Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno is committed to pursuing peace and reconciliation in the state, special assistant to the governor on New Media, Rev Richard Peter, has said.
Peter, in a statement to mark the 37th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State creation, said the governor is more committed to the unity and oneness of Akwa Ibom State.
Recall that the state was created on September 23, 1987 by the administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
However, while noting that the Governor Eno is building on his predecessors’ legacies, Peter said Eno’s administration has strengthened the pillars of statehood, addressing weaknesses, and propelling the state towards new heights.
“Governor Umo Eno’s compassionate leadership has brought hope and relief to the vulnerable members of Akwa Ibom State.
“His commitment to soft infrastructure has restored smiles and transformed lives. By advocating for those often overlooked, Governor Eno has made a lasting impact, bending the arc of history in their favor.
“Through initiatives like the Bulk Purchase Agency’s food distribution program, now in its second phase, Governor Eno has ensured that those worst-hit receive essential support. This program embodies his promise to prioritize human capital development, addressing the needs of the most vulnerable.
“Perhaps those occupying the front row of the governor’s seats of compassion are the happy beneficiaries of the Governor’s Compassionate Homes built for the “landlords and landladies” in the dungeons of poverty and vicissitudes of life. They had pathetic stories that one should not want to listen to if they do not have enough litres of tears stored in the underground tanks of their eyes.”
He added that the hard infrastructure is imposing, adding that his one project per local government area across the State, and the programme had since entered its second phase.
“That has blessed Akwa Ibom State with several stunning initiatives such as the model primary schools, now sprouting across the State as well as the primary healthcare centres.
“In that same vein, there are several road projects across the State, opening up the rural areas and like veins and arteries, circulating the blood of development and good governance to all parts of the body of the people.”
The spokesman added that Governor Eno has so far injected 35 billion Naira into the payment of backlog of decades-long pensions and gratuities, and has nearly cleared 50% of it.
While he noted that over 100,000 youths of Akwa Ibom State have been empowered through different areas and sectors, he said
Governor Eno has necessitated fertile agricultural policies and programmes which are farmers friendly, making agriculture attractive and lucrative even for the younger generation.
“The big story in agriculture is the emerging Ibom Model Farms, a replica of the renowned Songhai farms in Port Novo, Benin Republic where the governor personally led a high powered government delegation to go and understudy the secret of the project, all in his avowed commitment to barnish hunger from the land.”
He said the governor is restructuring and re-positioning ministries to be in line with modern realities.
“He promised Akwa Ibom people that he was going to lead the ministry of reconciliation. Like Nigerians would say, evidently, that ministry has moved to the permanent site, Governor Eno has shown that there are neither senior nor junior partners in the Akwa Ibom project, as everyone irrespective of political party or ethnic divide is given the sense of belonging. This cannot be different from the dream of the founding fathers.
“The list is endless. Governor Umo Eno, indeed, is doing an irresistible chapter of the book of Akwa Ibom State which will be a must read at the end of his administration, and will make Akwa Ibom State never to be out of circulation but rather flying in the firmament of the big league.
“As Akwa Ibom State celebrates its 37th anniversary, Governor Pastor Umo Eno stands out as a transformative leader, embodying the collective aspirations of the state’s people,” he said.
