Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang, has said that Ikot Abasi Local Government Area was the most deserving location to site the Federal University of Technology, Akwa Ibom recently approved by the Federal Government.
Enang described the alleged quest by Gov. Udom Emmanuel to corner and pipe down the approved federal university of technology to Awa Iman in Onna local government area as disservice to the Akwa Ibom people who voted him into power.
Enang, who disclosed this to newsmen during a press briefing in Uyo on Sunday, maintained that for justice, fairness, and equity to prevail, the institution should be sited in Ikot Abasi LGA.
“The self-centred manner of the governor for stretching his hands and seeking to site the University at his home is not encouraging.
“I want to say that the whole of Akwa Ibom people should rise up including the traditional rulers, the youth leaders and politicians across political parties and try to encourage Governor Udom Emmanuel that he should accept and work for the establishment of this University in Ikot Abasi and not Onna.
“He had formally made a request that the University should be sited in Onna. I considered this as improper, imprudent, and not acting as governor of the state.
“If everything that comes to Akwa Ibom must go to Onna, then the governor is acting in a manner that could best be described as Udomcentric and self-centred.
“He’s the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. His duty is not to think of taking everything home. As a Governor, Udom Emmanuel should work for the growth of the whole state and not just his LGA.
“Onna has the University Teaching Hospital built by Abdusalem, flower mill, syringe factory, all the roads, biggest estate own by one person,” he added.
Enang thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Honourable Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and his Permanent Secretary for making sure Akwa Ibom State was chosen for the virgin University.
He observed that President Buhari was correct when he said, “I belong to nobody, I belong to everybody”, saying irrespective of the state being controlled by the PDP, the president graciously considered her for the favour.
The Presidential Aide said that the federal government was applying the federal character to spread the federal universities to the three Senatorial Districts, a factor which he said, shifted the newly established university to Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District.
He noted that both Oron and Eket Federal Constituencies had Federal Institutions, thereby making it possible for the school to be sited in Ikot Abasi.
He pointed out that the Federal Ministry of education was on the verge of making a pronouncement regarding the site of the Federal University of Technology.
“As someone whose first constituency is education, you can see that I fought for all the Tertiary institutions presently in Akwa Ibom State.
“I sponsored the Bill for the University of Uyo to operate under the law and I worked with President Jonathan to get it assented. I fought for and brought the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana.
“I singlehandedly fought for and brought this Federal University of Technology. FG has insisted it must be at the Eket Senatorial District. Ikot Abasi LGA would host the Federal University of Technology.
The Senator, who assured of working with the federal government for the actualisation of the institution, congratulated the people of Ikot Abasi LGA, particularly, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma who is now the Chairman, Governing Council for the Bayero University, Kano State.