By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has vowed never to join anyone to say anything against past governors in the State, despite widespread speculation that his relationship with his predecessor and political godfather, Mr Udom Emmanuel has gone sour.He has also recounted how Emmanuel braved all odds to single-handedly pick him and ensured he won the 2023 elections.
The governor who made this known last weekend during his third year anniversary Media briefing in Uyo said his focus was on completing old projects, building new ones and delivering dividends of democracy to Akwa Ibom people and not finding faults with his predecessors. ‘
‘Politics was not my career path, but God put me in the heart of Udom Emmanuel, he did all for me, therefore, I will not join you people to say anything about past leaders in the State. May be I’m not a good politician but there are certain things i can’t do, in my next world, i will like to be a politician so that I will be able to be telling you lies. But, we are trying as government to bring the dividends of democracy to our people.” Eno said that within the last three years, his administration had constructed over 1, 300 kilometres of roads and over 40 bridges but expressed displeasure over the slow pace of some projects.
He threatened to terminate non-performing contracts to avoid wastage of government funds and ensure dividends of democracy for the people expressing deep displeasure on the contractors handling Tabernacle Road in Uyo and Midim Atan – Etim Ekpo Road in Essien Udim local government area of the state.
The governor said that the tabernacle road was re-awarded in Feb. 2024 and wondered why the contractors were dragging the job till now, in spite of being mobilised to do the road project disclosing that the contract would be terminated by July if the road is not completed as promised by the contractor. “The Road project was awarded to my town’s man. I met him as the contractor of the project.
We awarded that project at the same time as Correti road in Ikot Ekpene and the contractor handling that road had completed the job. The contractor handling tabernacle road has given us commitment to complete the job by July. However, failure to do so, the state government will terminate the contract unfailingly,” Eno said.
Among completed projects according to him were the reconstruction of the 14.3km Ikot Ubo–Odot Road in Nsit Ubium/Nsit Atai, the construction of internal roads at Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia among others.
The governor added that several inherited projects were also completed and inaugurated, including the Ikot Esu–Otomo–Azumini Road in Ika, the Pepsi Junction–Ukpom–Abak Road, bridges at Ikot Ekaide and Ikot Okoro among others. “The administration is currently executing numerous strategic road projects across the State, including the dualisation of Ring Road III, the reconstruction of the Ikot Akpaden–Iko Road with bridges, among others,” he said.
On issue of potholes in Uyo metropolis, the governor promised to set up a committee including journalists, civil society organisations to monitor potholes in the areas with a view of filling them.
On poor power supply, the governor appealed to the people to be patient with the government as there were fundamental and implementation frameworks to be followed to ensure steady power supply in the State.
He said that he has invested so much in power sector to reposition the power supply including setting up a regulatory transition committee, offsetting the debt by the state government and reclaiming the shares of the state in Portharcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, to be able to sit on the board.
