2023 Guber: Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency has settled for Iniobong Essien – Group
The Chairman of Ibom Airport Development Company Limited, Dr. Iniobong Essien has been unanimously adopted as the preferred aspirant for the 2023 Governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.
This was made known to newsmen by a group advocating for the Zoning of 2023 Governorship to Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency through its State Coordinator, Otuekong Samuel Edet.
The group known as ‘Akwa Ibom Advancement Group’ (AIG) in their statement
after a meeting at Shelter Afrique said after thorough consideration and analysis, it has found the Chairman of Ibom Airport Development Company Limited, Elder (Dr.) Iniobong Essien as the best option for the 2023 Governorship election in the State, stressing that the group has began hunting for Dr. Essien as their choice for the Hilltop Mansion job.
According to the Coordinator, AIG settled for Dr. Essien because apart from his capacity and competence, he fits perfectly well into the kind of successor Governor Udom Emmanuel desires for Akwa Ibom State as the Governor stated in his anniversary address.
In his words, Otuekong Edet said:
“Going by the Governor’s description of his kind of Succeorsor, we have taken our stance in consonance with his desired succeorsor. During his anniversary speech, the Governor asked us the kind of successor we want, if we want a successor who will cancel out all the great strides in industrialization we have started? The peace we currently enjoy and return us to the years when violence and kidnapping reigned and sowed fear in the hearts and minds of the people? If we want a successor who will come with anger towards all we have done, as opposed to continuing with the great works we have started? If we want a leader whose approach to testing his popularity would be to drive in a long convoy to “Ibom Plaza” and throw money at the hapless people, watching them scramble for the money and the people would say that’s “Ano owo Mkpo”! He asked us if that is the kind of empowerment our people deserve? Someone who will bring out the worst in our youths rather than challenge them to seize the future and unleash their potentials? If we want a successor who will relegate God to the background and assume an all-knowing power? Or if we desire a successor with a known e-mail address that the International business community recognises? If we want a leader who will fritter away our commonwealth in search of cheap popularity or one who would utilize the resources and continue investing in projects with enduring value? If you want a successor who would see Government as a cabal where our commonwealth would be shared among a privileged few or we desire a leader who would continue to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of our people, a successor who understands the economic dynamics that shape our globalized space and would utilize those skills to advance our well-being?
Further, the State Coordinator explained that inspired by the Governor’s message, the group went in search of an aspirant that will fit in perfectly into the Governor’s description and discovered Dr Iniobong Essien as a perfect match.
The AIG called on Dr Essien to respond to the group’s clarion call to serve as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State come 2023 and further declared that anyone who sees Dr. Essien anywhere should not let him rest untill he comes out to answer the call to serve.
Dr. Essien is a silent achiever whose Leadership prowess and wealth of experience have been tested and confirmed by both Akwa Ibom people and Governor Udom Emmanuel himself, the group said, adding that thousands of Akwa Ibom people, especially, those who have benefitted from Essien’s milk of kindness can attest that Essien is the best material for the 2023 Governorship.
“From his day as the Commissioner for Environment and latter Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Essien has exhibited characteristics that qualifies him as the man to take over from Governor Udom Emmanuel and I can say boldly that his sterling leadership qualities, competence and capacity is the reason the Governor entrusted the Ibom Airport Development Company in him. Aviation sector is the cardinal sector of Governor Udom Emmanuel and for him to to entrust such Sector on Iniobong Essien, it means the Governor knows that Iniobong Essien has what it takes to interpret the Governor’s vision beyond 2023,” Otuekong Edet noted.
It could be recalled that recently, dozens of callers had during Iniobong Essien’s live radio interview with The Bridge Media on Comfort FM called in to mount pressure on Iniobong Essien to run for the 2023 Governorship election.
One of the callers who gave his name as Tony from Uyo stated thus:
“Doctor, Akwa Ibom people have been following you even before you were appointed Commissioner for two consecutive times and now that you are also in charge of the Ibom Airport. You are a very sound and intelligent person who fit in both as a technocrat and a grassroot politician, an Elder in a Church from from Ibiono Ibom where the 2023 Governorship is zoned to. Akwa Ibom people are expecting you to come out and run for the 2023 Governorship because your kind is what we need as the Governor to take over from Udom Emmanuel.”