Embrace the spirit of Christmas, Akpabio tasks Nigerians

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom
State has urged Nigerians to embrace the
spirit of Christmas by striving to keep it
throughout the New Year, resolve not only
to show love to one another in this
wonderful season, but also to let love
guide every action in the coming year.
According to Akpabio, "It is only in this
way that we shall realize that ancient,
wondrous and angelic proclamation of
“peace on earth and goodwill towards
men”.
Akpabio gave the advice in his 2013 radio
and television broadcast Christmas
message to the people of and residents in
Akwa Ibom State, adding that his
administration would ensure that mega
projects undertaken by his government
are commissioned next year.
Akpabio, who recalled that a few days
ago, Akwa Ibom children drawn from the
31 Local Government Areas coalesced into
a 9,999 Choir to sing Christmas Carols in
praise and honor of our God, pointed out
that the historic event was a watershed in
spiritual rebirth, thanking those who
attended the event or followed it in the
media, and hoping that next year, the
festival of carols would hold at the ultra-
modern 30,000 capacity international
stadium.
He listed the projects to include Ibom
Tropicana Entertainment Centre, Ibom
Specialist Hospital and Ibom International
Stadium, among others.
According to him,"We have eased the
burdens of our people with various
economic incentives. We have tarred over
320 roads; executed over 4,000 people-
oriented projects in our rural communities
across the entire State under the Inter-
ministerial Direct Labour Scheme;
attained about 90 per cent coverage in
electricity supply; commenced work on the
main terminal building of the Ibom
International Airport while work on the
international stadium is nearing
completion. We have turned Uyo into a
modern, beautiful and sophisticated
metropolitan city".
The Governor, however, stated "Work is
on-going on the third pipe-jacking
underground drainage system which will
serve the Tropicana Complex, the environs
of the State Secretariat and our newly-
completed dualized Nung Udoe/Ibesikpo
Asutan Road; a road that has caught the
fancy of our nation".
Akpabio observed "We started this journey
in 2007 with a firm commitment to
positively change forever, the lives of our
people. The God who brought us this far
will not abandon us in the New Year. We
have proved that a united Akwa Ibom can
only grow from strength to strength and
stronger and stronger each passing day.
Let us never succumb to the forces of
divisiveness, for such forces are obstacles
to stop us from living the rich promises of
our forefathers.
"We set out to change Akwa Ibom State,
but now we appear to have become the
bellwether of hope for a new Nigeria. The
wave of development in our State has
elicited great commendation and praise
from within and without our Country. Our
State has become the destination of
choice for conferences, workshops,
seminars and retreats in Nigeria. Thanks
to God, we have become a reference point
in good governance and a paragon of
development.
"As this year draws to a close, we can
count our blessings and know we have a lot
to thank God for. As a People and a
State, we have moved from the shadows
of national life to the centre of national
attention. With God on our side we have
recorded great successes in
infrastructural development, human
capacity building, economic growth,
educational advancement and health care
services", the Governor stated.