Udom Emmanuel marks seven years in office, warns against violence

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has asked the people of the state to tread with caution as political season gathers momentum.

He also urged political stakeholders, particularly youths, not to compromise the state’s unity with violence.

He made the call in a statewide broadcast to mark his seven years in office as governor, yesterday.

The governor told the people he would not be tired of reminding them of the need to eschew politics of bitterness.

He said: “I will never be tired of repeating this line that politics will come and politics will go, but the soul and the essence of the Akwa Ibom enterprise will remain an abiding spirit and letter of our collective engagements. Let us eschew violence and embrace understanding in any political contest, there must be a winner and the winner should reach out and embrace the side that didn’t win.

“Winners have emerged and I urged our people to line up behind the people, who have been nominated to continue pushing the levers of development of our state and ensure that the gains we have made in the last seven years are not frittered away.

“Akwa Ibom has been an oasis of peace and tranquillity, the fundamentals of growth are rock-solid, and people are wondering how we were able to achieve such spectacular successes across sectors.”

On the successes his administration has recorded in the aviation industry, he said 10 new Airbuses would soon be added to the fleet of Ibom Airlines Limited.

He expressed joy that, despite doubts, the establishment of Ibom Air had become a testament to the creativity and strategic planning of the present administration in the state.

“Today, Ibom Air, with a fleet of seven aircraft, comprising five CRJ 900 Bombardier series and two brand new Airbuses A300-220 series with 10 more brand new Airbuses soon to be added to its fleet, has raised the profile of our state, and has made the ease of doing business in our state, appealing.”

The governor said the Victor Attah International Airport Terminal, with a capacity to process at least one million passengers a year, would be the smartest and most intelligent in the country when commissioned.

“Fellow Akwaibomites, there is no doubt that in seven years, the story of our growth in the aviation sector is being written in golden lines and more chapters will be added. We should feel proud of this huge achievement,” he explained.