No Blackmail, Accusation Can Distract Eno in Executing His Blueprint for A’Ibom, Says Aide

*Govt to partner NSCDC on fight against oil bunkearing, illegal mining

Okon Bassey in Uyo

No level of blackmail and spurious accusations can distract Governor Umo Eno òf Akwa Ibom State on his drive to transform the State in line with his ARISE Agenda development blueprint.
The Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Research and Documentation, Mr. Essien Ndueso, made the assertion in an interview ìn Uyo.
He harped on the need to promote unity of purpose regardless of political affiliation as no meaningful development thrives in an atmosphere of disharmony and chaos.

Ndueso, described Eno as a detribalised and peaceable leader focused on even spread of development projects and programmes across the State.
The Governor’s aide urged Akwa Ibomites to disregard such notions of nepotism and ethnicity, but rather joined hands to promote the peace being enjoyed in the State, lauding his leadership approach in dealing with people across political divides.
He explained how Eno had charged his newly appointed aides to emulate his lifestyle of showing respect to other leaders and embracing people across party lines.

“This is a Governor who gladly opened his arms to a man that was in Court the previous day, challenging his eligibility and legitimacy to be a Governor.
“The next day the person was in Government house to see the Governor, and he received him, embraced him and promised to work with him for the State to move forward.

“That same person headed to court, to further challenge the Governor’s eligibility to be Governor while the Governor is still saying, tell him to come let’s work together,” he added
Ndueso further argued that a Governor who asked respective ward leaders and stakeholders to nominate personal aides for him from the various local government wards in the State to ensure that development was equally distributed to the grassroots cannot be said to be tribalistic and whoever is spewing such accusations is just doing that for political motives.

He assured that Governor Eno would leave no stone unturned while implementing the Arise Agenda.
Meanwhile, to ensure a safe, secured and healthy environment, the Akwa Ibom State government has disclosed plan to partner the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to mitigate activities of oil bunkering and illegal mining in the state.

The State Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong, disclosed this during a courtesy visit on him by officials of NSCDC.
He noted that, until the society was de-criminalised the safety of lives and properties cannot be ensured.
The Commissioner reiterated that issues of oil bunkering and illegal mining do not only affect the economy of the country but is also hazardous to health and environment.

The Information Commissioner suggested that to eradicate oil bunkery and Illegal mining a non- violent approach should be taken;such as rehabilitating the youths, through human capital development, amnesty, empowerment , trainings and licensing them to operate officially and linked them to the oil sector to work in modular refineries thus generating revenue for government for sustained development.

Speaking, the commandant, NSCDC, Eluwade M. Eluyemi commended the State Government for having a formidable workforce and promised to step up the tempo in securing the lives and properties of the people residing in Akwa  Ibom.