By Ndifreke AKPAN

 

The Foremost Apex Eket Youth Socio-Cultural Organisation, Afigh Iwaad Ekid has endorsed the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel for a second term in office come 2019.

 

The Eket Federal Constituency Umbrella Organisation has also conferred on him, the honour of Grand Patron, describing him as a resourceful manager of people and wealth.

 

These were highpoints of a condolence/courtesy visit on the Governor by the group at Government House, Uyo.

 

The group led by President General, Godwin Williams, Afigh Iwaad Ekid, also pledged to continue supporting him after his second term in 2023 to higher responsibilities, having assessed and found him competent in view of his ability to seamlessly manage the affairs of the state despite the economic downturn in the country.

 

The group condoled the Governor, Government and people of the state on the sudden departure of Prof. Eno Blankson Ikpe, Commissioner for Investments, Commerce and Industry.

 

A minute of silence was observed in memory of the departed Prof Eno Ikpe, Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry.

 

Obong Iwaad Godwin Williams announced plans by the Afigh to acquire land and engage in farming in Onna, Eket and Esit Eket for large scale farming in line with the food sufficiency programme of the State Government.

 

He solicited for support from the Governor to enable the association’s plans for manpower development through skills development centres in the Federal Constituency.

 

The youths lamented the absence of a tertiary institution in Eket Federal Constituency, and solicited the development of the Government Secondary School, Afaha Eket into a tertiary institution.

 

They also requested for the upgrade of four secondary schools in the four local government into model academies .

 

The group reiterated the desire of their people for the relocation of Mobil Producing Nigeria operational headquarters to Eket Federal Constituency.

 

While thanking the Governor for receiving them, they officially invited him to the 2017th Eket day celebration on December 15, adding that the day will be used for the formal decoration of the Governor as its Grand Patron.

 

The Governor who thanked the group for the visit, said it was the first group to come and share in his grief over the loss of the Executive Council Member.

 

He said Late Prof. Ikpe was taken to the best hospitals and everything was done to save her life, but added that the mystery of life and death can only be explained by God.

 

He admired the resilience and ability of the members to get the organisation on course, and urged them to continue maintaining peace .

 

The Governor wondered why there was no Federal presence in the state despite the huge contributions to the national revenue.

“We can’t be the largest producer of crude oil, and there is no office of NNPC in the state. No Federal presence in the state.”

 

He also bemoaned the absence of a single Akwa Ibom person in the hierarchy of the NNPC top, and the non presence of any petroleum depot by the PPMC.

 

The Governor said the Federal Government still owes the state over N140bn expended by the state on federal roads, and has failed to increase the allocation to the state despite the increase in the price of crude oil in the global market.

 

He promised to study the requests of the Afigh Iwaad Ekid and urge for their continued support to his administration.

 

He revealed some of the efforts made by his administration in creating wealth and opportunities for the people of the state and promised to study the requests of the Afigh Iwaad.

 

A minute of silence was observed in memory of the departed Prof Eno Ikpe.