It was the legendary Hungarian biochemist and Noble Prize winner, Albert Szent-Györgyi, who said that “where there is water, there is life”. He had the backing of many scientists including Vadim Zeland, the renowned Russian quantum physics professor and author who said that “Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium”.
And for Edgar Cayce, an American faith healer, psychic and Sunday-school teacher who founded the famous Association for Research and Enlightenment, water is not only the source of life but the source of hope. In fact, to Edgar Cayce: “Pure water is the world’s first and foremost medicine.”
If these assertions are true, what Governor Eno of Akwa Ibom State ushered into Ogu community in Itu Mbonuso Clan of Ini LGA, on November 13, 2024, was not just a source of portable water but a source of life, medicine and hope for a greater future,
The six villages in Ogu had never had it so good. For decades, Ogu people who occupy a mainly limestone laden terrain of Itu Mbonuso, had made do with a brown colour sort of liquid as their drinking water. One day during the last governorship campaign in 2023, a native of Ugo, Dr. Elisha Attai, walked up to the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Umo Eno with a plastic bottle of light brown liquid that looked more like petrol. “Sir, this is the only water we drink in Ugo for years now”.
Pastor Eno was shocked and touched. Without hesitation, he made a promise to Dr. Attai.
“Go and pray with your people that I win this election and your entire community will never drink this type of water anymore,” Pastor Eno said.
And it came to pass. Pastor Eno won a landslide victory and was sworn into office on May 29, 2023. A little over a year later, the tide has changed in the six villages of Ugo.
On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, precisely at 3pm, Governor Eno commissioned a 36,000 gallons water project with reticulation across the nooks and crannies of Ugo six villages.
Dr. Mrs. Enobong Mbobo, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, showcased other facilities in the gigantic water scheme. They include a 620 feet deep borehole, a standard treatment plant to filter and regulate the PH scale of the water, a 25-year guaranteed pump and a solar power system to ensure constant and sustainable growth power supply.
Another commissioner, this time, an indegene, spoke on the high premium the community places on the facility. “To us, this water project has restored hope and we are so thankful to God and to His Excellency, the governor, that our people will no longer have to travel long distances or wait for the rain to fall before we have drinking water”, Dr. Mrs Offiong Offor, the Commissioner of Agriculture said.
Both the Clan Head of Itu Mbonuso, High Chief Joshua Essi, and the Chairman of Ini LGA, Inibehe Umah, spoke on the generational ordeal Ugo people endured before Governor Eno appeared on the scene. “I am more than 80 years old and I have painfully and helplessly watched my people die because of contaminated water…Today I am relieved to see this potable water project become a reality in my lifetime. God bless you our governor for having compassion on us”, the Clan Head said.
But it was the governor who had the last say on a day that so much encomium was showered on him by leaders of Ini LGA including Professor Ini Udoka, the political leader of Ini LGA and former Member of the National Assembly, Hon. Lawrence Udoide, Member representing Ini LGA in the State House of Assembly and Dr Elisha Atta, the man who convinced the governor to intervene in the water crisis.
Said the governor: “When this water was completed three months ago, I allowed it to run for three months because I did not want to commission it until I could verify its viability. I sent my aides both in the security and technical teams to ascertain everything I saw on paper and they gave me assurances that the water is quite good and I am drinking this water here today to assure you that it is clean and healthy enough for you and everyone to drink”.
As the excited crowd roared and rejoiced to see the governor drinking their water, Governor Eno continued with his speech. “We’re not stopping here. I’ve also approved road projects and a befitting Town Hall for you…Together, we’re building a brighter, healthier future for Akwa Ibom State”, he said.
