Gov. Umo Eno
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has expressed his preference for serving a single impactful term rather than two ineffective terms in office as he promised to commence the building of one project in each of the 31 local government areas of the state.
He addressed concerns about his ability to service stakeholder structures and the impact it may have on his chances of re-election.
Speaking during a media parley on Saturday to commemorate Akwa Ibom State’s 36th Anniversary, Governor Eno emphasized his commitment to investing in the well-being of the 7.9 million people of Akwa Ibom, rather than a select few.
Governor Eno highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between recurrent and capital expenditure, with savings being directed towards improving rural areas through the establishment of schools and hospitals stressing that a successful first term is crucial before being asked to serve again. The governor also acknowledged the prevalent dependence on government and expressed his determination to address this issue.
He said, “we are striving to maintain a balance between recurrent and capital expenditure, ensuring that we prioritize investments in rural areas. Every N500 million saved can be directed towards building schools or hospitals to benefit the community.
“I believe in the significance of a successful first term over an ineffective two-term tenure. It is through accountable governance and delivering results in four years that the opportunity for re-election arises. My focus is on ensuring the satisfaction of the 7.9 million people of Akwa Ibom. I have observed that there is a widespread dependency on government, and it is my responsibility to address this issue.”
Regarding infrastructure development, Governor Eno recognized the challenge of maintaining existing infrastructure and the lack of a maintenance culture and to address this, he revealed plans to establish an asset management agency to ensure proper maintenance emphasizing the need to build new infrastructure only when necessary.
Governor Eno discussed his plans to revitalize rural areas in the state, including collaborating with the 31 Local Government chairmen on agricultural development. He revealed that a minimum of 50 hectares of land per Local Government Area would be allocated for farming. In addition, he mentioned ongoing efforts to bring development to rural communities, such as the construction of model schools and the introduction of ambulance services.
Governor Umo Eno reaffirmed his commitment to implementing impactful projects across all 31 local government areas in the state, in order to fulfill his campaign promises as he acknowledged the specific needs and requests for each local government area, and assured that these promises will be fulfilled.
“I am not perfect, but I promise that I will not deliberately launch this state into something we would regret. We will do our best,” he assured.
Governor Eno expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for including him in the delegation of governors attending the 78th UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
