April 12, (THEWILL)- An advocacy group in the aegis of “Renewed Hope Agenda” has celebrated the development strides of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and his leadership style within the last eleven months, even as it has challenged other State Governors to emulate what the PDP leader is doing.
In a press statement endorsed in Abuja by the Director-General of the group, Hajiya Zainab A. Ibrahim, and made available to newsmen, the political group, which belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and loyal to the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, particularly hailed Governor Eno for his bi-partisanship approach to governance, pointing out that Akwa Ibom currently ranks enviably high among comity of States in the country by virtue of the achievements recorded in the last eleven months.
Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim poured encomiums on Governor Umo Eno for dismantling what she described as “the walls of political party pettiness in his style of leadership”, noting that this and more have endeared the APC group to the Governor.
The statement reads in part, “We are members of the Advocates for Good Governance and Humanity, the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is a political group of the All Progressives Congress, APC. We work for the APC at the national level and are totally loyal to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“As a good governance-driven group, we are delighted to observe the unprecedented governance shown by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, across sectors. Although he is of a different political party from ours, we are compelled to commend him to serve as a spur to other Nigerians occupying political positions.
“First of all, Governor Umo Eno has broken the walls of political party pettiness in his style of leadership. Renewed Hope Agenda observes with keen interest that immediately after the election, Governor Eno has reached out to all stakeholders in the Nigerian project irrespective of their political parties. Such is seen in his smooth relationship with President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and other top APC leaders across Nigeria.”
The group listed some of the milestones recorded so far by the Umo Eno-led administration in the past eleven months including a united Akwa Ibom, the disbursement of over N112 billion for road infrastructure since May 2023, funding of 39 new road Projects and the completion of old projects.
Others include the agricultural revolution as seen in the ongoing Ibom Model Farms project, food availability and food security plans as complemented by the free food distribution programme that is driven by the novel Bulk Purchase recently established by the government.
The APC group equally lauded the Rural development efforts of the administration, in opening up rural communities to attract the needed development to the doorsteps of the people. Also, the educational development drive of the current administration has not gone unnoticed by the group, with particular reference to the springing up of model schools in the State.
“Government’s success story in the area of healthcare, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship with the approval of N400 disbursement to 800 trainees of the Ibom LED as a grant of N500,000 each, 20 billion Naira for the payment of gratuities to retirees, and the decision by the Governor to approve increment of pension for pensioners who retired before 2012 to meet up with current economic realities in the country.
“The ARISE Compassionate Homes across the 31 local government areas of the State where 400 Houses are to be built and handed over to the poor, especially widows and their children, among several other initiatives of the Umo Eno administration, are being highlighted as deserving commendation by the APC group.
“In his home State, Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno has ensured that Akwa Ibom people are united even with diverse political backgrounds. In an unprecedented manner, he has a good working relationship with all the political appointees and stakeholders of the State across party lines, a reciprocation of which makes State functions to be attended by members of all political parties.
“Governor Eno has ensured that the entire State is on one page with the sole agenda of attracting development to the State, rather than being blinded by party sentiments. This is a model governance for the entire Nigeria to emulate, especially as this contra-myopic leadership style has already yielded fruits for the State.
“We, therefore, categorically advise other governors in Nigeria to borrow a leaf from Governor Eno for the needed political development of the entire Nigeria. The governor has greatly impressed us.
“This has shown in the quantum of accomplishments that the State has witnessed in his less than a year so far in office. This is possible because the governor has deliberately deleted distractions in the name of politics or political party rivalry.
“That is why Akwa Ibom State ranks enviably high among the comity of States in Nigeria in achievements. This is a product of having a good leader in power. The impact of good governance in Akwa Ibom State is seen in all the sectors of development, from agriculture to infrastructure, flying on the wings of the ARISE Agenda which serves as the governance bible of the administration.
“It is no mean feat that the administration has already disbursed over N112 billion for road infrastructure since May 2023, funding 39 new road Projects and completing old projects.
“The agricultural revolution in the State is quite impressive. From the Ibom Model Farms project to other food sufficiency and security plans, Akwa Ibom State is closing in on food availability, affordability and accessibility.
“This is complemented by the free food distribution programme that is driven by the novel Bulk Purchase Agency of Governor Umo Eno.
“Rural development is on autopilot, where the governor is opening up rural communities to attract the needed development to the doorsteps of the people.
“Education is taking centre stage, with model schools springing up. Already, some are ready for inauguration.
“There are also healthy health programmes where the governor is connecting the dots in the healthcare sector, with special attention to primary healthcare which is witnessing the construction of new facilities in the sector.
“Youth empowerment and entrepreneurship is receiving adequate attention. N400 million Naira has been approved for disbursement to 800 trainees of the Ibom LED as a grant of N500,000 each.”
Meanwhile, the governor has put a smile on the faces of the retirees in the State, having approved nearly N20 billion for the payment of gratuities to these retirees. To cap it all, the compassionate governor has approved the increment of pension for pensioners who retired before 2012 to meet up with the current economic realities in the country.
“The governor with a golden heart has impressed us the more with the ongoing construction of the ARISE Compassionate Homes across the 31 local government areas of the State where 400 Houses are to be built and handed over to the poor, especially widows and their children. These houses have boreholes and solar-powered lights.
“Under the Direct Labour Agency, some projects have already been completed, while 19 are ongoing, including the 1 project per local government area initiative of the governor.
“The list is endless, and we are resolved not be blinded by political party differences to fail to acknowledge and commend the governor for being a worthy leader of his people while calling on others to emulate him.
“Renewed Hope Agenda stands for good governance with attendant development, and anywhere we find it, we must bring it to public attention irrespective of the background of who is behind such a great feat. Governor Umo Eno has convincingly impressed us, and we are proud to identify with him.
“We, therefore, heartily congratulate Governor Eno for being the star of his time, and passionately appeal to him never to allow the steam and flame of this light of good governance he has lit to dim, but to remain aglow until succeeding generations beckon on him.
“Keep it up, Your Excellency! Keep the flag flying, Sir! We are proud of you Governor Umo Eno, you are the star of our time, and the toast of good governance!”
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