2019: ex-Deputy Gov. advises Udom to shun sycophants

As the battle for 2019 general election continues in Akwa Ibom, the former deputy governor of the State, Obong Christopher Ekpenyong, has urged governor Udom Emmanuel, to shun sycophants and work for the overall development of the State.

Ekpenyong who advised Governor Emmanuel at the endorsement rally organised by the people of Ikot Ekpene senatorial District for the senate minority leader Senator Godswill Akpabio, and governor udom Emmanuel for their second term respectively at Ikot Ekpene Township stadium also appealed for equal spread of projects across the State.

But Daily Times gathered that some politicians cashing in on the politics of 2019 misinterpreted the former deputy governor as attacking government distribution of projects in the state

In his reaction yesterday, Ekpenyong, explained in an interview with Daily Times that “as the Chairman on the occasion, there is no way I would not have given an honest advice to the governor; I had to make genuine demands for my people”.

“I have gone round the State and see that despite the much talked about electricity; many of the communities are yet to be connected.

“In places like Ini Local Government, I have gone to see that there are places that have no roads, electricity and other amenities.

“Am glad the government is investing in rice production there, but if there is no other allied industries, the business will not grow.

Ekpenyong who was the deputy governor between 1999 and 2005 maintained that the vision of industrializing the State was initiated during the administration of Obong Victor Attah, when he served as the Deputy, noting “the idea was to established industrial clusters in the three Senatorial Districts of the state”.

“When the administration of former governor Godswill Akpabio came, there was an idea of establishing one cottage industry in each of the 31 Local Government Areas.

To interprets that vision, and because government is a continuum, Akpabio had to call all of us to support Udom, so that with his ingenuity as a strategic thinker and planner, he would bring the vision into reality”, he explained

“I was able to see the metering industry, the syringe firm, which is about one of the largest in the continent and others. When I saw these firms, I was marvelled that the governor has done something good and magnificent.

“These and other strides in other areas gave me the impression that the governor is performing. Then, you look around Ikot Ekpene, you discover that such developments are not replicated.

“Therefore, it is in my place to give the governor an honest advice to also touch the lives of other people in the state’.