Imoke: Cruising back to Government House

Posted by admin Cross River, State News Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

In the words of Anon, Ordinary people think of spending time: Great people think of using it. Isak Dineson summed up his own words of winning this way: ëdonít count every hour in a day; make every hour in the day count.” These two great sayings, although they have outlived decades, are still relevant in describing the tenure Senator Liyel Imoke had spent in office as Governor of the State. No doubt, it was eventful, full of activities and life. Indeed, Senator Imoke didnít just spend the time: He used it.

This no doubt accounts for the loads of calls he has been receiving from Cross Riverians from all walks of life- across languages, communities, interest groups, political parties and professions to re-contest the gubernatorial election this month and continue with the transformation he initiated since 2007.

It was a huge shock for the people when the Supreme Court last week ended the tenure of five governors, including their own governor, Senator Imoke. To them, it was a temporary setback, but not to the extent that it washed away what has been achieved by the administration, beginning from manpower to infrastructural development across sectors such as health, education, tourism, rural roads and electrification, science and technology, agriculture, women development, job creation and Information Communication Technology.
All and particularly those often described as common man are now able to access and afford education for themselves and their children. The common man has health facilities for himself, children and pregnant wife, roads to travel and transport his farm produce and agricultural inputs to improve farm production necessary to boost his income and daily feeding.

In the area of education, about 60 Secondary Schools across the 18 Local Government Areas have so far been comprehensively renovated and are now equipped with standard science and computer laboratories and libraries where students can now find books that are simultaneously being read by their counterparts in other parts of the world, to help them appreciate subjects and careers they consider difficult.

In health, several General Hospitals and health care centres, among whom are the ones in Igbo Imabana II, Abi Local Government Area, Ugboro-Ijibo in Bekwarra, Ipene in Biase, Oku-Bushuyu in Boki, College of Health Technology, Calabar, Okoroba in Etung, Ketting in Obanliku, Ofiorti Okpitumo in Obubra, Ukprinyi in Obudu, Mbube West 11 Odaje in Ogoja and Ijiaraga and Wanikade in Yala local Government area, whose renovation and construction have been completed by the administration. Several others across Local Governments in the State are either undergoing renovation or construction.

On infrastructure, such as road construction and reconstruction, the State Government through Rural Development Agency (RUDA) has so far completed no fewer than 11 rural roads, while about 18 of them are ongoing, and another 474 kilometres of roads covering 29 across rural communities in 17 Local Government Areas are being handled by the State Ministry of Works under the Cross River Rural Access and Mobility project (CR-RAMP). A good number of them have been completed and were to be commissioned before the Supreme Court judgement.

On power supply, which is a component of the State 7-point agenda, aimed at providing and sustaining infrastructure, over 167 rural communities in the State are now benefitting from electricity and solar power boreholes. A good number of them also now have standard boreholes that generate potable water for drinking and for industrial use. These communities include Ngoli/Iyagor and Eteweh electricity projects and installation of solar and boreholes in Imabana and Ekureku in Abi Local Government Area; electricity in Awi to Mbarakom, Nsan/Obun, Okomita, Federal Housing and Iwuru, solar in Government Secondary School, Akamkpa, Iwuru Central and Iko Esai, as well as the drilling of boreholes in Iwuru Central, Iko Esai and Mfamosing, all in Akamkpa Local Government Area.

Other communities also benefitting from electricity provided by Imokeís administration include Idundu, Asanka, boreholes in Atimbo East, Ikot Ekpo, Akansoko, Ikot Edem Odo Secondary School, Government Comprehensive High School, Akwa, Ikot Effiom, Esuk Mba and Esuk Ewa in Akpabuyo Local Government Area. Solar has been installed in parts of the Area where boreholes have been drilled.

At Bakassi, Nsidung/Ikot Adiaha has now been electrified while Ikot Inwang has been provided with alternative solar energy. At Bekwarra, Ijibor, Owala/Bewo, Abuagbor and Nichogodo communities can now boast of electricity, courtesy of the Imokeís administration, while Bekwarra Secondary School, Abuochiche now has both solar and borehole, with boreholes now in Ubiba, Ochagbe and Abukpem(Gakem).
It was also within the administration that solar was installed in Ipene, Umon Island and Community Secondary School, Adim in Biase Local Government Area, while boreholes have been provided in Betem and Iwuru in the Area. There is now also electricity in Nkim-Osokom and borehole and solar in Buda in Boki.

In Calabar South, solar has now been installed in Calabar Municipal Government College, Ikot Ansa and NYSC Demonstration School, while the Area now witnesses electricity in Water Board Intake, Abattoir Community, New GRA, Ikorinim and boreholes installed in Ikot Effanga and Ward 2 of the Municipality. Calabar South now has most of its streets electrified while solar has been installed at College Technical College, Main Avenue, which also now has a standard borehole.

While Ekugatai and Atuma communities in Etung Local Government Area now has electricity supply, Mfum has both solar and borehole. The solar has been installed in Balep-Opu, Adijinkpor, Abaragba and Government Secondary School, Ikom in Ikom local Government Area, while Atimaka, Grass Field and Abaragba now has electricity. The case is not different in Ketting, Bisu-Bayayan, Kukare, Utuhu and Community Secondary School, Sankwala now with solar in Obanliku, with most of them, including Bagga Market and Blekonnu now having boreholes.
In Obubra, the administration has also electrified Imabana Ochukwu, Ogada, apiapum and Ochon, while solar energy now exist in Mbembe Community School. Ukambi/Ikwomiku and Ngarkpor/Binhue in Obudu have also been electrified with solar and boreholes provided in Ipong-Kakum and Government Secondary School, Obudu.

Ukem, Ukim Ita and Efut Ibonda in Odukpani local Government Area now has power supply while boreholes have been provided in Obomitiat, Creek Town and Ukwa, with solar now existing in some of the communities, in addition to Ikoneto. Electricity in Ogoja is now evident in Mbok/Mojakabekabe, Mfuma 1 and 2 and Bansan, while boreholes exist in Ukpe and Idum Mbube, which also has solar energy.
Ipoule-Okuku in Yala now has electricity supply, while solar has been provided in Ebolpuole, Echumofana, Igade-Ayumbe and Government Secondary School, Okpoma with boreholes sunk in Staff Quarters, Mfum, Igade-Ayumbe, Ijiriga and Ntrigom. Ugep Urban, and Mbora Wanudu in Yakurr now have power supply, while solar is in Ajere-Ekori, Ikpakapit, Abanamkpal-Nko and Agoi Ekpo, with boreholes provided alongside, including Community Secondary School, Ugep.

Interestingly, many other similar projects across the State are at various stages of completion. Social welfare schemes under project Hope and Comfort for women, widows, youths, children and less-privileged are also successful in Imokeís administration, in addition to traffic lights projects that have been completed in Calabar Metropolis.

And with the desire of Senator Imoke to re-contest the coming election, coupled with these volumes of achievements, the coast is clear. Only those with fabulous records of achievements and with the needed clout will be able to floor Imoke in any political contest.
There is therefore need for the people to appreciate who they have in Imoke by ensuring his victory and the PDP in this monthís election
There is no better way to say, thank you to the Almighty God for sending to us Senator Imoke than to reciprocate these gestures with a vote for Imoke. It will mean a vote for more good things to come.

Oham writes from Calabar. (Sun)wp_posts