Mr Aniebiet Emmanuel,spokesperson of the Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Akwa Ibom State.
Abasifreke Effiong
Spokesperson of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Aniebiet Emmanuel, has advised the Udom Emmanuel administration not to be in a hurry to start new projects which may not be completed before May 2023.
Mr Emmanuel who is also the Chairman of Peoples Redemption Party in the State said at a press conference on Saturday 31st December 2022, that the Governor should instead concentrate on completing on-going projects started by the administration.
He said, “what I will advise His Excellency the Governor and government of Akwa Ibom State is that now that this government is winding up (sic), I think there is no need of rushing to create new projects. I am aware there is so many projects that is (sic) on-going in terms of road construction, if those projects are completed, I think people will be happy.”
“The government should look at what they have done so far and begin to complete those ones because embarking on new projects at this point, except they have the capacity I can’t really say they should not embark on a project, if they know they cannot complete it, they shouldn’t embark on it.”
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His advice came barely 24 hours after the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council awarded contract for the construction of 12.8 km Ikot Ukpong Inuaenyen-Ikot Eteng Ndon-atan Ikpe road with 1 no 15M span bridge in Ikot Abasi local government and a 6.1km flood control tunnel at Shelter Afrique/Nnung Ette.
IPAC is the umbrella organisation for all political parties in Akwa Ibom state.
The council’s spokesperson urged the government to always brief the people on projects and programmes, giving them full information on the state of such projects.
Emmanuel said much of the anger expressed by the people against the government was because most of the appointees of the Governor are not accessible and within the reach of their communities.
“I will also want to advise and this one is specifically addressed to the Governor. Your Excellency, please I want you to have a discussion with those that are working with you to try and open their gates to the people.”
“It’s very hard for people to reach some of the Governor’s appointees. Most of the issues that come to you (the Governor) shouldn’t have come to you if the people you are working with have opened themselves to the people. The failure of communication and closeness to the people can provoke the citizens and cause them to begin to say things.”
He urged Akwa Ibom people to play down on party affiliation and assess the performance of the Udom Emmanuel administration objectively while commending the governor for his strides in infrastructure particularly roads.
“The administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel is still on, we (IPAC) will go around the 31 local government areas to check on the project before we can decide on a score for the present administration. But I think the Governor has done well in the terms of infrastructural development like the 10-lanes that was initiated and completed by this administration, the 21-storey building.”
“We have to allow this administration to wind down completely before scoring this administration, in most cases we have to advise the government and not total condemnation because of bias, in governance it is not all about my party and your party, in governance we must join hands to govern and build Akwa Ibom State, it is about the people first, not even about my party PRP but the generality of the people” the IPAC spokesperson added.
