Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom to ensure that a good successor that would continue with his development strides is elected in the state in 2023.
Obasanjo who gave the advice while inaugurating a 1km flyover at Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo, on Friday, said having a good successor was even more important than having a successful administration since a good succession plan is part of the success of any government.
“Your success does not stop with your economic and social development to your people, but it would be measured by your succession because success without a good a succession is hollow.
“I pray and pray again that you would have a good successor.” The former President said.
He praised Emmanuel for not letting him, and those who supported his second term ambition down, and for not disappointing the people of the state who voted for him to return to office in 2019.
Obasanjo said the Ikm flyover built by the state government was a project worth celebrating any where in the world; stressing that the governor was good in managing resources because of his previous background.
He described himself as a lucky man to have the flyover built along Olusegun Obasanjo Way, a road previously named after him in 2016 by Victor Attah administration.
On his part, Gov Emmanuel said the execution of the project was a not a show of affluence but prudence in the management of the increasing dwindling resources adding that a little more than $1 billion was shared to the more 200 million Nigerians in the last federation account.
” When people see us commission projects like this, they think we have money. We don’t because it is now extremely difficult for some governors to even pay salaries. So we are not celebrating excess wealth but a result of creativity.” He said.
The Governor also said with the advent of dry season coming presently, his administration would kickstart the inauguration of several dual carriage roads such as Ikot Ekpene-Uyo Road and Eket remodeling project.
The state commissioner for works, Prof Eno Ibanga explained that the project commenced on July 15, 2019 and since it was billed to be completed in two years, the state had even surpassed the deadline because COVID-19 had disrupted its progress for several months.
