GOV UMO ENO'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: AREWA COMMUNITY VISITS QIC LEPROSY HOSPITAL, EKPENE OBOM

GOV UMO ENO'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: AREWA COMMUNITY VISITS QIC LEPROSY HOSPITAL, EKPENE OBOM

In a move to impact humanity and share love with the less privileged in our society which the Governor of Akwa Ibom State is known for, the Arewa Community in Akwa Ibom State today visited the Qua Iboe Church Leprosy Hospital, Ekpene Obom, Etinan Local Government Area.

Leading the delegation, the Chairman of the Arewa Community in Akwa Ibom State and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Non-Indigene Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbole  flanked by the Special Assistant, Arewa Community, Alhaji Ibrahim Ilya stated that the visit was a fulfilment of the Governor's instruction that all celebrations for his birthday should be channeled to touching the lives of the indigent in the society.

The SSA who poured encomiums on Pastor Umo Eno stressed that the Governor has come to the State to change the face of governance by making it more people-centric and participatory. He enthused that the disposition and exemplary leadership style of Pastor Umo Eno has compelled them to follow suit which has resulted in their visitation to the inmates of the Leprosy Hospital.

In his words, " It could be recalled that the Governor gave specific instructions concerning his birthday. It was his wish that all celebrations marking his sixtieth birthday should be focused on reaching out to those who are less fortunate in our midst.

"It is in the light of this that we are visiting your facility today. Since his coming on board, the Governor has worked tirelessly to ensure that the principles outlined in his A.R.I.S.E agenda blueprint is brought to the fore. From Agriculture to Rural Infrastructure to Security and Education, His Excellency has worked the talk. In Agriculture he has made overreaching intervention to ensure food sufficiency. He has established a Bulk Purchase Agency to subsidize food supplies thereby ameliorating the hardship occasioned by the current food crisis in the country. Also he has declared the first and third Friday of the month for workers to go to farm.

"He has not lagged behind in improvement of our rural infrastructure. He has shown remarkable love for those in the rural areas as exemplified in the Arise Compassionate Homes and he has also initiated several road projects, some of which has been commissioned. With regards to security, His Excellency has created a a Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways. In education he has been largely proactive through several interventionist strides which will bring succour to the educational sector. Indeed, Pastor Umo Eno is a man of his words and if he has accomplished this much during his short stay in office we can only imagine what the State will look like at the completion of his tenure.

" We are also grateful to Pastor Umo Eno for being a father who is blind to ethnic and tribal sentiments. His style of leadership is devoid of prebendalism. This is our way of thanking him for the appointment of a Senior Special Assistant on Non-Indigene Affairs and a Special Assistant, Arewa Community.

" Today we commemorate his birthday and celebrate him as a compassionate Governor. We want you all to know that Pastor Umo Eno is aware of your plight and he will do everything possible to ensure that governance will reach you and at the end of the day you will thank God that he came."

Also speaking, the Sarki Hausawa of Akwa Ibom, Sarki Hassan Sadauki thanked the Governor for the peace and ease of operating business they are enjoying in the State. He emphasized that Pastor Umo Eno has provided a convivial environment to accommodate all non-indigenes regardless of tribe, ethnicity and dialect. He  further stressed that the disposition of the Governor in all his interaction with non-indigenes resident in the State has shown that he is a man who looks beyond the issues that divide but is rather focused on promoting unity, love and peaceful co-existence.

In their remarks, the male representative of the patients, Mr. Sunday Friday Etukudoh and the female representative, Mrs. Grace Okon Ekong thanked the Arewa Community for visiting them and prayed that God should bless Pastor Umo Eno and the community for their show of love.

The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a live cow to the facility as well as foodstuffs and cash token.