By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Ita Enang has promised to sell the current private aircraft used by Governor Udom Emmanuel or add it to commercial fleets in Ibom Air if elected as the next governor of the state in 2023.
Senator Enang, stated this in Uyo on Monday, when he paid a consultative visit to members of the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on his governorship aspiration.
Enang, who is the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, accused Governor Emmanuel of endangering the state’s economy for his personal luxury.
He noted the cost of maintaining the private aircraft currently used by Governor Emmanuel which goes for Dollars at the expense of the state’s lean resources as economic waste, given the inflating foreign exchange rates of Dollar to Naira.
It would be recalled that the aircraft acquired by former Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration, has since been used as private aircraft by seating governor, but managed on state funds.
The APC governorship hopeful who also pledged to run Akwa Ibom with conscience rather than being oppressive, stressed that he would not be proud and overconfident.
Describing Governor Emmanuel’s style of leadership in the state as that of ruler over his subjects, Senator Enang said, “I will not be a Ruler and a visiting Governor but will reside in the State. I will not use the aircraft as private rather will sell it or add to Ibom Air to generate income to the State”
Pledging to rebuild Akwa Ibom and create wealth, Enang said that he would focus on human capital development, build infrastructure and enhance agriculture to boost food production while also paying priority to youth empowerment to stop youth restiveness in the state.
He said that with his past experience and achievements from being a Councillor to a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was the best qualified to be the Governor of Akwa Ibom under the platform of APC.
“I will ensure that the cardinal programme of my administration will be improving on human condition by ensuring that there is enough human resources that I will build to help me translate into infrastructure.
The governorship aspirant told journalists in Akwa Ibom that he will ensure good working relationship with the federal government and other federal institutions to attract development to the state.
He urged Akwa Ibom NUJ to remain objective in their reportage and promote only aspirant that bring good governance in the state.
Responding, Comrade Amos Etuk, NUJ Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council, thanked the governorship aspirant for having confident in the Union to come for consultation.
Etuk said the union will remain apolitical to all aspirants and propagate the message of good governance to Akwa Ibom people to choose, who govern them.
On Senator Enang’s entourage were; Chief Otu Ita Toyo, former Peoples Democratic Party Chairman and APC chieftain, Dr Effiong Etuk, APC stalwart and Mr David Ekanem former state chairman among others.
