dissipate our energy on issues that can divide rather than unite us”, Akpabio observed.

The State Chief Executive said Imoke’s visit to Akwa Ibom would help to consolidate the bond of love and brotherhood existing between the two States, stating that “If the cordiality had existed between us, it would have been better for our predecessors to work for it to ensure the development of the States. However, it is not late and we are now prepared to work to achieve this purpose”.

He used the forum to call on the Federal Government to farm out the dualisation of Calabar-Aba Highway to the two States on a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, hoping that the two States could recover the amount to be spent on the road from toll gate collection.

“Your State is excelling highly on tourism and cleanliness. Our people patronise your Christmas Carnival and your State adjudged as one of the cleanest in the country. We need to partner together especially in the provision of means of transportation between Le Meridien and Golf Resort Hotel, Uyo and Tinapa in Calabar to generate more revenue for each other”, the governor explained.

Akpabio described governor Imoke as a go-getter, peace maker and above all a man of unquestionable pedigree and integrity capable of turning the State around for the better, noting that “our lifestyles may differ, but we work towards the same goal”

Senator Imoke hinted that members of the State Executive Council, local government chairmen and the hierarchy of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Cross River were in Akwa Ibom for a three-day retreat beginning from April 15, this year.

According to him, they chose the State because of its ambience and cordial relationship between the States for interaction and exchange of ideas for the development of Cross River.

“We are here to fine-tune the strategies, redefine programmes and review activities with a view to implementing new ideas in the next four years. We want to appraise and integrate our programmes to know their comparative advantage to enhance our economic strength”, the governor disclosed.

Cross River State Governor applauded the development strides of Chief Akpabio, stating “We represent many things-governors, different backgrounds but the service delivery, focusing good governance and implementing people-oriented programmes having bearing on our people”.