Day Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio task their sons on industrialization

It was special day for the people of Ibibio indigenes and their traditional rulers in Akwa Ibom State.

On that day, the apex Ibibio traditional rulers’ council and the foremost sociocultural and ethnic nationality groups in Ibibioland and Annangland communities met to iron out their plight in the political, social and economic development of the communities as they gathered to reflect on their problems to their people aspiring political positions in Nigeria and the state in particular.

Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio, which comprises of nine of the 14 Paramount Rulers in Ibibioland, Akwa ESOP Imaisong Ibibio and Afe Annang, respectively owned up to those consulting them for their ambitions in the coming 2015 elections.

On hand was the immediate former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere, who disclosed that massive industrialization of the state and sustainable development would be his priority when elected Governor. Mr. Ekere spoke when he consulted and received the crucial royal blessings of recently.

At each stop, Mr. Ekere was prayed for, blessed and given the nod to vie for the governorship ticket of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking during those remarkable consultation visits, Mr. Ekere emphasized his human development plan through a ready-made industrialization blueprint for the state which, according to him, was designed to build on the massive infrastructure put in place by Governor Akpabio.

“Governor Akpabio, my friend and brother, has put in place world-class infrastructure. But we must, as a necessity, begin to build the people,” he declared.

Speaking on the level of neglect of the areas, Uyio Ikpaisiong Ibibio-in-Council in Etinan, the Uyio Ikpaisong and Paramount Ruler of Etinan Local Government Area, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette, who led the prayer and blessing session, likened Mr. Ekere to the Biblical Moses who was ejected from Pharaoh’s palace so that God’s plan in his life could be fulfilled and lauded his industrialization programme for the state.

The Paramount Ruler of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Okuku Ime Udousoro Inyang, prayed for Mr. Ekere’s success to and advised him to remember the Ibibio race when he became Governor.

Ntisong Ibibio III, Obong Essien Ekidem, who leads Akwa ESOP Imaisong Ibibio, told Mr. Ekere, during a consultation visit to the group in Uyo, that he was impressed by the former Deputy Governor’s wisdom and experience in both the private and public sectors and prayed God to bless him and open doors for him in the gubernatorial race.

Otuekong Sunny Jackson Udoh and Chief Ukata Akpan, who also spoke for the group, lauded Mr. Ekere’s qualities.

Itai Afe Annang III, Okuku Pius Effiong Eside IV, who also received Mr. Ekere and his mammoth team of elders, youths and women in Essien Udim, said Annang people were willing to stand by him as a knowledgeable man capable of building on Governor Godswill Akpabio’s achievements and legacy.

He commended Mr. Ekere for not disrespecting the person and office of Governor despite his resignation two years ago, and reasoned that the former Deputy Governor’s exit was divine as God had a better plan for him.

Okuku Effiong, who doubles as the Clan Head of Ikpe in Essien Udim, Governor Akpabio’s home Local Government Area, lauded the Governor for supporting the popular cry for zoning of the governorship seat to Eket Senatorial District and predicted that Mr. Ekere would benefit from the process of power shift which he (Effiong) and Ibibio leaders championed in 2006.

Other speakers such as Engr. Gabriel Udo Umoh, Obong Michael Afangideh and Obong Emmanuel Umanah, described Mr. Ekere as a competent and humble material and his visit as divine as Afe had never recorded that huge turnout to receive such a guest. The Member representing Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo/Mkpat Enin Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Akpan Micah Umoh, urged the people of the state to rally round Mr. Ekere as a worthy successor to Governor Akpabio.

 Member representing Urue Offong/Oruko State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Barrister Bassey Etienam explained that he was supporting Mr. Ekere after assessing all the aspirants and finding him a man of peace, the kind of Governor Akwa Ibom needed in 2015.

Others who spoke in support of Mr. Ekere’s bid were Engr. Joseph Effiong, the Chairman of Steering Committee of Akwa Ibom Consolidation Project and other prominent citizens of Akwa Ibom.

The immediate past Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State and leading governorship aspirant in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Nsima Ekere KJW, has promised to institute a welfare scheme for the elderly in the state as part of his people’s development programme if elected Governor next year.

Addressing a cross-section of Ikot Abasi people, recently, during a consultation visit, Mr. Ekere explained that such a scheme, which would be patterned after what obtained in the Western World, would take care of elders of 65 years of age and above.

He disclosed that he was also planning to develop world-class human capital in the state to build on the world-class infrastructure put in place by Governor Godswill Akpabio.

To this end, Mr. Ekere stated that he had already fashioned out an industrialization blueprint for the state.

“We have built the infrastructure,” he said. “Now is the time to build our people.”

He revealed that he had consulted far and wide in the last one year on the possibility of running for Governor and that the outcome of the consultations was positive but explained that he has not commenced campaign since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yet to lift ban on campaign which power was invested in it by the Electoral Law.

The former Deputy Governor thanked the stakeholders of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency for adopting him as their sole candidate and pledged to do them proud.

In his remark, the member representing Urue Offong/Oruko State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Barrister Bassey Etienam declared his support for Mr. Ekere and commended him on his plan for human development after Governor Akpabio’s infrastructural development.

The Assemblyman said that Mr. Ekere’s victory in the governorship race was certain and charged Ikot Abasi people to rally round and support him.

His Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo counterpart, Mr. Uduyok Aboh, expressed happiness that the former Deputy Governor was back for the good of Akwa Ibom people.

A former State Deputy Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Johnson Essien Ibok, commended Ikot Abasi people for realizing that Mr. Ekere was the answer to the challenges facing the state in 2015.

The Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Project (AKCP), Engr. Joseph Effiong, said, from the field observation of the group, it was clear that Mr. Ekere enjoyed the massive support of Akwa Ibom people and urged Ikot Abasi people to remain united in supporting their son.

The Chairman of Ikot Abasi PDP Elders’ Forum, Obong Obot Etukafia, described Mr. Ekere as a well-known personality and lauded him for starting his governorship bid with prayers.

Others who spoke at the occasion were Mr. Mathias Idiong, for elders, Princess Ekaette Umana, for women, and Mr. Mfon Umana, for youths. They all hailed Mr. Ekere as the best governorship material and pledged to stand by him. Mr. Ekere received a tumultuous welcome into Ikot Abasi by ecstatic palm frond-wielding youths and balloon-throwing maidens.