November 30, (THEWILL) – Founding member of the People’s Democratic Party, Senator Anietie Okon has predicted tougher days for Nigeria beyond 2023 because of the level of deteriorating impact created by the present administration.
He says it would take leaders who are solid and have studied leverage actions to contain and give clear direction through the path of difficult days that the nation would be engrossed in to still find a way to make Akwa Ibom State the envy of other states.
The party chieftain made the prediction when a socio political group in the aegis of Eastern Ibibio Youths For Good
Governance paid a solidarity visit in his country home, Mbiatok Itam, Itu Local Government Area, to drum support for the aspiration of his younger brother and the present commissioner of Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport to take over the state as governor, after the tenure of his boss, Mr Udom Emmanuel in 2023.
He called on the people of Akwa Ibom State to take informed decisions, driven by inspirational persuasions to see the future of the state and to give leadership responsibility to a tested and trusted individual.
The pioneer National Publicity Secretary of PDP expressed satisfaction on the fact that the youths are conscious of the political situation in the country and the state in particular, saying that the people of Itu Federal Constituency have equal civil rights, privileges and God’s given endowment to lead the state.
“I really appreciate the fact that you are very conscious of the Nigerian political situation and for identifying with peace. I am pleased by your resolution which is evident on your faces.
“Your determination to project one of your brothers for the elevated position of governor of the state is a good one. Though Akan is my younger brother, my support for him is strictly on merit.
“I value my integrity too well, if he was not good enough, I wouldn’t have given him my support. I want to tell you that your decision is not bad. Go out and enlighten all others within your circle to think in the same direction. Go out with the conference you have and make everybody fishers of men.” He urged.
He continued: “As we speak, he is in Korea, Asia Minor, negotiating various deals around our flagship investment; the Ibom Deep Seaport which is stationed strategically to take advantage of the traffic in other Seaports in Nigeria and Africa hence the clamor for peace and safety to enable investors come into the state.”
Earlier in his speech, the National Coordinator of Eastern Ibibio Youths For Good Governance, Mr. James Benson Ekpo said the determination of the group came on the heels of the fact that right from the defunct SouthEastern States, to the era where Akwa Ibom was the mainland part of Cross River state till the creation of Akwa Ibom State in 1987, no one from the Eastern Ibibio blog which is the former Itu Local Government Area, has ascended to the position of governor.
Made up of Itu, Ibiono Ibom, Ini and Ikono Local Government Areas, Ekpo said the aim of the group is to appeal to the conscience of the people of Akwa Ibom State, the people of Uyo Senatorial District in particular, which is the favoured Senatorial District to produce a successor for the incumbent to consider conceding the curverted seat to someone from Easter Ibibio, Itu Federal Constituency in particular.
Among those clamouring for the exiled office from the Federal Constituency which include: Mr. James Iniama a renowned Estate Surveyor and Valuer, Mr. Akan Okon, the serving commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr. Akan Usanga from Itu local government area also, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, the sitting Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ita Solomon Enang, Special Assistant to the Present of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hails from Ibiono Ibom; the group said it would prefer Mr. Alan Okon to mount the top office in 2023.
“We have carefully analyzed all our brothers aspiring to succeed the governor in 2023 and we have found all of them very creditable and ably qualified for the top job but we are pitching our tent with Mr. Akan Okon and if we have decided to take this decision before the parties primary elections; it shows how important this mission is to us.” He stressed.
Ekpo expressed the group’s unflinching support for the Maintain Peace Movement (MPM) which is the initiative of the state Governor to drive home his Completion Agenda and succession plan in 2023, calling on all youths in the state to embrace the Peace Movement initiative as there can be no meaningful development in the face of turmoil.
He stressed that the commissioner’s feat in ensuring the birth of IBOM Air in the face of an economic downturn is a clear indication that he will deliver as governor entrusted with the power.
