Arising from the Arise Town Square Meeting, which was held yesterday at Ikono Council Ground, I have read a lot of posts on social media and newspapers where people threw tantrums at Governor Umo Eno that the Governor said he is not going to do any road in Ikono/Ini, and a lot have also tagged and called me out.
Though I am not in a position to give a rejoinder as the Secretary to the State Government, or Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, but I find it misleading and I have the obligation to enlighten those who is peddling the falsehood, as someone who was at the town square meeting and a man of good conscience who also understood the Governor’s position
1. The Governor did not say he is not going to construct any road in Ikono/Ini Fed. Constituency, he only responded to the request for dualization of Ikot Ekpene – Ikono – Ini road, as was requested by the Chairman of Ini LG.
2. The Governor, like any other person, has the right to either respond to or be silent over it but Pst. Umo Eno, being an open-minded individual, responded and told Ikono/Ini people that they should simply go and work. Listen to him, “… on the dualisation of Ikono/Ini road, when you vote for me, if by the grace of God I come back, that would be my first project for you, but this first term, road dualization has closed”. The Governor also said if he makes any promise to dualize the said Ikot Ekpene – Ikono – Ini road now, he will be lying to the people of Ikono/Ini and that he doesn’t know how to lie. He ended by asking if the people of the Federal Constituency need the road to be dualized, and everyone agreed in affirmative.
3. As an individual, I think His Excellency was fair in his response, because in Nigerian politics, politicians use votes to bargain for whatever they want in Government outside the grace of God and a Godfather who has their interest at heart.
4. Let me again reemphasize that I love Gov. Umo Eno with everything in me, because this is the Government that has touched us directly since the inception of democracy in 1999. I can boldly say that without mincing words. Yes, because the naysayers would not remember that Gov Umo Eno, after his swearing in as the Gov of Akwa Ibom State, has:
(a) completed an abandoned housing in Ibiono/Ikon,o which is located at Ikot Ideh Itak
(b) Flagged off a ring road that is linking Idoro to Itak in Ikono LGA and Ikot Ada-idem in Ibiono Ibom LGA, which is ongoing
(c) Flagged off the Arise Elderly Center in Ekpemiong Itak, Ikono LGA, which is almost completed, and plans are underway to add a 200-bed International Hospital at that location too.
(d) To boost the local economy and enhance connectivity. He flagged off the 21.5km Ikot Ayan Ediene – Ekpene Ediene – Urua Naira – Ikot Nseyen – Nkwot – Nung Ukim Road, which the contractor has assured us of completion by February 2026.
(e) Flagged off of Nung Ukim/Uduà-Udo/Afaha Obio Enwang/Nung Udoe Itak road, which is also ongoing.
(f) Built and commissioned compassionate homes in Ikono
(g) Built and commissioned a model primary school in Ikono and other projects that are ongoing.
(h) The empowerment of 476 people in Ikono/Ini Fed. Constituency yesterday by Gov. Umo Eno with the total sum of N239, 150, 000, and all their names and phone numbers are there for verification.
And so, I stand to be corrected. Let anyone show me a Governor that have done half of these for the people of Ikono in less than 3 years in office before. Whereas, let us not forget that in 2011, Ikono played opposition, and it was time for the then Governor to dualize Uyo – Ikot Ekpene Highway, Ikono was cheated in so many ways. There would have been a roundabout at Itak junction, but where is it?, no U-turn at strategic locations as it was supposed to be, thereby causing road accidents, affecting economic activities, as many junctions were closed in Ikono.
If you doubt me, go to Ibiono Ibom, Abak, and Essien Udim LGAs and see gutters and U-TURN at strategic locations, then you will confirm what I am saying. In fact, if not for the Youths in Itak who rose up and protested, there wouldn’t be any gutter in Ikono, just because we didn’t give a massive vote to the government of the day.
Now, if Gov Umo Eno were to be sentimental in his action, he would have told us not to reap where we did not sow, and so let’s appreciate him and believe God that he is going to do more for us. Let’s stop fighting like the Governor has rightly said and unite as an entity, then everything would fall in place.
…I am Nsikak Ikpe,
Writing from Nung Udoe Itak in Ikono LGA.
