It
was a moment of deep reflection and gratitude for the internally displaced
persons at Iwukem Primary School as the Honourable Member representing
Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency and Chairman, Local Content Committee
of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekon visited the camp to
donate relief materials in a bid to alleviate the plight of the settlers.
The
IDPs affected by the security crisis in Udianga Anem, Obong Clan and some parts
of Etim Ekpo could not hide their joy and excitement over the visit, and
showered encomiums and prayers for the lawmaker whom they described as a friend
of the afflicted.
In
his remarks, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekon said he feels the pains of the people and
noted that he embarked on the visit to have firsthand interaction so as to know
their needs while also donating relief items to the affected families. The
lawmaker assured them that he is in talks with relevant agencies in a bid to
ameliorating their plight. “I am deeply touched with the daily experiences of the
displaced families and I believe we must do more in concert with relevant
agencies of government to find a permanent solution to the crisis and
immediately cushion the effect on vulnerable groups, especially children and
women”.
This
is just as over 50 young Oil and Gas trainees sponsored by the lawmaker
graduated from Samsung Heavy Industries, Lagos over the weekend. In furtherance
of his avowed determination to build youth capacities, the member representing
Member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency and Chairman, House
Committee on Local Content has trained over 400 youths in capacity building,
with a recent training of over 30 youths last week who graduated after a four
months training on Project Management at Hyundai Heavy Industry training which
took place at the College of Arts and Science, Elebele, Bayelsa.
Meanwhile,
the youth leaders of Abak Federal Constituency have disassociated themselves
from the vote of no confidence allegedly passed against Rt. Hon Emmanuel Ekon
by College of Youth Leaders - a group they described as faceless and
non-existent. Rising from an emergency meeting dated 26th October, 2017, in a
statement made available to our correspondent, the youth leaders noted that as
stakeholders of the constituency who are directly concerned with the issue in
question, they condemned in strongest terms, efforts of the originators of the
no confidence vote describing it as an act of fueling tension and exploitation.
Speaking
on the purported vote of no confidence on Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekon, the youth
leaders led by Ubong Frank Udofia (Vice Chairman, Youth Caucus, Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial District), Mfonma Chuku (Chairman, National Youth Council, Etim
Ekpo), Akan Ben (Chairman, National Youth Council, Abak), Umoh Attah Umoh (Chairman,
Youth Caucus, Abak), Uduak-Obong Ekereke (Chairman, Youth Caucus, Ika),
Etinyene Francis Thomas (State Officer, National Youth Council), Asuquo Eyara
(State Officer, National Youth Council) declared that “The youth council and
the Youth Caucus in Akwa Ibom State is created with the primary responsibility
to mobilize, coordinate and compliment the efforts of government in youth
development. It is also a platform to engender and promote values, peace and
friendship among Nigerian youths and their global contemporaries as contained
in our oath of allegiance and not an avenue for people to use and settle cheap
political scores”.
Narrating
how signatures were forged, the youth leaders affirmed their “absolute regard
for the person of Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekon with respect to his efforts at youth
development and capacity building”, the statement adds.
It
further declared that matters bothering on security is an exclusive preserve of
security agencies, and they should be allowed to exercise their constitutional
responsibility without needless interference from any quarters including the
youth.
The
youth leaders reiterated the position of His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel
Emmanuel who charged youths to be great ambassadors of our dear state and not
to misuse our offices to malign individuals or desecrate constituted
authorities.
“We
hereby denounce in all ramifications, activities, deliberations and
pronouncements relating to the purported vote of no confidence passed on Rt.
Hon. Emmanuel Ekon and therefore admonish our youth not to allow themselves to
be mortgaged by self-seeking politicians but focus on contributing their quota
to the development of the constituency and Akwa Ibom state at large”, the youth
leaders declared.
Recall
earlier, another youth group under the aegis of Abak Federal Constituency
Youths for Democracy had also condemned the purported vote of no confidence and
warned that “any attempt - real or imagined, to pass a vote of no confidence
against Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekon is of no effect and will be met with stiff
resistance and peaceful revolution across the federal constituency.”
Restating
its resolve to be proactive against unscrupulous elements who aim to
destabilize the constituency, the group strongly warned politicians henceforth,
to desist from using youths to plan or promote parochial interests that are
inimical to the growth and development of Abak federal constituency or be ready
to face the music.”
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