IBOM POWER PLANT: GOVERNOR AKPABIO HAS NO INTEREST – Pastor Anietie Ukpe

A Clergyman and Chief Press Secretary/Senior Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Anietie Ukpe has said that Governor Akpabio has no interest in buying the Ibom Power Plant.

Pastor Ukpe who was responding to questions in an online interactive session hosted by Akwa Ibom Convo (@AkwaIbomConvo) in conjunction with frontline social media blogger SpeakIbibio™, Monday, 23^rd March, 2015, opined that the Governor, Chief (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio (CON), has surpassed expectations of majority of Akwa Ibom people and was in no way interested in taking what belongs to the people.

According to the man of God, Governor Akpabio is intelligent, patriotic, and focused. He wants to do the best that he could. He is deeply compassionate and kind. He thinks and breathes Akwa Ibom State and exudes an exemplary passion for the State.

Responding to a question on how comfortable it is working with Governor Akpabio, the Clergyman cum Politician submitted that working with the Transformation Governor is the highpoint of his career.

He debunked claims credited to opposition political parties that the Governor has not done enough to justify enormous federal allocation accruing to the State. Said He, “Pastors Adeboye, Kumuyi, Oyedepo, American Ambassadors, former Head of State, Abudulsalam Abubakar, President Goodluck Jonathan, etc, all confirm Akwa Ibom State has changed over the course of this administration. Even Prof. Soyinka said he could not believe he was in Akwa Ibom State the last time he came”.

On when it could be said that government has done enough, he stressed that it is subjective and an Akwa Ibom indigene, he is convinced without doubt that the Governor has discharged his mandate most judiciously and beyond the expectation of Akwa Ibom people.

He also advised members of the public to avail themselves the benefits of Freedom of Information Bill and crosscheck information with Government Agencies. He disclaim as rumour and propaganda, reports that Akwa Ibom State received over N3trillion in the last seven (7) years and as many months.

On the assassination of frontline opposition politician and former deputy speaker in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr. Okon Uwah, Pastor Anietie exonerated the State Government of any blame. He said the Government would not have masterminded only to turn around and demand full scale investigation into the case. He told the public that Government paid a condolence visit to wife and widow of the slain politician and assured on investigation, citing several arrests made by security agents.

On state of MRO at the State’s Airport, Pastor assured that the project is on. He said that some projects are too big for one administration to complete without sacrificing other things. He also told his audience that the Airport has broken records in areas of traffic, longest runway in the country and best facilities. The Pastor said that it is necessary to mention that Akpabio’s Administration delivered the Airport and MRO is on.

According to him, Government is running a free and compulsory education programme, free Medicare for pregnant women, babies and the aged. It would be insane to sacrifice these programmes for another.

On the 31 industries promised in the run-up into the current administration, he said that promise got caught in the mix of a 40% drop in the Federal Account due to oil pipeline vandalisation. He said that government discovered that some LGAs lacked basic raw materials for industrial sustainability. He however maintained that the industries are coming in different areas.

On Governor Akpabio’s reported interest to buy Ibom Power Plant by proxy, he said the Governor has no interest in buying anything which belongs to Akwa Ibom people. He said that two of the three turbines bought by the previous administration were fake (Tokunbo), which resulted in the pull out of investors.

On the looming abandonment of Ibom Tropicana by the current administration, the Pastor maintained that structural works are complete and currently being furnished. He told the audience that the shopping complex is ready, the Cineplex is booming. According to him, furnishing a five star, fifteen storey-building with conference centre, wet and dry parks and other facilities meant the Government must import, hence the seeming delay.

On the alleged misappropriation of Federal Allocation to Akwa Ibom State by the Minister of Finance, the Special Assistant said that the Minister denied that she ever made that statement and had what she said published.

Finally, he thanked and encouraged organizers of the session to engage his office for project tour around the State to better appreciate what the government has put in place for Akwa Ibom people.

Compiled by Nsikan Edem

For Akwa Ibom Convo and SpeakIbibio ™