Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umo Eno on Ethical Orientation, Rev Osondu Ahirika has urged the people to replace the spirit of perpetual complaining and bitterness with the virtue of gratitude even in difficult times to receive more blessings.
Dr Ahirika, who made the call on Tuesday on the programme Peoples Parliament with Madam Speaker Uyai Emem on Planet FM 101.1FM was reacting to a complaint by a caller who criticised Governor Eno for approving ₦27,000, as against a purported 32,000 promise for Pension Increase for Akwa Ibom State retirees, effective September 1, 2025.
In his response, the SSA observed that people who are ruled by the entitlement mentality are usually limited by their negative attitude of bitterness and complaining, arguing that, gratitude to God and Man in any circumstances usually paves the way for open doors.
Ahirika said Governor Umo Eno who has made compassionate governance a state policy deserves commendation for offsetting a backlog of inherited gratuity and pensions as far back as 2012 while he has paid up to 90 billion.
He further added that Governor Eno has demonstrated his care for retirees by approving 27, 000 after due processes as a pension increment for them, stressing that, rather than complaining, he should be appreciated as a way to encourage him to do more.
According to the SSA, those who are grateful will see greater days ahead while a lack of gratitude displeases God and can prevent people from receiving their blessings. He accordingly thanked Governor Umo Eno for his consistency in doing good to his people.
On contract implementation following Governor Eno’s releases of N50bn to Contractors with Interim Payment Certificates on projects, Dr Ahirika observed that this underscores the governor’s insistence on meeting timeliness underlined by his appointment of Delivery Advisors.
He added that with the sheer number of projects including roads, compassionate homes, housing estates, model primary schools and health centres already commissioned in 2 years of his administration, Governor Eno has demonstrated his focus on getting the job done to specifications and timelines.
Dr Ahirika however advised host communities, traditional institutions and youth organisations against harassment of contractors handling projects as they mobilise back to site to take advantage of the dry season to complete projects.
He noted that obstructing contractors can lead to the abandonment of projects and undermine the development of their communities, and therefore tasked them to shun confrontational tendencies and embrace a peaceful approach to issues of Government projects meant for their good.