Indigenes of Akwa Ibom State resident in Aba, Abia State have vowed to support the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to represent Abia South Senatorial Zone in the 2023 general elections.
The Akwa Ibom Indigenes under the aegis of Akwa Ibom State Indigenes Forum Aba made this known, Monday, when they paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ikpeazu at the Governor’s Lodge Aba, pledged to support the election of the Governor to the Senate as well as all candidates of the PDP in the 2023 elections.
In their separate speeches, the Obong Ndito Akwa Ibom in Abia State, Elder Imo Bassey,the President of Ibom Gospel Ministers Forum, Apostle Dr. Anietie Okure, and the Legal Adviser of the Forum,Barrister Emmanuel Ikot, assured Governor Ikpeazu that the people of Akwa Ibom who reside and do business in Abia State are fully with him and the PDP in the 2023 elections.
They stated that they have enjoyed peace, security and prosperity under the Ikpeazu administration having lived in Abia State for close to 3 decades,adding that in terms of infrastructure, no Governor had outperformed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
They used the opportunity to request the Governor to approve the allocation of land to them in Aba for the building of their permanent Secretariat.
In his response, Governor Ikpeazu who described the people of Akwa Ibom State as hardworking and honest, whom he shares an unbreakable bond of friendship and brotherhood, commended them for making huge contributions to the development of trade and commerce in Aba and Abia State in general.
The Governor while thanking them for the visit and endorsement, noted the strategic importance of the Aba – Ikot Ekpene corridor in the commercial life of Aba.
He however regretted the continuous abandonment of the Aba Ikot Ekpene Highway by the Federal Government which he said led to the serious negative economic consequences for the people of both states, a situation that made his administration to embark on the construction of the Umuaro – Ekwereazu – Nto Edino Road which is today, the only pathway leading into Akwa Ibom from Aba.
Governor Ikpeazu assured them that when elected to the Senate, he would take steps to correct the total lack of Federal presence in Abia South .
The Governor who approved the official allocation of a plot of land to the Akwa Ibom State Indigenes Forum in Aba for the construction of their Secretariat,
informed them that he shares a personal relationship with Governor Udom Emmanuel and he had no reasons to deny them any request because he was sure that his brother Governor will reciprocate same gesture to Abians in Akwa Ibom.
He requested them to send 3 names of their members, one from each of the Senatorial Zones in Akwa Ibom State for appointments as aides to the Governor
and thanked them for being law abiding.
