XRAYING GOV.UDOM EMMANUEL’S FAILED ONE YEAR IN OFFICE AND GOV.IFEANYI OKOWA’S AMIABLE PROJECTS

Eneh John

Ahead of the May 29, democracy day in Nigeria, there are reasons to put to test the one year in office of the Governor of Delta State, and his Akwa Ibom State Counterpart.

Suffice to say, that the difference between both State Governors has been too clear in project execution.
While Udom Emmanuel has embarked on an inspection tour of his elephant projects, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has set the ball rolling with commissioning of roads, class room facilities, etc.

A rundown of Okowa’s one year in office could be seen as follows:

Commissioning/Inspection of completed/on-going projects in Okpe and Ethiope East LGAs
Ekpan-Ovu YAGEP Clusters
Construction of Orerokpe Modern Market, Construction of Onomigbo Street, Orerokpe, Okpe LGA.
Construction of Ejinyere/Orodje Street, Orerokpe, Okpe LGA
Commissioning/ Inspection of on-going projects in Oshimili South.
Extension of Access Road to the Orthopedic Surgical Wards and Doctors’ Quarters, FMC, Asaba
Construction of Usonia Road, off Nnebisi Road, Asaba, Inspection of Okpanam Road Dualization project
Construction of Access Road to Christ Embassy Church Asaba
Construction of Esenwa Street, Linking DLA Road to Benin Asaba Express Way Asaba
Dualization of Cable Point Road and Construction of roundabout at the traffic Light junction, Asaba
Commissioning/Inspection of Projects in Ika South LGA, Construction of Alisimie – Ozanogogo Road, Agbor, Construction of Orikeze Street, with a spur to Orikeze Close, Agbor, Construction of upper Imudia/Dr. Whyte Streets, Agbor
Ogbemudein Secondary School, Boji-Boji Agbor
Commissioning/Inspection of Projects in Sapele, Warri South, Uvwie, Warri South-West and Okpe LGAs
Dualization of Sapele Road (starting from Amukpe Roundabout), Sapele
Benin Warri Federal Road Maintenance Work
Construction of Okwitolor Road (Warri/Sapele Road), Construction of Ubeji Road.
Rehabilitation of Jeddo Ughoton Road and construction of Access road to Eagles Height University (Phase 1, Jeddo/Omadino Bridge)
Commissioning/Inspection of completed/ongoing projects in Isoko North, Ughelli South & North, LGAs
PPSP Farm-Ushe/Ellu (Isoko North LGA), Construction of Ughelli/Afiesere Road, Reconstruction of Oteri Township Road, Ughelli North LGA and many more.

As the Delta State Governor rolls out his achievements in office, Udom Emmanuel has been so concerned with organizing a state banquet to crown his inspection tour.
In one year, Udom Emmanuel has constructed just two roads, with elephant projects spread across, which can only be seen on prototype form.

Akwa Ibom State with the highest allocation in the country, yet, the citizens wallow in abject poverty, with no accessible roads, other than the ones his predecessor left behind.

Adjoining roads in the state have been in a pathetic state, as his loud mouthed commissioner for works, Mr.Ephraim Inyang, once boasted how he went to fill a pot hole on a road, because the former Governor’s wife called his attention to it. The only tangible achievement to his name after one year in office is the building of his multi million Naira house in his village as well as the information drive road he constructed and commissioned. While Okowa is commissioning projects all over his state, the slow working Udom is flagging off new projects as activities to mark his one year.

It is crystal clear, that the Akwa Ibom State Governor needs serious tutorial on what it takes to be a Governor. The only pass mark that can be given to him is being an expert in borrowing and taking of billions of loans. Can someone tell Udom that Okowa did not bprrow to do the projects he did?

He should also learn from the likes of Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who hit the ground running with his road construction projects.

Just like the APC at the Federal level, Udom Emmanuel was not prepared for the task of being a Governor, but providence brought him. Who has bewitched Udom? Who will remove the spell of mediocrity that has made him not to perform from his eyes? If this is the best that Akwa Ibom indigenes can get in one year, then they should expect three years of cankerworms and hope on God to bring a new governor like Okowa to them who will perform in 2019.

I rise…

Eneh John is an Investigative Journalist and Human Rights Activist.
enehjohn33@gmail.com