Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has expressed dismay over his critical disposition toward his good gesture to a youngster from Edo State, Precious Bodunde, whom he encouraged with an excellence award for her intellectual prowess in pronouncing five of the longest English words with ease.
But the gesture over Akwa Ibom’s borders has drawn the ire of disgruntled indigenes, who viewed it as unnecessary given the fact that hundreds of unemployed youths abound in the oil-rich state, begging for opportunities to reposition their lives.
Responding, the governor, who spoke through his senior special assistant (SSA) on Research and Documentation, Dr Essien Ndueso, dismissed such rhetorical attacks on the governor over what he described as a simple appreciation and encouragement extended to an ingenious youngster in another state for her exceptional talent.
Describing the untoward action as the handiwork of opposition borne out of fears over his boss’s soaring profile, Essien noted, “Such open display of ignorance would not stop the overwhelming support gained from all strata of the Akwa Ibom people.”
“The rising popularity of the governor based on his performance in the last 19 months accounted for the renewed campaign of calumny orchestrated by the fifth columnists and political jobbers against the state, and the governor has made it clear that he was not going to be deterred by any antics or political shenanigans to lose focus,” he stressed.
He said, “It’s pure mischief for people to criticise the governor for rewarding a young Nigerian, Precious Bodunde, with N10 million following her excellent skills at pronouncing the five longest words in the English Dictionary.
“These are the same people who had campaigned against the governor before his election, accusing him of not being a giver. Today, they are now faulting him for giving.
“Their impression is to paint a picture of a governor who gives to outsiders at the expense of his own people when in the actual sense he has steadily been doling out several incentives and huge packages for people, especially the downtrodden and the young creative minds in the state.
“It is easy for them to feign ignorance of the donation of a N10 million educational grant to Master Kentimfon Ndanyongmong, winner of the 2023 Heirs Life Essay Competition.
“The governor also last year presented N79 million to be paid as fees to four Akwa Ibom students admitted to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State.
“This is the same governor who increased bursaries for students in public tertiary institutions from N10,000 to N20,000 for undergraduates and from N10,000 to N30,000 for specialised programmes.
“The governor also provided educational grants to all public tertiary institution students with disabilities, allocating N250,000 for undergraduates and N300,000 for professional and postgraduate students”.
He lamented that it was unfortunate that some state residents applauded while paid media hirelings from other parts of the country hurled invectives to taint the state’s image.
“Where were these traducers when the governor sponsored the training of 1,200 youths at Ibom-LED, with 800 receiving N500,000 each as exit grants and 400 receiving 750,000 each to start their own businesses?
“Why is it difficult for the political jobbers to see the free training for 200 youths across 31 local government areas currently ongoing at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Center, with a monthly allowance of N20,000 and free accommodation and feeding to each trainee?” he queried.
