The 2023 gubernatorial aspiration of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA) has received a big boost as youths of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District have provided N21 million for the purchase of the Governorship form.
The youths, coming under the aegis of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Youths Assembly (IESDYA) in Akwa Ibom North-West presented the money for the purchase of the governorship form to Senator Albert during a massive solidarity rally held in his honour at the Methodist Central School Ikot Obong Edong, Etok Ebe Street, Ikot Ekpene on Saturday.
A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Senatorial District, Sir Emem Akpabio, who presented the cheque for N21 million on behalf of the youths, expressed the confidence that OBA remains the best option to actualize the new vision for Akwa Ibom State.
Sir Emem Akpabio, who was the chairman at the occasion, said Senator Albert did not go to the Senate to represent Uyo Senatorial district alone but the entire Akwa Ibom State as witnessed by his activities and development programmes.
He recalled that when OBA was the Commissioner for Finance and also chairman of the Inter-ministerial Direct Labour project under the administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio, the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District felt the positive impact of governance.
According to him, not many aspirants could walk through the Ikot Ekpene Plaza with the people the way OBA did, adding that the youths were in his support because they believe he will be a good governor of Akwa Ibom State.
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Akpabio decried the double standard exhibited by those arguing against micro-zoning when it comes to the governorship, whereas they maintain that in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial contest, it is the turn of Abak Federal Constituency to produce the next senator.
“Here in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, they want micro-zoning to be applied on the senatorial seat but disregard to apply the same rule for Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency to produce the next Governor. Is this not a double standard,” he queried.
He said “the man who does not know you today will not know you tomorrow”, arguing that OBA “will always remember you because he knew you long ago, knows you today and will remember you tomorrow.”
Setting the tone, Sir Uduak Isobara, Leader of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Youths Assembly (IESDYA) and chairman of the Planning Committee for the ceremony, said OBA knows most people by name, understands their problems and has the solutions to them.
Senator Albert, while addressing the youths, charged them to take their destinies into their hands by making the right decisions in choosing him as the Governorship candidate for 2023.
OBA described his aspiration as a movement to emancipate the youths and the people from poverty, hardship and unemployment.
He reasserted that in terms of experience, capacity and competence, he towers above all other aspirants, submitting that having done it as a commissioner and currently as a senator, he will do more as a governor.
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According to him, from Oruk Anam to Ukanafun and other areas which are rich in oil palm plantation, his administration will turn such areas into massive production belts, comparable to Malaysia.
Similarly, in Ikot Ekpene and other areas rich in raffia, he promised to revive the raffia market, establish loan-free business clusters and set up an international market in Ikot Ekpene to boost the economy of Akwa Ibom State.
OBA further stated that Ini, Ikono and the environs blessed with marshy landmass, will become a rice belt, emphasizing, “I must force prosperity on you!”
To further appreciate youths, he promised to return bursary to students in tertiary institutions, while a digital bank will be set up to collate the demographics of the unemployed.
Additionally, he promised to ensure an even flow of interest-free loans to the market women.
