Akwa Ibom State Governor, His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, CON, has declared that the Annangs have ensured justice in the development of Akwa Ibom State by supporting his undying desire and passion to developed Uyo with water fountains, roundabouts, third ring road, Tropicana entertainment complex, new Olympic-sized stadium, the magnificent government house, opulent state banquet hall, the prestigious LeMeridien Hotel and Golf Resort, independent power plant, international airport, upcoming seaport, numerous flyovers, beautiful and paved new roads, and several other transformative and developmental concepts. He said Akwa Ibom under his administration has increased in infrastructure and development though the beginning of the state was small. This he said in his remarks at a solemn gathering of the Afe Annang at the Annang Prayer Summit that was held at the ancestral land of the Annangs in Ebibit Afaha Obong, in Abak of Friday, 16th March.

He further asked his kinsmen that produced a ‘Performing Governor’, “What will have happened if the Annangs produced a governor that did not love the whole state?” This he answered would have resulted to marginalisation after the Akpabio administration’s tenure. He assured the Annangs that the situation will now be different and the future is brighter for the Annangs as the next governor of the state will in reciprocation ‘struggle’ to empower the Annangs with such juicy positions as secretary to state government, commissioner of finance, chairman of local government service commission, and minister among others. He however instructed the Annangs to use such high offices for the betterment of the whole state so that others will also be happy with government when so empowered.

As such when he is through as governor, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria will indeed look for candidates to govern them from among the Annangs. He therefore asked the people to keep praying for him so he can do the will of God. And that God and the people will never forget the Annangs for their benevolence in service.

On how the Annangs secured the will of God for themselves in the April 2007 general elections that produced him for the first term of his administration, Akpabio said that in October 2006 a meeting of all gubernatorial aspirants of Annang extraction was called and they assembled at Itai Afe Annang to meet a heavy gathering of Annang people. He said he missed the declaration by all Annang sons of their intentions to contest the position of governorship of Akwa Ibom State against the election in 2007 at the same ground of Itai Afe Annang at Ebibit Afagha Obong. This he said happened because he was kept busy with state matters as he was compelled to accompany the outgoing Gov. Victor Attah on project inspection that day up to the Uyo Stock Exchange building. For coming late to the venue he was advised that if he wants to be governor of Akwa Ibom State he needed to come back in 2011.

Governor Akpabio, who now is traditionally the Ntanta Affiong Annang as well as the Uko Akwa Ibom, therefore likened the situation he found himself at that moment in 2006 to the story of David on the field and the anointing by Prophet Samuel as recorded in 1 Samuel 16:10-13. Which demonstrated clearly that authority comes from God. He said he missed the Afe Annang declaration function but did not miss the anointing to govern Akwa Ibom State and that it was at the moment of his anointing that the spirit of transforming Akwa Ibom State came on him. Therefore, he said it is the work of God to change Akwa Ibom State.

For a greater and peaceful Nigeria, Gov. Akpabio advised the Ibibios and Orons to team up with the Annangs so that people whose desire it is to divide Nigeria on the altar of religion will not succeed. So that what God has done for Akwaibomites shall be permanent. And pray that our people should not die in churches and not be bombed any longer, that God should protect our youth corpers who graduate from higher institutions and are posted to other lands. He prayed for peace to reign in Nigeria. He equally called on Nigerians to cooperate with President Goodluck Jonathan as they have cooperated with Presidents from other Nigerian regions in the past.

He said when he became the governor he was moved to change the entire state to show that ‘your senatorial district don't need to produce the governor to have a dualised road’. He said you can give another area a dualised road even though you are the governor and that he has proven it.

He said no government has a moral justification to deny its citizens mere infrastructures. He assured the people, that come May this year a dualised road from the centre of the state capital, Uyo, passing through the community of the former governor to Nung Udoe will be commissioned.

The Governor who took the Bible reading for the gathering from Ps 46:1-11 assured the people that for remembering God, God will remember the Annangs and pledged to tar the road leading to the grounds of Afe Annang, to complete the hall building, to fence the entire Itai Afe Annang premises, and to uncommonly transform the grounds of Itai Afe Annang.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Itai Afe Annang IV, Okuku Pius Effiong Eside III declared the purpose of the gathering and stated that the gathering is a solemn assembly of the Annangs to thank God for helping produce the state governor and further ensuring the setting aside of numerous legal contentions against the office of the governor.

In appreciation, the Chairman of the planning committee of the prayer summit, Obong Lambert Udoh (Phd) JP, on behalf of the Afe Annang council, said that Gov. Akpabio by his excellent performance has wiped away tears from the faces of the Annangs and in fact the entire people of the state as well and therefore thanked the governor for changing the people’s situation from sorrow and woes to happiness. He thanked the clergy, Annang elders and traditional rulers, and several groups, of women, men, and youths for honouring the body. He presented a souvenir Bible to the governor.

The event had in attendance the First Lady, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, Speaker of the AKHA Elder Samuel Ikon, members of the national assembly, member of the board of trustees of PDP, former governors of the state, former deputy governors of the state, the SSG, deputy speaker, members of the AKHA, paramount rulers of all LGAs in Annang land, traditional rulers, members of the Afe Annang Council, Bishops and members of the clergy, youths, women, and choristers.