The Paramount Ruler of Obot Akara local government area in Akwa Ibom state, Akuku Umo Uwa Adiaka 111 has expressed gratitude to Governor Udom Emmanuel for reconstructing dilapidated bridges and roads that cut off Nto Edino from its neighbouring Ekwarazu boundary communities in Obingwa local government area in Abia state.
Speaking with newsmen in his palace shortly after the tour of project sites in the area by Special Assistant to Udom on Research and Documentation Hon Essien Ndueso, the Royal father said the bridge and the roads have helped to bring back life to the communities.
The Royal father listed the extent of dangers of the dilapidated bridge to the area as deaths of pregnant women who could not cross it to hospital during labour, multiple incidents where motorcycles and trucks fell into the river, poor attendance of children in schools as well as the inability of farmers to move farm produce to the market.
The Paramount Ruler observed that successive governments in the state did not construct the bridge and roads for the community and appreciated Udom for considering the area in his legacy impacts across the state.
He described critics of Udom as mere ‘political gimmick’ who are out to play politics of blackmail and advised them to turn a new leaf to move the state forward.
“Apart from politics which is full of blackmail and mudslinging, critics should know that Governor Udom Emmanuel has done several projects in Obot Akara local government especially the Ikwarazu- Nto Edino bridge project which has caused many pregnant women who could not cross to hospital during labour to die.
“The bridge has brought unity between us and Ikwarazu- community in Abia state.
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“Another bridge built by Governor Emmanuel is Ikot Ambang -Ikot Osung bridge. Before the intervention by Governor Udom, trucks were falling inside the river while children died daily.
“Many lives have been lost there. Now the bridge has connected Nto Edino and her neighbours. I can score Governor Udom Emmanuel 90 percent.”
Conducting newsmen round the bridge and road projects in the area, Ndueso said the bridge was measured at 300m while the road is 6.47 km and extends by 1km into Abia state.
“When people ask for Akwa Ibom money, this is how it is spent on projects for the people.
“This project is not located in Uyo city and many people don’t know about it. But the governor keeps on touching the lives of people in the hinterlands.”
He inspected other projects waiting for commissioning in the area such as Nto Ide – Ikot Amba bridge project, the 6.63km Ikpe Mbak Eyop road linking other adjoining communities handled by Flashpoint Technical Services as well as 4.2km Abak Ifia- Ikpe Mbak Eyop road.
Ndueso said the area had produced a former governor of the state while the community and entire local government had a long history of abandonment and despair before governor Emmanuel intervened.
“What we have here was a massive swamp which was impassable in the rainy season. The scope was to reclaim the land”
He said Udom embarked on the project in response to a request by the Royal fathers of the area during consultation adding that the gesture was in keeping with the promise of Governor Emmanuel to develop rural communities in his legacy of impacts and completion agenda in the state.
A member of the benefiting community Mr Uduak Eyara Udo said the bridge and the entire road have saved the area from constant accidents, death and have revamped the economic activities of the area.
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