UYO – Former Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State may have left the prime governance seat in the state, but legacies of his strategic reign will linger on the sands of time
Anyone who last visited the state in 2014, just before Emmanuel’s assumption of office, may on next visit feel overwhelmed by the transformation witnessed by the state just within his eight years in office as Governor.
Although confronted by a major economic recession and lockdown occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic, former Governor Udom Emmanuel’s flexibility and adaptability suggested that he must have planned for possible downturn before stepping into the number one public office in the state
Despite the initial perception by many that he (Emmanuel) was too professional to fit perfectly into politics, his five points agenda of; Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, Wealth Creation, Economic and Political Inclusion, and Infrastructural Consolidation and Expansion) demonstrated his grasp of the needs of the electorate, as well as a well-thought out navigation plans to meet such needs.
Emmanuel’s 8-Point Completion Agenda comprising: industrialisation, infrastructure, aviation development, agriculture, human capacity development, security, small and medium scale enterprises and rural and riverine development further demonstrated his commitment to leave Akwa Ibom better than he met it.
To awaken the people’s interest in the Akwa Ibom he was out to birth, Emmanuel at the early stage of his administration came up with the ”Dakkada” philosophy. The philosophy made it quite easy for the electorate to key into job creation which was the first item on his five-point agenda, by also seeking ways to create jobs.
To make good his agenda on job creation and poverty alleviation, the immediate past Governor Emmanuel ensured establishment of Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company, Kings flour Mill, Lions Plywood factory, the electric digital metering solutions manufacturing factory. Among others.
Emmanuel in his time also established the Itam industrial layout where cottage industries are located. These, have in addition to creating a comfortable space for Akwa Ibom on global industrial map, created no fewer than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs for various classes of professionals in the state. .
On wealth creation, Emmanuel obviously sought approaches that would create and diversify enduring wealth that would outlive his administration. This explains why he delved into agricultural sectors hitherto alien to the state and climate. Today, many have become wealthy employers of labour through cultivation of fruit crops and vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, water melon, carbage, onion and a lot more.
On economic development, in addition to his industrialisation policy, which laid a basic foundation to propel greater economic prosperity, Emmanuel’s emphasis and commitment to foreign direct investment contributed immensely to the economic growth and expansion he handed down
In fulfilling the last of his initial five point agenda on Infrastructural consolidation and expansion for investor’s convenience, former Governor Emmanuel in addition to creating road network to link the 31 local government areas to the state capital, undertook and completed the 25km Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road, 9.5km (10-lane) Idongesit Nkanga/Clement Isong Highways, 19.3km Anua-Mbak-Ifa-Ishiet Road, 29km Etinan – Ndon Eyo Road, 11km Ekom Iman Flyover, and the 6.41km Nto Edino-Ekwereazu road (with two bridges) , among others. No gain saying, that he left behind a truly enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
On Aviation Development, Ibom Air, Akwa Ibom State owned airline stands as a shining prove of Emmanuel’s commitment to this item on his completion agenda. Not only did he commit huge resources and effort to provide a standard and comfortable air transport system to investors who visit the state for businesses, he also constructed a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility and an international terminal at the Victor Attah International Airport to ensure ease of doing business for foreign investors.
In the area of agriculture, history will indeed extend a warm smile of approval to former Governor Udom Emmanuel, when his aggressive advocacy and drive for coconut cultivation begin to yield rich dividend. He will also be remembered for rice cultivation and processing.
Human capacity development: Never in the history of this state were public servants across levels trained outside the country and in strategic institutions within the country as was the case in Emmanuel’s administration. The establishment of Ibom Air and other manufacturing companies also presented opportunities for human capital development. Today, youths of Akwa Ibom origin have become world class pilots and other key professionals in the aviation sector.
Regarding Security, it is common knowledge that peace and security were the foundation of development during Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration. That explains why strategic sectors including the National Assembly converted the state to a regular training ground till date. It is also on record that those who could no longer cope with insecurity occasioned by South East agitators had to relocate to the state for a permanent stay, due to the peace made possible by that administration.
On Small and medium scale enterprises, the ripple effect of the Industrialisation policy of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration was the establishment of the made in Akwa Ibom show room, where products made locally by those who responded to the Dakkada call are showcased. A visit to the showroom would throw up just how positively infectious the industrialization drive of that administration was.
In a similar vein, the rural and riverine area development was never neglected throughout Emmanuel’s administration as he ensured that in line with the item on his completion agenda, he few years to the end of his administration performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the multi-billion dollar Petrochemical and fertilizer company, Sterling Petro-Chemicals and Fertilizer Production Factory, in Eastern Obolo LGA of the state.
The project, which was one of his riverine area development was between the Akwa Ibom State Government and SPFL Developers for the purpose of setting up the Petrochemical and Fertilizer Production Factory, in line with the Federal Government National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).
Although not captured in either his five-point or completion agenda, former Governor Emmanuel took seriously the issue of power, in line with his power for all initiative. He built and linked substations to industrial cities, committed huge resources to power infrastructure and just before exiting office obtained a power distribution license for the state. Emmanuel’s administration also ensured not just a facelift, but a complete revamping and modernization of secondary healthcare facilities across the ten federal constituencies of the state.
It is fitting therefore to conclude that Emmanuel had a target driven approach to governance, little wonder he declined every pressure to name his ’must do’ projects. Such disposition kept him on toes and no doubt accounted for the number of major projects commissioned on his way out of office. Truly, he left a bolder footprint on the sands of time.
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