2011: Akwa Ibomites In Uk And Ireland Support Akpabio

The Mboho Akwa Ibom State in UK and Ireland have thrown their weights behind the second term bid of Governor Godswill Akpabio just as the governor charged Nigerians in the diaspora to rally round the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the continued progress and unity of the nation.
The group, in an elaborate ceremony held at the Castle Green Community Leisure Centre, Daghenam, London, recently based their endorsement of the governor on what it described as the uncommon transformation of the state in the area of provision of infrastructure and human capital development in the state in the last three years.
Based on the performance of the Akpabio-led administration in the state, the group said "it was imperative that the achievements of the governor in just three years in office be recognised and that is why we have come out here en-masse to bestow this Mboho Award for Infrastructural Development of Akwa Ibom State and the Passage of the Child Right Act.”
In her welcome speech, the President of the Association, Engineer Enewan Ebong said, “we applaud the government for the massive road construction in Akwa Ibom State.
We are also aware of road construction in the urban areas and the plans to extend this development to rural areas. This will further improve the movement of raw materials within and outside Akwa Ibom State. We want to give a hand of applause to our government and especially to Governor Akpabio because we believe that in time, we will live in the luxury and necessity of constant electricity and there will be no more reason for the economy of our dear state to fail".
The group, which recognised the issue of insecurity as a national problem, charged the State Governor to ensure that measures are taken to bring to an end to this pervading fear among our people.
Responding to the honour done him by the association, the Governor said he would be further propelled by the award to continue to ensure that real dividends of democracy with direct impact on the lives of the people are delivered.
While dedicating the award to God and the children of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Akpabio tasked them not to allow themselves to be confused by the campaign of calumny currently being sponsored on the pages of newspapers and the internet by some faceless politicians saying "I am not moved by this attack on my government because the generality of the people including you in the diaspora are solidly behind us and that is why I am not worried because what we have been able to do in the last three years is not a fluke and that is why I normally say anywhere I go that the doors of the state are open for people to come and see because government in the true sense of it can work."
Governor Akpabio also used the occasion to implore Nigerians in the diaspora to rally round the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration to ensure the continued unity and progress in the country.
According to him, “the emergence of President Jonathan through divine providence should be seen as a step towards the total return of peace to the Niger Delta and the country in general and that is why we must give him the needed support to move the country forward".
Earlier, at a Town Hall meeting, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the State (SSG), Mr Umana Okon Umana, had assured the people of government's determination and commitment to the rapid development of the state and the enthronement of maintenance culture to ensure the sustenance of public infrastructure put in place by the Governor Akpabio-led administration.
He also assured them of government's determination to guarantee adequate security of live and property of its citizens and other residents in the state.
Those in attendance included a former governor of the state Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, Former minister of Environment Mrs Helen Esuene, National Vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South- South, Chief Edet Nkpubre, Senator Ibok
Essien, Hon Ita Ennang, President of Ibom Peoples Congress USA, Dr Tom Mbeke-Ekanem, some members of the state House of Assembly, and some members of the state executive council among others.