Mr. Akan Okon, governorship aspirant, Akwa Ibom State.
By Abasifreke Effiong
Mr. Akan Okon, has said he will provide the best solutions to the challenges facing every sector in Akwa Ibom state if given the opportunity to serve as governor.
He said having worked as commissioner in six ministries, he better understands what should be done to add to what the current administration is doing in the areas of job creation, food sufficiency, education, security, industrialisation and human capacity development.
Mr. Okon resigned as commissioner for Economic development and Ibom deep
seaport earlier this month to contest for the governorship of the State.
Some of the ministries where he served as commissioner include, Finance, Economic Development, Housing and Urban Renewal, Special Duties, Aviation Development, Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport.
READ : 30 years dev’t plan for Akwa Ibom will address the entire gamut of the economy – Akan Okon
Speaking on Monday 28th March in his hometown, Mbiatok Itam, Itu local government area during the official commencement of his consultations, Mr. Okon said public service experience should count in the choice of who becomes the next governor of the state.
“At 34 years, Akwa Ibom State cannot afford to be an experimental field where people come to learn leadership in public service. We need someone who has been around and understudied the various sectors of the State’s economy, and also understands the challenges that our people are facing so that from day one, he will hit the ground running in embarking on those policies and programmes that will lead to an improvement in the standard of living of our people.”
“I have served in six ministries and in each of those ministries God helped me to deliver on all the projects assigned to me. Through my experience in public service, which God made it possible through His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, I know the challenges facing this state and I will provide the best solutions to them.”
Running on the theme, “Value added leadership and shared prosperity”, Mr Okon said he will continue with the strategic development of the three gateways into the state – land, air and sea – to ensure even development and job creation.
“Our state has three development gateways and my God’s special grace I have worked in ministries that supervised all these three gateways. We will expand development in air, land, and sea, so that every part of the state can experience even development.”
He said he will ensure improvement in security and the ease of doing business in the State, and will invest in large-scale agriculture, create incubation hubs as means of creating jobs and ensuring food security.
Mr. Okon thanked his family, village and the party in his ward and Itu local government area, and the traditional institution in Itu local government for the warm reception accorded him.
Mr. Okon and his campaign team, One With God, were welcomed by a crowd of jubilant supporters in his hometown, Mbiatok Itam, Itu local government area.
