JOE EFFIONG, UYO
The member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom.State at the National Assembly, Mr Unyime Idem, has asked the federal government to increase budgetary allocation of the federal ministry of works, for the purpose of developing road infrastructure in Nigeria.
Idem who said this during the recent inauguration of a 1.2km Akpan Assiek Market Road with street lightings and drainage facilities, built and donated by him to the people of Ukanafun,
decried the deplorable state of roads across Nigeria, and lamented that, “the bad state of our roads have brought untold hardship, loss of lives and properties to our people.”
He appealed to the federal government to increase the 2024 budget estimates of the works ministry to enable it function effectively in improving road infrastructure.
“Let me use this medium to call on the Federal government to take urgent steps to address the deplorable state of roads across the country.
“May I urge the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government to increase the budget estimates for the Federal Ministry of Works.
“This will enable the ministry to provide more road infrastructure across Nigeria” Idem urged.
On the Akpan Assiek Market Road, he noted that for more than 30 years, the road had remained impassable causing untold hardship to the people but that deliverance has finally come.
“For more than 30 years, the Akpan Assiek Market Road was impassable and deplorable. It brought untold hardship to our people, especially the rural market women and traders who come from outside Ukanafun.
“The hitherto bad state of the road led to accidents, loss of market wares, difficulty in transporting goods and services and hindered rural economic activities.
“Today, deliverance and hope have come to our people as movement is now easier in a developed Ukanafun,” Idem said.
Idem thanked the governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Udom Emmanuel, for his massive investment in road development in Ukanafun and assured him of the support of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency to his completion agenda and succession plan.
“May God bless the governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Udom Emmanuel, for accepting the invitation to inaugurate this project. Ukanafun people are eternally grateful to you for this honour and for executing several road projects which have linked our area to the outside world.
“We are already in election period and our leaders are moving from one ward to the other, seeking the votes of the people. Let me assure the governor of the massive support of Ukanafun people to his completion agenda” Idem concluded.
He thanked the people for the show of love and support accorded him, stressing that he has a mandate to serve the people and help push the human race forward.
He assured the people of more projects when reelected for a second term and urged the people to vote en-masse for all PDP candidates.
While inaugurating the project, Gov Udom Emmanuel applauded the lawmaker for setting performance standards in leadership, representation and legislative brinkmanship.
“I am impressed by what I have seen here today. Unyime Idem has done well for himself and the people. This is what I call a 14-star performance. He has set performance standards in leadership, representation and legislative brinkmanship.
“I trust in what he has done and what he can do. All I can say to Ukanafun people is to vote for PDP again to have a repeat of what Idem has done” Gov. Udom said.
The governor decried the absence of federal government presence in the state. He said it is lawmakers like Idem that were helping to bring the federal government presence down to the state.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, noted that he was not surprised at Idem’s performance.
“When Idem came to notify me of his decision to heed the call of Ukanafun people to vie for the House of Representatives seat in 2019, I told him he has made one of the greatest decisions that will bring development to the people. By what he did in the telecoms sector and what he is doing now, he has contributed immensely to the development of Annangland and Akwa Ibom State” he said.
The state commissioner for works and fire service, Professor Eno Ibanga, described Idem as a man of the people and for the people. He said what Idem has done is the highest form of representation he has seen in the state noting that “when the passion is right, you see results.”
The state chairman of the PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan lauded Idem for his sterling performance and for bringing development back home. He said he is not regretting being Idem’s director general of campaigns in 2019 and that a good product is not hard to sell.
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