Umo Eno Warns against Erection of Illegal Structures for Compensation
Okon Bassey in Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Umo Eno, has threatened to stop developmental project in any community that would embark on action that could delay or frustrate the execution of the project.
Eno also warned individuals and groups to desist from hurriedly erecting illegal structures near project sites in order to attract compensation from government, adding that his administration would only pay compensation on duly certified structures.
He gave the warning on Sunday while addressing members of the Apostolic Church at his home town, Ikot Ekpene Udo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, where he worshipped in an interdenominational thanksgiving service for his success in the last general governorship elections.
The governor faulted the indiscriminate upsurge of unwarranted structures on roadsides of the community, which he described as anti-development borne out of greed to rob government of funds.
He said: “Please, to those of you who have heard me saying that we are going to construct roads, thank God our traditional rulers and specifically the village heads of these communities are here.
“I want to use this occasion to appeal to all those raising illegal structures by the road with the hope of getting compensation to please desist from such actions.
“This is a very serious warning. If we come with a project to your community and you obstruct it because of compensation, we will leave and take the project to another community.
“I will not struggle to help the people of this community. If we come to your local government, village or community for development, you should receive and encourage us.
“We are prepared to develop the rural areas. We are prepared to work but let it be that when we come, we don’t meet resistance in any form.
“I am a peace loving governor. I will not have any strength to fight with the youths but that does not mean we will run when it is necessary to fight.
“I am not expected to fight and force development on you. A local government or community that gives us the enabling environment is where we will develop.
“It is not out of place to pay compensation for the old existing structures but for the hurriedly constructed buildings we will not pay.”
He recalled how he was prevented from building a warehouse in his community by youths during his days as a member of the state executive council in the immediate past administration, and emphasised that communities that are not ready to embrace development would forfeit such projects to others with need for such developments.
He, therefore, directed local government council chairmen across the state to make available hundred hectares of land in their domains for development projects, explaining that the move is to enable his administration take development to the grassroots as enunciated in the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda of his administration.
He also paid glowing tributes to the late Paramount Ruler, Mr. Edidem James Obot, who was murdered in cold blood, and thanked God for raising him to continue from where the royal father stopped.
Lending her voice to Governor Eno, the state’s First Lady, Pastor Patience Eno, expressed gratitude to the women and her in-laws for the support they have given their son to emerge governor of the state and prayed God’s blessings on them.
Preaching on the theme “A man After God’s Heart,” the Area Superintendent of the Church, Apostle E.E. Inyang, who culled his message from Acts 13 verse 17- 22 and 1st Samuel 16:3,13 said that a man after God’s heart is diligent, humble and depends fully on God.
Highpoints of the service was conferment of “The Joshua Award” on the governor to enable him lead the state, and ‘The Phoebe Award’ on the state first lady, Pastor Patience Eno, to strengthen her in her supportive role to the first family.
