*By Ekemini James
The
Senior Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Technical Matters
and Due Process, Elder Ufot Ebong has
expressed concern over the upsurge in false publication and consistent social
media blackmail which has become a menace capable of scaring away potential
investors.
The
Governor's Aide said some social posts ridicule the State and create the false
impression that Akwa Ibom is in crisis, instead of projecting the various
achievements by the present administration.
Elder
Ebong who spoke last weekend while conducting some journalists around
demonstration gardens put together by AKEES, said foreign direct investment was
a critical factor in raising the State's economy, pointing out that this would
be gravely frustrated by the rising tide of blackmail and propaganda as no
investor would stake his or her investment in a crisis-prone environment.
"For
example in Canada, their pension funds stands at over 15billion dollars, they
are looking for where to invest those monies, but if you don't join hands and
project our State, they will not come here to invest, to ensure that monies
invested would be judiciously used. The Governor has been saying that he is not
a contract awarding governor; the main aim of the governor is to bring in
investors here in view of creating employments opportunities for our teeming
youths.
"Look
at Dubai; it was a desert about 15 or 20years ago with nothing. But look at
them today in terms of development; you think it is their money? No! It's other
people's money including Nigerians who go there to invest. So why can't we
project our State in view of attracting investors to come in" he said.
Elder
Ebong urged the Nigerian Union of Journalist to develop a proactive media
strategy that would checkmate the menace of false headlines and blackmails in
the State.
"It
is no longer news that Governor Udom Emmanuel is doing well to fulfill his
campaign promises which is based on investment and also creating an enabling
environment for investors to come in. I want to categorically state that the
trending false headlines is a treat and it is capable of scaring away investors
admiring to invest and do business in Akwa Ibom.
"You
See, publishers of false news may think they are fighting Gov. Udom whereas we
are fighting ourselves. Truth be told, no investors will invest where there are
crisis. We as youth must begin to use the knowledge we got through training to
create wealth and paint good pictures about our State in view of attracting
investors. The earlier we stop blackmail and propaganda, the better for
us."
Consequently,
Elder Ebong noted that AKEES apart from reawakening the spirit of enterprise in
Akwa Ibom people, has also promoted entrepreneurship, to ensure that the middle
class economy of the State is being built.
"We
can only achieve this through capacity building, promoting small and micro
scale enterprises. We want to open our doors to small industries and small
scale enterprises owners to come in but the reverse will be the case when they
keep reading false headlines and blackmail information on social media.
Some
youths don't know that their actions are ridiculing Akwa Ibom before other
States and Scaring investors away from the State by consistent criticism of the
current administration."
He
used the occasion to advised the people of the State to be civil in their
criticism so as not to create a wrong impression about the State.
"when
you paint the colour of instability for your State, you are doing so much
injustices to the State because it affects the economy directly. So I plead
with us; we don't have any other State than Akwa Ibom. Some of our actions and
inactions, of utterance just because of political divides are frightening
investors.
We
must understand that no matter how organised the government of the State is, it
is practically impossible for them to succeed without the support of the media.
We need you to build a greater Akwa Ibom" he solicited.
See more pictures here...
No comments: