The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has inaugurated a furnished ultra-modern office complex with a state-of-the-art conference hall in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
Inaugurating the complex initiated and completed by the Transition Government led by the Chairman, Mrs. Akon Michael Asuquo, on Thursday, September 5, 2024, the state Chief Executive, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Elder Ini Ikie, lauded the Chairman and members of the Transition Committee for a job well done.
He commended the directors and the council staff for their support of the chairman, which enabled her and her committee to initiate the office project. He extolled the transition committee for giving the staff an enabling working environment.
In her remarks, the Transition Committee Chairman, Akon Michael Asuquo, appreciated the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for the opportunity given to her and her committee members to serve under his administration. Asuquo said the new office complex was in sync with the infrastructural development blueprint of his administration as captured in the ARISE Agenda.
Speaking further, she stated that the office complex was started from scratch and completed by her tenure as council chairman.
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“I feel very honoured and delighted to warmly receive my boss, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, here as ably represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Elder Ini Ikie, to today’s event—the commissioning of an ultramodern office complex, which by God’s grace we have been able to put up.
“I want to also thank the stakeholders, youths, and women for coming out en masse to welcome our esteemed guests to this epoch event.
“This project, by God’s grace, was borne out of our burning desire to give the staff of our local government council a conducive working environment that will enhance their productivity. The project we’re seeing today was executed under five (5) months,” she added.
She further said that in keying into the agricultural revolution of the governor, her administration has cultivated 2. 6 hectares of land with the plantation of cassava, maize and melon and the resuscitation of the Ibesikpo Asutan student body after 11 years of abandonment.
Payment of bursaries to over 586 students of Ibesikpo Asutan origin and the empowerment of persons living with disabilities, among other things, form what she has done within her one year in office as Transition Chairman.
In their separate messages of goodwill, the chapter Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Uwem Etim, the political leader of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, Honourary Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Affairs, Rt. Hon Aniekan Uko, and the Paramount ruler of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty, Edidem 111, Clement F. Ekpenyong, extolled the Transition Chairman, Asuquo, and her team for making sure they leave behind a legacy in their time.
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The erstwhile State Chairman of the PDP and political leader of Ibesikpo Asutan, Prince Etuk, poured encomium on Asuquo for leaving the council secretariat better than she met it.
“All eyes have seen. This is not a media trick. Mma, you have done well; God bless you,” he stated and prayed for her.
The former Speaker and Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Affairs, Hon. Uko, thanked the Transition Chairman for not disappointing them and, most importantly, for the lasting peace in the area, saying the incoming chairman, Mr. Edidiong Inyang, will build on such a foundation.
Ahead of the local government polls, the former parliamentarian used the event to call on all eligible voters to go out and vote “Edidiong Ibesikpo Asutan and Goodness come 5th of October 2024.
Chapter Chairman of PDP, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, Pastor Etim, said, “Mma, you have worked on the felt needs of the people; you have touched students, keyed into the agricultural revolution of our leader, the Governor, and paid bursaries to our students.”
Meanwhile, a minute of silence was called by the Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor on legislative affairs, Rt. Hon. Uko, to be observed in honour of the immediate past council chairman, Late Sylvester George, who departed this earth early last month.
Dignitaries on the occasion include a former member of the National Assembly, Emmanuel Obot, immediate past Transition Vice Chairman and the PDP Chairmanship candidate for Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government, Evang. Edidiong Inyang, Transition Secretary, ElderMfon Eka, Head of Service, Ibesikpo Asutan, Mr. Godwin Duff, a former member of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, EyakEno Etukudo, former council Chairman, Chris Essien, Ekpe James, past and present political office holders, party executives, council staff, NULGE Chairman, Comrade John Ikoabasi, the women groups and youths, among others.
The high point of the event was the cutting of the inauguration tape by the governor’s representative, Mr. Ini Ikie, accompanied by his entourage and stakeholders of the local government.
