Could you assess the performance of Akpabio whom you are aspiring to succeed? His Excellency has done very well in the area of infrastructural development but the people are hungry. Our government intends to empower the people financially and to create job opportunities for our teeming unemployed youths through industrializati on of the state. We will take industrializati on very seriously. We will pursue the Ibaka Deep Sea Port project to a conclusion. We will ensure that industries are established in Akwa Ibom State along the lines of the mineral resources available. For instance, we have a lot of raw materials for ceramics industries in Etinan, we have a lot of raw materials for cement industries in Ikono and Ini. Almost all the local government areas have one type of mineral deposits or another. Also, we will establish Football Academy and some other things that attract the youths. We will encourage the youths to develop their talents in whatever area they want. There is strong sentiment in Akwa Ibom as to which section or ethnic group the next governor should come from. Some say it should be an open contest, while others want it to be zoned to Eket Senatorial District. There is also clamour for the governorship race to exclusively be reserved for Oron ethnic group within Eket senatorial District. What is your position? My position is that Akwa Ibom State Governor must come from Akwa Ibom State. That is the first position; it must not be someone outside Akwa Ibom State. Secondly, there has been issue of zoning and rotation in place already. I think it should not be scuttled halfway. It should run a full course. Ibibio men from Uyo Senatorial District in the persons of Akpan Isemin, for about two years, and later Obong Victor Attah, for eight years, had been governors of the state. Thereafter, it went to an Annang man, His Excellency Chief Godswill Akpabio. He is going to serve for two terms. The next should be Oron in Eket Senatorial District. Justice should be done since it has already started. I believe that with time, there will be no need for zoning. Every area will have had a sense of belonging. Every area had been represented and all of that. A time will come when Akwa Ibom will select their governor without thinking of zoning, but for now, zoning is important because the state still exists in tripod – a tripod of Ibibio, Annang and Oron. Ibibio and Annang have had their turns and so it would be wrong to deny Oron their turn. Don’t forget that injustice perpetrated today is injustice reaped tomorrow. If you do it today, somehow you will reap it. We should not forget that Ibibio is a minority in the Nigerian nation and will need something from other majorities so they shouldn’t behave as if they are the majority everywhere and at all times.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 07:42:59 +0000
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