GovernmentLatestNews

A’Ibom 2023: Delegates charged to be discrete in choice at party primaries

As more aspirants emerge for the governorship race on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom notwithstanding the preferred aspirant of Governor Udom Emmanuel, one of the latest entrants, Akan Okon, has called on would-be delegates to be discrete not to elect a greenhorn as governor of the state in 2023.

He gave this advice while fielding questions from journalists during his post-resignation media interaction with journalists in Uyo, Monday.

According to him, in the past, the state suffered from inconsistency in policies and projects implementation and there was a disconnection between the past and present, stressing that, at thirty-four years, Akwa Ibom State cannot afford to continue to be an experiment where people come to learn leadership in public service.

Okon who resigned his appointment recently as the State Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport on March 14, 2022, to contest for the governorship position of the state, had previously served as commissioner for finance under Governor Godswill Akpabio and commissioner ministry of housing, urban renewal and social duties, commissioner ministry of special duties and aviation development, and commissioner ministry of economic development and Ibom Deep Seaport. His experiences in these ministries according to him have prepared him to lead the state as a governor.

The aspirant who is from Itu/Ibiono federal constituency, the zone which political observers argued is favoured to produce the next governor of the state, said that though he is in support of micro zoning for the position of the governor, other yardsticks such as competence, experience, and capacity should be stressed.

“God is not an author of confusion and the reason why we have zoning is to reduce infighting. I believe that in our federal constituency, we have very competent people that can lead the state. I buy into the sentiment of micro zoning and consideration, that should not be entirely the only yardstick to be considered but competence, experience, and capacity should also be considered”.

He argued that having worked with two administrations in the state, he was armed with enough experience to govern the state.

“God helps me, I discharged my duties to Akwa Ibom State Government creditably. I served in all the offices I was assigned to with integrity. Some of the deliverables under my supervision as Commissioner are the 21-story smart building, the new governor’s lodge in Lagos, new terminal building at Victor Attah International Airport, Ibom air and others”, he said.

If he was not shocked that despite his achievement in government, the Governor decided to choose another person as his preferred successor, he said the development didn’t bother him.

“I wasn’t shocked by the announcement of the governor’s preferred successor. Since that was done I didn’t say anything, I went about my business and delivered on my assignment. At the appropriate time, l had to leave, the reason for leaving was very clear, which is to contest for governor come 2023.

“You cannot say that the governor didn’t deliberately want me to be there. God is the ultimate holder in the affairs of men and his ways are different from the way of men so when things happen, there are reasons for it”, he added.