Indigenes of Akwa Ibom State, resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the 19 northern states, have endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Nsima Ekere.
The endorsement took place at the Akwa Ibom House in Abuja when the state’s indigenes met with the governorship candidate in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the President of Akwa-Ibom community in the FCT and other 19 northern states, Mr. Akparanta Tom, said they would not support what he described as a ‘’promised and failed’’ government of Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
He said Emmanuel had failed to fulfill so many promises he made to the people before becoming governor in 2015.
He praised the governor’s predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio for keeping to his promises while in office saying: “Anyone who knows you by your name and calls you by your name is your governor. Akpabio knows us; he had done all within his capacity for us and he has now asked us to support Nsima Ekere. We will support him.”
He said the Akwa Ibom residents in the FCT and 19 northern communities were confident that under the leadership of Ekere, the state would fare better than it is doing at the moment.
He said, at the moment, things were not working in the state and there was a need for change.
Tom lamented the high level of poverty among the people, saying it was only a change of baton that could address the situation.
Accepting the endorsement, Ekere said he was humbled by the gesture and pledged not to betray the trust of the people.
He said he had been going round the local governments of the state and that indeed, the people were desirous of change.
He promised that once elected, students’ bursary would be increased from N5 to N25, 000 and that it will be paid as at when due.
He reiterated his commitment to local government autonomy, saying under his watch, local governments will be given their funds to enable them carryout projects that would benefit people in the rural areas.
“I am totally committed to the economic prosperity of my people. If elected, my government will fight poverty and unemployment,” he added.
