By Ekene Okoro Snr. Correspondent, Lagos
As the 2015 general elections beckon, the political calculations towards the polls have taken the centre stage.
Politicians are already gearing up for the contest, plotting their graphs and strategising to outdo their rivals. It is thus a political season where friends go head to head and end up as foes.
Much as acquaintances are being severed in some areas, alliances are also being formed in others, with pronouncements being made to solidify the newfound goodwill.
In the efforts to ensure that candidates that would maintain the development initiatives that have been started in their domain, the people of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom State assembled recently to give a boost to the senatorial ambition of Chief Godswill Akpabio, Governor of the state, and the governorship ambition of Mr. Udom Emmanuel, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), by rallying round their bids.
The event, which witnessed a large turnout, attracted the presence of political bigwigs and the youths of the LGA under the auspices of Youth Support Scheme (YSS).
The YSS, an initiative of the Commissioner for Special Duties, Emmanuel Enoidem, was established as an empowerment programme to galvanise youths of the area towards not only being useful to themselves, but also enable them contribute by creating positive change in their communities, nation, and the world.
The vision of the group was premised on the belief that if given the opportunity, young people can be a driving force in creating positive change and highly capable of designing solutions to the challenges they and their communities face daily.
Through the programme youths are encouraged, trained, supported, mentored and mobilised to be the change they desire to experience in their various communities. Also, this project helps to encourage youths to actively participate in building democracy, development processes, and sustainable peace and growth in the country.
With the slogan, ‘build the youth, build the nation,’ renting the air, the community leaders of the area unanimously endorsed the candidature of the duo, explaining that their decision was based on achievements of the Governor in the last seven and a half years.
Enoidem said, “The support and endorsement of the duo is based on their performance and track record in office. Let us all rally round them so that the uncommon transformation currently being enjoyed would continue at the state and federal levels”.
According to the former Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, “the people of the council stand to gain a lot by supporting the candidature of these two outstanding and prominent Akwa Ibomites who have over the years given account of themselves in all their endeavours including governance. It is, therefore, in our interest to rally round and give them our collective support, knowing full well that we will never be disappointed.”
Enoidem also noted that “the gathering is also intended to sensitise the people of the council on the way forward and happenings in the state as the countdown to the 2015 general elections gathers momentum, adding that “information is power; we have told them where the council is heading towards as far as the senatorial and governorship tickets of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are concerned, and we expect them, the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow, to key into the agenda so that their future would be guaranteed”.
In addition, he said “Akpabio has created an enabling environment for industry and commerce to thrive, built a road network that has connected several communities that were long cut off from the mainstream of activities, he has offered free and compulsory education to all children (non-indigenes alike) in Akwa Ibom State, built a modern airport, world class stadium, e-library to serve as a tool for research and improved healthcare delivery system, among others. Having done all of these for us, he deserves to serve us at the national level. This is why we will stop at nothing to support him.”
He said the people of Etim Ekpo LGA have benefitted immensely from the uncommon transformation agenda of the Akpabio-led administration since inception, adding that the people of the council were disconnected from the rest of the state because all roads leading into the area were in deplorable conditions, and as such most communities in the area were not accessible before he took over the mantle of leadership.
Also speaking at the endorsement ceremony, Chairman, Elders Council and political leader of the council, Obong Archibong Akpan, said the people of the council have chosen to support the state Governor’s senatorial ambition as well as the governorship aspiration of the former SSG, having enjoyed the benevolence of the Governor in infrastructure development, which had in many years eluded the council.
Obong Akpan, who is also known as ‘Apex’, said the people of the council would ever remain grateful to the administration of Akpabio for developing the council and putting indigenes of the area in sensitive political positions that have brought dividends of democracy to all and sundry.
He charged the people to ensure that they rally round the senatorial ambition of the Governor in 2015 and support the former SSG to emerge the successor to Akpabio.
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