Akwa Ibom State has slammed those criticising Governor Udom Emmanuel for not completing the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road in three years.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy Charles Udoh said Senator Godswill Akpabio as a two-term governor could not complete the road.
Udoh spoke following complaints by Akpabio and his supporters that the Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road and others in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district were abandoned by Governor Emmanuel.
He said the administration took over the project from the last administration at 42 percent completion rate, adding that the work on the road was hampered by litigation.
Speaking at the Correspondents Chapel Arena in Uyo at the weekend, the Udoh noted that the administration has taken the project to an impressive level.
On the abandoned Ibom Tropicana Entertainment centre, also initiated by the last administration, Udoh said government was shopping for private investors to activate the project.
He said the syringe industry, the fertiliser blending factory, the metering plant, the flour blending factory and others were not government-owned, adding that government only provides the enabling environment.
Udoh, who promised that government will continue to attract investors to the state to create jobs for youths, said the essence was to completely change the public service setting of the state.
“What governor Udom Emmanuel is doing is not to build political projects, he is embarking on sustainable development beyond vote seeking, he is trying to sustain the economy of Akwa Ibom State through industrialisation, he wants to change the state from a public service state to an industrialized state”.
“That is why industries brought in by government is not government owned, they are attracted to create employment for our people, and they will in turn boost our internally generated revenue, but sustainability is assured”. He said
He cautioned those expecting Emmanuel to share cash and car gifts that the governor will not mortgage the state’s future, but will rather channel its resources to sustainable ventures.
Udoh said the transformation in public schools will touch many schools.
He noted that the decay in educational infrastructure dates back to Independence.
The commissioner observed that the administration has renovated 400 of 2,000 schools earmarked for refurbishing.
