22 February 2015, Uyo — The people of Eket and Esit Eket have decried the massive neglect of the communities despite the huge resources tapped from the area in terms of crude oil.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Senator Helen Esuene governorship unit campaign team under Labour Party (LP) in Etebi, Esit Esit Eket Local Government Council recently, the Eket people lamented that since the creation of Akwa Ibom state 27 years ago there is no single project the area has benefited from successive governments.
They said even the dualization of the Eket-Etinan road was a flash in the pan to deceive the Eket people as the project has since been abandoned.
While inaugurating the committees, former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Barr. Bassy Essien said, “the umbrella in PDP is thorn. I challenge anyone to show me any project done by this government or any Eket or Esit Eket since 2003 I left government as Speaker.
“Instead things are shared in only two families. We are not slaves, we were born free. I challenge anyone to show me any project. The woman Senator Helen Esuene knows what development is all about and that is why we want her. She will not abandon us. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you. In Labour Party, we have promised to put a stop to it and ensure that Eket and other parts of the state are evenly developed instead of doing a sectional thing”.
Also expressing the anger of the Eket people, a one-time senator in the second Republic, Senator Etang Umoyo said “the coming of LP is a little beginning that will grow into a giant. What I want to say is the truth. This government has not done well for us.
There is nothing on ground for me to talk about for my people to embrace PDP. There is nothing. The politics we are seeing is the politics of the same family and house. We must say no to all that rubbish.
Senator Umoyo said only the LP has respected the zoning system of Akwa Ibom by bringing out for the first time a deputy from Uyo and charged people of the state to cast their vote and “campaign for Senator Esuene as the next governor of Akwa Ibom state and Pastor David Okpon as deputy. God has ordained her coming out”.
Equally speaking at the occasion that attracted a mammoth crowd, the former Public Affairs Manager of Mobil
Producing Nigeria (MPN), Engr. Bassey Itama said, “all these people campaigning to be governor are doing so just because of the crude oil in Eket.
Without the husband of Senator Helen Esuene, there would not have been Mobil in Akwa Ibom state. If you are in doubt, ask people like Chief Philip Asiodu and others. Her husband insisted that Mobil should be in Eket and not Port Harcourt and that was granted eventually”.
He pointed out that the Eket Comprehensive Secondary school that was to be a University and Kwa River Hotel projects started by Brig. Esuene, the husband of Senator Esuene have all been abandoned and “there is no project by successive government to show in Eket instead they get the benefits from oil from this area. We have to rise and fight for our right by voting in Senator Esuene. Where ever party you belong, rise and vote for Senator Esuene under LP”.
On her part, the LP governorship candidate, Senator Esuene decried the poor treatment on the G.22 and the neglect of Eket Senatorial saying, “We were in Abuja for 40 days fighting the impunity of PDP. The people of Akwa Ibom State have turned to beggars. There is so much poverty and want in Akwa Ibom that has so much to give. We need to chart a new course for ourselves.
“I know what is the problem and challenges of the various ethnic groups and Local Governments of Akwa Ibom State if you give me that mandate. We came here to inaugurate the foot soldiers of the LP governorship campaign team. Now you have an alternative in Labour Party that has no dent or baggage like others”.
She stated that, “LP is fresh and will be refreshing to the people of Akwa Ibom State. LP is for the masses. This is your party. How can our teachers that teach our children stay for five months no salary? The wages of labour is prompt payment of salary and that is what we in LP stand for.
“When we are in office we will put in place massive employment, industries, good transport system and many others for the people of the state”.
Present at the ceremony include, the deputy governorship candidate, Pastor Opkon, the founding member of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, a youth organisation in Eket, Obong Mbong Mbong, Chapter Chairman of LP in Esit Eket Mr. Friday Nso and many others.