|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
All is now set for the launching of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign for the south south zone in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
President Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking re-election for a second term as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution as amended is expected to lead the campaign as the flag bearer of the party in next year’s election.
Buhari who says his campaign is based on the three point agenda of fighting corruption, insecurity and economic revival is expected to present APC governorship candidates from the zone with the flags of the party.
Ini Okpoido, chairman of the party in the state who confirmed Buhari’s visit for the presidential campaign launch said the controversy over the use of the Akwa Ibom International stadium for the event has been resolved attributing the initial position of the stat government to a “little misunderstanding.”
Okopido who thanked the state government for allowing the use of the stadium which is FIFA rated said the party was working with the management of the stadium to ensure the facilities were properly used during the party’s campaign launch and urged members and supporters to show a high sense of responsibility in the use of the facility.
Speaking also, Umanah Umanah who is the chairman of the central planning committee for the president’s visit said no fewer than 14,000 young people from Akwa Ibom state have benefited from the federal government N-Power programme aimed at creating jobs for unemployed young graduates in the country.
He added that over 60 persons from the state have enjoyed federal appointments while 74 cooks have also been engaged under the schools feeding programme of President Buhari’s administration.
According to him, the federal government plans to embark on massive infrastructure rehabilitation including roads construction in Akwa Ibom state to give people of the state more sense of belonging as one of the oil bearing states in the country.
Umana who is the Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority said Akwa Ibom has benefited under the present administration, stressing that the state stands to gain more if President Buhari is re-elected for a second term.
According to observers, the launch of the presidential campaign in Akwa Ibom State is part of efforts by the party to woo supporters from the oil-rich state which one of the party’s stalwart described as a “low hanging fruits for the party.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has had a stronghold in Akwa Ibom State producing the governor since 1999 and having all its senators elected on the platform of the party but with the defection of Godswill Akpabio, former governor and former senate minority leader to the APC, political affiliation in the state has slighted changed.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
