Monday 13 October 2014

2015: Udom gets assurance from Itu/Ibiono youths BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER



2015: Udom gets assurance from Itu/Ibiono youths BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER


Youths of Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency on Tuesday 7th of October unanimously endorsed the State Secretary, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as their most preferred candidate for the 2015 governorship election. The youths made their endorsement at the UBE Primary School, Calabar-Itu Highway when they converged to launch the ‘UDOM IS RIGHT’ stickers.


Addressing the youths, the Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area who featured as the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Iniobong Essien told them that the time was nigh for them to govern their state. He urged them to continue in the support of Governor Akpabio stating that with him, they are sure of the future. He reminded them that the Governor performed creditably well in creating a foundation the youths can benefit from by introducing the free and compulsory education which he said will ensure that the youths are able to chart a new course  for themselves in the future. He noted that the federal constituency among others in the state has benefitted immensely from the present administration while citing the Calabar-Ekim-Itu road, Okoita and Use Ikot Amama roads as well as the 21st century hospital as examples. 

The Chairman who was represented by the former Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Barr. Mfon Udeme, told the youths that a little more is still left to be done to ensure that when Chief Godswill Akpabio exits the scene, someone who can perform even better than him is ushered in. He told them that stakeholders, Party faithfuls and others involved in this quest have embarked on the search for the perfect man and have discovered Udom Emmanuel capable for the job. He also hinted that throughout his years of stay in the inner circus of the government, no one has been able to sanitize the environment as Udom has done and therefore urged them to queue behind Udom whose administration he said will favour the youths by making them gainfully employed. He extolled the SSG’s qualities while expressing that it was rare for a politician to be in power and not hold it against his fellow man—an attribute he said Udom possesses.   


In their separate remarks, the former caretaker chairman and coordinator of the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA) in the federal constituency, Hon. Idongesit Ituen and the Special Adviser to the Governor on student issues, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong Essien expressed that the gathering was organised to enable youths of the constituency take a stand on what they want. According to them, “we have taken our stand that the next governor of Akwa Ibom should come from Eket Senatorial District, and in choosing a man that will take over, we need someone that will continue from where Godswill Akpabio has stopped. We need qualities.” they said. 

Hon. Idongesit Ituen observed that not all aspirants can build industries or have the exposure, contacts, experience and capacity they profess while urging the youths to think as statesmen and not politicians. He stated that Udom is the most qualified candidate and that when he begins his administration; many industrialists will come around the state because of the trusted name behind the scene. He also announced that nobody from the federal constituency is seeking the governorship seat as a mark of support for the power shift to Eket so that when it is their turn, Eket will also support them. 

They also advised the youths not to judge people by their skin colour or anything unreasonable but by the calibre of those in a team, while stressing that Udom’s team is the strongest in the state, having the backing of the state governor and the members of the executive council. They therefore called on the youths to support Udom adding that he will win the nomination in November and election next year. 

Delivering the keynote address on “The Right Time is Now”, the former Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area and the ACA Assistant Legal Adviser, Barr. Mfon Udeme noted that Udom is the answer to the people’s prayer. He told the youths to pass the message to others that their choice for 2015 is not just the governor’s choice but theirs and that they should join the moving train before it is too late. He pleaded with the elders to allow the youths a chance in the development of their state, stating that their today was the future of yesterday.

In his goodwill message, the Father of the Day, Obong Dave Essien thanked the youths for accepting Udom as their candidate for 2015. He stated that not only the youths have endorsed Udom but the Women and elders as well.  

The Chairman of the Planning Committee in his remarks on behalf of the youths thanked the state governor for his transformation of Itu Local Government Area. He stessed that their expressions of thanks will not only end with the support of Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the next governor but will also ensure his transition to the House of Senate next year.  

Highlights of the event included the unveiling of the ‘UDOM IS RIGHT’ stickers by the Mother and Father of the day, stage presentation of ‘Ubok Udom ke nam Ikpo Nkpo’ by a music artiste, cultural dance presentation and goodwill messages from the audience. 

At the event were: Obong Joseph Udo, former chairman of Itu Local Government; Barr. Raphael Etim, a Commissioner in the civil service commission; Mr. James Udo, retired Director of the State Technical School Board; Special Advisers to the Governor from Itu/Ibiono Ibom; youths, women and men groups; the Itu and Ibiono Ibom ACA members and a host of others.

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