By; Patrick Titus, Uyo.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has appealed to persons whose property have been affected by the on-going construction along Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road with pending cases of compensation in the law courts to come for out- of-court settlement to enhance speedy completion of the project.
Governor Emmanuel made the appeal during his investiture as grand patron of a Socio-Cultural organisation, Ati Annang Foundation in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state.
He said, “My administration believes strongly in the rule of law and respect for the right of every citizen. I therefore urged the affected persons to, out of patriotism, sheath their sword and embrace alternative resolution as this unending litigation has hindered the smooth execution of the road construction project.”
Governor Emmanuel congratulated the Ati Annang Foundation for it outstanding development strides and the honour done him and his wife, Martha in the investiture saying that Annang people who are his In-laws had contributed tremendously to his emergence as Governor of the state during the last election and pledged to justify the confidence repose in him.
The Governor pledged to empower five persons in each of the Local Government Areas of Annang extraction out of the number, he said, three must be Women and pledged a donation towards the completion of the Ati Annang Foundation International Headquarters.
In his remarks, the Senate Minority Leader Senator Godswill Akpabio, expressed appreciation to the organisation for upholding the true Annang spirit of Unity, love, sacrifice and sincerity and assured the people that there is no rift between him and the Governor as against insinuation by detractors.
Senator Akpabio urged the people to build bridges of love across the ethnic divide and ignore detractors whose stock in trade, he said, is to fan embers of disaffection among brothers and congratulated Governor Emmanuel for the prudent utilisation of the limited resources through the provision of landmark infrastructure across the state.
On his part, the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Adudua, expressed delight at the harmonious coexistence in the state and commended the people for their decision to celebrate their own.
The Wife of the Governor Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel who was also inducted as member Foundation particularly thanked her people for the honour done her and her husband and prayed God to bless the people.
Also, the immediate past first lady of the state, Mrs. Ekaette-Unoma Akpabio in appreciation burst into songs for the overwhelming love bestowed on her, her husband and the incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel as well as his Wife, Martha.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly Barrister Onofiok Luke who was flanked by other Lawmakers, in a goodwill message called on Akwa Ibom sons and daughters in privileged positions to close ranks and work for the overall development of the state and not be allowed by sycophants to distract their focus with irrelevant tales.
He congratulated the Ati Annang for sustaining the vision of its founding fathers reaffirming the readiness of the state Assembly to partner with Governor Udom Emmanuel beyond the first tenure and thanked the Foundation for embarking on live- touching and capacity building projects particularly the education support programmes to indigent students.
International President of Ati Annang Foundation, Sir Udo Kerian Akpan said that the investiture of Governor Udom Emmanuel and Wife, Martha was borne out of the traditional believes of Annang people to celebrate their own.
He thanked Governor Emmanuel for the landmark development strides recorded in the state even in the midst of economic recession and listed achievements of the Foundation to include award of scholarship to more than two hundred students in tertiary institutions across the country, provision of School bags to more than five hundred pupils in public Primary Schools and promotion of Sports through inter Secondary schools competition in Annang land.
Highpoint of the occasion which attracted high calibre persnalities including the Deputy Governor Mr. Moses Ekpo, Senator Ibiok Essien, Director General Divine Mandate Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, Senator Effiong Bob, Eldestateman Chief Afangide, Members of the National and State Legislature, Women, Youth Groups and other Socio Cultural Organisations, was the induction of Governor Udom Emmanuel as patron and his Wife Martha as member of the Ati Annang Foundation.
