With due respect to the God all mighty, the creator of the universe, the giver of life who have made it possible for us to gather here today in this capacity, may his name be praise forever.
With due respect to my brother and friend, member, representing Etinan State Constituency in the House of
Assembly, Barr. Dennis Akpan, with due respect to our dear State Party Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, the chairman of chairmen of PDP in Nigeria, with due respect to my very leader, Distinguished Sen. Effiong Bob, the political leader of Nsit Ubium LGA.
I call him my leader because it is rightly encapsulated in a proverb "eto ayeme Ekpene uwen, ase adadiana eto ibong" meaning the tree that wish to live long, must grow near the kola nut tree" before I get to his age, I wish to also attain all the positions he has attained: former this and former that, not limited to Akwa Ibom State but Nigeria.
So when you are in a close relationship with a great man and also loyal to him, there is no way you won't advance to his level, truly, he is a leader worth being associated with and it should be noted that whatever I say or do, I make it public in which if the reverse is the case, I would not hesitate to bluntly make it known.
With due respect to the Hon. Commissioner and member of the state executive council, with due respect to the chairman of the transition, with due respect to the entire stakeholders and members of the high table, please permit me to stand on the existing protocol due to time.
I am greatly impressed for meeting today in this capacity and most importantly, there is one thing that is worthy to note, Nsit Ubium LGA. is a local Government that has revolutionalized representation, we always go back to the people (grassroot) to intimate them on the the progress in Government and also share with them the dividend of democracy, this is done in recognition of the fact that the power comes from the people which is the philosophy we were taught by the pioneers in the likes of Obong Inyangme who is to be honoured today base on His outstanding role in politics of Nsit Ubium.
In Nsit Ubium, we believe in "do unto others what you wish others to do unto you" because what you people wanted when you freely gave us the mandate was effective representation, true dividend of democracy which is the core reason we have gathered today.
We are gathered here for easter get together which ought to have taken place last week but due to our absence, i, the leader and some other stakeholders which we had to shift the event to be held today.
Without saying much, what we are hammering on is bringing the dividend democracy to the grassroot; money is inclusive and if you see anyone who claim that money should not be shared, that such is only meant for infrastructure, note that such person is selfish and greedy because as far as African politics is concerned, "while we are still building industries, we must share money" and note; anyone who does not clap is a suspect, "we must share money" while we are building industries so that our children can come and work in order to realize their dreams, yearnings and aspirations.
"It is very necessary to share the little God has given to us through the privileges and office we occupy, that is a true test of leadership, " we should not hide under the claim that oh, we want to do development and can not share money" which is not the philosophy of Nsit Ubium"
You can recall those days when our mother use to prepare pounded yam, immediately it is done, she will bring out some, slice them, add salt, onion, pepper, oil for us the children to maintain our stomach before the entire process of making the soup and pounding is completed which may take a little time. So we have to share the money and we are following the foot step of his Excellency, Gov. Udom Emmanuel and we will not shy away from it that is why the little God has blessed us with, we contributed and as I am upstanding, I am tempted to read out the names of stakeholders who contributed and also the amounts they have contributed because I see no good reason, stakeholders will shy away when it is time to contribute towards the progress of the project and the party but when there is a certain opportunity in Government and I am given more slots, such will be the ones to question why should I be given more slots but when I contributed the highest, I was not questioned why I did so, henceforth slots is on how much you contribute: financially, material, physically etc.
The Political leader does not hold any appointment but he has contributed immensely, the Hon. Commissioners, the Chairman, the permanent secretary, also contributed, so whatever that comes from the Governments and I use my office to recommend anyone after consulting with my leader, I should not be questioned, because as I am contributing a huge sum, I am not being questioned why I did so but for today, I have suspended reading of the names of contributors but next time , the wind will uncover our effort.
As earlier said, I made clear that Nsit Ubium have revolutionized representation which when I was elected in 2011, I set a record that no representative in this state have been able to beat, "no body", "no body" to prove my point, someone should mention any representative that have spent nothing less than eighty million (80) in two consecutive constituency briefing.
First, in 2012: i gave out thirteen (13) brand new vehicles , I empowered one hundred individuals with one hundred thousand each and other empowerment items, the second time, December last year, I also gave out thirteen brand new vehicles (13), empowered one hundred and seventy individuals with one hundred thousand each and other empowerments items.
Why I am saying this is that , what I stand for in my first term, you freely gave me the mandate to represent you for the second term that is why I decided to come back to the local Government with the support of the leader, his Excellency the Gov. The state party chairman.
