By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
A governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ide Owodiong-Idemeko has said that he has the antidote to stamp out cultism in the state if elected governor in 2023.
Owodiong-Idemeko, a former ExxonMobil chief, who recently declared his governorship intention, noted that the crises of cultism persists because of lack of political will to contain the problem.
The prevalence of cultism, which has penetrated the basic schools system including primary, has become a serious source of worry to the citizens of the state because of its menace.
Addressing journalists at a Correspondents’ Chapel of Forum of Nigeria Union of journalists, (NUJ), Akwa Ibom Council on Monday in Uyo, he pointed out that the evil of cultism thrives because of appropriate punishment to deter the offenders, assuring that if elected, the menace would be tackled headlong.
Owodiong, a former students union leader, who is among nine governorship aspirants, who have so far obtained governorship nomination forms, said that he would set up diaspora fund to help in developing the state, noting that ‘governance is a continuum”.
The governorship hopeful, who said he would evaluate all the ongoing projects including the science park initiated by former governor Obong Victor Attah’s administration (1999 and 2007), explained that his decision to complete all the ongoing projects is “to add value to tax payers money”.
“All previous projects embarked upon by the previous administrations that have not been completed will be evaluated.
“This is the first thing I will do when I come into office because I don’t believe that disagreeing with the previous administrations should make you abandon projects sponsored by the tax payers..
“Our industrial programme must be tied to specific resources that we have competitive advantage. We have to develop our blue economy as we have the longest coastal in the country,” he said.
To be different from the previous administrations in the state, he said he would build a strong democratic practice, saying he would run an open and accountable government while elected officials would be held accountable in a bid to deepen democracy.
Owodiong who had in 2015 aspired to be a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East said he would develop the youth and encourage sports in addition to giving much attention to women development.
“With regards to youth, I think that is an area we are really here to advocate for human capacity development and we will work for human capacity development.
“We will deliver in four thematic areas of human development including economic empowerment for our women and see how we can end the issue of violence in the society.” He said.
He said he was in the governorship race to win having been involved in leadership positions in all his career including his University days where he was the first elected secretary general as well as being a member of the governing council of the University of Uyo.
He lauded the Udom’s administration for its industrialisation programme, saying a lot has been done as seen in the aviation sector and the establishment of many factories.
However, he expressed dismay that “our people are not involved and are not befitting from the value chain of the industrialisation programme.”
