A general hospital, oil palm extraction factory and rural roads to aid in evacuating agricultural products are to be provided in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
A leading governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA) made the promise while on a consultative visit to the delegates and people of the area on Saturday, April 9, 2022.
According to the two-term Senator, after a careful study of the needs of the people, he realised health, security and infrastructural facilities were in dire need among others.
“We have assessed the needs of Ukanafun people and have identified medicare as one area that needs urgent attention. The primary health centres in the area are constrained as there is no secondary health facility in the locality. The closest secondary health facility is at Ikot Okoro in Oruk Anam Local Government Area, which takes about two hours for people in remote areas of Ukanafun to access”, he noted.
The senator observed that because of the situation, some persons may have lost their lives because of the distance to the closest health facility.
Senator Albert currently the chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), also talked about revamping the internal roads in the local government to provide the farmers access to evacuate their products, as well as facilitating the linkage of most of their communities to the national grid.
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“We are also aware that some villages in Ukanafun haven’t had power supplied to them in the last 10 to 15 years. Communities such as Ikot Effiong, Ikot Ikpe, Ikot Obong, Ikot Iwara, Awat, Ikot Awak, and a host of others were linked to the National Grid during the era of Governor Victor Attah, while some others are yet to. We have assessed their needs and will liaise with the relevant authorities to facilitate the provision of electricity for people in the rural communities to access”, the senator said.
OBA added: “The dilapidated nature of infrastructure in primary and secondary schools in Ukanafun is disturbing. All hands must be on deck to reverse the ugly trend to enable us to provide access to quality education at the grassroots level. In addition to this, we will provide more incentives for teachers in rural settlements to encourage them to be more productive and help close the teacher-to-student ratio gap”.
Noting that good antecedent matters, Senator Akpan presented a compendium of his achievements, which include 481 students trained under his scholarship scheme.
OBA cautioned that propaganda does not win a war, otherwise Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler would have won the wars.
He then urged the delegates not to allow the spirit of fear to cow them, despite intimidation. “What should drive your passion should be who will work for the development of Ukanafun,” he added.
The senator also told the stakeholders that it would be unfortunate to hand the state to agents of retrogression, thereby truncating its earlier progress.
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Exuding much confidence, OBA said in terms of competence, he stands out, assuring the stakeholders that he will never let them down.
After observing a minute silence in honour of the late State Chairman of PDP, Obong Udo Ekpenyong, the senator commended the current chairman, Rt Hon Aniekan Akpan for directing chapter chairmen to receive all aspirants.
He noted that a level-playing ground seems to be evolving already, expressing confidence that if the nomination is done on ground, he will win.
Earlier, the Director-General, Pastor Sunny Ibuot, had informed the people that he came with a good product that did not need much marketing to be accepted.
Similarly, Sir Emem Akpabio, chairman of the Campaign Council, described OBA as the covenant child, who is competent to be the next governor of Akwa Ibom state.
Responding, Elder Godwin Esit-Ekpe, the chapter chairman, advised OBA to hold firm his faith in God because power comes from above.
Elder Esit-Ekpe said only the delegates have the power to nominate the next governor and assured that they will assess the various aspirants and take the right decision.
Their prayer, the chapter chairman said, is that God should produce a governor that will be good for Akwa Ibom State.
He pleaded with OBA not to forget Ukanafun when he becomes the governor in 2023.
At the residence of Obong Eno Akpan, the stakeholders commended OBA for conducting himself with civility and maturity.
Eno Akpan specifically expressed confidence in Senator Albert’s competence, and passion for the development of Akwa Ibom State, noting also his detribalised nature.
“I’m impressed and excited the way you have conducted yourself in Ukanafun,” he stated, noting the OBA has been discussing issues and not persons
