A group of youths under the aegis, Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency Youths Leaders Forum have called out Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State not to bring his chosen successor, Mr Umo Eno, for consultations in their area.
Addressing a press conference in Uyo, on Tuesday, the leader of the group, Mr Bassey Etim, said that by the zoning of the governorship in Uyo senatorial districts, the slot is due to go to Itu/Ibiono federal constituency.
However, he noted that the governor is using the apparatus of government to promote his favoured candidtate to the detriment of others.
Etim explained that Etinan and Uyo federal constituencies have taken their turns to produce elected governors in the state including the Late Obong Akpan Isemin and Obong Victor Attah, respectively.
He maintained that now that governorship has returned to Uyo, it is natural that it should go to Itu federal constituency.
The group, therefore, urged the governor to allow “Akwa Ibomites to choose who becomes their next governor. This would be in sync with the governor’s principle as he particularly expressed in the 2019 general elections that “no single person can choose who to lead the state and who not to lead.
“The governor can support whosoever he chooses but not to overtly or covertly coerce appointees or political office holders with threats of sanction or falling out of his favour for failing to support his preferred aspirant or candidates, and or expressing their support for other aspirants. Otherwise, imposition of any guise will certainly bring the existence of our party in Akwa Ibom State to an end, while promoting other political parties.” The group maintained.
