Governor Akpabio Challenges His Critics to Look At His Records

Speaking at the at the Town Hall session of the 2013 Convention of Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA, Inc (AKISAN) in the US capital of Washington DC on Saturday, August, 17, 2013, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, enumerated his many achievements and offered a challenge to his critics.

“Look at my face. You don’t have to like me, but look at my records”, said Governor Akpabio amidst thunderous ovation at the jam packed Town Hall at the Washington DC Woodley Marriot Hotel, venue of the 2013 Convention.

During his address, Governor Akpabio explained his vision for an Akwa Ibom State, where most of the indigenes would take the basic essentials of a decent life for granted, and outlined the following achievements:

· Implementation of poverty alleviation programs
· Provision of qualitative healthcare services
· Provision of accessible and free education at the primary school level
· Provision of infrastructure and the completion of an e-library, the first of its kind in West Africa.

Quoting the first South African black President, Nelson Mandela, Governor Akpabio said that, “overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice”, adding that “ his administration’s transformation efforts were, therefore, were channeled to programs and policies aimed at reducing poverty and empowering our people.”

The Governor used visuals to show the changes that took place before and after he assumed office, and said that his administration has completed, “other aesthetic and urban structures that are built around the State , including:

· The first phase of the Ibom International Airport and begun work on the second phase
· The first phase of the Ibom Independent Power Plant
· Electrification of almost all the communities in the State with about 90% coverage.

Governor Akpabio, who said that work would soon commence at the proposed Ibom Industrial City at Ibaka, announced the completion of work on Ibom Gas Plant and two general hospitals that would be run under a maintainable contract management to provide the quality of care and service obtainable in advanced countries.

After yielding the floor for volunteers in the audience to corroborate the account of his achievements, Governor Akpabio asked, “how are we embarking on the uncommon transformation of our state?

“The best answer is that I love my State, I love my people, I love humanity.

“This is why I am here. My intention from the outset was never to gain accolades and praises.

“We were moved by love and compassion for the well being of our people. The love of our people, and positive anger at the sorry state we met them and our state impelled us to the heights we have attained. This is how our state has become a model State where Governance and Transformation meet.

"This is the state, which beckons to you and which culture you must lift up like a banner, wherever you are. That is the state you must ensure that you come on pilgrimage to with all members of your family at least once a year to ensure that the bonds which bind you to our state is not broken. This is the land of an uncommon people, with an uncommon promise witnessing uncommon transformation.”

The event was attended by prominent indigenes of Akwa Ibom State from the US and Nigeria, including Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, former governor of the state, and Senators Ita Enang, Helen Esuene, Edet Etang Umoyo, Ibok Essien, several state commissioners and officers of PDP, USA.

Reported by
E. Samuel
Washington DC

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