By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Former governors, Donald Duke of Cross River and Gabriel Suswan of Benue State have likened the 21 storey Smart building, Dakkada Tower in Uyo, as a future goldmine that will attract wealth to Akwa Ibom State and its citizenry.
They stated this in their different goodwill messages presented during the inauguration of the Smart building by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Uyo on Friday.
Duke who said that he was excited to be present at the inauguration of the building described as among the tallest in the country, said that the Governor Udom Emmanuel’s led administration in Akwa Ibom has launched the state into greatness in a near future.
He extolled the leadership of Governor Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom, and described him as a gift to the people of the state.
“I came to share with the vision of a man who has provided good leadership to his people; someone who had promised that he would not leave his people the same way he met them at the end of his tenure as the Governor. I came also to join in the joy of the people of Akwa Ibom state to say we are proud that God has given you to us. The man is Udom Emmanuel, my brother and friend.
“The beautiful part of this occasion is that Gold is Gold but human being with excellent heart and quality leadership worths more and should be celebrated.
“Many may not see now what this edifice stands for but in years to come, many will come to appreciate what is being done here,” former Governor Duke stated.
Duke who appreciated the presence of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the state for the commissioning of the project irrespective of party affiliation, described him as an epitome of a good leader and intellectual.
From the former Governor Gabriel Suswan, now a Senator, Governor Udom Emmanuel represents the good wishes for the state, whose vision for infrastructure renaissance and industrialisation has endeared many investors to invest their money in the state.
Senator Suswan who also noted that the peaceful disposition of Akwa Ibom state has provided good ambience for development, said, “I hardly hear of the security challenges in this state.”
He also acknowledged the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo as a Scholar who taught him law at the University of Calabar, saying he remains everly grateful to the Vice President for the knowledge he impacted into him as a student.
Also in a goodwill message on behalf of the National Assembly, Senator representing Akwa Ibom South East (Eket) Senatorial District at National Assembly, Senator Akon Eyakenyi said that the six years administration of Governor Emmanuel so far has recorded tangible projects in the state.
These became possible because the Governor is skillful, competent and committed to bringing out water even from the rock for the good of the state, and above all, led by God, so the people of the state rejoice, she stated.
Earlier in a welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Okpolupm Etteh whose Ministry supervises the project said the Dakkada Tower, the best ICT compliant in the country was borne out of the directive of the FG for International Oil Companies to relocate their headquarters to their araes of operation.
The Smart Building according to Etteh is sitted on a 48,000 sqm of land, 400 capacity car park and is defined by an increased level of automation and integration, advanced electronic and information technologies, interrelated structure, system, service and management, energy efficient building and enhanced connectivity through Wired and Wireless network and Advanced Sensor Systems
