By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has lauded ex President Ibrahim Babangida for creating a homogenous state for the mainland part of the old Cross River State after several decades of agitation.
He has also cautioned citizens and residents of the state against disrespecting past governors of the state no matter the level of political and ideological differences.
Eno who made this known in a broadcast to mark the 38tt anniversary of the creation of the state said the move was a unique gift by the former President to the people of the area adding that the state would continue to be grateful and pray for his health
The Governor insisted that despite numerous challenges it has been a journey of renewal, phenomenal infrastructural and social growth, undiluted peace, deepening of bonds of unity, kindred spirit and pride in the collective identity.for the people of the area.
“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 realized in their time
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“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, GCFR (rtd.), for this unique gift. May God continue to bless him with good health, a sound mind and spirit.
“Thirty-eight years ago, this State, especially the Capital City of Uyo, was for all intents and purposes, a glorified village – a rural backwater bereft of modern infrastructure.
“Today, thirty-eight years later, 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.” Eno said.
Respect for the former leaders of the state he said should be the least thing indigenes should do to repay them for their unique services to Akwa Ibom.
“These leaders were passionate, determined and focused in moving our 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.” He maintained.
His administration the Governor said has continued to increase and improve social infrastructure access roads in rural communities and have expanded the road infrastructure in the state by 771 kilometres of either commissioned or ongoing with some inherited from past administrations.
“Our schools and healthcare services remain major areas of attention. We will continue to build model healthcare centres across the State as well as model primary and secondary schools in the three senatorial districts.
“The emergency we recently declared in the healthcare sector will address the gaps in that sector. We hope to flag -off the construction of our 350-bed Ibom International Hospital along the medical corridor as well as the commissioning of the Arise Elders Care Centre, also along the same corridor.
“Through our administration’s compassionate interventions, we have built 267 fully furnished and solar-powered two-bedroom flats out of 500 planned for the vulnerable. In addition, our free food distribution programme, drawn from the State’s verified Social Registe, is now in its third phase, and we have so far reached over 500,000 households.
“We are priming our State as the tourism hub of the nation. Our audacious Arise Resort, which has been celebrated by all who have inspected it, will be commissioned in December and is expected to draw visitors in millions to our State. We are building the 5,000-capacity International Convention Centre, the 200-room Ibom Hotel and Arise City Centre – all located within the Tropicana grounds.
“The Ibom Hotels and Apartments in Abuja as well as Ibom Towers and Apartments in Lagos – all previously moribund State assets which we have now converted into money-earning ventures – are ongoing.” Eno explained.
He appealed to the people to remain united, peaceful, and hopeful and urged
, “us not to allow the flaming passion of politics to divide us. Elections will come and go, but the Akwa Ibom spirit of love and brotherhood will remain. We are running Akwa Ibom United across party lines.
“I urge our leaders and stakeholders not to engage in spreading damaging or inflammatory rhetoric, but to “ rise beyond ethnicity” and “ build with love our promise land” as our State Anthem has so greatly enjoined us to.” The Governor concluded.
