A youth group in Akwa Ibom, Akwa Ibom Youth Mandate has made a case for the election of a youth as Governor of the state in next year’s general election.
They have also opposed the endorsement of Lands and Water Resources Commissioner Pastor Umoh Enoh by Governor Udom Emmanuel in preference for a young person, which they have yearned for.
In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Uyo and endorsed by Comrade Victor Thompson, the group expressed displeasure over the Governor’s choice.
“Yesterday we were met in the news that stakeholders of Akwa Ibom State have come together to choose a successor for 6 million people in the population of Akwa Ibom State and we wondered why that was so?
“But as youths, as people who have been made with direct impact of every government policies, every government decisions, every situations and every happenings, we believe we should have a say on who should be our governor and who should lead us in the next election cycle.
“The stakeholders have given us a direction and have told us that, it is possible to anoint an adopt a candidate. As young people, we feel it is also possible to anoint and adopt our own candidate.” The statement said.
They outlined the qualities of a young person they would want to include someone with a proven track record of selfless services,We need someone who has grown through the ranks, someone with passion for youth development and
someone with experience
“That being said, we have come to a decision that at this point, we are not going to throw away our elders, we are not going to fight our elders and we are not going to kick out our elders but we are only going to tell our elders to give us a chance to grow as a young people.
“We have assessed and examined the process of leadership recruitment in Akwa Ibom State, we have examined and assessed every aspiratants that is seeking to occupy the office of the governor of Akwa Ibom State and we have come to a conclusion that it is only one person that meets our criteria,
“We have come to a conclusion that it is only one person we all yearn for who will be the governor of the people by the people and for the people and that is in the person of Rt. Hon. barr. Onofiok Akpan Luke.
” I believe that the majority of Akwa Ibom youths agrees with me that with Onofiok Luke in the seat of the governor, we are going to breathe fresh air, we are going to experience a turnaround in the politics, governance and development of Akwa Ibom State.
“With that being said, we, Akwa Ibom Youth Mandate here by declare Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Akpan Luke our full support to run for the office of the governor of Akwa Ibom State.Let us rise up and stand together as young people of Akwa Ibom and stand together to reject imposition of foreign candidate against the will of the people.” It said.
