JOE EFFIONG, UYO
Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has enthused that he is leaving Akwa Ibom better than he got it from his predecessor and also handing it into the capable, tested and steady hands of Pastor Umo Eno.
In his last easter broadcast as the governor the the state, Emmanuel expressed his strong belief that his successor, the governor-elect would further carry the torch of peace, development, growth and unity of the state
“This is not yet my valedictory speech, however, I can’t help but to express my deepest gratitude to you my dear Akwaibomites for entrusting me with the huge task of being your governor, of working to extend and deepen the growth and development across the length and crannies of this State.
“It has been a hugely impactful experience, one that tested our capacity and preparedness to fulfill our campaign promises.”
The governor thanked the people of the state for peacefully and massively voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the state during the last general election.
“You voted for the continuation of all that we have started and achieved in the last almost eight years. You voted for the furtherance of peace, for growth, for development and for our unity.
“Let me thank our great party, the PDP, our Fathers in Faith, our stakeholders, the elder statesmen, our women, youths and other lawful residents of this State for believing in the need for continuity and good governance. Let me also salute other contestants for believing in the electoral process and the common good of our people.”
He recalled his maiden Easter speech almost eight years ago, in which he had enjoined the people to “let the spirit of the season of Easter continue to shape and define our engagements with one another” that they should “continue to be hopeful, be optimistic and to know that the challenges of today will become opportunities tomorrow”.
“Today, almost eight years after, we have turned our challenges into opportunities for growth and the reawakening of our collective spirit of enterprise and creativity.
“.As I stand here to reflect on the challenges we faced upon assumption of office on May 29th, 2015, and to see where we are today, I can only say that God has been awesomely wonderful and deeply gracious towards us as a State and as a people. To Him alone, be the glory, honour and adoration!
“We came in, facing a tailwind of economic difficulties with the price of oil at its lowest in decades; thus, tackling recurrent expenditure proved challenging for most sub nationals; not to talk of embarking upon capital projects. The fundamentals of economic growth were to say the least, dire and shaky.”
“As I stand here to reflect on the challenges we faced upon assumption of office on May 29th, 2015, and to see where we are today, I can only say that God has been awesomely wonderful and deeply gracious towards us as a State and as a people. To Him alone, be the glory, honour and adoration!
“We came in, facing a tailwind of economic difficulties with the price of oil at its lowest in decades thus, tackling recurrent expenditure proved challenging for most sub nationals; not to talk of embarking upon capital projects. The fundamentals of economic growth were to say the least, dire and shaky.
“In two years, after we came in, we battled two recessions, and just when we thought the economic coast was becoming clearer and more predictable, the Covid-19 pandemic roared its ugly head and shut down the world for more than a year, changing and altering possibly forever the way the world works and operates.”
In spite of all the challenges, the governor said his administration rose like meteors and, because the came with the innate ability and capacity to stare challenges in the face and take them head-on, were able to overcome and today, the Akwa Ibom story, he said has become a national story, a story of a sub national which, without the control of National policy, has achieved so much across sectors because of the quality of leadership we have been blessed with, and the passionate dedication to the pursuit of Legacy -of Impact projects, which today dot our landscape.
After reeling out numerous achievements of his administration, the governor concluded by calling for unity and love among the people.
“We may have disagreements on political front, we may have pursued growth and development through different political prisms, but we must resist the impulse of letting politics create unbridgeable schism and chasm of alienation amongst us as kindred.” ENDS