By Emeka Samuel, Uyo
Ahead of the March 2 Gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom, some eminent elders of state under the aegis of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District Strategic Leadership Forum have thrown their weight behind the APC candidate Mr. Nsima Ekere. They have also described the four years that Governor Udom Emmanuel have spent as a waste for the senatorial district known to have produced eminent and legacy-laden leaders for the state and Nigeria in the past owing to his lackluster performance
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Thursday chairman of the Forum, Chief Edet Mkpubre regretted that the Emmanuel in addition to unfulfilled promises made to the people of the area have also failed to follow the footsteps of former governors and leaders from the area who demonstrated good leadership qualities while in office.
Mkpubre, who was a former national deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in charge of South-South, however, added that the forum has decided to support Ekere because of his clear cut vision for the state and in-depth knowledge of the developmental needs of the people.
“Concerned that, as Akwa Ibom state draws near to the 2019 governorship election, we have taken a look at the political, social and economic imperatives of our state. We have read and digested the blueprint of Ekere and we are thrilled by the forward-looking document that contains the five pillars of a new vision for our collective prosperity.
“We are excited about the transformational innovations for a sustainable indigenous grown industrialization, built around our people, who still possess the business acumen of the Utuks, the Inyangettes and many other successful business entrepreneurs our state created in the past.
“We are satisfied with the creative plans for a rebirth in education for our children, including bursaries for those in higher institutions, the empowerment prescriptions that would create economic prosperity for our women, the social protection plan for the most vulnerable and poor among us , the health sector plans for a healthy people, the actual realization of the MRO facilities at the Victor Attah International airport and the dreams of the Ibaka Industrial city, among other lofty plans for our state.
“Conscious of the aforesaid and many more reasons, that we, the great and enterprising people of the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district, joined by residents of our senatorial district, friends and admirers have decided to pitch our tents with Obong Nsima Ekere, governorship candidate of the APC, as the man we shall vote for as governor to replace Mr Udom Emmanuel.” He explained.
Mkpubre also gave reasons why the Forum are dissatisfied with Governor Emmanuel’s performance in the last four years. “And whereas the leadership mandate that Akwa Ibom people gave to Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District was to last as is the current condition for eight years. The incumbent governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel took his mandate on behalf of the district. However, four years down the line, the disappointment and disillusionment have become very palpable. Where hope once existed, despair has taken over, where aspiration was rife, lethargy now wrings the yearning hearts of our people.
“ Our growth has been arrested and strangled by crass ineptitude and the gross political and crippling economic naivety of our current leadership. The visionary steps of our immediate past have become mired and entrapped in the debilitating cluelessness of a government lacking in experience and pedigree.” The chairman explained. He maintained that Ekere have been groomed in leadership after serving and distinguishing himself in various capacities in the state adding that the state could not afford to have a governor who is far from the realities of the problems and challenges of residents of the state.
“Further aware that Obong Nsima Ekere being not a product of an emergency leadership recruitment was forged in the leadership furnace of the state turning out an outstanding courageous leader, resilient, innovative, genuinely empathetic and a pragmatic thinker.” He said.
