In its determination to ensure total implementation of Governor Umo Eno’s blueprint; a pro-democracy group in Akwa Ibom State, ‘ARISE Ambassadors’ has promised to move to the hinterlands to intimate the rural dwellers about the government policies and programmes.
The Chairman of the group, Rev’d Richard Peters who disclosed this shortly after the inauguration of the group in Uyo over the weekend explained that the group would actualize that through staging public debates on radio and television as well as embarking on community tours where community leaders would be engaged occasionally to keep the locals abreast with the relevant information bothering on rural development.
Peters said gone are the days where citizens sit on the fence and watch things unfold noting that all hands must be on deck to ensure the success of this administration and beyond.
While noting that the group is a volunteer defense corps for the programmes and projects of government, the chairman stressed that it was not for political campaigns but created for the purposes of offering civic and social responsibilities as well as advocating for good governance amongst other things.
Part of the text read, “Bearing in mind the often neglected rural populace after elections, we intend to reintegrate the rural dwellers into His Excellency’s agenda through the introduction of community tours, where community leaders will be engaged occasionally and kept abreast of the relevant information bothering on rural development.
“We will also be staging regular public debates on radio and television to interface with the people, while fielding feedback from them. We will work assiduously, especially in the hinterlands, where access to the social media is minimal, to build public support for the Governor’s ARISE agenda and to communicate the governor’s message to the public.
“It is the greatest undoing of citizens to sit on the fence and watch, when there are more to be done. Every great society is a product of government-citizens partnership. In other words, there can be no great society without the people and the government working together. We will ensure that the people across party lines, even in remote villages understand and become a part of it.”
Earlier in a welcome remark, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, BOT, Hon Ernest Akpan said the new movement would remain a Think Tank that would play a key role in interpreting the Governor’s visionary plans aimed at propelling the state’s socio-economic growth and transforming the lives of indigenes and residents of the state.
In her goodwill message, the wife of the former Military Administrator of the State, Mrs. Funmi Idongesit Nkanga said there was need for a group that would go into the hinterlands of the state to explain the ARISE agenda of the present government which anchors on Agriculture, Rural development, Infrastructural maintenance, Security management and Education advancement.
The Former governor’s wife recalled that so many people misinterpreted the “happy hour” slogan of governor Umo Eno during the electioneering campaigns as introducing drunkenness in governance saying that if the ARISE Ambassadors were to be in existence during the period it would have being their task to enlighten the public on what the governor actually meant.
According to her, “There is need for this group, there is need for those who will go into the interior and explain what the ARISE agenda is all about. A lot of people do not understand what the agenda of the government is all about. I know for instance the ‘Happy hour’ of the governor was misunderstood.
”If everybody understands what the ARISE agenda is all about and key into it, it will help them greatly. Who does not want his child to go to school? Who does not like to eat good food? Who does not like development in his community? So if the people understand especially those in the hinterlands, and follow, I assure you, our state will grow for better.”
She therefore charged members to uphold the tenants of the group and show a high level of sincerity, transparency and dedication to duties.
