The Association Of Eket Senatorial Media Professionals in Akwa Ibom State have Endorsed Governor Udom Emmanuel’s political agenda and development strides in the state.
The association in a statement dated January 31, signed by its Secretary General, Comrade Jeremiah Edoho and made available to some newsmen, said, “this is a very healthy and positive political development to deepen our democratic culture and pave the way for a peaceful transition of power”.
They viewed the decision by the State Governor and other critical stakeholders of the state, to support a particular candidate, Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno as the preferred success to Governor Emmanuel, as normal in the practice of democracy, as “it sets a direction for believers and followers of the Governor’s Completion Agenda, limits friction in the political space”.
However, the association added that “this does not stop others who have similar ambitions from coming out to the political space to test their popularity and seek the support of the state populace”.
The association urged the Akwa Ibom public to “note that the final decision on the governorship elections however lies with them, which is why they should be more concerned with asking those seeking to take over, critical questions of how they intend to sustain the developments attracted to the state by the current administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“Indeed this is no time for needless heating up of the polity by media attacks and blackmails by those whose candidates may not have been favoured in the consensus decision”.
The association commended the current Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof Eno Ibanga for bringing a ‘fire brigade’ approach to the execution of the projects in the senatorial districts and the entire state, saying, “we believe that if this same level of vigour had been applied from 2015, most road projects in the state would have been completed before now”.
Arising from this, the group stated, “we have also noted that the issue of complaints and petitions from property owners, arising from payment of compensations, disappeared from our media space. We therefore commend the Governor, His Excellency Mr Udom Emmanuel and his Works Commissioner and urge that this tempo be sustained till the last day of the current tenure on May 29,2023”.
The Eket senatorial district media professionals also commended Governor Emmanuel for “promoting the course of justice and equity by encouraging stakeholders to zone the 2023 Senate seat of Eket Senatorial district to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, despite the heap of pressure mounted on him by most of his associate to throw his hat into the ring. Indeed his decision has further confirmed him as a true democrat and believer in justice, equity and fair play”.
The said, the current Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who is time barred by zoning principle, “has raised the bar in representation with her empowerment programmes and advocacies in the Red Chambers. We urge stakeholders of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency to look inward and produce a successor with unquestionable democratic credentials so as to sustain quality representation for the people of the Senatorial District at the apex legislative chambers”.
