Akwa Ibom Faults CIAPS Report On Governor’s Performance

From Mfon Ekefre, Uyo
Organisations carrying out performance rating of governors in the current dispensation have been urged to do a thorough job in their analysis so as not to hurt the feelings of states that could be wrongly rated.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Aniekan Umanah made the assertion while reacting to a publication by the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) which rated Akwa Ibom in its comparative analysis.
Umanah described the publication with particular reference to Akwa Ibom as a spurious fabrication that insults the sensibilities of Akwa Ibom people who are witnesses and beneficiaries of the good governance under Governor Udom Emmanuel.
According to the commissioner, “Governor Udom Emmanuel is perhaps the best performing governor in the state as evidences abound to prove this contrary to fabrication by CIAPS.”
Umanah alleged that the CIAPS report simply targeted PDP governors. He added: “If one was to go by CIAPS’ claimed criteria, payment of salaries, new projects, education, security and leadership by example, Governor Udom Emmanuel will score excellent in all.”
“For the avoidance of doubt,” the commissioner said, “the Akwa Ibom government has paid all workers’ salaries to date and has the most robust project rollout as shown in the 100 days score card of the governor.
“The state is implementing the free and compulsory education programme and in October, 2015 paid subventions to heads of primary and secondary schools for administration of school children.
“Akwa Ibom is one of the safest states in the country and Governor Udom Emmanuel has remained exemplary and focused in his pursuit of well being of the people.”
Umanah outlined some of the achievements of the governor to include on-going construction and dualisation of about 140km of roads with bridges across the state, the Ibom deep seaport, development and the on-going construction of the second runway at the international airport.
Others are massive electrification projects, ground-breaking for the establishment of different industries, establishment of different industries, the construction and the rehabilitation of blocks at St Luke’s Hospital Anua, training of 1,000 youths in Oracle database, emergency intervention in threatening erosion along Calabar Itu Federal Highway and School of Nursing Anua.
The rest include payment of 10 years arrears/pension and gratuities to primary school teachers and local government employees and reopening of Peacock Paints Industry.
Umanah maintained that in just over five months of his administration the governor has improved on the story of Akwa Ibom as over 50 foreign investors are currently discussing with the government on modalities for setting up businesses in the state.
He expressed the belief that if CIAPS had sent its members to visit the state for a first-hand feel of the situation on ground, “they would not have released their faulty findings.”
The commissioner advised “CIAPS not to engage in armchair concoctions to public, but should rather conduct proper findings so as to provide unbiased reports to the people.”
He urged the public “to discountenance the politically motivated report so as not to fall victim of the antics of agents of disaffection.”