Israel Umoh
Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, the governorship candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Akwa Ibom State, has pledged to abolish the multi-campus system in the Akwa Ibom State University.
Akwa Ibom State University was established by ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio on September 2010 as a conventional, multi-campus institution with main campus at Ikot Akpaden in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area and Obio Akpa satellite campus in Oruk Anam Local Government Area.
Presenting his manifesto to Akwa Ibom State Council of Elders at E-Library complex in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Wednesday, Akpanudoedehe said he would restore the conceptual status of Akwa Ibom University of Technology.
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The defunct Akwa Ibom University of Technology conceived by ex-Governor Obong Victor Attah on October 18, 2000 suffered still birth due to some unforeseen circumstances, though the administration embarked on massive training of adequate manpower overseas.
The governorship candidate promised to produce 100 millionaires in the state by giving them initial N1 million for the take-off of their businesses.
He further pledged to make Akwa Ibom a business hub by empowering palm oil producers and fishermen.
Highpoint of the interactive session was the signing of Peace Accord by nine governorship candidates of the various political parties in Akwa Ibom.
Eight others political parties including the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, his counterpart in Young Progressives Party, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan and others were absent at the signing of peace pact.
Attah who is a former governor of the state said, “This is truly wonderful and it is regrettable that people gave it either wrong interpretation or high suspicion and therefore stayed away. Those that have come have seen the benefit of coming.
‘‘And I want to believe that next time they will be better informed and that they will come and Akwa Ibom people are now better informed about their candidates.”
On those that cast aspersion on the interactive session, he said, “That is their business. You are here and you saw what happened. It is purely interactive session for people to tell Akwa Ibom people why they should be elected as governor.”
Speaking shortly before the signing of the Accord, the Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Council of Elders, Dr. Moses Essien said that the Council viewed with great concern the inordinate tendencies of violence among members of the various political parties and is therefore committed to ensuring free election before, during and after the election
Essien stated that it was based on this that the Council of Elders decided to “bring together all the political parties in the state to forestall any possible occurrence of electoral violence during the forthcoming election in the state.”
