Akwa Ibom 2015: Group backs Akpabio’s ally, Udom Emmanuel, for governorship

The Akwa Ibom Young Professional Initiative has declared support for the Secretary to the State Government, Udom Emmanuel, and urged him to contest the gubernatorial election in the state, come 2015. Mr. Emmanuel, a strong ally of the State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, is from Eket Senatorial District that has been canvassing for power shift in the state. The group, which is an umbrella body of young professionals from the state; met in Abuja on Sunday and took a decision on the matter. Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Politics and Legislative Matters, Emmanuel Ibiok, said the future of any society is largely shaped by the quality of its youth. Mr. Ibiok noted that any society that is blessed with energetic and vibrant youth who are imbued with skills and professional competences was bound to make meaningful progress. He said Akwa Ibom professionals support Mr. Emmanuel because of his deep and varied professional background; a quality he said was needed for the advancement of the state. Mr. Ibiok insisted that if given the opportunity to lead, Mr. Emmanuel would harvest other young professionals from all walks of life to turn around the fortune of the people of the state. He said, “At this point in the history of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria, we must find the courage and the conviction to tell ourselves the truth. We must open the doors and allow professionals to come into politics and clean the stable. “We need people with relevant professional competences and skills to turn things around for good. The future belongs to those who have prepared themselves today. Anybody with the right skill and competence can change the society if given the opportunity. “That is why we have decided to support one of our own, Udom Emmanuel to become the governor of our state, come 2015.” Mr. Ibiok said that the move would allow more young people to be interested in politics and engender the inclusion of young professionals in leadership, policy formulation, and implementation. Earlier in a keynote address, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Aniekan Umanah, debunked the claim that every white collar worker is a professional. Mr. Umana, who spoke on the topic, “Professional Involvement in Politics: A Call for Attitudinal Change,” argued that since politics involves the selection of leaders for the state, it was imperative for professionals to be part of the process. He said, “Professionals were the catalysts of the industrial revolution which began in England in 1760. It was this new experience that saw a change from the use of hand to the use machines in the production of goods. This significantly impacted on every aspect of human life, including politics, and living standards in Europe, and America. “Also, globalization, the evolving networking of global finances, information and communication technology, and cross-cultural currents require as conditionality, the entrenchment of sound democratic institutions for the accentuation of the process.” Mr. Umana drew attention to President Goodluck Jonathan and the state Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who he said are thoroughbred professionals in their respective endeavours. He explained that the needed shift in political attitude and culture would inevitably add value to the process of confidence-building and value in leadership.