It was an exciting experience in Abak Local Government Council hall, venue for the Abak General Stakeholders meeting under the auspices of the Executive Chairman of Abak, Rt. Hon. (Pst.) Ekerette Inyang on Monday August 16th 2021.
The meeting which was first of its kind, witnessed a major turn out of stakeholders across all party lines and political affiliations in Abak LGA including the PDP, APC, APGA, LP, etc; gather in one accord to brainstorm and chart the way forward for the progress and development of Abak Local Government Area.
Speaking on the importance of the meeting, the Executive Chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. (Pst.) Ekerette Inyang noted that as far as his administration is concerned, he was elected by the entire Abak people and therefore it behooved on him to conceive a platform where all stakeholders and the people across board would put heads together to advance the development of the area.
The Chairman highlighted some of his scorecard in barely few months in office to include the construction of the Local Education Authority block which hitherto was an eyesore; the construction of a 12 office legislative block for legislators; the remodeling/facelift of the Council Secretariat; waste evacuation; erection of Abak unity sculpture, and others as his major quantum leap vis-a-vis development in Abak Local Government Area.
Topical issues discussed and agreed upon during the meeting were; Abak asset recovery drive, remodeling of Abak main market, and issues regarding a conventional zoning of political offices in Abak Local Government Area.
Reflecting on these critical issues, the member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Hon. Elder Aniekan Umanah, commended the laudable initiative of Rt. Hon. Pst Ekerette Inyang and emphasized on the significance of a needs-document which will serve as a guide towards the development of the area.
Also, the Member representing Abak State constituency, Hon. Elder Udeme Otong, applauded the chairman’s peaceful approach in handling the concerns of Abak market traders, while exploiting amicable parameters towards the construction of the Abak ultramodern market.
He noted that Pastor Ekerette Inyang is the only Council Chairman that commissioned major capital projects in the state during the commemoration of first 100 days in office.
Emphasizing on the need to embrace a new phase of development ushered in by the proposed construction of Abak ultramodern market, a former Council Chairman and the chairman Abak Elder’s Council, Arc. Okon Obot, charged the people of Abak to support the project which is in the best interest of Abak. He commended the integral approach adopted by Pastor Ekerette Inyang to get the market traders involved in the market construction project.
Arc. Obot further remarked that the current asset recovery thrust of the Local Government provides ample opportunity for those involved to obtain proper documentation/title ownership of confiscated property through legal and credible process.
The MD APICO, Aks, Barr. Patrick Udomfang while lending his voice on the asset recovery agenda of the present administration, frowned at the regrettable ‘selling culture’ imbibed by successive regimes where government assets were illegally and randomly sold to closed associates. He noted that the drive is an eye opener to subsequent chairmen of Council not to treat government property as their personal asset.
The Provost, Federal School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jos, Plateau State, Obong Dr. Nkereuwem Etukudo expressed gratitude to God for giving Abak ‘A good messenger’ to lead the people, adding that so far Pastor Inyang has provided the much desired direction. He charged the federal and state lawmakers to redouble their efforts in human capital development, noting that Pastor Ekerette Inyang has replicated a good example at the local government level having employed over 100 workforce which cut across security officers, cleaners, protocol officers amongst other political appointees.
Dr. Etukudo charged the Executive Chairman to be steadfast in his asset recovery agenda, stressing that the onus is on the defaulters to prove their ownership of any confiscated property.
The Paramount Ruler of Abak, HRM Akuku Sylvester Udofia in the same vein, admonished those who illegally purchased Government property to seize the opportunity to renegotiate with the asset recovery committee to revalidate their ownership and commended Pastor Ekerette Inyang for his superlative performance in office.
A chieftain of the APC and former Deputy Speaker AKHA, Hon. Uwem Udoma while speaking, commended Pastor Ekerette Inyang for his holistic approach and all-inclusive posture in governance, emphasizing that this was the first time all stakeholders irrespective of party divide have assembled as one to contribute their quota to the development of Abak.
Dr. Uwem Udoma said that the newly proposed conventional zoning formula is a welcome development that will breed equity and fairness in the zoning of political offices across party lines.
Highpoint of the meeting was a motion moved by Hon. Member Abak State Constituency, Hon. Dr. Udeme Otong, for a legal document backing the resolutions adopted in the meeting, and was duly seconded by the Leader of Abak Legislative Council, Hon. (Queen) Sandra Bassey.
Other dignitaries in attendance were; Commissioner 1, AKHA Service Commission, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Friday Iwok, PDP Chapter Chairman, Dr. Mike Udo, SA to Governor on Basic Education Mrs. Ekemini Umoh, Director AKBC, Pastor Anietie John Ukpe, Secretary of Council Amb. Ime Victor, Vice Chairman of Abak Rt. Hon. (Lady) Benita Ukpe, SA to Governor on Project Monitoring Mr. Ignatius Ukpe, State officer PDP Mrs. Useneno Tom, Former Chairman of Abak, Arc. Okon Obot, SA to Governor on Project Monitoring Mr. Isidore Archibong, SA to Governor, Mr. Akan Ben, Former House of Assembly Member, Hon. Christophe Udofia, Former State PDP woman leader, Lady Victoria Mel, Former Councillor and Chairman Abak Asset recovery Committee Rt. Hon. Jude Edem, Former Majority Leader AKHA, Hon. Prince Imoh Ibokette, Former Transition Chairman Hon. Richard Ebong, Leader of Abak Legislative Council, Hon. Queen Sandra Bassey, Former Chairman of Abak, Hon. Joseph Ikpaisong, Former Vice Chairman, Akaninyene Ebong, and a host of others.
