Date Published: 05/29/09

Akpabio vows to spread dev. projects in spite of criticisms

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State says he would be using the remaining two years of his tenure as governor to extend the frontiers of development for his people as an answer to those who have been criticizing his administration.

Speaking at today’s Democracy Day celebrations in Uyo, the State capital, Akpabio said he would not waste time replying to baseless criticisms; but would rather let his work speak for him, and thanked his people for appreciating what his administration has done so far.

Apparently overwhelmed by the outpouring of solidarity messages from the people who spoke at the event, the governor defied the heavy rain as he walked singing with the people for more than 100 metres before entering his car.

Basking in the euphoria of the latest round of projects’ commissioning in various parts of the State, and its attendant excitement among the people there, Akpabio said that he has put his hand to the plough of developing the State and would not render himself unworthy of obtaining the development kingdom he is working to attain for the State by listening to non-issues.

Akpabio, who kept thanking his people repeatedly, called on them to keep faith with the Administration, assuring that “Together, the State will emerge stronger and better in a short while”.

Speaking earlier, Senator Anietie Okon, commended Akpabio for building the Ekim Itam-Ekom Imam road, the entry point to the State from Cross River State, even though it is a federal road.

Referring to the recent letter written to Governor Akpabio by the former Governor, Obong Victor Attah, Okon asked the latter to give Akpabio the chance of moving the State beyond what he met on ground, adjudging Akpabio’s two years to be more eventful than the eight years of Attah.

For the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Unyime Usoro, Akpabio had outperformed his predecessors and should be encouraged to do more.

The Secretary to the State Governmewnt, Mr. Umana O. Umana commended the governor for commissioning more than 9,000 projects in his two years of administration and urged him not to be distracted by criticisms.

Umana who is also the Chairman of this year’s Democracy Day in the state said the governor does not discriminate the Federal and the state projects as typified in the way he is executing development projects, adding that the governor has united the state more than any his predecessors.

Other goodwill messages came from Senator Effiong Bob, Senator Emmanuel Ibok-essien, Dr. Chris Ekong and Mrs. Akon Eyakenyie.