UNCOVERING GOV. EMMANUEL’S GIANT STRIDES IN ORUK ANAM
…as PDP campaign train lands Ikot Ibritam, tomorrow
By Emma Akpabio
Since her creation from Ukanafun in 1989, Oruk Anam local government area amidst plethora of material and human capital resources was bleak and one of the least developed local government areas in Akwa Ibom state, before the advent of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration.
As a vote basket of Akwa Ibom and one of the few local government areas in Nigeria that has produced a Governor, a minister, parliamentarians in the national/state assemblies, national and state party chairmen et al, Oruk Anam, before 2015, had no tangible and visible infrastructural development.
Even in the era of oil boom and uncommon transformation when an Annang son was the Governor of Akwa Ibom and so much money was thrown around the streets between 2007 and 2015, not even one road project was commissioned in Oruk Anam local government area.
Despite constituting the greater population of the area, Oruk Anam youths since the return of Democratic rule in 1999, witnessed what could be the worst case of cajole on one’s destiny.
Prior to every election, youths were recognized as important “tools” and adopted for successful electioneering process and discarded right after the elections. The hopes and dreams of the youths for living a better life through participatory government were always dashed.
Infact, it was easier for a cow to pass through the eye of a needle than have someone of Oruk Anam origin below 50 years entrusted with an important public service position in Akwa Ibom State.
Yes, we may not be there yet, but one man that has put in significant efforts in changing the story and even the face of Oruk Anam local government area is Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom state in the past 7 years, has done for Oruk Anam what all his predecessors put together, never did since the creation of Akwa Ibom state in 1987.
In human capital development, Governor Emmanuel has facilitated the election of young people and even appointed Oruk Anam youths into sensitive positions of responsibility in his administration.
Examples of young people incorporated into a system that was hitherto only occupied by men above 50years include, the SA to the Governor on Public Affairs – Barr Morgan Ekanem and the State Assistant Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Itoro Noah. In the 2020 local government elections, Oruk Anam produced Hon. Abasiama Etukakpan as the youngest vice Chairman in Akwa Ibom State.
It would be recalled that Oruk Anam never had any Commissioner between 2007 and 2015 but in the past 7 years, the area has produced 4 Commissioners, 2 Senior Special Assistants, over 8 Special Assistants, board members and 4 board Chairmen including the award winning Chairman of AKSEPWMA, Obong Dr Prince Ikim.
Governor Emmanuel through his wife -Dr Martha and his erstwhile special assistant on inter-ministerial and direct labour projects, Prince Sampson Idiong have transformed the lives of several youths, women and Elders of Oruk Anam through business grants, utility vehicles and other financial supports.
On infrastructural development, no government since the creation of Oruk Anam has commissioned up to 6 kilometers of roads in the area but the Gov. Emmanuel led administration is embarking on 70 kilometers of roads with 5 bridges in total.
Roads initiated and completed under Governor Emmanuel include; 5.1km internal roads in Obio Akpa campus of Akwa Ibom state University, 4.9km Ibesit- Ikot Ibritam road, 14km Ikot Ikara- Ibesit Okpokoro road with one bridge. Others still ongoing at very advanced stage and will be commissioned soon include; the 22km Ikot Ekaide – Ikot Okoro – Ikot Ibritam road with two bridges, 18.9km Ikot Ibritam – Ekeffe- Ikot Akpan Afaha road with two bridges, 4.5km Ekparakwa – Mbon Ebre – Ibesit Road, amongst others.
Governor Emmanuel has not cheated Oruk Anam in his industrialization drive. This is evident in the recently commissioned starch Factory and garri Processing factory in Obio Akpa as well as the complete rehabilitation and construction of Urua Anwa – the most popular market in the area with enormous direct and indirect economic benefits to the people. The Nofin offshore shipyard along East- West road came into existence under his leadership as the state chief executive.
For several years, the people of Oruk Anam often travelled several kilometers to have access to secondary health care, but today, the once abandoned community built hospital in Ikot Okoro can compete with any general hospital in the world, courtesy of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
In education, though Oruk Anam pupils and students are beneficiaries of the free and compulsory education policy and scholarships program, more than 80 percent of all Primary and Secondary schools in Oruk Anam have been rehabilitated and constructed through the inter-ministerial direct labour coordinating committee of Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration. A community built Urban high school, Ikot Akpan Essien was amongst the 18 schools taken over by the government.
Still in education, the only Navy military school in Akwa Ibom is sited in Ekparakwa, while a digital language Library, commercial palm oil farm, commercial farm feed mill, vegetable screen house, ultra modern mass communication studio and a standard performance Art theatre have been provided in the Obio Akpa campus of the Akwa Ibom State University.
In fulfilment of his campaign promise of rural development, Governor Emmanuel has embarked on massive rural electrification projects in Oruk Anam. There has been rehabilitation of electrification in Ibianga, Ikot Akpan, Ikot Esenam and it’s environs, amongst others too numerous to mention.
Stating that Governor Emmanuel has been so fair in project allocation to his in-laws is simply stating the obvious. Therefore, there is no doubt that the people of Oruk Anam will turn out en masse tomorrow, to welcome the PDP Guber candidate, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno and all other candidates of the PDP who will tomorrow visit Ikot Ibritam for campaigns.
IBOM VOICE MEDIA 