Rep contender puts rivals on toes after grassroots consultation
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February 20, 2010
On a maiden consultation across the countryside in Abak federal constituency, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) strongest contender for the 2011 polls, Mr. Emmanuel Ekon learned to his amazement that his entry into the race has raised hope for quality and competent representation of the constituency.
Otobong Ekong, a vibrant youth leader in Abak stopped the aspirant who is vying for the House of Representatives seat in the constituency moment before stepping into the Abak motor park to shake hands with friends and told him pointblank: 'With people like him, I know we are going to have a man of integrity representing us.'
From community to community where he had gone to make known his aspiration, and in meetings where he had successfully gathered opinion leaders in Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika to listen to his plan for the constituency, Mr. Ekon was inundated with similar messages.
In places where the aspirant visited one after the other, most people had spoken of a likely voters' apathy should any of his rivals picked the coveted ticket, and expressed optimism that his entry into the race has already changed the political atmosphere.
'You're what we call a new wine in a new skin, and there's no way we'll allow people that have represented us in the past and raped us to have a taste of political office," Ekong Etukudoh, an undergraduate at the University of Uyo that attended Mr. Ekon's consultation in Ika said openly.
In Etim Ekpo where three aspirants, including Ekon have already emerged, opinion leaders who spoke during the aspirants' close door consultation with selected elders in the area reportedly agreed to push him as the flag bearer in view of the fact that the constituency will benefit better from his wide contacts at home and abroad. 'We have a candidate in you,' an elder reportedly told Mr. Ekon at the parley.
Ekon, a US based businessman while giving reasons for his entry into the race explained that he was touched by the high level of poverty and neglect which the area was facing, pointing out that his intention was to offer service that would change the economic circumstances of the people.
According to him, the three local government areas had enough human and material resources which if properly harnessed would help to create wealth and empower the youths to be less dependent on government for their means of livelihood.
The National Assembly hopeful who has through private initiative assisted some youths of his community promised to take advantage of the contacts he had built in the US, Europe and Nigeria to attract investment to the Federal Constituency.
He pointed out that he intends to encourage the youths to participate in a private sector- driven program, which the present administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio was promoting, adding that he had already identified areas of interest that would encourage investors from Europe, Asia and the United States to show interest in the resources of the area.
"I intend to introduce our youths to opportunities that abound outside the confines of government. My links to the business class in America and Europe has exposed me to the fact that given an enabling environment and opportunity, we can bring in a lot of investments that would be private sector- driven to create wealth and empower the youths,"he said.