The Chairman of Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom State, has lamented that the upsurge in secret cultism activities has impeded meaningful rural development in the area.
Mr Raphael Isobara, who stated this Tuesday while fielding questions from newsmen during Mkpatak Day Celebration in the area, warned youths of the area to steer clear of cultism as the consequences of engaging in such are severe.
The Council chairman further urged the people of the area to shun cultism as the local government plans to create more development opportunities for its indigenes.
“Cultism has affected my administration in all run. It is not ideal for our young children to get into cultism because it will affect their future”
Commenting on the upcoming Senatorial rerun, Isobara attributed the prevailing situation in the local government area especially the rerun elections billed for January 25, 2020 to the products of defections that took place prior to the general elections.
He pointed out that Essien Udim would be the only local government area in the state that would pass through the rigours of elections once more.
The council boss added that the gale of defections that erupted during the build-up to the 2019 general elections has completely destabilised the unity of the area.
In spite of lean resources accrued to the local government, according to him, his government has been able to build parameter fence, quest house and pavements at the local government headquarters, while also embarking on the planting of a 500 stand coconut plantation that would soon be expanded.
Isobara noted that there used to be a15 year-old heap of refuse at Obo Annang market and another heap of wastes that was not packed for over three years but his administration cleared them in matter of few weeks at the resumption of the tenure.
The council chairman of Essien Udim local government area also hinted that his administration has been able to buy cars for some executive officers for administrative purposes, and has also commenced the building of traditional rulers’ council.
In the area of human capacity development, the chairman stated that the council had contacted the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, and they have already visited the local government for inspection and selection of participants for entrepreneurial scheme while some Essien Udim students in the tertiary institutions have been catalogued for scholarship.
Earlier, Apostle Nse Isobara, the Chairman of Mkpatak community, had expressed delight for witnessing the second and final verification exercise by the National Universities Commission, NUC, Abuja on the 2nd of December, 2019 in pursuant to the approval of the proposed Topfaith University, Mkpatak, hoping the result would be highly favourable to pave way for the commencement of operations of the university.
Also speaking, Dr. Emmanuel Abraham, the President of Mkpatak Development Association and the proprietor of the Topfaith Schools, tasked the villages making up the community to ensure environmental sanitation, peace and security.
The former accountant-general for the Akwa Ibom State government, Sir Udo Isobara tasked the youth of the community to desist from cultism while inviting the youth for a roundtable meeting in order to hold a discussion on how to stamp out the menace of cultism and violence in the community.
In attendance were the chairman of Ika local government council, Mr. Anthony Gabriel Udousung and his counterpart from Obot Akara local government area, Mr. Anietie Akpanetor, among others.
