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Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has renamed the airport road in honor of his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, whom he referred to as his “political father”.
The road, which is a 21.5 kilometer widened part of Oron Road, extends from the Ring Road III roundabout to the Victor Attah International Airport, serving as a gateway to Uyo, the state capital.
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“We have the resolution of the Executive Council to properly name this road which was called airport road and which will now be known and addressed from now on as Udom Emmanuel Boulevard,” Eno said on Monday during the commissioning ceremony.
The ceremony was part of activities marking the first anniversary of Mr. Eno’s administration.
Earlier on Sunday, during his first anniversary thanksgiving service, Governor Eno renamed the 21-story smart building “Dakkada Towers” in honor of Mr. Emmanuel.
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“You called them Dakkada Towers, but by the authority vested in me as governor of Akwa Ibom State, I change the name of this 21-storey building to Udom Emmanuel Towers, because of the works you have done in our state.”
The smart building said to be the tallest in south-south Nigeria was built under Emmanuel’s administration, while the new Udom Emmanuel Boulevard was started by Emmanuel but completed by Eno.
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In his remarks at the highway commissioning ceremony, Eno praised his predecessor for being “bold and strategic in his approach to development.”
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Eno said his predecessor had promised to open the state by land, sea and air and had certainly “kept faith in the Akwa Ibom people.”
He listed some of the projects carried out by his predecessor at the Victor Attah International Airport, including the new airport terminal, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and the taxiway.
“The MRO is ready and instead of the nation trying to find people to start a new MRO, we are ready to partner with Nigeria to start earning foreign exchange.
“We invite Nigeria to enjoy our smart airport terminal and grant international status to the airport.
“Your Excellency (referring to Mr. Emmanuel), we have read you a heartfelt tribute. “There is no honor too much for a man who worked for eight years and built this infrastructure for our state,” Eno said.
Responding before commissioning the project, Emmanuel, flanked by his wife, Martha, thanked Eno for honoring him and the people of the state for supporting the governor.
“Let me thank you for the final anointing that is upon you and for being a pastor who has not let us down.”
He recalled how the day before Eno gave his name to the 21-story building. Emmanuel said the building would have been fully occupied if not for COVID-19.
“Because we had an expression of interest even at the time when we were on the seventh floor, but COVID-19 hit for two and a half years and the whole scenario and ways of doing business changed around the world.”
He thanked his successor for naming the road after him and said he was overwhelmed and amazed that he had never planned it.
The elated former governor said it would be a sin not to support his successor and share his challenges.
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