Akwa Ibom has remained calm with residents freely going about their normal activities on the first day of the national protest against bad governance.
Majority of young people who stayed away from the protest said the state remained calm owing to Governor Umo Eno’s disposition towards it, and his dedicated commitment to the welfare of it’s citizens, especially the poor, challenged and vulnerable.
A visit to some local government areas like Ukanafun, Nsit Ubium, Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Oron and others shows that people were going about their businesses with absolute tranquility.
In Uyo, the State capital, although the streets were not as busy as usual due to perceived fear from previous experience, especially of the #Endsars protest, the streets were clam with usual vehicular and human movements.
A visit to some major points in Uyo including the Ibom Connection, IBB roundabout, mechanic village, Itam flyover, State Secretariat, and Oron Road reveals that the youths were commitment to their promise made to the State Governor that they would not be part of the protest.
Speaking with some youths at the Mechanic Village, they said the leadership of the area had advised that no one should be part of the protest, as the State Governor has been making genuine efforts to ameliorate the suffering of the masses.
At Ibom Connection, the popular central resort junction in Uyo, some youths were seen in clusters discussing the national protest, and reviewing the impact of previous ones as well as the happenings in some other states.
They concluded that Akwa Ibom State Governor has been exceptional in his leadership disposition with numerous social engagements.
They particularly appreciated the Governor for initiating the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre where 800 Akwa Ibom youths have so far been trained and empowered with N500, 000 business grants each.
According to them, the Governor deserves all the support, and the State has no need to join in the national protest.
They also mentioned the Governor’s devotion in bettering the lives of physical challenged students by providing them with scholarships and grants, the elderly through the fifty thousand naira per month support and the poor through the free food vouchers and the Arise Compassionate Homes programme as some of the reasons they listened to Governor Eno’s admonition for them to stay away from the protest.
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