By Emeka Samuel
A chieftain of the PDP in Akwa Ibom, Obong Ikpe Obong has commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for renaming the Ibom International Airport after a former Governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah.
Obong who was reacting to the decision of Akwa Ibom state government to honour Attah who incidentally conceived the idea and started work on the airport told newsmen in Uyo that the former governor deserved the honour done him.
The former NUT National Secretary General described the former governor as the father of modern Akwa Ibom extolling the numerous contributions he made to the economic and physical growth of the state.
“As an architect, he not only designed the master plan of Uyo the state capital but as a governor between 1999 and 2007 he laid a solid foundation for the physical and economic development of Akwa Ibom.
See also: A’Ibom 2019: Udoedehe hands over structure to NDDC boss, Ekere
“Posterity will never forget Obong Attah’s dogged fight against the onshore/offshore dichotomy. It will also be demeaning to see Attah as a Niger Delta agitator rather the former governor is a statesman who stood for justice, equity and fairness.” He said.
Obong who was a foremost PDP senatorial aspirant for Uyo senatorial district in the last party primaries also called for more involvement of Attah in more programmes of the state government because of his passion for the development of the state.
It would be recalled that the Akwa Ibom state government had during a cocktail party last weekend to commemorate the ex governor’s 80th birthday renamed the Ibom International Airport as a mark of honour for his numerous contributions to the growth of the state.
The now Victor Attah International Airport which has a complimentary Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility was conceived by the ex governor while work started on the project before he left office in 2007.
