The governorship Candidate of Labour Party in Akwa Ibom State, Akparawa Michael Bush, says four years is long enough for a governor to deliver democratic dividends to the people.

Addressing a world press conference at the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the ace broadcaster said past leaders from the state like Late Brigadier-General U. J. Esuene, Dr
Clement Isong and Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga performed monstrously to rubbished the eight year myth for governors.

“In the next four years, you shall experience first hand a deliberate,intentional, populist , proactive and purposeful government.
You don’t need eight years to
coax your State Governor to arise and shine the light on something as rudimentary as democratic dividends.

“Governor does not need eight years to perform. A governor only needs a good head, a good heart, good
ears, good eyes and of course, what I call good humility as against humbility.

Presenting himself as the best option in the February 6th governorship election, he emphasized that having witnessed the Fourth Republic from the get-go, he was therefore quite
conversant with events and developments from 1999 all the way to the present
setup. “I know those things left undone which should have been done and which
must be done for the lasting benefits of our people” he stated

“Going forward, Akwa Ibom needs a large-hearted and liberal-minded Governor
to appropriately utilise our vast resources to discharge economic prosperity, political freedom and social harmony to our people.

“We must do away with anybody or everyone whose pastime in government is to corner our collective patrimony while simultaneously worsening poverty. We must hire a
Gov MICHAELBUSH who shall never seek to buy out our state or land. We
must change anybody and everybody bent on using hardship in time of plenty to dehumanize and devalue our people” he declared.

Mr. Bush who attended the press conference along side his wife, the governorship candidate of Democratic Leadership Allegiance, Obong Jeremiah Udo Akpan, state chairman of Labour Party, said gone are the days of politics of bloodshed and violence in Akwa Ibom State.

He listed an eight point agenda carefully chosen from the acronyms of Akwa Ibom where A stands for access to goverment , justice and health care, K for knowledge where his government will be knowledge driven as well as tinker with school curriculum to include vocational and digital add-on and adult education etc, W stands for wealth where the governorship hopeful rejected a situation where a state so rich should not
have a people so poor; waste to wealth) and A for advancement where he also intends to bring back the science park and rejected the notion that science park is now in Youth Development centres built by the present administration. Akwa Ibom has all it needs
to explode in ICT!

The I is for industrialization to create jobs and jumpstart our economy as well bring back our ailing industries. B for business where businesses shall be supported to expand and employ more people. O is for opportunities our administration shall connect Akwaibomights to
business, career, educational, political and general opportunities locally,
nationally and globally. The intention is to widen the Akwa Ibom net and reach. M is for manpower where the administration will get the people to skill up an scale up. Ibaka deep seaport should be run mainly by AkwaIbommights. Ibom Air should not see our people as
unemployable. The way to ensure that we do not keep shouting unemployment
in the midst of so many opportunities is by training, training, training!

The Labour Party flagbearer also talked about legislative, judiciary and local government autonomy, full application of public procurement laws as well as bridge the information gap on government projects.

• Otobong Nsekpong

The Executive Director of Federal Housing Authority, Arch Ezekiel Nya Etok has predicted overwhelming victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

The Presidential and National Assembly election will take place on the 16th of January, 2027 with President Tinubu as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress.

He is slugging it out with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of ADC, former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi of NDC, former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke of the People Redemption Party, PRP and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state contesting on the Allied People’s Movement and others.

Speaking with journalist in Uyo recently, Arch Nya Etok said the political situation in Nigeria today gives the incumbent an electoral advantage which the opposition parties lack.

He argued that if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar takes over power today, the southern part of the country will look at it as a northern conspiracy saying the same mob approach that removed Dr.Goodluck Jonathan from office and brought Buhari did not do proper background check to know if Buhari was a greater or lesser evil.

“*Atiku’s presidency will compromise the peace in the southern region of the country. In Akwa Ibom we, have come to accept rotational leadership, if political power is taken again from the southern part of Nigeria, only God will be able to hold us together as a country ”

On Mr Peter Obi’s aspiration, he said the four years of, Peter Obi, if he wins, will be the worst in the history of political development in Nigeria, maintaining that, the level of expectations from his presidency is already too high for the four years he has accepted.

On the issue of coming to fight corruption, he said emphatically that, corruption cannot be removed in Nigeria because all Nigerians are in corrupt.

“As an executive director, how much is my salary after tax? I am expected to service political structure, what if I have children in school? What about health care? where is the money coming from if you are not corrupt? The person who tells you he is coming to remove corruption is either lying or not well informed.

“Before Peter Obi takes decision on corruption, one, two months have passed. To take the country from consumption to production you will need power or how do you intend to make one dollar equals one naira is not possible” he concluded.

He also carpeted Atiku for saying this is his last chance to be President saying, after 2027, people will still go and bring Atiku back with the claim that it is the turn of the north.

He maintained that Tinubu’s presidency beyond 2027 will bring political stability in Nigeria as no candidate will come from the south in 2031 at the completion of Tinubu’s presidency.

He listed the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to include more money to subnational where they are able to meet up with their obligations like payment of salaries, pension and gratuity.
“When you return subsidy, it means you return to the era, states were not able to meet their financial responsibility.”

He also descended on those who use hunger to campaign saying people are hungry is not a manifesto stressing that politics is not a straight line but triangular with the people in government on one side and the people who want to form government on the other hand while the voters are on top.

“People are hungry is a situation report and not a solution. Let the people who want to form government tell the people how they intend to achieve their plans for the country”.

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno Ph.D, has called for transparency from lawmakers giving back to their constituents during empowerment programmes.

According to the governor, this has become necessary to put the records straight especially as beneficiaries most times turn around to deny being empowered by people in government.

Addressing a large turnout of people during the empowerment programm organized by the Leader of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Barr Otobong Bob, in Nsit Ubuim, the governor said names, ward of origin should be properly captured in the souvenir programm for all to see who and who have been empowered.

The governor also used the occasion to appeal to the people of Nsit political bloc in Nsit Ubuim state constituency to accept Rt. Hon Otobong Bob’s 2027 re- election bid since the governor of the state is from Nsit nation, saying, it was only proper that Ubuim political bloc be allowed to represent the state constituency.

He commended the lawmaker who is the governor’s representative in the House of Assembly for giving back to his constituents pointing out that by the event of the day, he has fulfilled his duties as a lawmaker.

“You have moved motion, you have sponsored bills and now you are giving back to the people. It is good to know that a bird that flies in the air, his legs face the ground. You have done well to return home today”

Governor Umo Eno also commended the state legislature for the support and cooperation with the executive arm of government which has resulted in the success of his administration in the last three years. “In all areas, this administration has been rated high at all level” he said.

He also gave reasons why his campaign council was yet to be constituted saying, he was waiting for the inauguration of the the APC presidential campaign council.

Governor Umo Eno however announced that the 2027 campaign will take a different format as it will be done at the ward level. “I am not saying there will be no rallies, no we will have rallies but we must deliver our respective wards. I will be leading my ward and I also expect you to deliver your ward to the APC. The just concluded commissioning of 39 projects to mark Akwa Ibom at 39 was also part of our campaign”

The empowerment programme was chaired by Obong Umana Okon Umana, former Minister of Niger Delta while goodwill messages were delivered by the speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, Member representing Etinan Federal Constituency, Obong Paul Ekpo, Senator Aniekan Bassey who graced the occasion with other members of the National Assembly.

Rt. Hon Otobong Bob is the son of the political leader of Uyo Senatorial district, Senator Effiong Bob and by 2027 he will be in the House of Assembly for three consecutive terms.