By Edet Okpo
Like he said at the onset of his administration, Governor Udom Emmanuel continues to stand tall with his peculiar style of fulfilling promises and distinctive trajectory of impactful governance in the comity of State Governors in Nigeria.
Interestingly, he doesn't make noise about his high achievements or summon a world press conference to blow his own trumpet, like is a commonplace obsession of his colleagues across the country, who love grandstanding for cheap political scores. Simply put, Mr. Integrity, Mr. Industrialization or Mr. Prudence, as the celebrated Governor Udom Emmanuel is popularly known, is not a noisemaker.
Therefore, if the thousand other things that has been accomplished by Governor Udom Emmanuel and his administration, example in the area of infrastructure, were too small to be seen and appreciated by fifth columnists and opposition politicians, the Ring Road 111 with ten(10)lanes, first to be seen in any State in Nigeria, apart from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja , must be an evidence big enough to give them reasons to repent, recalibrate their tactics of criticisms, and learn how to commend and show appreciation, at least for once, for the many tall accomplishments by His Excellency, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
Driving through the Ring Road 111, a masterpiece and most modern pride of the State, constantly brings to mind two indelible and memorable signature statements made by Governor Udom Emmanuel before assumption of office both in 2015 and 2019, while launching his manifestos and 8 Point Agenda, otherwise best referred to as the Action Plans of his administration.
One was that he will leave Akwa Ibom State on May 29, 2023 better than he met it. The second was that he was not coming into governance to talk but to work and prove himself with action, action, and action to ungrateful opposition critics and fifth columnists who may choose to criticize him out of sentiments than reason.
Beyond reasonable doubts, this fact, by today, cannot be controverted considering the Governor’s integrity, focus, prudent management of State resources, unwavering dedication to service delivery, and corresponding spread of dividends of democracy across all sectors of the State’s economy.
Like other tall achievements in infrastructure and other sectors, the Ring Road 111 is perhaps the latest addition to that testimony.
The 9.5km Road in the heart of the metropolis clearly shows Governor Udom Emmanuel’s high taste for quality, concern for durability, and panache for growth and development of the State, thus further proving his determination to lay a solid foundation for the Greater Akwa Ibom State of tomorrow.
Adjudged to be the longest stretch, the finest and one of the widest of the network of Ring Roads in Uyo, the ever expanding State Capital, Ring Road 3, by any standard, is a conceptual beauty in its own class executed with astonishing finesse by an indigenous company, Hensek Integrated Services, a cutting-edge civil construction and engineering company that is not pretending about its mission.
The 10-lane Ring Road traverses more than eight communities from the Nwaniba axis of the Main Campus of the University of Uyo, runs across Oron Road, and empties into the Jonathan Boulevard by the Aka Road end, thus easing traffic, creating more residential space, and business opportunities.
The construction and completion of Ring Road 111 also comes with a touch of history and great relief to residents and motorists as it is expected to further open up the city through hitherto impenetrable areas neglected or abandoned by successive administrations since the State’s creation in September 23, 1987.
It is therefore both commendable and instructive that, Governor Udom Emmanuel, in his characteristic discretion and demonstration of gratitude to statesmanship has accordingly named this outstanding road after the first indigenous Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, late Air Commodore( Otuekong) Idongesit Nkanga. This honour for a selfless pioneer must be highly appreciated.
There can be no doubt that the construction of the Ring Road 111 has gulped billions of naira. But because of its importance to the growth and development of the State, His Excellency saw it as a necessity, sacrificed priorities he considered to be secondary, and still went ahead to demonstrate his commitment by holding the bull by the horn.
To have a road of this magnitude constructed and completed in hard economic times like this, when economies are still licking the wounds of the COVID'19 pandemic, points to the prudence and capacity of the Governor to manage lean resources for public good. It also shows how committed Governor Udom Emmanuel is to the Completion Agenda - against doubts, insinuations, blackmail and caustic criticisms in left-wing media.
Having HENSEK, an indigenous company handle the Ring Road 3 also confirms Governor Udom Emmanuel’s pragmatic response to local content development in line with the inspirational Dakkada philosophy of the present administration.
Governor Emmanuel being who he is in matters of taste and preferences, the Hensek narrative has further proven that the company was not selected as Contractor for the project based on sentiments but by the conviction and belief of the Governor that, yes, an Akwa Ibom person can do it and make a bold statement in the global arena.
The Managing Director of Hensek Integrated Services, Engr. Uwem Okoko therefore deserves commendations for not betraying the trust but proving his mettle beyond doubts.
To the Governor, we say, thank you, for believing in the talent, ingenuity, intelligence, truthfulness, professional competitiveness of the typical Akwa Ibom person.
It is on this premise of accelerated and sustainable development that Akwa Ibom people must see why Governor Udom Emmanuel is so concerned about succession project, who takes over from him in 2023, so that the momentum of development can be continuous as further proof of the popular principle of government being a continuum.
Emphatically, it will be dangerous for Governor Udom Emmanuel to handover the leadership of the State in 2023 to someone who will not think of the interest of the entire State but himself alone. That is why, with the direction already shown by His Excellency and the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), the Pastor Umo Eno Governorship ambition must not be seen as personal but a collective yearning of Akwa Ibom people. Hence, why all must key in so that the roots of democracy shall continue to be deepened in Akwa Ibom State.
Recall that Governor Udom Emmanuel launched out in 2015 with his innovative and systematic 8-Point Agenda of Industrialization, Aviation Development, Rural and Riverine Area Development, Agriculture, Human Capacity Development, Security, Infrastructure and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.
By 2019, the beginning of his second term, the signals were already too strong about how well he will end his 8-year administration.
The regular harvest of projects we are now experiencing, which incidentally coincides with the 35th Anniversary of Akwa Ibom State is to further confirm Governor Udom Emmanuel as a promised Keeper, a true Statesman, and purpose-driven leader whom the present and posterity shall live to remember and celebrate.
Therefore, as you cruise along the Idongesit Nkanga Avenue, Ring Road 111 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, please think of Governor Udom Emmanuel, think of what impact good governance can have on the people.
Edet okpo, Media and Image Management Consultant and Editor-in-Chief of the Mandate Watch Newspsper, writes in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
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