Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has expressed concern what he termed “negative energy” on the political scene ahead of the country’s general election.
He spoke at the commissioning of 1.15km Afi-Uko Nteghe Uda brigde on Etebi-Enwang Road, Mbo LGA, Akwa Ibom State.
Jonathan said: “I’m a bit worried by the negative energy generated ahead of the 2023 elections.
“We have noticed a level of bitterness in our politics that does not bring development and I plead with politicians that marketing is about marketing your ideas.
“Politics is not about fighting, is not insulting, is not about abusing.
“We have been reading in the newspapers and social media of how billboards of presidential candidates, governorship candidates are pulled down and I believe by hoodlums, but sometimes, they say some governments even support those kind of things.
“If you are a part of the team doing that, then know that you are among the unfortunate miscreants, virus or pathogen that is really decomposing our democracy.
“Please stop doing that, but in all these, I believe the security services have a lot to do.
“I believe anybody who commits a crime should not be covered under politics.
“Arson is arson and is never status bound, so somebody who commits a crime, burns houses, kills people, the record must be kept, and whenever the investigation is completed, such people should be prosecuted.
“That is the only way people would stop doing this.
“But if people commit criminal offences and walk away, then, of course, other people would be encouraged to do same.
“So security services in Nigeria have a lot to do.
“They must not spare any criminal.”
Inaugurating the fourth longest bridge in the country with a total length of 1.15km, Jonathan said the bridge would improve the economic activities of the people.
He noted that the project is one of the longest bridges in West Africa and the length of the bridge is so nice even at the night.
He said: “Governor (Udom) Emmanuel had delivered several projects and built many bridges, but this particular bridge I am commissioning today, is a flagship project.
“It is the fourth longest bridge in the country and the longest bridge ever built by a state government.
“It takes somebody with total commitment to improve the quality of life of the people and to embark on such projects.”
He explained that Emmanuel’s strategic plan had delivered great dividends of democracy to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“We are here to commission a special projects which is designed to promote economic growth and improve the life of the people,” Jonathan said.
In his remarks, Governor Emmanuel said he has satisfied his conscience with his achievements across the state.
He added that despite criticisms and the falsehood peddled against his government, he had tried not to be distracted.
Emmanuel commended the community for supporting the construction of the project, noting that the project confirms his promise to open up the riverine areas.
He said: “I said in my second term that we are going to open up the riverine areas.
“In Nigeria today, I think we are very few in terms of governors who can have 31 local government areas and development touching 31 local government areas simultaneously.
“There is no local government out of 31 which can say that this administration has not touched or there is not an ongoing life-touching project in the area.
“This is the only place a subnational is signing a signature in the sky, on the land, in the water.
“Today, if I had gotten the support of the Federal Government, we would have gone far in this area.
“This is where the industrial hub for the future Nigeria lies.”
Prof. Eno Ibanga, Commissioner for Works, said the length of the bridge was 1.150km, comprising 52 spans of 22.5m each.
NAN reports that the project was abandoned until Emmanuel re-awarded it in 2018 to Amitec Construction Company and completed it.
