A former member of G22 and oil business mogul, Barr. Asuquo Okpo has announced his decision to contest for the position of Akwa Ibom State governor on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC in 2019.
Barr. Okpo made this announcement when he held an interactive session with newsmen in his Shelter Afrique residence in Uyo yesterday.
He said that in 2015, he would have emerged the Governor of Akwa Ibom State if not for the impunity and rascality of the PDP against him and twenty-one others.
The Effiat – Mbo born politician opined that he is optimistic that come 2019, he will pick the APC governorship ticket and proceed to emerge Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Okpo spoke on the experiences he garnered in 2015 elections and his sojourn to Abuja where he spent 40 days and 40 nights without achieving anything. He described that exercise as the height of impunity of the Peoples Democratic Party and added that himself and other well meaning people from the state had argued against such impunity but that the PDP would not listen.
Speaking further, Okpo emphasized that Akwa Ibom State has fared well under the APC as compared to when the PDP was in charge at the Federal level. He maintained that a lot of Federal appointments have come to the state courtesy of the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government.
He also praised the APC for awarding contract for the reconstruction of Calabar Itu road.
Commenting on his gubernatorial ambition, the oil magnate said he is coming to serve Akwa Ibom people. He said, his ambition is service driven and emphasized that he is only going to serve for one term between 2019 to 2023. Asuquo Okpo is of the opinion that anyone from Eket Senatorial District that will seek to serve more than one term from 2019 to 2023 will be creating anarchy in Akwa Ibom State.
He described Obong Umana as a good man and a leader of the APC who stood his grounds when the odds were against Akwa Ibom people.
Speaking on Udom’s administration two years in office, he threw the question back at the press. And when he spoke on the achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel on industrialization, he said if Nigeria is importing toothpicks and Governor Emmanuel is into the manufacturing of toothpicks and pencils then the Governor is doing well in that area of industrialization.
Barr. Asuquo Okpo however stated that when he takes over the leadership of Akwa Ibom State as Governor that he will ensure he builds a very strong relationship with the media as according to him, the media is a dependable and very reliable ally for state and nation building cum development.
He also added that there would not be a need to compare PDP’s 16 years rule to APC’s 2 as there may not be any basis for comparison. Asuquo Okpo said, he was going to ensure that he carries all strata of the state along and emphasized that his blueprint will be revealed at the appropriate time. He also hinted on why Exxon Mobil cannot relocate to Akwa Ibom State at least for now.
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