By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
As one of the ways to checkmate criminalities in the State, the Akwa Ibom government has expressed readiness to sign an Executive Order for the prosecution of criminals.
The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who announced this Wednesday, when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late Sylvanus Ukpong, the chief executive officer of Emem Farms Limited as well as Emem & Sons Limited, who was murdered recently, while returning from his farm, said government will soon sign an Executive Order wherein any house that secretly harbours criminals will be demolished and the owners prosecuted.
Eno assured that every criminal that operates or intends to operate in Akwa Ibom, will be caught and dealt with according to the law, and that government will make the State exceedingly uncomfortable for them to operate, while also assuring the people of continued safety and peace in the State.
“Let me say this. Soon, I will be signing an Executive Order wherein any house that secretly harbours criminals will be demolished and the owners prosecuted. For every criminal that operates or intends to operate in this State, I promise you that you will be caught and dealt with according to the law. We will make this State exceedingly uncomfortable for them to operate,” Eno warned.
The governor, who was deeply touched by the demise of the deceased, promised the family of government’s support, and pledged to immediately institute a scholarship scheme for the daughter of the deceased, Emem Sylvanus, alongside the offer of an automatic employment of the widow, a trained teacher, into the State civil service.
Eno mandated the secretary to the state government, Prince Enobong Uwah, to handle the scholarship scheme for the deceased’s daughter, who currently is an SS1 student, saying that the scheme will be managed by the mother and widow of the deceased.
“Honestly, this is not the kind of visit I will like to be doing. This is the second time within one week that I am doing this, and I am heartbroken. I have come here today, on behalf of the government and people of our dear State, to show our compassion and to console the family.
“I want to assure them that government will rally round the family at this time of their bereavement. I am made to understand that the late Slyvanus Ukpong has a daughter, Emem Sylvanus Ukpong who is an SS1 Student.
“We will quickly institute a scholarship scheme up to the university level for her. The secretary to the state government will handle this. The funds will be managed by her mother. I also understand her mother, the widow, is currently unemployed and is a trained teacher. We need more trained teachers, so we are offering her automatic employment into the State civil service,” the governor promised.
Responding on behalf of the family, the brother of the deceased and South South Regional Editor of Premium Times, an online newspaper, Mr Cletus Ukpong, thanked the governor for the visit which, he noted, was borne out of the passion and compassion he has for the people of the State, saying the family deeply and profoundly appreciates him.
“Your Excellency, on behalf of the family, we sincerely thank you for this visit. When you called me, I remember what I told you. I said to you that we knew you were going to visit us. Why did we know you would come? Because we have seen you; the passion and compassion you have for the people of this State.
“You could have sent a delegation to come and see us, but you have dedicated your life to comforting the afflicted and this is a great testimony to your love for this State and the people. Thank you so very much for this visit, Your Excellency, we deeply and profoundly appreciate you”.
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