The member representing Akwa Ibom South (Eket)Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Eyakenyi, has rated her performance in National Assembly high.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, I am grateful to God for this opportunity. This parley has been pending for a while. Thank you for your patience and unquantifiable support these past years. It would have been herculean and stressful without your understanding and encouragement.
Between 2018 and April 2019 when the general elections held, I traversed the length and breath of our district soliciting for the support of our people towards my ambition to represent us at the Senate. God by my side, the overwhelming majority of our people entrusted the mandate on me and I was subsequently sworn into office on the eleventh of June, 2019.
My pledge to Akwa Ibom South Senatorial was to give us a face and a voice at the Senate. I equally assured our people to bring back home whatever is given to the district.
Within the past two years, I have very consciously guided my actions in line with my promises. My first motion at the 9th Assembly came on the first three months plenary after inauguration. Since then, I have sponsored many other motions and bills while cosponsoring several others. Amongst them are the Bill which seeks to upgrade Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron to a full fledged university and the Nigeria Coast Guard (Establishment) Bill.
With respect to oversight functions, I was made the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) given my background as an educationist. To the glory of God, I have piloted the affairs of that committee from inception to the admiration of all stakeholders. I have done likewise in other committees I belong.
With respect to the empowerment of our constituents, I have touched largely the youth and the women by way of skills acquisition trainings and cash donations for start up of the various trades learnt. This started with the training of our youth in oil and gas related areas to make our youth fit and qualified to work in oil and gas companies and servicing companies. Some of the trained youths were facilitated to secure jobs with oil and gas servicing companies.
I have also extended the empowerment to students, widows (across the state) and the physically challenged.
So far, many of our constituents have been awarded scholarships, several have been enlisted in the Federal Government Social Welfare Schemes, several have been offered jobs in the civil and paramilitary services while lots more are on the waiting list.
Considering the security situation in the country and in order to contribute to the prevailing peace in Akwa Ibom State cum Akwa Ibom South, I mounted Security Retreats for Political, Social, Religious, Traditional, as well as Youth Leaders of various description across the district.
As a properly groomed professional teacher and an education stakeholder in the country, I deemed it needful to tilt towards the direction of our Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel who declared a state of emergency in the education sector in Akwa Ibom State. With this mindset, I have assisted in the improvement of schools infrastructure across the district by constructing, renovating and furnishing classroom blocks (with offices and stores) and assembly halls besides the provision of other infrastructures like toilets, portable water, perimeter fencing etc. Landscaping and erosion control project have also been carried out in one of the schools, and skill Acquisition center.
Due to high school enrollments in public primary and secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State occasioned by the free and compulsory education policy of our education-friendly Governor, there is noticeable shortfall in school furniture, learning and instructional materials. In this regard, I have made donation of instructional materials, teachers/pupils chairs, desks and tables, textbooks, exercise books, graph books, generating sets to primary schools across the senatorial district.
As I speak now, many more projects are ongoing across Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the district.
To address the perennial power supply issue, transformers have been procured, installed and connected to service some communities within the district.
To empower our supporters and constituents politically, I have facilitated the appointment of our people into various political positions and equally played key roles in the emergence of some as elected political office holders.
It is of absolute importance to note that I have very consciously strived to ensure that my modest interventions are evenly distributed across all Local Government Areas within the senatorial district. I am very proud to say that there is no LGA that is yet to benefit directly from my programmes and projects so far.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is almost thirty months since I got sworn into office to represent us at Nigeria’s topmost legislative Assembly. The few things achieved through God’s unfailing mercies are eloquent testimonies of my avowed commitment to delivering on my promises to our people.
I have by the help of God lived to the terms of my promise to bring back everything meant for our people/ constituents.
I have sincerely given my all to the service of our people.
We have eighteen months ahead of us and I shall never relent until the very last second of my tenure. We have yet many more programmes and projects in the 2022 budget which shall greatly impact our people.
