We have read with a deep sense of consternation some reports sponsored by faceless and politically motivated groups on the social media platforms to the effect that the Akwa Ibom State government, under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel has received certain amounts running into hundreds of billion naira from the federation account in the last one year.
The Akwa Ibom Abasi Ibom Economic Intelligence Watchdog (AKAISEIW), a group comprising individuals dedicated to exposing lies and reporting accurately the activities of government is alarmed by this careless act of deliberate misleading of the unsuspecting members of the public and wish to state as follows:
That the report is nothing but bar-room gossip, lies and propaganda by groups, individuals, and organizations that are envious of the spectacular achievements recorded by the Udom Emmanuel administration in the last one year, and have refused to believe that the 2015 gubernatorial election is a settled affair.
As fact-checking group, we wonder why these individuals would delight in trafficking in lies and subterfuge when they know the truth, but have refused to state the facts accurately.
It is a known fact that while most states can barely pay the salaries of their workers not to talk of embarking on capital projects, the Udom Emmanuel government in Akwa Ibom State has kept his obligation to the people and have executed numerous capital projects, which includes but not limited to the on-going construction of over 200 kilometres of roads with 15 bridges and spurs.
Governor Udom’s phenomenal achievements also include the attraction of investments to the state, which would soon provide jobs to thousands of our youths; construction of a taxi-way at the Ibom International Airport; and stable electricity supply.
There is also the free healthcare to children up till the age of 5, pregnant mothers as well as the aged are beneficiaries of free healthcare in Akwa Ibom; the continuation of the compulsory and free education policy; granting of soft loans to market women, sponsorship of our youths to various training programmes that would better equip them for the jobs of tomorrow.
Governor Udom as also champions the state’s intervention in gully erosion ravaged areas such as the Calabar-Itu Highway, the rehabilitation and upgrade of the General Hospital in Anua, Eket, several water re-articulation programs, the launching of “Dakkada” which has in no small measure transformed and re-engineered our people to rise up and claim the faith of their greatness.
Governor Udom Emmanuel was able to achieve all these because of his skills as a globally celebrated financial services expert and his capacity to prudently manage the lean resource available to the state to ensure optimum outcomes for the Akwa Ibom people.
Most Nigerians know that that due to the sharp drop in oil prices, the allocations from the federation account has subsequently dropped, while recurrent expenses remain the same. Akwa Ibom State government however, has kept its head above waters and have paid workers salaries and other entitlements regularly, while executing laudable capital projects.
The allocation from Federation Account to the state last month was a paltry N5.3 billion, and this amount alone is less than the recurrent expenses the state is statutorily expected to fulfil. This amount can be verified easily. We challenge the authors of the fake report to come out and disclose the source from where they derive the said report.
We wish to advise these agents of negativity and merchants of blackmail to leave the Udom Emmanuel government alone. As the governor works hard daily, to industrialize this dreams and aspirations of the good people of Akwa Ibom State and wean its people off the over-dependence on government, he doesn’t deserve these devilish distractions.
The Udom Emmanuel industrialization train is moving at a dizzying speed in Akwa Ibom, the mind-set of our people has been re-engineered, there is cautious optimism in the land. In spite of the lean times, the tone and tenor of governance has taken a decidedly new flavour. And we are confident, that eight years down the line, after Governor Udom Emmanuel would have finished his stewardship to the people of Akwa Ibom state, we would have cause to thank God.
We would thank God that Udom Emmanuel came at the right time, with the right set ideas and with the Right hand of God directing him, and that he left Akwa Ibom State better than he met it with the trajectory of development and economic well-being on the ascendance.
Signed:
Etim Akpan Joseph
Shelter Afrique, Uyo
