By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong has tasked journalists in the state to interrogate and fully understand the ARISE agenda of the present administration.
Ememobong said such interrogation would empower the media to fully understand and be able to evaluate the implementation processes of the administration’s development blueprint as it unfolds.
In a meeting with Correspondents in Uyo yesterday, the commissioner said that the thoroughly grafted agenda; with action points and timelines clearly stated, has become a social contract between the government and the governed.
He told the media that the administration would look forward to their support through agenda setting, feed forward and feedbacks deviod of malice and sentiment.
“People in representative capacity interrogated the document and now accept this document as the working document of this administration. Therefore the transitioning between being the private document, the political party agenda to an economic blueprint of government is why I am here.
“And very simply, the government should be judged by this. This has become a social contract and if you read the agenda, you will discover that it is a thoroughly grafted agenda with points and with action points, aspirations clearly listed.
“So the marketing of this agenda is the duty of the Ministry of Information, but the interrogation of this agenda is the duty of the press and you are well positioned to Interrogate.
“You need to know what it stands for, what it represents, what it promises, so that you can use it to hold the government to account.” The commissioner said.
He promised to avail himself for interrogation and explained that, “the Arise Agenda stands for Agric revolution, rural development, Infrastructure, security, economic and education. Then you see a lot of drop downs. There are 18 focal areas that are drawn from these five aspirations.
“Agric revolution, environmental management, rural development and youth empowerment, Infrastructure Maintenance and advancement, security management, quality educational and health sector management, economic, industrial and social advancement”. He said.
The Commissioner however regretted that vandalism has continued to frustrate government effort to develop some rural communities, and tasked the media to consistently advocate for community ownership on projects located across the state.
