The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has warned politically exposed persons against undue pressure on contractors handling government projects in the State.

The Governor handed down this warning on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at the flag-off of 8.6KM Ediene Abak-Ikot Ekan Road at Ikot Ekan in Etinan LGA.

“Let me warn very quickly that I will not hesitate to terminate any contract that is not optimally performed. We don’t intend to stop but finish on timeline and move on to other projects.”

“Let me appeal to the people to protect the contractor and let him do his job. Don’t bring too much pressure on him so that he doesn’t begin to cut corners.”

“If you stop a contractor for working, I don’t care the level you are I will stop you. How can we just mobilize a contractor with one billion Naira and you are demanding seven hundred million?”

“I have been begging people, don’t abuse my simplicity. You elected me as governor and governor I will be. When you do this to the contractor, he abandons the road and then the blame will come to us for abandoning projects.”

“I am not saying stakeholders should not talk to contractors but let it not get to a point you threaten to stop the contractor; you have no right to stop a contractor from doing their work. Don’t test my will and my resolve.”

“If any contractor has water to give you let them give but let them do my road for that is what I paid them to do. If they fail, I can pick them up.”

The State Governor thanked the people for the massive support given to him at the last gubernatorial election assuring that he will serve them to the best of his ability.

Earlier, the commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Professor Eno Ibanga had enumerated the technical component of the road to include full drainage and 1.2 outfall drain expected to last a life time with constant maintenance and has a two-year deadline.

The Clan Head of Ediene Abak, Sunday Umoh thanked the Governor for embarking on the construction of the road which according to him will reduce robbery incidence, accident and backwardness of Ediene Clan.

“As you have remembered us, let your contractor be sincere with you and I can assure you that come 2027 you will need no unit coordinators as the entire people will queue behind your second term aspiration.”

The contractor, J. I. Sigma assured the Governor of timely completion of the road project and execution according to specification.

“We will maintain our record of quality job execution on this project.”

Goodwill messages came from the chairmen of Etinan LGA, Uko Umoh, and Abak LGA, Ekerette Inyang, political leader of Etinan LGA, Kenneth Okon, as well as the representative of Etinan State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Uduak Ekpo-Ufot.