I cannot forget to mention the tremendous support of the good people of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. I have for this past several months drawn strength and inspiration from the overwhelming support, encouragement and prayers of our teeming supporters and constituents. My prayer is that God will continue to help me to serve us right in reciprocation of our people’s tremendous goodwill. I also will never backpedal on soliciting for more support, prayers and inputs from our people to enable me carry on effectively with the task of delivering on our people’s mandate.
I salute the unwavering support and encouragement of our leader and performing Governor and wife, Their Excellencies, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and Dr. Martha Emmanuel. I cannot exactly say how it would have been without their consistent and unflinching support. His Excellency’s sterling performance has also kept me on my toes and challenged me to always strive to do more for our people.
I am proud that God has used our brother, the Governor to reposition Akwa Ibom State in the past six years. By his gigantic development strides, Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District today stands proud for donating to Akwa Ibom State, a Governor that has recalibrated the stakes of development. All I ask of God is that he be preserved, protected and enabled the more for greater heights in the remaining months.
I thank our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), our elders, stakeholders, youth and women who have remained steadfast in their support. I cannot forget the prayers of the church and religious leaders. Our Royal fathers have shown exceptional understanding.
The coming months shall be better and more impactful. I promise to double my efforts and work extra hard as we match towards the mark.
Permit me please to appeal to our teeming party men, women and youth to go out en masse and participate in the ongoing PDP membership e-registration and revalidation exercise. It is the only way we can have access to exercise our franchise as elections are drawing near.
Let me also appeal to our people to queue behind the leader of our party as he steers the ship of leadership in Akwa Ibom State to safe anchorage come 2023. Let’s keep our support intact particularly with respect to his succession agenda. This is important because we must help engender the sustenance of both the recorded development and peace brought about by our dear Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
Elections (inter and intra party) are around the corner. We must remember that political contests are no do or die affairs. They are meant to be brotherly contests which should be approached with the spirit of sportsmanship. We therefore must avoid strives, violence and unrests of any sort as such are ill winds that blow no one any good.
Attached below are some specific achievements of my almost thirty months representation.
By Gods special Grace in few weeks from today I will be Empowering my constituents with things that will help them to end a leaving and also commissioning of some projects.
Finally, Let me again thank you for coming and your dignified patience. Let’s join hands together to build our District.
God bless you all.
PROJECTS BY SENATOR EYAKENYI
-Training of 500 youth across the 12 LGAs in the district in scaffolding, rigging and industrial safety. Interestingly, Senator Eyakenyi helped secure jobs in oil servicing companies for some of the beneficiaries after the training. August, 2019.
-Sponsorship of a football tournament for inmates of Eket Correctional Centre besides donating handsomely for their upkeep and the management of the centre. September, 2019.
-Empowerment of women, the physically challenged, female youth and students with cash to start up petty trading and academic grants. November, 2019.
-Cosponsored free medical services at Iquita General Hospital, Oron. The outreach which lasted for 10 days got thousands of constituents treated free of charge. Several major and minor surgeries were carried out on lots of people including infants and children. Constituents as well got free medication and medicated glasses. November, 2019.
-Donation of drugs to 8 of the 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the Senatorial District.
The drugs which were distributed to Health Centres (Primary Health Centre, Iko, Eastern Obolo LGA; Primary Health Centre, Uda, Mbo LGA; Primary Healthcare Centre, Security Village, Oron LGA; Primary Health Centre, Okopedi, Okobo LGA; Health Centre, Eyofin, Udung Uko LGA; Health Centre, Edok, Urue-Offong/Oruko LGA; Health Centre, Mkpanak, Ibeno LGA and Health Centre, Edo, Esit Eket LGA) across the 8 LGAs were to be given free to constituents. January, 2020.
–Empowerment of 200 widows across the state at the Constituency Office, Eket. February, 2020.
