To further trickle-down the democratic dividends of the Udom Emmanuel’s administration to the grassroots, Special Assistant to the Governor on Trade and Market Matters, Akparawa Idorenyin Raphael, has flagged off grading of over 11 internal roads that cut across Ikot Ekop, Ikot Osukpong, Use Ikot Ekop, Ikot Ambang among others within Ibiono Ibom Ward-5 to ease movement of goods and service with the area.
Akparawa Raphael, who performed the flag-off on Thursday, said his people were very appreciative of the Governor’s strides in infrastructure and human capital development and added that “we will do more to support and encourage Governor Udom Emmanuel’s success story.”
He thanked the Governor for the opportunity done him to serve in the present administration, adding that the peaceable people of Ikot Ekop will reciprocate the Governor’s goodness to them through their 100% vote in the forthcoming election to return him for a second term.
The Governor’s Special Assistant on Trade and Market Matters also urged the people of the community to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) by mobilizing their friends and family members and ensuring they become eligible voters.
Supporting Akparawa Raphael’s magnanimity, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Project, Engr. Uwem Udoka, commended the people of Ikot Ekop for their unflinching support to the Governor.
He thanked Akparawa Raphael for giving practical interpretation of the Governor’s vision and programmes through his contribution to his community, saying “I am a civil engineer and I have seen the quality of work done here. It is good. I have been challenged to emulate what I have seen here in my community. I also appeal to other aides of the Governor to toe this line.”
Also speaking, the Councillor representing Ward-5, Mr. Ekopimo Polycarp Edet, said he was very appreciative of the developmental effort of the Governor through Akparawa Raphael.
He appealed to youths of the area to make their support for the Udom Emmanuel’s government count by enrolling in the ongoing CVR.
Responding, Ward-5 Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Kufre Sam, said the party, through the quality of its members and representatives, has always been a torchbearer in the area.
For the 2019 election, he said the people Ikot Ekop will ensure the Governor returns to the Hilltop Mansion smoothly.
Mr. Sam also appealed to the State Government to immortalize a great son of the area, late Cardinal Dominic Ekanem, who was the first Anglophone cardinal in Africa.
In their remarks, the Family Head, Chief Moses Etim; the Village Youth Leader, Felix Sunday Ebong; Chairman of Ikot Ekop Village Council, Chief Okon Leo Udoh, and the Village Head, Eteidung Asuakak Effiong Brown, thanked Akparawa Raphael for his contribution to the community.
“We have seen true dividend of democracy through our son, Idorenyin Raphael and we cannot thank the Governor enough for this. May God continue to bless the Governor for us,” they said.
They said though they very satisfied with what the Governor has given them, but like Oliver Twist, they will still ask for electrification of the area and the establishment of Health Centre, Schools and industry in Ikot Ekop.
During the flag-off ceremony, Akparawa Raphael extended his kind gesture to some less privileged and also gave financial assistance to the family of Okon Ebong of Nung Akpan Uboe for the obsequies of their mother, late Madam Nko Sylvester Okon Ebong, who has been the mortuary for about two years.
