Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has explained why he reversed his policy of giving a large chunk of contract jobs to local contractors.

Speaking yesterday at the monthly prayer meeting held at St. John’s Chapel, Governor’s Lodge, Uyo, Chief Akpabio recalled said it came to him late in his six years of administration of the state that in its attempt to empower some people, especially local contractors, with highly technical jobs, the government could hand over decayed infrastructure to the masses.

The governor recounted that in the early stage of his administration, the state government advertised for the construction of some roads in the state and notable and high profile construction companies bid for the jobs only for some of them after contract award and collection of mobilisation fees to have abandoned such.

He said that as a result of the sad experience, he started awarding jobs to Julius Berger Construction Company, but some local tabloids in the state took him to the cleaners by accusing him of encouraging capital flight.

Akpabio, however, pointed out that some of the uncompleted roads in Oron town would not have been abandoned if not that some of the local contractors showed apathy towards completing the jobs on time, adding: “We will soon sort out some abandoned roads in Oron.”

The governor assured the people that he would complete all abandoned roads in Oron before the end of his administration in 2015, saying that in his six years of administration, he has raised the bar of leadership in infrastructural renaissance of the state.

He advised Akwa Ibom people that apart from relishing in raising the bar of leadership in the state, they should raise the tempo of prayers because, according to him, the development of the state was anchored on prayers.

On the interest shown by people to invest in the state, Akpabio said his government was careful in selecting from array of investors wishing to do business to avoid mortgaging the economic fortunes of the state to fraudsters.

Preaching on the theme “Raising the bar of leadership” and reading from 1 Samuel 12:1-15, Venerable Prince Antai mentioned the qualities of a leader to include vision, sense of mission and punctuality. He identified Governor Akpabio as a leader who possesses some of the qualities.

•Photo shows Governor Akpabio.