2015 Guber: My Chances are High - Umoette

 Mr. Robert Umoette is a businessman and a veteran in Real Estate Development and Hospitality. He is the actualizer of “Ukara Nnyin 2015”. In this interview with journalists in Uyo, he speaks of his plans to alleviate unemployment, engage in capacity building and other issues if elected Governor. Excerpts:

 How would you describe the victory of PDP in Ekiti and what do you think are the prospects of PDP in the South West?
 I had said it long before now that PDP is more grassroots than APC as such, PDP has the capacity to take over the entire South West and the outcome of the Ekiti governorship elections only goes to buttress the obvious. Osun is next and afterwards, the others in 2015. PDP is a party for the people and this is and would be demonstrated in subsequent elections.

How would you describe the current level of political awareness in Akwa Ibom in the build-up to the 2015 governorship election?
 The fact is that political awareness is very high as the people want to know the person’s interest in the affairs of the state come 2015 before they can make a decision. The consciousness level of the people is such that they want to know what each aspirant is offering, as you cannot seek to govern just for the sake of it. They also want to know about the character and personality of the aspirants.

What do you think is the major need of Akwa Ibom people?
 I would say harmony and meaningful engagement towards improved quality of life. Harmony is paramount as a people divided on ethnic and political  lines creates an unsuitable atmosphere for development and as such the need for all to come together as one should come first before anything else. Asides harmony, the people need, as a matter of urgency, to be meaningfully engaged in human capacity/skills as well as work/entrepreneurial engagements towards developing them as a people and building personal confidence in the people. Infrastructural development is a necessary requirement of all governments and we need to go beyond infrastructure towards building lives of the people by creating more professionals in different fields.

 The agitation that Eket Senatorial District should produce the next Governor is receiving some resistance. What do you think?
If there is no resistance it would not be normal; for every positive line of action (even negatives), it is normal to have resistance. However, the fact on ground is that the three senatorial districts agree that the next governor should come from Eket Senatorial District in the spirit of justice, fairness and equity, since the other two Senatorial districts have taken their turn between 1999 till date. Prior to 1999 elections, PDP zoned the governorship seat to Uyo Senatorial District and Obong Victor Attah from the District became Governor. Prior to 2007 elections, PDP again zoned  the position  to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District where the Annang tribe which constitutes the majority produced Chief Godswill Akpabio who became Governor till date; for 2015, PDP has again zoned the governorship seat to Eket Senatorial District  and the people of  Eket Federal Constituency with the highest  population of registered voters in the district are demanding  justice  having followed same principle in two prior processes. Note that in Uyo Senatorial District, Uyo Federal Constituency has the highest registered voters, in Ikot Ekpene  Senatorial District, Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency has the highest registered  voters and in Eket Senatorial  District, Eket Federal  Constituency   has the highest  registered voters.

 How will you react to the level of performance of Governor Akpabio?
The number one thing Governor Akpabio has done for Akwa Ibom is bringing awareness to the state and its people. This will bring business and other interests to the state. The other thing he has done is the kick off of free education and the next government after him will have to improve on the quality of the education. As regards infrastructural development he has done his best and the next government will pick up from there and improve on his record. Moreso, as infrastructural development is a never a ending phase in governance all over the world.

Some chairmen of PDP in the local government areas in Akwa Ibom are currently in Brazil having been sponsored by the state government. What is the rationale behind this?
I believe that the federal and state government representatives in Brazil and there must have had budgetary provisions for such trips.
 As regards the rationale behind this, I would say the officials of different arms of government can use the trip to learn one or two things in the area of sports as well as networking that would bring development to the different local government areas, state and country at large.
Some have said this was a move to ensure they support Akpabio’s governorship candidate.
Are they that cheap? These are men that can sponsor themselves to this event and even sponsor others. Note that people can collect your millions or billions and still do the biddings of their hearts.

What are your chances among the scores of other contestants for the governorship race?
I must say that as a grassroots man, my chances are high and I am a unifying  factor in the state as I do not play ethnic politics nor do I belong to any of the  warring factions. So, I easily can bring all together for a unified development.

What are your programmes for the state?
Capacity building and empowerment through industrialization and agricultural sector development; improved security and a workable welfare programme for Akwaibomites, where our people’s lives will be touched directly by government. The development of an active database of our people and those resident in the state generally; improved quality of education and healthcare delivery are my priorities.