As the inferno of killings, kidnappings, rapes and arson in their communities rages, indigenes of Ukanafun local government area of Akwa Ibom State have thumped Governor Udom Emmanuel for his inability to quickly end the security ruptures caused by suspected insurgents.
Straightnews gathered that Ukanafun is a second home to Udom said to be born and brought up by his teacher-parents in Ikot Etim in the area, though he is an indigene of Awa Iman in Onna local government area.
And the insecurity to lives and property which has lasted more than two years now has gravely pillaged the mono-economy, social life, schools enrolment, church attendance and otherwise of people in the area.
In November 2017, Governor Emmanuel attended a thanksgiving service at Qua Iboe Church, Ikot Akpa Nkuk, headquarters of Ukanafun where the presiding pastor of the church openly confirmed the governor’s birth place.
In marking this year’s Democracy Day, Townhall Platform, a popular platform on Facebook administered by Ufok Ibekwe, an Abuja-based human rights activist and legal practitioner had floated an an opinion poll for people to rate Emmanuel’s performance as a governor for the past three years on: (1) fulfillment of election campaign promises, (2) infrastructure development,(3) security/ protection of lives and properties,(4) Job creation,(5) health sector development, among others.
However, most of the commentators were Ukanafun indigenes who took swipes on the administration particularly on security of lives and property in the area now rummaged by suspected hoodlums, thus rendering the land desolate and turning most indigenes to refugees.
| UbonAbasi FreeGift Daniel commented “I’ll say that Gov Udom Emmanuel is not doing well in his last three years in office and I’m advising him to sit up and make amends where necessary. In this comment, I am going to use Ukanafun as a case study because he’s performing in other places or so I hear.
“On Security and protection of lives and properties, he is trying and he needs to do more. I cannot blame him because the country generally is facing security challenges. Still on security, I plead him to get the military to relocate it headquarters temporary to Ukanafun so that the insecurity in the area will be tackled. “On health sector development, the governor has not done anything about it. If he has, why didn’t he consider Ukanafun? Had it been Ukanafun has a hospital, maybe most lives lost could have been saved. Moreso, the Governor I’ll say personally is not a student friendly on. Students’ bursaries are not paid and it is not even mentioned. My conscience won’t be clear if I don’t appreciate him for fulfilling on of his campaign promises which is the renovation of Central School, Ikot Akpa Nkuk. I urge him to do more for Ukanafun people. Henry Sunday quipped “He has failed in infrastructural development, no road rehabilitation not to talk of contraction in Ukanafun, no school as for security I see no meaningful measure in place just to list a few. Nseyo Ibekwe, however, pointed out “poor on the first four and good on health sector.He promised to make Western Annang Secondary Commercial School, WASCO, a model school–not done yet.” Felix Ikot joked “Anyway, maybe stomach infrastructure is what you’ve forgot to mention among those points. Because wrappers and rice can’t be left out. It was also part of campaign promises. On his own, Ubokobong Udoudo, another Ukanafun son also mocked, “The only area I know the government has achieved so much is that, they are good in attending church programmes, funerals, weddings and birthday parties of their close associates in the state.” |
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| Mercy Udom stated that “This when to know if the men are really men who speak out. I am still compiling from (1) Insecurity in my maternal home- Ukanafun (2) Plight of pensioners in Akwa Ibom (3) Lack of attention to the internally displaced persons in Ukanafun (4) No representative of Ukanafun as commissioner or special adviser in the state executive council.”
But, Unwana Ido reasoned that “The present administration has succeeded very well especially in manipulation to frustrate the less privileged in the state.” Isonguyo Udom gave Governor Udom a pass mark for doing a lot in Akwa Ibom State. Yet, he complained that “Ukanafun in particular is lacking behind; he has not tried in his second home- Ukanafun. “In terms of security in Ukanafun, he has tried. Udom is a very intelligent man; he has a very good memory. He cannot forget any of his campaign promises for Ukanafun. What am doing here is to act as a catalyst by gingering him to start doing something. Our dear governor, your second term is sure.” However, UbonAbasi Daniel disagreed that the governor has fulfilled his electioneering campaign promises in the area, noting that “In Ukanafun, for example, he promised to construct the road leading to Akpan Assiek Market, rehabilitate the market and Udondok Market, claiming he grew up there. “But up till now, I have not seen a cart in any of the roads. The former governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio promised us the completion and commissioning of the Ukanafun General Hospital within 60 days and the commissioning of Ukanafun Oil Palm Depot within 30 days. Up till now, I am still counting and wondering if it is still remaining five years for the 60 and 30 days to come. “On infrastructural development, he has successfully done that in his local government area and his Senatorial district, thus marginalising Ukanafun local government area.” Many people are living in deep agonies unable to express their feelings incapacitated by dearth of funds to run out of the brimming ‘cauldron’. These are the silent ones crying daily for Governor’s intervention to quell the insecurity to enable them to live normal life in their ancestral home- Ukanafun. |
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