Ahead of the 2019 general elections, some elders from Eket Senatorial district- zone from where the incumbent governor, Udom Emmanuel comes from have called for his replacement in the hill top mansion citing an alleged under performance as one of their reasons for the call.
The kinsmen under the aegis of “Akwa Ibom South Senatrial District Strategic Leadership Forum” claimed that Governor Emmanuel who is their son was not able to satisfactorily execute the mandate given to him for over three years hence there was need for his replacement in order save the zone from shame of underperformance in the anals of history of the state.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Thursday, Chairman of the Forum, Chief Edet Mkpubre, flanked by the immediate past deputy governor of the state Lady Valerie Ebe, former commissioners and the House members regretted that Governor Emmanuel in addition to unfulfilled promises made to the people of the area have also failed to follow the footsteps of former governors and leaders from the area such as Dr. Clement Isong, late Brigadier Jacob Esuene,Prof.Eyo Ita etc who demonstrated good leadership qualities while in office.
According to the group, “Concerned that, as Akwa Ibom state draws near to the 2019 governorship election, we have taken a look at the political, social and economic imperatives of our state.
“The incumbent governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel took his
mandate on behalf of the district. However, four years down the line, the disappointment and disillusionment have become very palpable. Where hope once existed, despair has taken over, where aspiration was rife, lethargy now wring the yearning hearts of our people.
“ Our growth has been arrested and strangled by crass ineptitude and the gross political and crippling economic naivety of our current leadership. The visionary steps of our immediate past have become mired and entrapped in the debilitating cluelessness of a government
lacking in experience and pedigree.”
Mkpubre, who was a former national deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in charge of South South however added that the forum have decided to support NsimaEkere who is also from same Senatorial district to replace Governor Emmanuel because of his clear cut vision for the state and indepth knowledge of the developmental needs of the people.
“We have read and digested the blue print of Ekere and we are thrilled by the forward looking document that contains the five pillars of a new vision for our
collective prosperity.
“We are excited about the transformational innovations for a sustainable indigenous grown industrialization, built around our people , who still possess the business acumen of the Utuks, the Inyangettes and many other successful business entrepreneurs our state
created in the past.
“We are satisfied with the creative plans for a rebirth in education for our children, including bursaries for those in higher institutions, the empowerment prescriptions that would create economic properity for our women, the social protection plan for the most vulnerable and poor among us , the health sector plans for a healthy people, the actual realization of the MRO facilities at the Victor Attah International airport and the dreams of the Ibaka Industrial city, among other lofty plans for our state.
“Conscious of the aforesaid and many more reasons, that we, the great and enterprising people of the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, joined by residents of our senatorial district, friends and admirers have decided to pitch our tents with Obong Nsima Ekere, governorship candidate of the APC, as the man we shall vote for as governor to replace Mr Udom Emmanuel.” He explained.
