From Mfon Ekefre, Uyo
In a move to actualize his agricultural revolution agenda, Governor Udom Emmanuel has announced government’s proposal to establish 10 modernized cassava processing plant in selected local government areas of the state.
He said the processing plants, when fully operational, engage more than 10,000 youths of the state only in agricultural sector alone.
The governor, who was addressing a socio-cultural organization- Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio at Government House, Uyo said the state was blessed with arable land that tolerated cultivation for all seasons and that he was committed to exploiting the agricultural potentials of the state to its maximum advantage by ensuring that abundant hectares of land is put to use agriculturally.
Emmanuel further disclosed that the employment will give premium to the youths of the state who were earlier sent to Israel for mechanized farmin training and that the move was tilted towards ensuring that indigenes of the state have earned a living rather than begged for it.
“If we don’t plant today there may not be harvest tomorrow to sustain the people as over-dependence on oil does not do the economy any good,” he said.
The governor used the occasion to decry the spate of falsehood perpetrated by some local tabloids, saying they have misinformed the people on government activities through their fake reportage.
He cited the presentation of compensation payment, tax issue, up- grading ofelectoral facilities and the recent tribunal verdict as topical issues on the local tabloids had feasted and misinformed the people.
The governor called on the people to discountenance such publications, stressing that they were counterproductive to development.
The International President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa Monday Etukakpan, who led the delegation, informed the governor that all the socio-cultural organizations in the state had decided to visit him to declare their support for him as regards the tribunal verdict.
He described the governor as the right man for the job and advised him not to succumb to blackmail but should sustain the development strides which he has put in place through the series of ground-breaking for industries which he noted was for the benefit of every Akwa Ibom person.
Akparawa Etukakpan assured Governor Emmanuel of victory in the tribunal and maintained that even if election were conducted several times, he would emerge winner as he was destined for greatness.
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