Date Published: 12/24/09

2011: Ex- Rep Carpets Mass Endorsements, Lauds Aks Power Project

Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, a former national assemblyman in Akwa Ibom State, Chief Nduese Essien says that the endorsement of Chief Godswill Akpabio for a second term in office as Governor come 2011 does not translate to automatic endorsement for every other politician from the state, holding elective offices.

Chief Essien who represented Eket Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2007 in the House of Representatives, said that Governor Akpabio has won the support and endorsements of everyone in the State because of his excellent and impactful leadership profile.

Speaking on an AKBC independent radio programme, Bush House Nigeria, the former lawmaker commended the efforts of few elected officials, but however casted doubts over the quality of representation by most office holders from the state.

He said that for an effective representation to be guaranteed, those holding political positions in the state should be made to come and render accounts of their stewardship, while only those who pass the acid test could be returned to consolidate on their achievements.

He decried the upsurge of petitions against the State governor in the face of his unprecedented achievements, saying they were merely frivolous allegations by politicians who were too frightened to face the reality of their political irrelevance in the State.

Chief Essien who is the leader of the Eket Federal Constituency Elder’s forum, commended Governor Akpabio for the turning on of the Independent Power Plant at Ikot Abasi and subsequent distribution of electric power supply to the parts of the State.

He blamed the challenges on the initial smooth running of the power supply to the inability of the existent electrical installations to handle the power generated and supplied by the independent power plant.

He condemned in strong terms, the allegation on some national dailies purportedly written by a faceless person in Eket, in which the said writer faulted the power project in the State.

According to the former Chairman of the South South parliamentary caucus in the National Assembly, as soon as the power plant came on stream last week, he went on to confirm at the plant site in Ikot Abasi, before going to the Eket sub-station of the Power Holdings Company Nigeria, PHCN, were he was also informed that electricity power was being received from the plant at Ikot Abasi.

Commenting on the amnesty deal in the Niger Delta region, Chief Essien said it was not enough to resettle the repentant militants, but adequate implementation of quality and life-touching programmes in the region was required.

He condemned the pace of construction work going on at the Akwa Ibom section of the federal East – West Road, describing it as snail speed. According to the PDP chieftain, considering the urgency required for the road, there was need for the federal government to re-visit the issue of the contractor handling the project.