By Otobong Nsekpong
It will be difficult if not impossible to document every activity of the Transition Committee for Etinan Local Government Area under the leadership of Honourable Uko Umoh.
This is owing to the fact that his nine months reign as chairman of council was full of activities aimed at improving the living condition of the people. Just as his appointment beat and upturn every political permutations, his actions as council chairman was loaded with positive surprises for the people. In his mind, one thing was Paramount; A New Iman Is Possible.
He started off by engaging the youths of Etinan in the clearing of road side from Ekom Iman all the way to Mbioto and the bridge head going into Nsit Ibom Local Government Area. This reminded the people of some years back where work officers from the local government used to carry out this activity. In doing this, the chairman not only cleared the road but empowered the youths in these hard times.
In January 2024, he set up a committee to go into all the 64 villages in Etinan Local Government Area, audit government infrastructure and come out with workable recommendations. At the end of the committee’s assignment, Honourable Uko Umoh declared the recommendations made by the committee as a workable tool for his administration.
True to his words, at the end of his nine months stay, six non functional water projects at Ikot Akpa Ese Efa, Nkana, Ndon Utim, Etinan Urban, Edem Ekpat and Ikot Akpabio were repaired and source of power(Generators) provided for pumping of water and supply to the people.
He has also facilitated the procurement of three electricity transformers for Mbioto Ekpene Ituen, Iman Road in Etinan and Ikot Akpabio. In addition, he also broke the 13 years reign of darkness at the Council Secretariat by reconnecting it to national grid thereby restoring light to the council.
In the area of health, the council carried out the first ever medical outreach where surgeries were carried out, reading glasses given out for free and hundreds of medical cases attended to by visiting physicians. Recently, the chairman also cleared off the medical bill of Peace Emmanuel of Ikot Udobia community at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. These and many other interventions he carried out in the health sector that has drawn the government closer to the people and the impact is felt across in the communities.
To the staff of the council, it was a dawn of a new era in Etinan Local Government Area. The chairman was prompt in the payment of impress and allowances which no staff of the council could recall the last time such allowances were paid.
People living with disability were not left out in the running of the council as wheelchair, tricycle, clutches, business grants were distributed to some beneficiaries.This too was unprecedented in the history of the council’s administration.
The intention of the chairman of the Transition Committee was to make life better for the people in the rural communities in line with the ARISE Agenda of the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
To achieve this aim, the Transition Committee went in search of the council’s grader, found it, got it fixed and used it to grade rural roads in the 12 political wards in the local government area creating access to rural markets, boosting economic activities in our communities.
Agriculture was not left out in line with the ‘back to farm’ campaign of the state government. More than six hectares of land have been cultivated while farm inputs, seedlings were donated to rural farmers.
The Transition Committee is set to build an ultra modern motor park for the local government and the transition committee has procured building materials and once he returns as elected chairman, work will begin in earnest.
The traditional institution was not left out as well in the administration of Uko Umoh as transition chairman. Little wonder the institution stood solidly behind his aspiration to lead the council as an elected chairman with a three to four year mandate.
Above all, the Transition Committee was a responsive administration that paid attention to the desire of the people and responded promptly to every request pending availability of funds.
In a congratulatory message to the chairman on his meritorious service to Etinan people as Transition Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer of SamSharon Global Concept Ltd, Mr Samuel Sampson described his tenure as filled with activities and action.
Mr. Sampson while declaring total support to the aspiration of Honourable Uko Umoh is optimistic that the future is brighter for the people of Etinan after the local government polls.
“What we will witness in the next three years will be unprecedented. Honourable Uko Umoh is an action man who will leave no stone unturn in bringing development to the people at the grassroots”
