By Dennis Udo – Udoma, Uyo
Non indigenes residing in Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District have thrown their weight behind the All Progressives Party (APC) senatorial candidate, Dr. Martyns Denis Udo – Inyang in next month’s national assembly election.
Rising from a meeting with the candidate who consulted the group at the party’s chapter secretariat in Eket yesterday, the leader of the group, Alhaji Kashim Sulieman pledged their unalloyed support for Dr. Martyns Udo – Inyang’s aspirations and all the candidates of the party at all levels.
Kashim said, after their careful observations and analyses of all the contenders for the senate seat in the senatorial district, they have found out that, Dr. Martyns stands tall, capable, knowledgeable and eligibly fit to be elected as the representative of the people for the red chamber.
Alhaji Suleiman said though, others who had been in the corridors of power for more than twenty years failed to bring tangible development and provision of social amenities to the area, the non indigenes are comfortable with the candidate thereby mobilizing assiduously for him and other party candidates in APC.
The meeting was attended by critical stakeholders of different ethnic groups in the senatorial district, Eket chapter. These include: the Chairman of the party, Pastor Ubong Okposin, chapter secretary, Udia Nkuh and members of Dr Martyns Udo-Inyang’s campaign organization.
Kashim noted, “After a careful study of all the major contenders for the senate seat, we have found capability, wisdom, knowledge and effective representation in Martyns Udo-Inyang though. Other candidates have been in the corridor of power for more than 20 years but unable to bring any meaningful development and social amenities to their constituents. We the non-indigenes group in the area have decided to mobilize massively for Dr. Martyns Udo-Inyang and other candidates of the party.”
Eket APC chairman, Pastor Ubong Okposin, described non-indigenes as critical stakeholders in the party and assured them of equal opportunity.
He stated that, all the rights and privileges due to them would be given to them and promised to partner with the group to actualise the vision and goals of the party.
Earlier, Dr Martyns Udo-Inyang while addressing them said, non-indigenes are major stakeholders in politics, noting that having involved in different businesses ranging from academics, trade/investment and fishery that they have contributed to the development of critical areas in the senatorial district.
He promised to partner with them in special areas of interest to advance their businesses in order to boost economic growth of the senatorial district, especially tourism, maritime and fishery which is the third largest economic booster in the world.
Dr. Udo-Inyang described himself as the most qualified candidate with clear manifestoe/agenda to alleviate the plights of the people in the senatorial district.
He highlighted “His New-Deal” policy agenda to include; trade and investment, security, agriculture, structural development and job creation.
He explained that, his “New Deal” agenda under security; non-indigenes would be given adequate protection of lives and property for their businesses to thrive.
Dr Udo-Inyang, sympathised with the Yoruba community and apologized for the recent incident in Ibeno LGA, that led to loss of lives and properties promising to draw the attention of the government at the national level for provision of relief materials to the victims.
While soliciting their support, he called on them to vote massively for all the APC candidates beginning from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for president, Dr Martyns Udo-Inyang for Senate, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh for Eket Federal Constituency, Dr Robbison Edumoh for Oron Federal Constituency and Hon Enerst Ntuk for Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.
Other stakeholders at the meeting were the Eket senatorial district hopeful, chapter chairman, Mr. Udia Nkuh, Eket APC chapter secretary, Chief Ukpaukureke, political leader, Alhaji Kashim Suleiman, coordinator non-indigenes Group, Muhammed Ali Muhammed, AREWA Community Leader, Nze Anthony Eze- Igbo leader, Rose Johnson- Woman leader, Oladipo Mekuleyi – Leader Ibeno, Saba Nuhu Akor – Proprietor Leadman University, Clement Silas, Member Dr. Martyns Udo-Inyang’s Campaign Team, Ifeanyi Obidigwe – non-indigenes secretary.