By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has commended the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark for their efforts towards the sustenance of peace and development in the Niger Delta region.
This is even as the state government has began moves to make boundary crisis arising from mapping and other factors in Akwa Ibom a thing of the past with the strict implementation of the ARISE Agenda meant to bring increased development to local communities.
Eno who made this known during an interaction with a delegation from the Forum last weekend in Uyo urged the group not to relent in their advocacy and national networking roles for the people of the region.
The Governor said their efforts have not gone unnoticed and called for support from the people of the region to strengthen the group and make them a formidable voice for the Niger Delta.
Earlier, the National Chairman of PANDEF and leader of the delegation, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, congratulated the governor on his election victory and lauded his timely articulation of a roadmap for good governance and development.
Essien said PANDEF was pleased with Governor Eno for his show of statesmanship and capacity to foster collaborations as demonstrated in his visit to President Tinubu as well as identifying with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who is a product of the region.
He therefore prevailed on the Governor to deploy his ingenuity in fostering collaborations among the leaders of the region towards a holistic development of the area.
On lingering boundary crisis in some parts of the state, the Governor posited that predispositions to such disturbances and availability of rural dwellers as agents of such crises are strongly related to the low level of development and inactivity of the rural economy.
He however expressed optimism that the development plan the Agenda would reinvigorate economic activities in the rural areas and redirect their energy towards positive issues.
“My position is simple, if we bring Development to our communities in the real sense of it, it is difficult to start fighting for boundaries because development will be spread across the boundaries and everyone begins to take the benefits of that development. That is why you don’t hear of boundary crises between Victoria Island and Apapa.
“On the issue of mapping and remapping, we have asked all the parties to hold on. This case is in the court and my understanding is that when a case is in court, everyone should hold on. We are suing for peace, and I believe that peace will soon come. We want to see the peace while we do all we can to bring development to those communities.” Eno stated.
