By Joseph Atainyang
The media chat by Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel last Friday is yet another gathering that would become a surprise to many who may not have followed closely, his dedicated pursuance of fulfilling the Five Point Agenda of his administration.
That singular gathering of the press with the Governor, which was broadcast live by the AKBC TV/Radio and other stations based in the state and beyond, became an eye-opener, revealing many a thing that this current administration is doing to better the life of the citizenry.
Recall that the Divine Mandate Campaign had been anchored on Wealth Creation, Economic and Political Inclusion, Poverty Alleviation, Infrastructural Consolidation and Expansion and Job Creation.
The totality of all the projects and activities carried out by the present administration has always been a conscious attempt towards meeting the manifestos of the present government.
And so, many of the accomplished or ongoing projects which may not have efficiently filtered into the knowledge of the press may still have remained hitherto underreported.
And so, the event presented an enlarged opportunity for the Governor to effectively market himself as well as his government.
It was, to me, a seeming semblance of a lean attempt to hit hard on the achievements of this administration. Be that as it may, the Governor surely succeeded in naming the finished and still progressing gains of his four year engagement with the state.
He said that, having been poised to begin the industrialization process of the state, he was sensitive to improve on the key necessities that are most often sought after by investors before they accept beginning setting out for any project.
He mentioned that infrastructure and security were part of the key issues that must be well handled to ensure an industrial revolution in any human environment.
In this case the the Governor maintained that he was seriously committed to consolidating on the infrastructural development as well as doing very well in terms of security so as to ensure that the Akwa Ibom environment was safe for an in troupe of investors so as to stimulate industrial revolution.
The Governor was proud to state that he was right on track to have begun the pencil industry in the state, adding that he was taking the lead in the business of pencil production when the federal government was envisaging the commencement of the project by next year.
He reasoned that through AKEES, the state was producing tomato and onions for local consumption and export purposes.
The Governor took time to enunciate the miracles he was doing in the health sector which he said was witnessing a massive turn around as many hospitals were being renovated and better equipped for the well being of the citizenry, especially children under five years and the elders who were being given free medical services throughout the state.
Udom Emmanuel who hinted that various roads, both state and federal, were being constructed and many others rehabilitated to meet the needs of numerous users, including investors whom he said were beaming floodlights on the state to settle at one or too places for their businesses, enthused that everything starts one day and that he was delighted to have performed various ground breakings which he noted that, some were gradually becoming industrial centres where many of the youths and experts in engineering professions were being absorbed for employment.
Still within the spheres of industrial growth of the state, the Governor noted that since his assumption of office, he has kept the faith by continually sending the youths of the state for training abroad so as to acquire the technical skills of effectively meeting the working demands of the industrial environment.
Udom specifically mentioned those whom he sent to Israel just within few months of his administration, those sent to China on recent occasion and many other sets of technical and professional trainings which he said will boost the work force of the Akwa Ibom society.
Meanwhile, Deacon Emmanuel who posited that education was the greatest legacy in human affairs, told stories of people who were unable to make it in life simply because they could not access education.
He stressed that his tenure as a Governor was going to witness very ruborst attention on education as he announced that he has renovated over 300 public schools across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
He stated that these projects were executed under the Inter Ministerial Direct Labour and were all handled by Akwa Ibom people, the initiative he said aimed at improving the life of the people as well as meeting his target of poverty alleviation.
Dropping a shocker that he has so far paid more than 600 million naira as WAEC fees for secondary school students in the state, Udom Emmanuel enlightened that his administration was mapping out plans to putting up a model school which shall be fully equipped with ICTs and laboratories in each of the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
Upholding that he was charged for more work each time citizens of the state reminded him of one or too things they needed done in their areas, Governor Emmanuel impressed that while other states of the federation were struggling hard to survive even while owing up-to eleven months salaries, he was happy that he could pay salaries and then delve deeply into meaningful life touching development projects for the good of the citizens of the state and residents.
He called on members of the fourth estate to partner him in the task of building Akwa Ibom state as a preferred destination while noting that he was ever poised to deliver one core value which he called the Akwa Ibom project.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh in his remarks, observed that Akwa Ibom state was a good brand that must be sold to the outside world to attract investor's patronage.
He noted that just like the Nigerian media was very powerful at pressing for independence, it could still use the same power to fight to project the good of the land.
Charles Udoh who described Governor Udom Emmanuel as the man who saw tomorrow by commencing the pencil and toothpick industrial production, even before the federal government, recalled that the south African media has assumed responsibility, by constantly projecting the country in good light.
This according to him was the reason the country's image was well presented, which in turn, makes it attractive for investors and tourists, hence, expanding the economy of the nation.
The Information and Strategy Commissioner informed journalists that Governor Emmanuel was the best by approving the health insurance for 250 journalists which would grant them free access to medical treatment in any hospital of their choice within and outside the state and country. Mr Udoh maintained that the insurance scheme was very important because journalism was very hazardous and that, moved by the knowledge that journalists play very vital roles in the life of any society, the Governor found the initiative pertinent and appended its commencement.
On his part, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, Elder Patrick Albert, in his remarks, described the Governor as a miracle worker who was not being deterred by the current recession which has paralysed government in other parts of the country.
Telling the Governor that journalists in the state were law abiding and ethical compliant in their reportage, Patrick Albert who thanked the Governor for miraculously transforming the state and making a statement which led to the construction of Information Drive, a road leading to the state Secretariat of the NUJ, informed the state Chief Executive that a whisper into the ears of the Hon. Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang to perhaps visit the God'swill Akpabio International Press Centre where work was ongoing at the two-story office complex, could also transcend to a miraculous completion which could make it available for inauguration in no time.
Consequently, the Media Chat with the Governor remained a platform for him to exchange banters with journalists who threw it hard on him, all in the unifying purpose of ensuring state development.
Ultimately, it could be inferred, that the occasion which gave the press a physical contact and exchange of ideas with the Governor, granted them the opportunity to discover that Udom Gabriel Emmanuel may have prudently done so much with very lean resources, hence his perfect fitting to a miracle worker.
Joseph Atainyang is a journalist and public affairs commentator. Gsm: 07036964637
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