Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan has expressed his worries over bitterness in Nigerian politics by the key players.
Speaking during the inauguration of the 1.15 kilometre Afi-Uko Nteghe Uda bridge on Etebi-Enwang Road in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Monday, January 16, Jonathan said he’s worried about the negative energy generated ahead of the 2023 elections.
The Afi-Uko Ntighe bridge which is part of the 19km Etebi-Enwang road linking Mbo and Esit Eket LGAs becomes the fourth longest bridge in Nigeria following the 10.5Km Third Mainland Bridge, 1.36Km Lekki–Ikoyi Link Bridge, 1.35Km Eko Bridge and followed closely by the River Niger Bridge measuring 1.024Km.
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Initial contract for the construction of the N19 billion Etebi-Enwang Road with the bridge was awarded by ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio.
The former President who called on politicians to market their politics with ideas, rather than fight, insult and abuse their opponents, added that politics of bitterness hinders development.
He said “I’m a bit worried by the negative energy generated ahead of the 2023 elections. We have noticed a level of bitterness in our politics that does not bring development and I plead with politicians that marketing is about marketing your ideas. Politics is not about fighting, is not insulting, and is not about abusing.
“We have been reading in the newspapers and social media of how billboards of Presidential candidates, governorship candidates are pulled down and I believe by hoodlums, but sometimes, they say some governments even support those kinds of things.
“If you are a part of the team doing that, then know that you are among the unfortunate miscreants, virus or pathogen that is really decomposing our democracy. Please stop doing that; but in all these, I believe the security services have a lot to do.
“I believe anybody who commits a crime should not be covered under politics. Arson is arson and is never status bound, so somebody who commits a crime, burn houses, kill people, the record must be kept, and whatever the investigation is completed, such people should be prosecuted; that is the only way people would stop doing this.
“But if people commit criminal offences and walk away, then, of course, other people would be encouraged to do same. So security services in Nigeria have a lot to do, they must not spare any criminal.”
Performing the inauguration at Afi Udah, Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, described the bridge as unique and a flagship project of the Udom Emmanuel led administration, adding that the bridge, besides being the fourth longest in the country is the longest ever constructed by a state government in Nigeria.
The Special Guest extolled Governor Emmanuel’s ingenuity in leadership, explaining that his strategic development plan has delivered great dividends to the people of his state, such that has given hope to the nation’s democracy, maintaining that to a riverine person like him, bridge is of great value as it would promote economic growth and improve the lives of the people.
“Bridges are very useful. I commend the governor very sincerely, and his team, for this visionary leadership. I’m very delighted to be here again to bear witness to the considerable development strides recorded in Akwa Ibom State. What I see whenever I visit Akwa Ibom is a substantial evidence of well structured growth promoting projects in the last seven and a half years of my younger brother, Governor Udom Emmanuel.”
“He’s a young, innovative, peace loving and committed nation builder. The governor has an enviable bridge building disposition. It is the type that helps to cement the fibre of our unity and makes our unique diversity more profitable. People like him are the stars and heroes of our democracy. He does not build physical bridges alone, but also build human and social bridges”‘ Dr. Jonathan affirmed.
The Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, attributed the success of the project and other accomplishments of his administration to God and thanked God for wisdom, capacity and drive to make things happen. This, he maintained, is evident in the state hosting the only MRO and the smartest Terminal Building in Africa, the only sub-national owned airline and other developments.
He thanked the former President for identifying with the state and host communities for supporting the projects, restating the commitment of his administration to fulfill his promises to the people through undistracted service.
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Election Council stressed the need for Akwa Ibom and other South-South state’s to support the PDP to take over the centre, with surety that an Atiku Abubakar led federal government will help secure and consolidate on the industrialization drive of the state government.
Presenting an overview of the project, the State Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga, gave the dimensions of the bridge as 1,150 meters long, with 52 spans of 22.5 m each sitting on 408 piles with 416 main beams of 22.5m each and attested to the quality and adherence of works in it to stipulated standards.
Personalities who were present to witness the inauguration spoke glowingly of Governor Emmanuel’s innovations and political will to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state without much ado.
Among those who presented goodwill messages at event were the former governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, the Catholic Metropolitan of Calabar Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Ekuwem, the Member representing Mbo in the state House of Assembly, Effiong Johnson.
Others were the National Presidents of the Nigeria Society Engineer (NSE), Engr. Babagana Mohammed, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mallam Muktar Sirajo and that of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Chris Isiguzo.
