From Joe Effiong, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has said his administration would occupy an enviable position in history as one with achievements made through prudent management of resources amid unprecedented national and global economic turbulence.
The governor in what was his valedictory Christmas broadcast, yesterday, said history would record his administration as a government that battled two recessions, falling oil prices that almost wrecked the economywhen he came in, and a pandemic of historic proportions that shut down the world for almost a year.
“In all of these, to the glory of the One whose season of birth is the reason we are celebrating today, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we were able to overcome those terrible headwinds and still, raise the banner of governance across sectors.
“To the glory of the Almighty God, we still remain one of the safest states in the nation, where residents live in peace and harmony; where our people can travel from Uyo to Ikot Ekpene, from Ikot Ekpene to Ibeno, from Ibeno to Ini at any given.”
He said his administration came with a Christian heart and mind to lead the state with love and tolerance, with humility and abiding faith in their capacity to rise to the faith of greatness.
“We came to change the tone and tenor of our engagements and to show that power and all the paraphernalia that come with it, belong to God and not man. We came, not to blow our trumpet, but to let the works of our hands speak for us. Today, I can raise my hands to the Heavens and say to the Almighty God, thank you for what you have done for us. Today, in aviation industry, Akwa Ibom State leads the nation with Ibom Air. Thousands of people now flock to our state to live, invest and thrive.
“Over a thousand jobs have been created for our people through Ibom Air and our coordinated aviation development, the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO), the smartest international terminal in the nation are testaments to vision and creativity.”
Udom said Akwa Ibom State under his watch has the most sophisticated and world-class road network of economic value in the country.
“Our state can be seamlessly linked across the three senatorial districts, thus enhancing economic activities. Infrastructural renaissance was one of our cardinal campaign promises. On that, we have delivered for our people.”
The governor chronicled the array of his achievements in the areas of healthcare delivery, agriculture and human capacity development, saying he had fulfilled his promise in ensuring that Akwa Ibom children would remain competitive in a dynamic world of ideas and opportunities through human capacity development.