A’Ibom traditional rulers tasked on development projects

As Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State continues to inaugurate projects to mark his mid-term achievements in office, traditional rulers have been warned against blocking development plans of government in their domains.

Speaking while laying the foundation stone for the coconut refinery project at Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, as part of his mid-term appraisal regime, the governor charged traditional rulers to be in the vanguard of protecting government projects by restraining restive youths against confronting development partners and contractors.

According to the governor, any traditional rulers  found wanting would be dethroned and his certificate  withdrawn, adding that government was not ready to compromise in the process of taking the dividends of democracy to the people.

“Let me sound this note of warning; any village that causes trouble with development partners we bring, we will ensure we withdraw the certificate of recognition of that village head and also arrest the youths’ leader,” governor Emmanuel warned.

The multi-million naira project, which Emmanuel said was expected to be completed within 18 months, would create jobs and generate more funds for economic development of the State.

In the run up to the May 29 Democracy that marks the governor’s two years in office, several road projects had been commissioned across the 31 Local Government Areas.

They include Ikot Usop-Ikot Edehe-Ikot Ekpuk road and a bridge in Mkpat Enin; the Nto Edino-Ekwere Azu road in Obot Akara and the inspection of the dualised Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road.

The governor also commissioned the toothpick and pencil factories at Ekom Iman in Etinan Local Government Area and inspected dualised roads in Etinan and Onna Local Government Areas.

He urged the people to safeguard the facilities because “these projects are your projects and government is only the facilitator.”