Gov. Umo Eno acknowledging cheers from the excited crowd during the commissioning of the 10.4km Idoro-Ukpom Abak Road…recently.
By Essien Ndueso
The recent commissioning of the 10.4km Idoro-Ukpom Abak Road by Governor Umo Eno has not only added to the Governor’s growing reputation of matching words with actions, but has also proved to be a bold assertion of his regards to his political genealogy.
The inauguration of the project itself, came a day after the Governor in a political stakeholders’ meeting in the state emphatically reaffirmed premium on his political genealogy that includes Obong Victor Attah, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
“I have a political genealogy, I don’t know about you, and I am not going to insult that genealogy. I have a political Grandfather, I have a Political Father who I will always relate with, and I must tell you upfront, and then myself. As Governor, those who know me know that I will never ask anyone to insult our leaders, and anyone who does so, does so at his own peril”, the Governor had said.
Not just is Governor Eno fulfilling his promise of reconciling the State across party lines, but he has also proved doubting Thomases wrong, at a time strong speculations had emerged that his movement to the ruling APC will end his harmonious relationship with the past leaders of the State.
To many, it might just have been all talk no action but Pastor Umo Eno on Wednesday, July 16, proceeded to commission the 10.4km Idoro-Ukpom Abak Road, which commences from the Pepsi junction on Idoro Road in Uyo to Hospital Road in Abak.
The road which traverses through Ikono Clan in Uyo and Ukpom in Abak Local Government, was first constructed with a bridge and inaugurated by a former Governor now Senate President, Godswill Akpabio in May 2013. It has on its route, the renowned Eye Clinic, Mercy Hospital, Abak, as well as the General Hospital, Ukpom. It also has the foremost charity and faith based resort, Goodnews Village, Abak and several prominent schools. So, what really happened to the road barely six years after inauguration?
It so happened in 2019 that, with the people of Ikono Clan of Uyo yearning for increased government presence, and the spate of deaths occasioned by the obscure state of the Ikot Oku Ikono Junction, the immediate past Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel had yielded to their demands in a grand manner by delivering the longest and best Flyover in the state being the Ikot Oku Ikono Flyover. The resultant consequence of the flyover project, was a diversion of traffic from the existent dual carriage Uyo – Abak Road, which had earlier been constructed by the past government of Chief Godswill Akpabio. One of the most affected of the alternative routes to Abak, was the Ukpom Road from Pepsi Junction in Uyo. Traffic to Abak, Oruk Anam, Ikot Abasi, and even movements outside the State, especially by heavy duty bearing vehicles, put additional pressure on the road, rendering it difficult for further vehicular traffic.
Uh The effect of these on the Ukpom road was so severe that the road defied the efforts of the Dr. Godwin Ntukude-led Akwa Ibom Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA), which was initially mandated to fix it. The deteriorating condition of the road persuaded the immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel into awarding the contract for its total reconstruction to AMITEC Construction Company.
The choice of AMITEC itself shows the importance placed by Government on the Road. Before then, Udom Emmanuel had invited Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Country, to come down and inaugurate a 1.15km bridge with approach roads at Afe Uko Ntighe, connecting Enwang in Mbo local government area with Etebi in Esit Eket. For a bridge that defied the efforts of successive contractors, the ingenuity of AMITEC was brought to bear in its masterly and timely completion of the project. Same reason, the company was asked to take over the construction of the two other bridges on Ikot Ekaide – Ikot Ibritam Road in Oruk Anam and the approach roads. As at the time the immediate past administration exhausted its tenure, the contractor had been mobilized with about 20 percent of funding and the side drains and preliminary work had been done with 20 percent of contract fee disbursed.
In his desire to redeem his promise of completing all projects initiated by his successors, Governor Umo Eno took it upon himself to complete the road project by paying up 80 percent of the fees to complete the project as revealed by the Commissioner of Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga. According to the Professor of Solid Physics, Governor Eno was always calling him and reminding him to complete the project urgently. This much was confirmed by Governor Eno at the inauguration, when he appreciated the Works Commissioner for swiftly responding to all his concerns about the urgent completion of the project.
The commissioning of the 10.4km Idoro-Ukpom Abak Road aside opening up economic activities in the area also ensures easy access to the General Hospital in Ukpum Abak built by the Victor Attah administration in addition to relieving the stress of passing through Abak main town to access the medical facility.
With Ikono Clan in Uyo still counting their gains, they might be in for more bumber harvest as road projects are criss-crossing the entire length and breadth of the newly built road with a road stretching from Ikot Oku Ikono – Ediene Ikot Obio Imo – Dakkada Skills Acquisition Center, Ikot Ada Idem, Ibiono and another project, the Nung Ukim Ikono – Afaha Obio Enwang – Nung Udoe Itak Road.
Away from the reconstructed road to Ukpom, Pastor Umo Eno’s deep appreciation to his political ancestry is also appreciated through his investments in Ibom Air, the modern terminal building and other appurtenances of the Victor Attah International Airport, the recommencement of work at the 5000 capacity international convention center, the Ibom Garden Hotel at Tropicana Entertainment Center, the progress recorded in the Ibom Deep seaport development, as well as other numerous roads and bridges in the State.
Delivering such a master stroke in a span of two years does not only project Governor Eno as a promise keeper, but one whose template of keeping faith with the development trajectory of the State, makes him a worthy leader that has made past leaders of the State, indeed, very proud.
Ndueso is the Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation · Government of Akwa Ibom State.
