Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom on Sunday took his oath of office for a second term with a promise to work with the opposition in the state.
Akpabio took both the oath of allegiance and oath of office immediately after his new deputy, Chief Nsima Ekere, who was sworn-in for the first time.
The state’s Chief Judge, Justice Idongesit Ntem-Isua, administered the oath on both of them in the ceremony performed at Uyo Township Stadium.
In his speech, Akpabio said that he was more determined to fulfil the oath he had taken, calling on his opponents to join hands with him to work for the state.
“I am going to appoint members of other political parties to show that I am the governor for all. In the last elections, there was no victor no vanquished,’’ Akpabio said.
The governor said, “Four years ago, when I took the oath of office I told you that our state will never be the same again and today, we are proud that we have taken the state afar.
“No amount of propaganda and blackmail can divide us. With the last elections, we buried hatred forever and it shall remain so forever.
“We have come a long way, I am happy that we now live in a state where every child no matter the circumstances of his birth has equal opportunity to acquire formal education.
“This is possible with the free and compulsory education programme of this administration; we now live in a state where every child, pregnant woman and the aged have access to free medical treatment.’’
The governor said that since 2007 till date, his administration had completed electricity projects in 1,350 communities and had also constructed 205 urban roads and built five new general hospitals.
Akpabio promised to complete the multi-billion naira Ibom Tropicana and Entertainment Centre, which, according to him, will divert attention from Dubai to Akwa Ibom for shopping. (NAN)
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