By Edifon Abasi-obot
Governor Udom Emmanuel has been commended for the conducive Akwa Ibom environment, which has made the State attractive enough for President Muhammadu Buhari to visit and choose the State to launch his re-election campaign for the nation’s South-South region.
The Commissioner for Economic Development, Labour and Manpower Planning in the State, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Ekong Sampson gave the indication in a live radio programme on Planet FM (101.1) on the eve of the President’s visit to the State.
Barrister Ekong Sampson said it is good that Mr. President is coming to see the State that is leading the pack in Nigeria, even as he extolled the great leadership capacity Governor Emmanuel has demonstrated in creating a peaceful and conducive environment for leading Nigerians and investors to visit the State.
However, Barrister Ekong Sampson said that the President’s visit does not change the fact that Akwa Ibom is a PDP state. He said that there is no family in Akwa Ibom State that does not have PDP members, unlike what obtains in other parties in the State, adding that the mass of Akwa Ibom people are determined to maintain PDP dominance in the State in next years elections.
Barrister Ekong Sampson, a former Local Government Chairman and two-term Member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, is the immediate past Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Political, Legislative Affairs and Water Resources.
In Barrister Sampson’s words, “it is commendable that Governor Udom Emmanuel has worked hard to make Akwa Ibom State attractive enough for Mr. President to come visiting”. He added that this clearly shows how Udom Emmanuel has earned for Akwa Ibom State the respect of Nigeria, maintaining that the visit will help market the State more.
“Mr. President does not just go anywhere. If Akwa Ibom State was not peaceful enough, I’m not sure Mr. President would have loved to visit”, the Commissioner said, adding that the President’s choice of Akwa Ibom for the visit is a tribute to the good governance that Udom Emmanuel has demonstrated in the State.
Expounding further, Ekong Sampson said the Akwa Ibom of today is a State where investment is taken very seriously. Drawing from his constituency, Mkpat Enin LGA example, he said a passenger does not have to struggle anymore to describe destinations, as one could just tell a taxi driver to drop him at the coconut plantation, coconut refinery, mega power station, AKSU and so on. Such innovations, he maintained, have become the defining metaphor of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s imprint, reiterating that the modern age belongs to the innovator.
Speaking on the recent insinuations that the Governor allowing the President to be received at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium portrays weakness, the Honourable Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the Governor Emmanuel’s show of maturity and patriotism.
He said “Akwa Ibom people would rather have a governor who gives them peace than to have an iron man who makes them sleep with only one eye closed,’ adding that Governor Emmanuel has made Akwa Ibom State the envy of others in Nigeria because of his commitment to peace.
He described Governor Udom Emmanuel as a God-fearing leader who shows a lot of respect for institutions and offices. “What Governor Udom Emmanuel did by directing that the President and the APC be allowed access to the nest of champions, clearly demonstrates his maturity; that Governor Udom is large-hearted. It indicates that where the circumstances so persuade, our Governor can go the extra mile to protect State interest and Nigeria”, Barrister Sampson said. He said that the Governor’s directive did not show weakness but strength, maturity and patriotism, even as some might say that the directive could affect the State’s sporting interest.
He lauded Governor Udom’s Pan-Nigerian disposition and his commitment to diversifying the economy of the State through industrialization
