BY KENNETH JUDE
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke has tasked a sociopolitical group in Akwa Ibom known as Uyio Mkparawa Uyo Senatorial District to take up the course of championing the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The Speaker gave the task in Uyo, while playing host to the group which paid him a courtesy call in his office earlier today.
Addressing the group, the speaker said, "let me thank you for promising to work with me; and as a first assignment, I am giving you a task to go and start championing the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
He stressed that Governor Emmanuel has done well to deserve a second term, having shown such prudence in the management of the state's resources to make for the level development he has been able to put in place despite assuming office at a time the state and nation were in serious economic crisis.
"Forget what people are saying, the governor has done well to deserve commendations. He came into power at very trying economic times, but has been able to achieve the much he has.
"Just recently, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics reported that Akwa Ibom is the second among states in the country that have attracted the most investors.
Industrialization is not done in a day. It is a gradual process that progresses step by step, and to make way for this industrialization to thrive, there must be infrastructures put in place.
Therefore, the infrastructural developments which the government has undertaken is also a very necessary part of industrialization", he added.
While welcoming the group, Luke noted that it was part of the civic responsibility of his led House to open up its wings to members of the public for partnership and contributions towards the progress of the state.
The Lawmaker also thanked members of the group for their kind words and promise to work with him, while pledging his commitment to the partnership and a promise to put in his best in the partnership as long as it aims at developing the state and bettering the lives of the citizenry.
He further acknowledged and accepted the group's call on him to run for the Etinan Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
Earlier in his address, the President of the group, Akparawa Samuel Akpan appreciated the Speaker for the accepting to host them, adding that the group had requested for his audience to discuss the way to more contributions to the development of the state, as well as to partner with him in future political courses.
Akpan said, "we have decided to constitute ourselves into one indivisible crystal block to restate, emphasize and drum support for your future aspirations, and to also encourage you to seek election to the National Assembly come 2019 as the next member to represent Etinan Federal Constituency which is one of the constituencies in Uyo Senatorial District".
According to him, the group's decision is based on Speaker Luke's immense developmental contributions which he said, is not only limited to Nsit Ubium but spreads across the entire state which Uyo Senatorial District is a subset, adding that it would amount to ingratitude and disservice if they fail to acknowledge same.
While declaring their readiness to follow the Speaker to whichever direction he will direct them, Akpan further conveyed another decision by the group to name the Speaker as its Grand Patron.
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