...interviewed by Edet Edet
Ekanem Willie is an epitome of a trusted, sincere politician cum business man. He is a driving force when Eket politics is mentioned; a onetime vice chairman, caretaker chairman of Eket Local Govt. Area of Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with news men, he speaks on his premonition about Udom’s Government and the need to support Udom to succeed.
Ekanem Willie is an epitome of a trusted, sincere politician cum business man. He is a driving force when Eket politics is mentioned; a onetime vice chairman, caretaker chairman of Eket Local Govt. Area of Akwa Ibom State. In this interview with news men, he speaks on his premonition about Udom’s Government and the need to support Udom to succeed.
Excerpt:
It’s alleged in some quarters that the recent re-election of Obong Paul Ekpo’s PDP exco is an indication that Governor Udom has no political structure of his own. Do you share this sentiment?
I have heard this speculation ever since Obong Paul Ekpo was given a second term based on his performance. But to be very frank, it is far from the truth. Government is a continuum, and PDP in Akwa Ibom is one big family which no campaign of calumny or blackmail can break apart. Paul Ekpo’s re-election has nothing to do with Udom’s structure, neither does it has anything to do with Akpabio’s structure; it is a party structure that is all-inclusive. Come to think of it, did Udom not emerge as Governor from that same structure? You people are journalist and you understand more about critics and their criticism. Tell me who Akpabio’s man is and who Udom’s man is? PDP in Akwa Ibom is one indivisible family.
Udom has collected loan four times since he became governor. Do you think this is healthy for our economy?
As a business man cum politician, I take loans to invest in projects with the hope to break even i.e. after offsetting all the Loans. If as an individual I take loans and my investment is still healthy, how much more the government headed by one of the best heads in the banking profession? No one takes a loan with intent of stockpiling and converting it to personal usage. Loans are for investment and these investments are duly scrutinized by the appropriate quarters before money is being injected into it. Governor Udom is a good head that does not indulge in frivolity. So far, the entire loans are being injected into infrastructure and institutions that will drive Akwa Ibom economy to the peak and the best at the exit of this administration. So what makes it unhealthy?
As a business man cum politician, I take loans to invest in projects with the hope to break even i.e. after offsetting all the Loans. If as an individual I take loans and my investment is still healthy, how much more the government headed by one of the best heads in the banking profession? No one takes a loan with intent of stockpiling and converting it to personal usage. Loans are for investment and these investments are duly scrutinized by the appropriate quarters before money is being injected into it. Governor Udom is a good head that does not indulge in frivolity. So far, the entire loans are being injected into infrastructure and institutions that will drive Akwa Ibom economy to the peak and the best at the exit of this administration. So what makes it unhealthy?
How would you rate the performance of the Governor in terms of labour welfare?
It will be too early for anyone to rate the Governor right now. Everyone is aware that inheriting a government and stabilizing it takes a little while. But in terms of labour welfare and relation, he feels their pangs. He knows where it pinches the labour workers. There is no need relying on my answer in this regards, the labour workers comments in the last workers day crowns it all. No worker will jump up and celebrate a man depriving them of their well being. But labour workers celebrated their Governor in the open. What does that signify; it signifies that the Governor pays them salary unlike other states. It is an indication that the Governor will even do more for the labour if he is able.
It will be too early for anyone to rate the Governor right now. Everyone is aware that inheriting a government and stabilizing it takes a little while. But in terms of labour welfare and relation, he feels their pangs. He knows where it pinches the labour workers. There is no need relying on my answer in this regards, the labour workers comments in the last workers day crowns it all. No worker will jump up and celebrate a man depriving them of their well being. But labour workers celebrated their Governor in the open. What does that signify; it signifies that the Governor pays them salary unlike other states. It is an indication that the Governor will even do more for the labour if he is able.
Do you think the Governor is sincere and faithful in his promise of running an all-inclusive administration?
Governor Udom in his inaugural speech said he has offered an olive branch to all aggrieved politicians to join him and bolster his administration forward. From his words and the happenings in the government today, there is a reflection of fairness, equity and faithfulness in his promise of carrying everybody along. Not everyone can accommodate even those who did not support him from day one. Take for instance myself, who was aggrieved because of the way things were going on in the party, today do I sound aggrieved? Do you see me telling you fictions just to undermine the capability of the Udom’s led government. That is a sign that I am carried along. So if I am then every other aggrieved person is carried along too. Udom is a great leader with passion for excellence, to achieve excellence he offers everybody who is willing the opportunity to air his or her views. So Udom’s promise of an all-inclusive government is a certainty.
Governor Udom in his inaugural speech said he has offered an olive branch to all aggrieved politicians to join him and bolster his administration forward. From his words and the happenings in the government today, there is a reflection of fairness, equity and faithfulness in his promise of carrying everybody along. Not everyone can accommodate even those who did not support him from day one. Take for instance myself, who was aggrieved because of the way things were going on in the party, today do I sound aggrieved? Do you see me telling you fictions just to undermine the capability of the Udom’s led government. That is a sign that I am carried along. So if I am then every other aggrieved person is carried along too. Udom is a great leader with passion for excellence, to achieve excellence he offers everybody who is willing the opportunity to air his or her views. So Udom’s promise of an all-inclusive government is a certainty.
How would you rate the Governors industrialization efforts in the state vis-à-vis the groundbreakings?
When we talk of industrialization people get so confused. People believe that once the foundation stone of a project is being led, the project should start growing, forgetting that projects undergo process. It is just like planting trees, it will undergo a process to grow. After groundbreakings the project has began. The facilitating process, the procurement process, the fabrication and installation process etc. all this will come into play to achieve the aim of that project. To me the groundbreakings have already set the projects on motion, although it won’t happen overnight but it will undergo all the processes. Industrialization is the driving force of Udom’s administration. It is never to be toyed with, so those who are crying wolf that operational industries are supposed to be seen from all the groundbreakings, it is just funny.
When we talk of industrialization people get so confused. People believe that once the foundation stone of a project is being led, the project should start growing, forgetting that projects undergo process. It is just like planting trees, it will undergo a process to grow. After groundbreakings the project has began. The facilitating process, the procurement process, the fabrication and installation process etc. all this will come into play to achieve the aim of that project. To me the groundbreakings have already set the projects on motion, although it won’t happen overnight but it will undergo all the processes. Industrialization is the driving force of Udom’s administration. It is never to be toyed with, so those who are crying wolf that operational industries are supposed to be seen from all the groundbreakings, it is just funny.
Eket has not been marginalized; we have always felt the presence of the state government even when it does not suit our status as the goose that lays the golden egg. We don’t have good roads, good drainages. To me, our roads should be of gold or marble to commemorate the resources from our land. But Governor Udom has started good works already, I think Eket will experience
0 comments
Post a Comment
You Can Comment Below! --- YourGist247.Com