Democracy is working in Akwa Ibom – Maku

The Minister of Information and Communications, Labaran Maku, has said that democracy is working in Akwa Ibom State with visible signs of development.
Maku, who made the assertion on Thursday, accompanied by the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Bassey Ita Ewa, in continuation of the National Good Governance Tour, noted that over the years, the state did not boast of an e-library, airport, flyovers and a new Governor’s Office, among others.
During a courtesy call on the state Governor, Barrister Godswill Akpabio, Maku recalled that before 2007, the state used to experience narrow roads and avalanche of motorcyclists on the various streets, stating: ”Today, anybody visiting Akwa Ibom cannot but say that democracy has delivered the people from poverty and dearth of infrastructure.
”Democracy is about development.
“You cannot come to Akwa Ibom and say there is no progress.
“As we came last night, just looking around, we see what democracy has brought to the state.
“I must admit this Governor’s Office was not here during the last electioneering campaigns.
“Changes are going on here.’
The aim of the tour, the Minister explained, was to show projects, efforts, challenges and allow the verdicts for Nigerians.
Akpabio, who urged the Good Governance Team to take their time and inspect projects in the state, stressed that they will have different comments at the end of the tour, adding “I urge you to take time and go round the projects in the state.
“Each time I watch the good governance tour on television, the minister always says that every state is progressing.
“When you are through, you will say well all the states are doing well but Akwa Ibom State….”
Akpabio highlighted significant projects in the state that would make the tour of Akwa Ibom State by the group different from other states to include the first Pipe Jacking drainage system in Africa, Akwa Ibom International Airport with the best runway and almost completed Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul facility, E-library, Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Galleria and other projects.
He observed: “I hope at the end, you will take something back and what you will take back is the fact that government can work.
“Government can work, not only resources.
“You may have resources and misapply it.
“If you have the resources and apply them well, it will be for the benefit of the people.
“It will transform the landscape and the minds of the people.
“I thank the Honourable Minister for this tour.
“It is a good thing that will happen to Nigeria.
“If we don’t blow our trumpet, who will blow it for us?”