Which i was able to do that constituency briefing in December through your support, we brought what we saw at the centre to the grass root, that is why last week, I bought Jamb forms for one hundred and fifty (150) students intending to gain admission into various tertiary institutions and that I why by next week, I a m gathering one hundred farmers, have bought three hundred (300) fertilizers also added funds given by the state Gov. And also financial impute from me to empower one hundred farmers next week, because my leader and you all asked me to touch every sector of Nsit Ubium: farmers, entrepreneurs, students, etc.
It is base on the zeal and commitment to delivering quality services to the people through 5he office we occupy, the Gov. Have graciously awarded a 22. 5km road in Nsit Ubium with bridges and it should be noted that, the Etanan-Ndon Eyo road is not up to 22.5km but the Gov. Have approved such for Nsit Ubium, so tell me why you should not support the re election of Gov. Udom Emmanuel come 2019?
You know since I began politics, I have never misbehave with you, my yes is yes and my no is no so Gov. Udom Emmanuel is the man I, your leader and every one of you have chosen to follow from 2015-2023.
Also have carried out the rehabilitation and construction of cottage hospital in Ikot Ekpene Udo, cottage hospital in Akai Ubium, courtesy of inter ministerial project which i personally undertook it supervision.
So far i drew the attention of the commissioner to such who have seen them and have enroll in Govt. Plan and that is why at the level of the legislature, we had to upped the budget for rehabilitation and reconstruction of health institutions so that it can accommodate most of the things Govt. Needs to do, and the Gov. Does not speak without backing such with action .
You can recall, the road leading to two lane which was impassable when it rains but the story is now different as we speak even when the project is yet to be completed.
Few weeks from now, the Gov. Will commence commissioning of inter ministerial projects across the Local Governments which Nsit Ubium is fortunate to have more.
Cottage hospital Akai Ubium,the market at Ndukpoise is one of them also the market at Ikot Edibon, water project in Obio eket, water project in Ikot Nsung are all interministerial projects and other school projects are what the Gov. Have been able to do in Nsit Ubium amidst the challenging demands, so we want to plead with you to shun all forms of crime as the Governor has given logistics support to seriously deal perpetrators,
We are encouraging you to go back to your respective units and form vigilante which in less than no time, I in collaboration with my colleague will sponsored a bill that will give full backing to such to work hand in hand with the police and other security agencies for the interest of the people.
Voter registration commence 27 day of April, we urge you all to do your best by going into nooks and crannies to encourage the people who have attained the age of eighteen 18 and above and also those who might have lost, damage theirs or did not take part in the previous one to fully participate in the upcoming exercise. We will also hold a meeting with the chiefs, youth leaders, women leaders and other key stakeholders in order to fully sensitize and mobilize the people to participate.
Finally our brothers who have been with us who pointed out that they have followed the activities of the present PDP led Government in Akwa Ibom state who have performed tremendously, which members of the party are enjoying while they are perpetually suffering, wasting money on transportation and unfruitful contributions without any gain meanwhile the PDP are enjoying which is the essence we have open our arm, doors, gate to fully receive a total of eight hundred and sixty 860 of them into the PDP fold today through the state party chairman which ours is far different from the one people claim to have received five hundred meanwhile they are not up to five people which you and I and also the media who are here will count them one after the other.
Beginning from today, we will show commitment to prove that we have fully received them into our fold because here in PDP, "we enjoy money like the cat enjoys the milk" and I am not tired of bringing the money through the privileges of the office we have occupied to come and share with you which is the secret, you can't see anyone pointing to any mansion , claiming Barr. Onofiok is the true owner, I believe in investing in people, you are my mansion which I have to invest in you with the believe that when we invest in you, automatically, I am investing in the local Government who will Also reciprocate, extend the gesture to others and also to us when we get to old age like Obong Inyangme, we are about honoring today base on his consistency, outstanding and pioneering role in politics of Nsit Ubium and the support he has given us.
For those who are grumbling for payment of pension and gratuity, the Gov. Have released funds in that regard, for those who did not benefited in the first phase, they should endeavour to confirm and also and I urge them to be patient as they will be considered in subsequent phase which ad hoc committee have been constituted, vested with the task to collate names of all pensioners and those whose gratuity were not paid which we came up with a position, forwarded same to the Governor for prompt action.
Then I also want to use this opportunity to suggest to those who insinuate that paying of salary is not a project to relocate to states where salaries are not paid, which after some time they will get to realize that paying salary is a project.
Thank you and God bless.
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