-Sponsorship of medical outreaches across the 3 federal constituencies making up the district. The free medical services which lasted for 6 days held consecutively at Health Centre, Ibekwe in Ikot Abasi LGA for Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, Poly Clinic, Eket in Eket LGA for Eket Federal Constituency and Health Centre, Security Village in Oron LGA for Oron Federal Constituency. August, 2020.
-Empowerment of the physically challenged at the Constituency Office, Eket. August, 2020.
-Sponsorship of skills acquisition trainings for constituents of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. 500 beneficiaries trained in tailoring, poultry farming, confectionery making and entrepreneurial development and empowered with sewing machines, day old chicks, cages, feed, flour, mixers and seed money to set up small businesses. September, 2020.
-Sponsorship of training on Modern Farming Techniques and Technology. Over 50 constituents trained and empowered with cash to start up some form of businesses. Within the same month. November, 2020.
-Sponsorship of training on Solar Panel Installation, Maintenance and Repairs for over 300 youth of the Senatorial District who smiled home with tools and cash for business startup. November, 2020.
-Sponsorship of Security Retreat for leaders of the district. The 2-Day event attracted all service commanders in Akwa Ibom State (Police, SSS, Civil Defense, Immigration and the Army), Paramount Rulers, State House members, Commissioners, Council Chairmen, heads of boards and parastatals, political and religious leaders. December, 2020.
-Sponsorshipof Security Retreat for youth of the district. Participants at the retreat were leaders and representatives of various youth groups (National Youth Council of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Youth Caucus, Dakkada Ambassadors, Essu Nlap Oro, Female Youths, Afig Iwaad Ekid, Oron Union Youth Wing etc.) across the 12 LGAs within the district. December, 2020.
-Sponsorship of medical outreaches across the three federal constituencies making up Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District which held at Eastern Obolo LGA (Health Centre Iko) for Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, Onna LGA (Health Centre, Ikot …) for Eket Federal Constituency and Oron LGA (Health Centre, Security Village) for Oron Federal Constituency. December, 2020.
-Christmas packages to all strata of stakeholders across the district. December, 2020.
-Sponsorship of training on Solar Panel Installation, Maintenance and Repairs for youths of the district. Over 50 youth benefited from the training, got empowered with tools and cash to start up their own small businesses. March, 2021.
-Also in March, 2021, Donation of instructional materials and other educational inputs to 17 primary schools across the district viz:
•75,737 exercise books •7,300 Mathematics and English textbooks
•33 Modern Tables for teachers
•12 steel cabinets.
•13 generators•
27 modern tables for headteachers
•27 modern chairs for headteachers
•1,380 pupil’s desks
•1380 pupil’s chairs, etc
-Sponsorship of workshop on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta for youth of the district. Over 30 who participated in the workshop got empowered with cash to start up businesses. March, 2021.
-Distribution to over 200 women and the physically challenged of sewing/grinding machines and LGA to enable them set up small businesses to support themselves and their families. April, 2021.
-Construction of 1 Block of 3 Classrooms with Office and Store equipped with Furnishing and Solar Power at QIC Group School, Ibiaku in Mkpat Enin LGA.
-Construction of 1 Block of 3 Classrooms with Office and Store equipped with Furnishing and Solar Power at QIC Group School Ukpana, Oniong West in Onna LGA.
-Construction of 2 Blocks of 3/2 Classrooms with Office and Store equipped with Furnishing and Solar Power, 1 Assembly Hall, Portable water and VIP Toilets at Government Primary School, Iquita in Oron LGA.
-Construction of 1 Block of 3 Classrooms with Office and Store equipped with Furnishing and Solar Power at St. Michael Primary School, Udung Uko LGA.
-Renovation and Furnishing of Assembly Hall at Government Primary School, Ukpata/Afaha Eduok in Oron LGA.
-Provision of 500KVA Transformer at Oron Road by Ibo Street in Oron LGA.
•Construction, Furnishing and Equipping of Skills Acquisition Centre at Ikot Obong Village in Ikot Abasi LGA.
