Stakeholders of Eket Local Government Area have appealed to Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA) to remedy the infrastructure deficit in the area if he becomes Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2023.
The Stakeholders, who spoke through their political leader, Chief Nduese Essien, lamented that Eket despite its status as a major Oil producing community in the state is lacking behind in infrastructures.
Chief Essien, who is also the political leader of Eket Senatorial District, lamented that Eket has been an oil bearing community for over 30 years, yet there are no visible infrastructure commensurate with its contributions to the state and national economy.
Chief Essien, a former Federal Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development stated this while receiving the leading gubernatorial aspirant in Akwa Ibom and his team – the Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organization, in his Eket residence, with Eket Stakeholders in attendance on Monday, March 28, 2023.
According to the former Member, House of Representatives for Eket Federal Constituency – 1999 – 2007; Eket is lagging behind other senatorial districts in the state in infrastructures and therefore deserves considerable attention by government.
He highlighted, “Before 1999, Eket used to have the best government owned hotel in Akwa Ibom State, but today Eket has no such hotel again.
“We will include this as one of the priority projects for you to revisit – the Qua River Hotel in Eket and convert it to a high rise building so as to equate it with others in the two Senatorial Districts. We have high rise building in Uyo, we have a high rise building in Ikot Ekpene – the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel.
“Secondly, the state government has built housing estates in Uyo and Ikot Ekpene but the one in Eket has been abandoned. You will have to consider that as one of the key projects that you have to do for us. Thirdly, Eket and environs have been oil producing areas of this state for over 30 years but there are no oil producing infrastructure that you can point at.”
Advising Senator OBA to develop oil producing communities if elected as Governor, Chief Essien said “We don’t want to have a government that will distance itself from the oil producing communities.”
Essien, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lauded OBA for displaying dexterity and competence in public service and particularly gave him kudos for his antecedents in the Senate.
“You have represented the state well, so far your record is good. I appreciate what you have been doing in the State, you have done very well. I’m aware you have tried to encourage Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who are trying to make inroads into the oil industry. I’m aware of somebody in local content that you helped, he is one of the best,” he added.
He also appealed to Senator Albert as Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to wade in and help discourage the proposed sale of assets of Mobil Producing Nigeria to another.
The move by Mobil, according to the elder statesman, was an attempt to also sell Eket people and people of other oil producing communities.
The gubernatorial aspirant, Senator OBA, in his speech, promised to address the issue of infrastructure deficit by the establishment of an industrial layout, housing estates and other social amenities so as to better the standard of life in the area.
He appealed to Eket people to elect a governor who knows the citizens and understands their yearnings, affirming that he perfectly fits the character and qualities needed by Akwa Ibomites.
“What you desire in the next four years is a man that knows you deeply. You need a governor who knows you by your name and will serve you with the greatest fear of God. I believe strongly that the governor you need is the governor that will secure your future.”
Ahead of 2023, OBA reeled out some of his contributions to the the state especially in the area of education and human capital development.
According to him, about 481 students have so far obtained fully funded scholarship under his educational scheme, adding that he has expended well over N168 Million in the scheme.
He thanked the people of Eket for showing solidarity with him and promised not to fail them if elected in 2023 general election.
