Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has praised former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), for the creation of the state as it turned 38 on Tuesday, September 23.
Governor Eno, in his statewide commemorative broadcast on Tuesday in Uyo, the State capital, also applauded the efforts of successive military and civilian governors for sustaining the tempo of developments of the state in the last 38 years.
“It has been a journey of renewal, of phenomenal growth, of undiluted peace, of the deepening of bonds of unity, kindred spirit and pride in our collective identity.
“It has been a journey that will gladden the hearts of our founding fathers who had prayed, consulted and dreamed of a homogeneous state of shared values, ethos and drive, but their hope was not realised in their time.
“Thirty-eight (38) years ago, that dream came alive with the creation of our dear State, the Land of Promise – a land of valiant and resourceful people, Akwa Ibom State.
“Let me again, on behalf of the Government and people of this great State, thank and celebrate our former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.), for this unique gift. May God continue to bless him with good health, a sound mind and spirit,” he prayed.
Eno recalled that 38 years ago, this State, especially Uyo, was for all intents and purposes, “a glorified village – a rural backwater bereft of modern infrastructure,” noting that with the painstaking efforts of successive governors, who laid their own layers of development quota, the State has become a rallying point for investment, tourism and hospitality.
“Our State has become the destination of choice, the nation’s best kept secret. In place of dusty narrow streets, some of which looked like bush tracks, we now have possibly the best road network in the nation. Our people, long thought to be mostly good at performing domestic chores, have all arisen and are holding commanding positions across the world in various professions.
“Uyo today is home to some of the most elegant housing estates in the nation. A thriving airline, Ibom Air, carries our flag of excellence in the nation’s aviation sector – signposting our ascendancy in that sector.
“In sports, we are the official FIFA and CAF designated host of World Cup and African Cup football matches. All over the State, the energy is infectious, our people are hopeful, and the sunny disposition on what the future holds is palpable. Our economic fundamentals are strong and resilient as we ARISE together to build a golden future that unlocks our potentials,” Governor Eno said.
He added that “it has been 38 years of God’s blessings – of lifting up when there appeared to be a casting down, and we should all be very proud,” he stressed.
Paying tributes to his predecessors, the governor said described them as passionate, determined and focused leaders whose contributions have helped to move the State forward, “and we should celebrate and honour them for their service to the State, rather than disrespecting or castigating their legacies. We owe them deep respect.”
Speaking on his vision for the state, Governor Eno emphasised his determination to expand the frontiers of all those developmental gains and prime the State away from dependency on oil to tourism, which he described as the new black gold.
He also highlighted the essence of agriculture to produce our staple food to feed the families and to earn income, while disclosing that the tree crop development plan will soon be launched to provide generational and sustainable economic prosperity for the people and restore Akwa Ibom place as the nation’s leading oil palm producers.
He said access roads in the rural communities were being provided as road infrastructure were being expanded in the State as promised.
The governor also listed education, health, infrastructure, security and human capital development as areas of interventions that have been focal points of his administration in the last two years.
