A governorship candidate under Allied Peoples Movement (AMP), Mr. Daniel King Ebong, gunning for the soul of Akwa Ibom in the 2023 general elections, has raised alarm that things seem to have fallen apart in Akwa Ibom State.
In a remark reminiscent of the novel title: Things Fall Apart by prolific writer Chinua Achebe, he bemoaned those he described as ‘indigenous predators’ who in collusion with ‘strangers’ are squandering and carting away the state resources.
APM was registered as a political party in Nigeria by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in August 2018.
Read also: ‘We have no political party in Nigeria’- says Former Nigerian Ambassador
Ebong who addressed his party’s executive members and loyalists in Uyo on Wednesday described Akwa Ibom as one of the richest states in the country in terms of abundant human and natural resources.
Despite a repertoire of the resources, the Uyo-born politician lamented that the state resources are being ‘pilfered’ and ‘wasted’ by a privileged few, causing many to wallow in abject poverty and lack in the midst of plenty.
‘‘Akwa Ibom State is in very critical times in her staggered history. Thick darkness has covered the land and the people seem to grope even at noonday!
‘‘Resources, in human and material forms, are brazenly squandered and/or carted away by indigenous predators and strangers alike. So much of people oriented projects aren’t addressed, and/or are left to rot away.
‘‘There are no targeted efforts to bridge the yawning Gap in unemployment, underemployment, provision of minimal, basic needs of the ‘ordinary’ Akwa Ibom person, or even concerted efforts by those entrusted or public responsibility to even utilize available resources to meet these avoidable needs! Things really seem to have fallen apart!’’
According to him, ‘‘all hope isn’t lost! Surely it’s time for holistic stock-taking. In Thirty five years of statehood and about Twenty four years into the Fourth Republic, every facet of our lives and livelihood must be assessed, and subjected to humane account!’’
Ebong queried, ‘‘How have we fared comparatively, in consideration of the huge and monumental human and natural endowments we’re physically soaked in? How sincere have we been as ‘Leaders’, and followers for that matter? In which direction do we turn to when we need simple solutions to even simpler, milk-teeth issues? Does it not matter to us as a peculiar People that we ignore our reserves, and stretch across for solutions and answers in foreign lands? Should we not care about our Nature-given homogeneity, sufficient to forge an impregnable force to achieve properly articulated, people oriented goals?”
The UNIUYO retired Director of Works noted, ‘‘We do often ask, “why do we need to send our children to School while government depends heavily on foreigners to do our roads, build our Bridges, plant and maintain our gardens, fabricate our machineries, etc, etc, etc.
”It is the sole responsibility of operators of government, in sync with experts in the domain, to search out, identify, and harness available resources to address issues for the inclusive betterment of citizens of the State,’’ he affirmed.
The APM Chairman, Akwa Ibom chapter, Mr. Winner Bassey described the party as ”Our God is control project” and is strongly behind the members to ensure its emergence in the forthcoming election in the state.
Bassey appealed to members to return to the grassroot to mobilise the masses to vote for their candidates in a bid to change the state administration and restore its prosperity to all.
Earlier, Mr. Samuel Ekpa had lauded the members for joining party to change administration in the state, and stressed the need for all to work as a sheaf for the emergence of the party’s candidates during the 2023 elections.
Ekpa, who is a retired Ambassador from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, assured to work harder to ensuring the interpretation and implementation of the party’s manifesto to the benefit of all, if the party is voted into power.
Among personalities at the meeting were Mr. Okon Isong, a retired diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Senatorial candidates, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates.