-Construction of 1 Block of 3 Classrooms at Primary School Okoroutip in Ibeno LGA.
-Construction and Furnishing of 1 Block of 3 Classrooms at Primary School, Inuayit, Ibeno LGA.
-Provision and Installation of 500 KVA Transformer at Mkpanak, Ibeno LGA.
-Construction of 1 Block of 3 Classrooms with Office and Store equipped with Furnishing and Solar Power at Methodist Primary School, Uda in Mbo LGA.
–Construction and Furnishing of a Block of 3 Classrooms at Government Primary School, Afaha Eket in Eket LGA (ongoing).
–Construction and Furnishing of a Block of 3 Classrooms at Government Primary School, Eyulor in Urue-Offong/Oruko LGA (ongoing).
-Construction of Solar Borehole in Edida Village, beside Lutheran Church, Esit Eket LGA (Ongoing).
-Construction of 1 Block of 2 Classrooms at Atabrikang, Eastern Obolo LGA (ongoing).
-Installation of Solar Powered Street Lights at Secretariat Road, Oron LGA (ongoing).
-Construction and Furnishing of 1 Block of 2 Classrooms with Office and Store at Methodist Primary School, Oruko in Urue-Offong/Oruko LGA (ongoing).
-Construction and Furnishing of 1 Block of 3 Classrooms with Office and Store at Government Primary School, Eyetong, Oron LGA (ongoing).
–Construction and Furnishing of 1 Block of 3 Classrooms with Office and Store at Government Primary School, Mbokpu Eyoakan, Urue-Offong/Oruko LGA (ongoing).
-Provision of Pupils Furniture (Chairs and Tables) for Government Primary School, Iquita.
-Renovation of I Block of 6 Classrooms at Convent Primary School (ongoing).
-Perimeter Fencing at Community Secondary School, Udung Uko (ongoing).
-Construction of Assembly Hall at Community Sec School, Eyoabasi (ongoing).
-Renovation of 1 Block of 6 Classrooms at Army Children School, Oron (ongoing).
-Provision of Pupils’ Furniture (Chairs and Tables) to 4 Selected Primary Schools across Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District.
So far, Senator Eyakenyi has sponsored the following bills and motions:
•MARITIME ACADEMY OF NGERIA (AMENMENT BILL 2020) -This Bill seeks to amend Maritime Academy of Nigeria Act Cap. M3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and upgrade the institution to a university. The Bill had long been passed at the Senate.
•Senator Eyakenyi is sponsoring NIGERIAN COAST GUARD (ESTABLISHNENT) BILL, 2021 which has passed first reading.
•Urgent Need to Address the Sorry State of Computer Education by Providing Training For Teachers and Basic Computers Facilities in Public Schools.
•Urgent Need to Address the menace of piracy and banditry in the Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria’s internal waters.
Senator Eyakenyi has cosponsored several motions including:
•Motion on the need for increase funding to primary health care centres – the Senator had joined other Senators to ask for increase funding to primary health care.
•Urgent need to ascertain the status of Nigeria’s extended continental shelf project and the constitution of an ocean advisory committee.
•The deplorable conditions of Ikot Ekpene – Umuahia highways linking Akwa Ibom State and Abia State.
•Existing petroleum subsidy, ensuring self – sufficiency in domestic refining of petroleum products.
•Urgent need to look into the incessant loss of commuter lives on our waterways.
•The urgent need to establish a medical school at Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and to upgrade the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, to a University Teaching Hospital.
•Urgent need to review and recover additional revenue accruable to the government of the federation from the Sharing Contracts pursuant to Section 16 of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Act CAP D3 LFN 2004.
•Urgent need to reform the housing mortgage financing in Nigeria to meet the escalating housing demand in the country.
TEXT OF SENATOR EYAKENYI’s MEDIA PARLEY WITH EKET SENATORIAL DISTRICT MEDIA PRACTITIONER
