Gov Eno Seeks Collective Support Of Organisations, Ors For State’s Devt

By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom governor has sought the support of privileged individuals, groups, corporate organisations and contractors for the development of the State.
  Pastor Umo Eno, who bared his mind Wednesday night, during a ‘thank you’ cocktail with members of various professional bodies comprising members of state chapters of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Bar Association (NMA), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (I CAN) and many others, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, as a way of expressing gratitude for their support during his election, specifically mentioned the ARISE Compassionate Homes Programme for the less privileged in the State, and the model primary schools as some of the areas he desires support.
  Eno noted that these projects, as well as other development strides of government can be replicated by private bodies, corporate organisations or individuals as Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.
  He noted that within the past 10 months, he has made efforts to justify the confidence of the people in him, and pledged not to disappoint the professionals.
  The governor mentioned some of his efforts since assumption of office to include, keeping the State in peace and at peace, creating jobs for young people, ensuring government signature projects in every local government area, meeting the needs of the people through palliatives, food voucher programme; N50,000 support to 600 elderly people, monthly, to help them with their medications, payment of arrears of gratuity and other workers’ entitlements, ARISE Compassionate Homes to very poor families in the various wards, among others.
  While acknowledging their support at the last governorship election, the governor assured Akwa Ibom professional bodies of his commitment to ensuring an all-inclusive, accessible and accountable government, in addition to the provision of people-oriented projects and life-touching programmes in the state, as a way of expressing gratitude and reciprocating their support during his election.
  He commended the intellectual disposition of the professional community and their analytical perception of governance, saying he was determined to lead a honest administration, while particularly thanking the professionals for their cooperation to stabilise the present administration by not engaging in industrial actions and for coming up with innovative ideas.
  “During the elections, we came to each and every one of you as a group and we asked for your votes, promising that if we win, we will come back to say ‘thank you’. That’s why we are here. We’ve done this ‘thank you’ in so many ways.
  “For me, beyond anything else, I believe what we voted for as a people was a government that will be within the reach of the people and identify with everyone; a government that will be accountable and bring about good governance,” the governor said.