Obot Akara chair celebrates one year of impact, applauds Eno’s reforms

Emmanuel Ekponta

The Chairman of Obot Akara Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Simon Dominic Akpan, has highlighted his achievements in his first year in office, crediting the notable progress across various sectors to Governor Umo Eno’s effective implementation of local government autonomy.

Speaking with journalists at his residence in the neighbouring Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akpan listed education and scholarships, agriculture, empowerment and job creation, security, and infrastructure—particularly rural road construction—among his major achievements in the past year.

He commended Governor Umo Eno for his leadership, saying, “The governor has truly shown that he is a genuine pastor and a man of conscience. He has demonstrated goodwill by allowing council allocations to reach the third tier directly. Otherwise, where would I have got the resources to execute all these projects?” he asked.

On the major challenge facing the council, the Chairman disclosed frequent security infractions between some villages within his council and the next-door neighbour in Abia state.

He listed some troubled Abia communities terrorising Obot Akara council areas to include Ekwereazu, Abama, and others around the Ukwa North zone, which he said, had necessitated his peace overtures to meet with the Clan head and other traditional rulers on strategies to end the perennial skirmishes.

“Because of insecurity, I have committed N10 million in funding the local vigilantes, and 60 of them have been trained, and are currently working with the Police to provide intelligence and other security logistics,” he said.

The chairman, however, commended the Commissioner of Police for working in synergy with the council to contain security breaches around his council areas.

In the education sector in Obot Akara, Hon. Akpan, stated that he was on a mission to reposition education as the bedrock of any society, disclosing that the council has procured 5,000 customised exercise books to be freely shared across all public schools in the council later this month.

“In line with the ARISE Agenda blueprint of the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, we have done, and we are still intervening to ensure access to education by every home because we don’t want to see any child of school age roaming the streets during school hours,” he said.

Also, the chairman spoke of his administration’s intervention in the health sector, working in collaboration with administrative leaders of the council, as well as all the councillors and supervisory councillors drawn from different political wards in Obot Akara LGA.

A modern primary healthcare facility to address the immediate health challenges of the rural Obot Akara residents, especially pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and other emergency cases, according to him, would soon be completed and commissioned for use by the people.

“”Let me specifically thank God for imbuing me with the wisdom and knowledge to oversee this council effectively, working with my administrative heads of different departments in the council.

“Also, I have a very cordial relationship with my councillors and supervisors, which, without them, no meaningful progress would have been achieved last year,” he noted.

Therefore, ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Chairman pledged full support for the governor’s quest for a second term. He assured that Obot Akara council would never betray the governor. He also commended the governor’s resolve to take the state to the centre through the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor’s political calculation, he stressed, would draw a lot of federal presence to Akwa Ibom State. This is essential for sustainable growth and development.

*Simon Dominic Akpan, Obot Akara LGA Chairman