Outgoing governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel took time off his busy schedules yesterday evening to fete journalists at the Government House, Uyo, the state capital after his eight years as governor, noting that any political position is time bound, and sarcastically expressed that his next profession would be journalism that has no specific retirement period.
Bidding the state goodbye, Emmanuel pushed aside every sentiment of non-performance by the opposition, noting that his politics were devoid of bitterness against anyone as, according to him, “I had never used my position as governor in this past eight years to abuse, taunt or witch hunt any of my perceived opposition.”
Though he bemoaned what he described as sabotage of his deliberate efforts to reposition the state for the betterment of the people, Emmanuel noted the vandalism in some key sectors like health, electricity and education, but thumped his chest and declared that “despite such drawbacks, we have left the state better than we met it.”
“We are ending these eight years on a good note, and I am urging you to transfer your support to my successor because this is the only state we have,” he enthused.
While urging the people to be in the vanguard of sustaining the legacies of his administration in various sectors including agriculture, education, healthcare, human capital development and job creation he appealed that “as I am exiting, whatever talent God has given to you, use it to make Akwa Ibom a better place.”
The outgoing governor recalled that he came to the state through the instrumentality of God, and submitted that “by His grace, I have made the state a better place.”
