IBOM TROPICANA: APPRECIATING SILVERBIRD CLARIFICATION

Dear Editor,

IBOM TROPICANA: APPRECIATING SILVERBIRD CLARIFICATION

After reading through the defence put up in an advertisement on behalf of Governor Godswill Akpabio by Silverbird Galleria, the contractor handling the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre, one would like to commend the sincerity contained in it - Saturday Vanguard, May 8, 2010, page 14 refers.

The advertisement which was a reply to an earlier one placed last week by the Akwa Ibom Citizens Rights Group, in some national dailies, questioning why Governor Akpabio has not lived up to his promise to the people regarding the timely delivery on the Tropicana project. Silverbird’s publication brought out salient points in defence of the failed promise; and those points were not different from the ones highlighted by former Governor Victor Attah in his advisory letter to Governor Akpabio, last year.

Nevertheless, one would like to comment on the last paragraph of the Silverbird’s advertisement which quoted thus: “We commend the efforts of the visionary, dynamic and hard working Governor of Akwa Ibom State for his commitment to delivering the fruits of democracy to the good people of Akwa Ibom State. Generations of Akwa Ibom people and indeed Nigerians will surely appreciate the legacies of Akpabio government. Support and cooperation is what will move the State forward and not distraction”. To this, one would like to know from Silverbird who is distracting who. If the contract had been fulfilled as planned, no one would have called the governor’s attention the way it is being done now. Akwa Ibom citizens are trying to ensure that their governor remains focused. May be Silverbird is the one trying to distract him by not keeping to schedule and we call upon it to concentrate on the job and not tell us how to appreciate our governor.

Udy Etop Akpabio, Umuahia Road, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. edidiong.akpabio@yahoo.com