We’ll Overcome Our Pains, Gov Eno Assures Akwa Ibom People At Easter

In the spirit of the Easter season, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has admonished Christians to continue to pray for peace to overcome security and other socio-economic challenges weighing down the country for sustainable development to thrive.

Addressing the people in a state- wide Easter broadcast yesterday at the Government House, Uyo, the state capital, Governor Eno said his administration was assiduously working to relaunch the state on the path of peace, security and unity of purpose, vowing that the full actualisation of his administration’s ARISE Agenda blueprint would benefit the people.

To shore up the economy and create jobs, and businesses through a private sector-driven initiative, the governor said the objectives would be achieved through the Ibom Deep Seaport project, which he stated, preliminary work would soon commence with the committee soon to be in place.

He listed other intervention areas to include aviation, tourism, gratuity payment for retirees, business grants, jobs and other empowerment initiatives to cushion the effects of the hard times on residents.

He expressed delight that the timely movement to align with the centre was a mutually beneficial exercise given the prevailing situation in the nation’s political turf.

“Together with your overwhelming support, we made a decisive and timely Progressive movement to align our State with the centre, and given the unfolding political dynamics today, you will agree with us that we were right in our decision.”

Reviewing his scorecard, he noted: “Since coming into office in 2023, we have embarked on the construction of over 1,300 kilometers of roads; some inherited, while others were started and completed by our administration.

“At our last EXCO meeting, we approved an additional 167kms of roads across the state. Some of the roads currently ongoing are scheduled to be commissioned during the celebrations marking our third year in office.

“Today, we make bold to state emphatically that there is no local government area that we have not touched, either with roads, model primary healthcare centres, model primary schools, feeder roads, general hospitals like the one in Ukanafun, and others currently under construction.”

He said his administration has also collaborated with the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), a pet project of his late wife now under the coordination of his daughter, the acting first lady, Mrs.Helen Eno – Obareki, to execute some signature projects including solar -powered water projects across the state’s 369 wards, and youths – friendly centres across 14 local government areas.

“We feel the pain that our people are going through with epileptic power supply. Even though this is a national problem, but we are on the way to provide regular electricity supply.

Let me assure you, my dear people, that no matter what we may be facing, we will Arise together and overcome our challenges.

“Just as the Risen Christ brought hope, redemption and salvation, we will continue to roll our sleeves up and work to improve the welfare and well-being of our people. We will create a future that is defined by hope and faith in the ennobling ideals of a Christ-centred government we had promised you.

“As the political season unfolds, I urge you, as I always do, to ensure that politics does not divide us; that we should play politics of conviction and not of confrontation or attrition,” he said.