Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has dared President Muhammadu Buhari to show Akwa Ibom people Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) kiosk in the state being the highest producer of crude oil products in the country.
Incidentally, President Buhari is combining Presidency with the portfolio of Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Emmanuel challenged “We are the highest producers of oil in Nigeria. Let the Minister of Petroleum show us even a kiosk that is an NNPC office in Akwa Ibom State.”
The governor, who was speaking at this year’s special inter-denominational Solemn Assembly to usher in and dedicate 2018 to God held at the Ibom Hall grounds, further braved, “Let them show us even one reservoir that they say is a depot in Akwa Ibom.”
He, however, spit fire on those he referred to as “mischief-makers”, telling them to refrain from acts capable of derailing peace and tranquility among Akwa Ibom people.
Regretting that Akwa Ibom is not enjoying any benefit of being largest producer of the Nation’s wealth, Governor Emmanuel called on the Federal Government to consider construction of railway that will link coastal areas in the State, amongst other life-touching projects.
Emmanuel told farmers that they would not count fertilizer as one of their problems from May this year, as the State’s automated fertilizer blending plant will come on stream.
The fertilizer plant is sited in Abak Local Government Area after a formidable team of extension workers was formed to get feedback on challenges and needs of farmers through their various zones and cells.
Governor Emmanuel, who thanked God for blessing Akwa Ibom despite the current economic crisis in the Country, said, his government has since moved to revolutionise agriculture to ensure prosperity and job creation for the youth in the State.
“Why many States in the Country are struggling and their workers counting the number of months their salaries have not been paid, in Akwa Ibom we are counting the number of Local Government Areas that life-touching projects will be inaugurated”, said the governor.
Rev. (Dr.) Uma Ukpai, founder and president of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, a non-denominational gospel ministry sounded a note of warning to everyone who is in the habit of cursing the state to desist from the habit, noting that anyone who curses the state is cursed by God.
Ukpai, who charged Governor Udom Emmanuel never to doubt God’s ability, said if there arises any need for doubt, the governor should doubt his own doubt but not God’s ability, urging the people to have hope and faith in God that things would turn around for the better.
