2015: Effanga urges peace and rule play * Says, I will run for election

...thumbs up Ntukudeh on keke restrictions
 

The need to play politics according to its  laid down rules and principles especially with reference to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been re-emphasized by the former commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Samuel Effanga. The former commissioner stated this in Uyo over the weekend that the level in which the 2015 governorship election in the state is taking is capable of plunging the state into an undesirable condition and situation.

He appealed to politicians and their supporters to bury the ethnic card that is being trumped up as the state belongs to all Akwa Ibomites. Adding that we do not have any other state to run to when we out of our actions and inactions set the state on an unnecessary political fire.

Samuel Effanga observed that never in the political history of the state has Akwa Ibom been this polarized on the lines of were one comes from ethnic region wise. A development he noted is not doing the state any good but rather capable of creating sentiments and sectionalism in the state. 

While calling on all interested parties ahead of the 2015 elections to play politics with decorum and the fear of God, the Uyo born Mathematics graduate from the University of Calabar observed that the essence of politics is not to win enemies for oneself but to use it as a spring board to appeal for votes and then seek ways to better the lots of the people when elected. He called on the people to see themselves as Ambassadors of the state and avoid being used by anybody to create ethnic and or political tension in the state. He called on all the major stakeholders to avoid some unnecessary distractions by playing by the rules of engagement and strict obedience to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On whether he will contest for the 2015 elections as he was been pressurized to do so by the people of his Uyo federal Constituency, Mr. Effanga responded in the affirmative and however informed that he was still consulting with the relevant stakeholders of the federal constituency.

Meanwhile Effanga has described the state commissioner for Transport as a man with a will to perform. He said this in reaction to the restrictions of the operations of tricyclists along the Ibom Plaza axis. The former commissioner noted that the ability of Government through the ministry of transportation to place and successfully implemented a ban on the operations of keke some miles ahead of the once busy Ibom Plaza axis has added so much aesthetics to the state capital which he noted is fast attaining the status of a metropolitan city.

Although he acknowledged that the exercise may appear to be a burden on road users he however said with the introduction of taxis and shuttle buses, the people will soon get used to it. He observed also that with the ban on keke, it has allowed the operators of keke to run the streets which they hitherto did not feature prominently in.

Effanga observed that ever since the Government placed a restriction on the activities of Keke operators around the Ibom plaza areas, there have been an easy and a very free flow of traffic, a situation which he observed has led to a reduced rate of delayance and accidents on the roads. He said people can now access the roads freely without having to hit one another or scratch their vehicles. He commended Government for the initiative an appealed for the people support for the success of the exercise beyond the life span of the present administration.

Effanga however appealed to keke operators, drivers of shuttle buses, taxi drivers and commuters to see Government action as a measure of beautifying the city and then join hands to make it successful. He noted also that the beauty and cordination of Uyo being the state capital is the beauty of Akwa Ibom State as according to him Uyo is the hub of the state and deserves a status of excellence.

He called on the state Transport commissioner Mr. Godwin Ntukudeh not to relent in his effort of ensuring that he achieves maximum success in his activities in the ministry which he described as noble.