By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has commended Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom for his efforts aimed at combating the menace of erosion in the state.
Jonathan who stated this yesterday while commissioning several life-touching projects in Uyo as part of activities to mark the 60th birthday of the Governor lauded him for his leadership strides having prioritized the needs of his people as demonstrated in his ingenuity of initiating and completing such major life-touching projects within his first year in office.
Some of the projects include a 1.3km underground concrete flood control tunnel, the reconstruction of a section of Atiku Abubakar Way, with walkway, drainage, solar street lights and reconstruction of adjourning 1km Afaha Ube road.
Making reference to a recent flood alert by Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the former President described Eno as a proactive leader and urged Akwa Ibom people to be vigilant against antisocial elements and vandalization of public infrastructure.
Eno in his remarks restated the resolve of his administration to use the common wealth of Akwa Ibom people to put smiles on their faces through life-touching projects and programmes that would ameliorate their sufferings.
“We are committed to touching lives, we are committed to improving the standard of living of our people. We are committed to rural development, and we are committed to providing those soft and hard infrastructures, but the time we are in now demand soft infrastructure.
“The time demands that we feed our people, it demands that we help them go back to the farm, it demands that our people take advantage of all of the contracts that are providing so many jobs for our young people and it demands that we keep being in peace to continue to attract investment to our state to be able to continue to provide jobs to our people.” He stated.
The Governor who described the Atiku Abubakar road and drainage interventions as product of faith and circumstance, remarked that the project was one of the interventions of his administration to citizens’ outcry.
“I do not know the young man that sent me that photograph on this road, but we are here courtesy of that young man. So if you notice anything in your environment, you can send it to us. We will look at it, prioritize it, handle it and try to see how we can come to your aid.
“What this shows is that all of us can collectively run this state. The state is not just run by the Governor. We try to run an open government. We try to run a government across party lines because knowledge is not only based on one person or one party.
“We can work together as a people. We accept and appreciate the constructive criticism, but not those that are born out of malice and mischief. Together all of us can be in Government, whether you are given an appointment or not.” He added.
The Governor therefore cautioned the people against vandalizing facilities built with fund for the good of all and charged the people to take up the challenge of protecting infrastructure within their domains as a communal responsibility.
Presenting an overview of the project, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga, said the project which was awarded in August 2023 has been completed to specifications, with guarantee of deflooding the entire stretch of Atiku Abubakar Way and its environs as well as restoring life to the city area.
