Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has approved the official allocation of a plot of land to the Akwa Ibom State Indigenes Forum in Aba for the construction of their Secretariat.
The Governor made this approval public on Monday when he received in audience, the leadership of the Akwa Ibom State Indigenes Forum Abia State who paid him a solidarity visit at the Governor’s Lodge Aba.
The Governor described the people of Akwa Ibom State as “our brothers and next door neighbors with whom we share an unbreakable bond of friendship and brotherhood” a release by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka said in a statement.
He added that the people of Akwa Ibom are hardworking and honest, and have made huge contributions to the development of trade and commerce in Aba and Abia State in general, and were deserving of the allocation.
The release added, “Governor Ikpeazu informed them that he shares a very close personal relationship with Governor UDOM Emmanuel and he had no reasons to deny them any request because he was sure that his brother Governor will treat Abians in Akwa Ibom the same way.
“He also asked them to send him 3 names of their members, one from each of the Senatorial Zones in Akwa Ibom State for appointments as aides to the Governor.
“The Governor thanked them for their visit and endorsement, reminding them of the strategic importance of the Aba – Ikot Ekpene corridor in the commercial life of Aba. The Governor regretted the continuous abandonment of the Aba Ikot Ekpene Highway by the Federal Government which led to serious negative economic consequences for the people of both states, a situation that led his administration to embark on the construction of the Umuaro – Ekwereazu – Nto Edino Road which is today, the only pathway leading into Akwa Ibom from Aba.
“He assured them that when elected to the Senate, he would take steps to correct the total lack of any Federal presence in Abia South and thanked them for being law-abiding.
“Earlier in their separate speeches, Elder Chief Imo Bassey, the Obong Ndito Akwa Ibom in Abia State, Apostle Dr. Anietie Okure, the President of Ibom Gospel Ministers Forum, and Barrister Emmanuel Ikot, the Legal Adviser of the Forum told the Governor that they came to assure him that the people of Akwa Ibom who reside and do business in Abia State are fully with him and the PDP in the 2023 elections. They stated that they have enjoyed peace, security of their lives and property, and prosperity under the Ikpeazu administration. The speakers each told the Governor that they have lived in Abia State for close to 3 decades and made it clear that in terms of infrastructure, no Governor had outperformed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and as such, they will support the election of the Governor to the Senate and indeed, all candidates of the PDP in the 2023 elections, just like their kinsmen at home will do the same.
“They used the opportunity to request the Governor to approve the allocation of land to them in Aba for the building of their permanent Secretariat.
“They also presented the Governor with some gift items.”
