Senator Albert Bassey Akpan, Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, has pledged to make Mbo Local Government Area a commercial hub in the Gulf of Guinea, if elected as a governor in 2023.
The Senator popularly known as OBA stated this recently during his consultative visit to Mbo, where he laid bare his blueprint and programmes to the PDP delegates and stakeholders in the area.
According to him, an intensive human capital development scheme, involving targeted training and equipment of youths with the required skill set and certification, would be launched there, in preparation for take-off of the Ibaka Deep Seaport.
He said contract for the construction of the road to the seaport site is to be awarded within his first 100 days in office.
Read also: 2023: OBA, Eno, Luke, Others Pick Governorship form for Akwa Ibom
Part of the blueprint highlights a process where some selected indigenes from the state would be trained in relevant areas such as: engineering, transport and logistics management, industrial welding and fabrication, maritime law, dockyard operations and management, seafaring, marine engineering and oceanography, environmental impact assessment, pollution management, safety, and other-related fields.
Aside from the deep seaport project, which is expected to provide over 5,000 jobs, OBA pledged to commercialise fishing business with the support of technical partners in the area.
”Ebughu Fishing Terminal has been moribund for years. Revamping it will provide the platform for post-harvest value addition processing and linkage with local and international markets,’’ the Senator assured.
“It costs nothing to bring in fishing trawlers to Mbo waters,” he added.
OBA also spoke about his conscious involvement in the Petroleum Industry Act, knowing that Mbo people and other oil-bearing communities in Akwa Ibom stand to benefit.
He reiterated his commitment to ensure Oro nation is accorded official recognition as the oil-bearing community.
Akpan informed the people of his sponsorship of 481 students on scholarship scheme, including Mbo children, in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, a venture that has produced 28 first-class graduates so far.
Warning against mbiam politics, he urged the people to support him based on their conscience, assuring that he would be a governor of the people.
Earlier, the Director-General of Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organisation, Pastor Sunny Ibuot; Chairman, Strategic Committee, Arch-bishop Andrew Uwanta and Chairman, Campaign Council, Sir Emem Akpabio had spoken glowingly of OBA’s competence, capacity and commitment to ensure that the masses benefit from his government.
They also charged the people to support equity, justice and fair-play, so that Oro nation will also benefit from those virtues when the governorship slot returns to Eket Senatorial District.
Pastor Ibuot said OBA has made Akwa Ibom proud at the national level in his representation in the Senate, therefore deserves to be given the chance as governor.
Presenting OBA to the people, Sir Emem Akpabio described the aspirant as someone who is qualified, competent and knows Mbo in-and-out, having traversed the area when he served as Chairman of Inter-ministerial direct Labour Project under ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio.
“If you join them to kill rotation, when governorship comes back to Eket Senatorial District, those same people will argue that it is open to everybody, thereby depriving Oron Federal Constituency of their opportunity,’’ Sir Emem Akpabio said.
Ikpoto Okon Osung, a PDP chieftain from Oro nation, described the situation in the state as bleak, saying OBA is the only person who can redeem it.
Speaking too, Chief Eddie Abang, said it was the first time someone has come to consult the stakeholders in Mbo.
He pleaded for the completion of the abandoned Etebi-Enwang Road and Udesi Bridge linking the East-West Road, when he becomes the governor.
Responding, Mr Etetim Okon Isemin, the Chapter Chairman, said all power belongs to God and prayed OBA sail through to Government House.
Reported by Princess Attah
