Deputy Governor Clears Air on Governor’s Running Mate

Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu says the question of who runs with Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2011 should not be allowed to tear the state apart.
Engr. Ekpotu, who was answering questions during an interactive session on Bush House programme on AKBC Radio Service said, he remained committed to assisting the Governor deliver his electioneering promises to the people, irrespective of who he chooses as his running mate for the 2011 governorship election.
According to the Deputy Governor, instead of unnecessarily heating the polity over the issue of who runs with Governor Akpabio, he would “rather like to see all Akwa Ibom persons team up and ensure a second term victory for Chief Akpabio at the polls in 2011.” The decision of who runs with the governor as deputy, he emphasized, “is for Governor Akpabio and the party to decide.”
Engr. Ekpotu, while responding to a listener’s SMS question charged the media to focus more on reportage that would promote the development of the society. He explained that the focus of the administration in the last three years has been on the provision of infrastructure like roads, schools, health care delivery, electricity and water to all parts of the State while efforts would be targeted at industrialization and empowerment of the people during the second term of Governor Godswill Akpabio.
On the Aka Nung Udoe Road, Engr. Ekpotu said the contract had been awarded and work would commence as soon as the due processes relating to the contract were completed.
He condemned the use of Face Book and other social networking sites on the internet by people outside of the State for wrong speculations and insinuations about the State and country. He maintained that Face book and other such sites should rather serve as a global connectivity of good ideas and constructive criticisms rather than being used as avenue to lampoon the government.
Speaking on the current strike by the unified health sector workers in the state, Engr. Ekpotu said he met with and appealed to their leaders to call off the strike in order to allow government a conducive atmosphere to look into their demands with a view to meeting them as much as possible.