A popular radio evangelist in Akwa Ibom, Pastor Aniekan Essien has appealed to the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno to encourage the participation of local contractors in the construction of rural and state roads in the state.
In a statement in Uyo on Thursday, Pastor Essien stressed the need for the governor to engage the contractors with pre-requisite qualifications and experience to handle roads’ construction “as one good gesture demands reciprocation.”
Essien observed that many people may not be bold to tell the governor the truth, but as a servant of God he would not hide him the truth as the affected are almost dying in silence.
The host of Amazing Bible Truth observed that “I want to draw the attention of the Akwa Ibom State Governor to the plights of local contractors caused by low patronage by the state government.”
He admitted that he is not a contractor but a man of God, saying that, “Though I appreciate Governor Umo Eno for patronizing some local contractors, I am appalled by the enormous lay-offs of staffers, pilferage of their equipment and untold hardships facing some helpless local contractors and their dependants due to loans they collected for some unpaid jobs.
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“I want to remind the governor of the barefaced truth in our kinsman ship that when a brother eats and another is starved such leads to unhealthy relationship.
“In this period of economic crisis occasioned by the rising costs of goods and services in the country, giving local contractors capital projects to execute will help to create more employment opportunities for some people in the state, ameliorate their hardships as well as improve their economic well-being.”
According to him, “It is unfair to allow a large chunk of the contractors with technical competence and skillfulness to wallow in unemployment. The saying “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” could become their second choice.
“As an Akwa Ibom citizen, I want to believe that the Governor is not recycling some contractors of the previous administrations in the state as doing so could be injurious to the spirit and belief of Arise agenda of the present administration.”
“As the governor may be preparing for a second term in 2027, there is absolute need to carry everybody including local contractors along to avoid opposition hijacking the next elections to the detriment of our common brotherhood and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
However, the man of God said he was so touched when he heard that the Governor has started paying gratuity to retired primary school teachers, which was already accumulated.
“To me, this shows that the Governor has sympathy for the less privileged. The Bible says such a man will be remembered by God in his days of trials.
‘‘According to Psalm 41:1, ‘Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble,” he quoted.
Essien further commended the governor for taking a bold step particularly organising the 2023 December crusade to glorify God Almighty.
He appealed to the Governor to seek ways to solving the prevailing hunger in the state caused by economic meltdown in the country, citing 1 Timothy 5:8 thus “Anyone who does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
