2023: Former Attah’s aide seeks political relevance for youth

Ini Billie, Uyo

Mr Imo Udo, former Political Adviser to former Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State has asked the elders to give the youths a chance in governing the state for well-coordinated development in all sectors.

Udo, who said this in Uyo, added that the youths will infuse new ideas and energy needed to successfully navigate through the increasing labyrinth of politics, governance, and development.

He noted: “My opinion is in sync with the majority opinion, that a young person should be given the opportunity to be the president and the governor. Because at a certain age you can’t go out to inspect projects.

“At a certain age, you may not want to cross the river to see what is happening in the other part of the State. There should be age consideration.

“I’m not advocating for legislation placing a restriction on the age of attending any office because that would be discriminating and segregating against someone because of age.

“The issue of age should be allowed to be determined naturally by the people. If someone is ageing, he won’t be able to move freely as Governor; there are also certain social things that he will not be able to do.

“There are certain economic things he will feel are wastage on account of his age. Personally, there should be an age that someone would say, ‘I am older than this thing.”

Udo mentioned that youths who have been tested and tried in the political arena of the state like the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary in the House of Representatives, Onofiok Luke among other youth governorship aspirants will govern the state with a touch of sympathy.

“With due respect to other contenders, Rt Hon. Onofiok Akpan Luke has the capacity and the wherewithal to govern Akwa Ibom State very, very well.

“You need to listen to him speak about the development of Akwa Ibom State. The young man knows the needs, dreams, and aspirations of the Akwa Ibom people. He can tell you from the beginning of democracy in this dispensation of democracy till now how governance has been.

“He can tell you the challenges those Governors had and can tell you what needs to be done now to ameliorate whatever deficiencies we have in Akwa Ibom State. And he will tell you all of these off-hand. Yes, he has the capacity. He has a good antecedent,” he stated.

Udo, who is also a former member of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as well as a former governorship aspirant, noted that the next phase of development in the state should focus on human capacity development to bring the citizens at par with the existing infrastructural development.

“First, Governor Udom Emmanuel has done very well. He has been able to develop infrastructure and has driven the policy of industrialisation very well. We have built a lot of material things in Akwa Ibom State right from the time of Obong Victor Attah.

“We have done the airport, we have done the seaport, we have done roads, we’ve connected all the LGAs in Akwa Ibom State, so it is easy for anyone to get to any LGA within one hour plus.

“We have built hospitals, we have renovated schools, we have done so much concerning material things, so I think the next government should focus on building people. We have taken Akwa Ibom State to a lofty height in terms of physical infrastructure and yet the people in Akwa Ibom are strutting behind economically.

“The duty of the next government will be to bring Akwa Ibom people closer to development and bridge the gap between infrastructure and the people. That is what I expect the next government to do,” he stressed.