A Chairmanship aspirant in the forthcoming Local Government polls in Mkpat Enin LGA and a former Chapter Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the area, Mr. Nkeruwem Akai has promised to tackle the challenges faced by residents of the area if voted into power come November 11, local government polls.
Mr. Akai said this on Thursday, September 7, 2017 during his public declaration of interest and consultation of the Mkpat Enin chapter of Peoples Democratic Party held at PDP hall Mkpat Enin.
Amidst cheers from the thousands of youths, elders and women who gathered to show their supports, the former PDP chapter chairman said that as a grassroots politician who lives in his village, Nkikara, he has a perfect understanding of the plights of the people, asserting that he was better positioned to salvage the area from the numerous afflictions experienced by the people.
He also reminded the Chapter and ward executives that this was the first time a chapter party executive is seeking chairmanship election, saying that it has always been a case of the party supporting new arrivals to emerge, and pleaded that the party should stand by him to succeed in the race.
In an emotion-laden speech, Mr. Akai decried the complete rot of the health, education and roads infrastructure in the area, saying that such neglect has led to avoidable loss of lives, especially by pregnant women who are usually handicapped during antenatal health challenges due to non functionality of the eleven primary health facilities across the Local Government Area.
In his words; “I came here to inform you people as my family that I am in the race for the local government chairmanship. My coming here is a home coming, and an opportunity to formally show regard to the new chapter executive having served the party as chapter chairman for more than eight years. I believe there is no way the party will abandon me as mainstream party man.
I’m not just going as a party man; I will bring positive changes to the Local Government Area. Our past leaders performed creditably, but I have come to do better because a good son must surpass his father’s achievements.
“If you look at Akpudo and Ukam markets were our local government council is drawing revenue, it is an eyesore, but in my tenure I will sanitize them, provide conveniences and modernize the markets to a befitting standard”.
Akai wondered why the local government council, said to have 395 staffers always remain deserted to the detriment of indigenes who meet empty seats when in need of services from the council.
“If you go to our Local Government Council were 395 staff are paid to work, you will not meet up to 10 workers in a day reporting for duty, why, because those people who are supposed to oversee the workers are not living within the area. If you go there you won’t find anyone, from head of council to head of service, treasurer etc you won’t find them. Many times our children miss good opportunities just because the chairman or the secretary could not be located to endorse a form or make recommendation, before the Chairman could be tracked down in Uyo, our children must have missed the opportunities.
“I want to assure you that as a chairman I will live within Mkpat Enin. The security village was built with almost 150million naira of our excess crude money, it was meant for the chairman, vice chairman, secretary, head of service, head of personnel and others, but now it is occupied by rodents, I will reside there with my cabinet. We will all live there. Any cabinet member in my regime who is not willing to live there will have to take transfer and go
“Also go to our health centers, we have almost twelve of them, but none of them is functional. Once it is 5pm the nurses who go to work with pillows usually lock the doors and sleep inside, this has resulted in so many avoidable dead in Mkpat Enin because in cases of emergency our people usually die before being driven to hospitals in Uyo or Eket. My friend Lawrence died avoidably because there was nowhere to attend to a simple emergency first aide that would have saved his life. What stops us from approaching National Youth Service Corps and get a resident doctor, we give him or her befitting apartment so that he could render services to our people? Our pregnant women are also dying in droves because they have resorted to taking their antenatal health challenges to churches due to lack of functional health facilities. These are things that we are coming to address.
“Even this party hall, I was the one who built it to this point and I am also the one who will complete it. This is the largest local government party hall in this state.
“We will also assist the state government in its free education policy through timely interventions.”
Mr. Akai pledged to use his network and political sagacity in the area to enhance massive mobilisation of votes to the Governor come 2019 gubernatorial elections in addition to ensuring proper welfare of the party officers across the local government council.
Speaking earlier, the Director General of the campaign team, Mr. Nkeruwem Effiong (aka Equals) said Nkeruwem Akai is a good product that would not be difficult to sell. He urged all Mkpat Enin people to rally round the aspirant for a better Mkpat Enin.
In his remark, the state Vice Chairman of PDP, Eket Senatorial District, Mr. Mfon Nkanteen sued for peace during the primary elections. He reminded the audience that nobody from another local government will come and seek for elections in Mkpat Enin, rather it will be fellow Mkpat Enin brothers seeking for the same position for the sake of the people.
“I’ve always told people that it is only God that crown leaders, I will advise, as you are seeking for this position, seek it with the grace and mercy of God” Nkanteen advised.
On his part, the deputy chapter chairman of the party Mr. Ukonsek Ukonsek who commended the mobilization of Mr. Akai, also lauded the humility of the aspirant, he said “with his achievements and status, he would have since relocated to reside in Uyo, but he chose to live in the village, Nkikara to help the people who gather in his house daily for help, I salute him, his aspiration is a serious impression on the party, and the party will give it a thought”.
The Chapter Chairman of the party also saluted Mr. Akai for his dedication to the party and how he instilled humility and progressiveness during the 8years he served as chairman. He said the people have heard his manifesto, and in due time the elections will be conducted in a brotherly manner and after the election the party will move in one direction as usual. “I believe that the God who has seen your heart and intentions for the people of Mkpat Enin will reward you accordingly, as a father to all aspirants, I won’t talk much, but we will do our best to ensure that with God on our side the best candidate will emerge. I urge all of us to maintain peace now, during and after the election, it is God who will give power” he added.
Highpoint of the event was the donation of items to the party. Amidst jubilation, Mr. Nkeruwem Akai announced the donation of 36 pieces of yams, 32 creates of assorted drinks, two cows and a cash donation of 1.2million Naira.
By Aniedi UKOENANG
