By ETIM ETIM
Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has asked local government chairmen in the state to emulate the sterling performance of the chairman of Ibesikpo-Asutan LGA, Evang. Edidiong Inyang, noting that Evang. Inyang has done well in the two years he’s been in office. Speaking at the 30th anniversary of the creation of the LGA and the second anniversary of Chairman Inyang’s tenure in office on Monday in Nung Udoe, the governor, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Afffairs, Mkpisong Frank Archibong, said the chairman has performed well in terms of infrastructure, rural development and security. The governor particularly commended Inyang’s empowerment programme unveiled at the event in which 153 people received cash awards of over N50 million; while 15 others got cars, mini buses and Keke trucks. Gov. Eno described the empowerment programme as impressive and impactful and asked the other 30 chairmen in the state to roll out similar programmes in their communities before the end of the year.
Mkpisong Archibong was visibly impressed by the chairman’s performance. He presented the symbolic cheques to the beneficiaries and advised them to make good use of the money. In addition, Mkpison Archibong also commissioned the new legislative chamber and executive office block built by the administration of Chairman Inyang. Mkpisong Archibong said the two projects are designed to provide convenient and conducive work environment for councilors and other senior officials of the Council. ‘’These projects also signify the importance of local government autonomy which President Bola Tinubu has facilitated and which Gov. Umo Eno has implemented to the letter’’, Mkpisong Archibong said.
In his speech, Chairman Inyang described the two anniversary events as opportunity to ‘’count the lives touched, the infrastructure delivered, the opportunities created and the hopes renewed’’. He listed 20 projects and programmes he has done in the last two years. these include the new executive wing and legislative chamber; donation of ambulance to PHC; bore holes in some villages; scholarships; transformers to some villages; grading of rural roads, etc. ‘’It seems to me that these projects have been carefully chosen to spread across the ARISE Agenda of the governor’’, Mkpison Archibong quipped.
The ceremony began at 12 noon with an hour long worship session during which Evang. Inyang and his wife and other dignitaries sang, prayed and danced. After that came goodwill messages from Linus Nkan, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, a well-respected son of the community; Chief T. O. Akpan, an elder statesman who was a member of the Cross River State House of Assembly in the early 1980s; Hon. Uwemedimoh Udo, Chairman of Uyo LGA; Dr. Ita Udosen, APC Zonal Secretary and Hon. Otobong Bob, member of House of Assembly who represented the Speaker of the House. other dignitaries who gave goodwill messages are Hon. Ubong Attah, member of the House of Assembly; Aniekan Uko, former Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo-Asutan LGA. They all commended Chairman Inyang for his stellar performance in office in just two years, with some of them endorsing the chairman for a second term. In addition, other dignitaries from other parts of the state also attended the event.
Overall, it was a well organized event that look almost like a typical state government event. The last time I attended such a colourful event at that venue was the Coronation of Edidem Ita Bassey Etuk as the Paramount Ruler of the LGA in 2010.
ETIM ETIM is a veteran journalist and PR professional with over 35 years of cognate experience.
He is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Policy & Politics (www.policyandpolitics.com.ng), an online newspaper dedicated to insightful analysis of Nigerian news and world’s report. He is also a columnist with BusinessDay and The Cable and is a regular contributor to other newspapers.
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