For bringing an end to their decades of agitation for portable water supply, the people of Ogu-Itumbonuso in Ini local Akwa Ibom have described Gov. Umo Eno as a life saver and a miracle worker.
The people ranging from the royal fathers, political elites, women and youths have said that the Governor’s investment in quality water for the communities in Itumbonuso, marks an end to incessant and epidemic health challenges usually faced by the people as a result of the water challenge that had bedeviled the community.
These sentiments were expressed on Wednesday evening when Gov Umo Eno led other top government functionaries to the area to inaugurate the water project.
For the clan head of Itu Mbonuso High. Chief Joshua Essi who admitted that he has lived for more than 80years and had watched painfully his people dying as a result of lack of access to portable water supply, and is relieved that this water project has been done in his lifetime.
The local government chairman, Inibehe Umah, on his part said, “it has been very difficult to have a good source of water supply here and so the inauguration of this water project will pursue diseases out of this area because he who brings water brings life.”
He further said that he knows the Governor to be a leader of good intentions for the people and expressed belief that he will do more for the people.
The House of Assembly Member, Mr. Lawrence Udoide, the Political leader Prof. Ini Udoka, Mr Ime Etim, Chairman of the Ogu Leadership forum and Dr. Elisha Attai, all thanked the Governor for the speed at which he has visited with a life -touching project.
They went on to appeal to the Governor for intervention of more projects in the area which especially in view of the agricultural resources that abound in the area.
All of them unequivocally lauded the Governor’s passion for development and compassion for the needy, assuring that the Governor’s re-election victory will be announced first in their area.
This was corroborated by the Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Mrs. Offiong Offor expressed happiness on behalf of the women of Itumbonuso for the water project commissioned, stating that the people will no longer have to travel long distances or wait on the rain before they having drinkable water.
“To us this water project has restored hope and we are so thankful to God and to His Excellency and I believe more will come to not just the ward but to Ini LGA as a whole, she said.
Speaking before inaugurating the project, Governor Eno mentioned that he was moved to embark on the water project after an indigene Dr. Elisha Attai approached him with water in bottle, as the only water available to his people over the years.
He recounted how he had asked Dr Attai to get his people to vote him into office to win his attention to their plight.
When this water was completed three months ago, I allowed it to run for three months because I did not want to commission a project until I could verify its viability.
“I sent my aides both security and technical team and they gave me assurances that the water is fit for consumption and I’m drinking the water today because it is clean enough for consumption.
He announced the appointment of two indigenes of the community to oversee the maintenance and running of the facility, adding that they have been properly trained to properly manage the facility.
He advised communities to always ensure the safety of public facilities cited within their domains, warning that where people allow vandalism to deprive them of projects cited in their communities, government would not hearken to their plea to replace such facilities.
“We have 2,272 villages in the state and if your facility is vandalized, we will have to finish with all those villages before we come back to your turn”
He announced that 2 persons per village in all the 2,272 villages are to be employed in the Ibom community watch to help protect government facilities in their respective villages.
The Governor who was visibly excited announced by the outpour of emotions from the people, announced that by first quarter of next year, he will commence town hall meetings across LGAs to enable the people have opportunities to make inputs and suggestions to his administration’s development plan for the State.
Giving an overview of the project , the Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, Enobong Mbobo, while expressing her gratitude to God and describing the water project in Ogu-Itumbonuso as a miracle and dream come through for the community explained that the water facility provides water in six villages and commended Governor Eno for the initiative.
To her, the Ministry for Water Resources was not only created by the Governor for the people of Itumbonuso as nine other Federal constituencies across the State are currently harvesting similar water facilities.
