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Lawmaker tasks Umana, Ekere on A’Ibom Dev

The Deputy Chief Whip and member representing Onna State Constituency In the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Hon Nse Essien has charged the Managing Directors of NDDC, Mr Nsima Ekere and Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, Obong Umana Umana to work towards the development of the state.

The lawmaker who gave the charge over the weekend, during an exclusive Interview with our correspondent, said that both Managing Directors who are Akwa Ibom indigenes should attract development to the state and empower its people through their offices, despite the fact that they are members of the opposition party.

“These people are representing Akwa Ibom and not APC. So, we expect them to use their privileged positions to empower our people and attract development to the state.

“We expect our people to get employments and sponsorship for trainings overseas and within. It is all for the benefit of Akwa Ibom. Nsima Ekere, it will be recalled vied for the PDP governorship ticket in the state while Umana Umana was the Standard bearer of the APC during the governorship election.

Speaking about the chances of the APC which has been strengthened by the appointments of Umana and Ekere usurping the PDP led government in the state in the next governorship race, the lawmaker said “The beauty of democracy is when there is credible challenge and the people are left to decide. 2019 is still far away but I am very hopeful that my party will carry the day”, he said.

Reacting to the dissolution of the State Executive Council by Governor Udom Emmanuel, the lawmaker stressed that it was normal and that the decision was borne out of the need to bring in new hands after an appraisal of the impact of the last cabinet.

Hon Essein who incidentally represents the governor’s constituency, hinted that while some commissioners may come back, others may not. He said “It is important to relieve those who have not performed up to expectation of their duties and bring back those who performed creditably”.

The Deputy Whip dismissed insinuations that Udom did not get along with commissioners in his cabinet who had served in the regime of the immediate past Governor, Senator Godswill pabio.

He stressed that the current governor has the prerogative to choose whoever he deems fit to work with and that some commissioners who served in the last administration who were reappointed was because of their expertise and contributions to the development of the state.

He also assuaged rumours that some ministries, most especially those manned by Akpabio’s men were deliberately starved of funds, pointing out that the issue of funding affected all the ministries because of economic recession but not to the point of grounding any of them.

The lawmaker disclosed that the governor just returned from China, where he had fruitful interactions with investors that are set to invest in the state’s Ibom Deep Seaport project.

He also revealed that 80 hectares of land have been acquired by the Akwa Ibom government in Eket local government area for the establishment of a refinery and that license for the establishment of a jetty has also been procured.

These initiatives, Essien emphasized will further create employment and wealth for the state.

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