Need of worthy successor for Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2023

BY EMMANUEL NDON

As 2023 beckons, there is the need for a worthy successor for governor Udom Emmanuel in 2023, who will have the wherewithal to leverage on the industrial and commercial infrastructure being put in place by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

In fact, those who are curious about leadership in Akwa Ibom beyond 2023 are desirous of a worthy successor.

It can be said that the desire is to enable the state to optimize the benefits envisaged from the investments in the industrialization of Akwa Ibom, anchored on the industrial zone, the free trade zone, and the Ibom Deep seaport under the present administration.

With such expectation, the patriotic thing to do is for like minds of people with good intention to team up for aggressive advocacies, adopting different strategies, to ensure that the best man succeeds as the number one citizen come 2023.

It was in response to these realities that project integrity was formed to provide sufficient information and awareness to the people in order to ensure the right choice for Akwa Ibom State.

Project Integrity is an assemblage of eminent persons of Akwa Ibom State origin drawn from the 31 local government areas.

This eminent persons’ group, with Chief Assam Assam as the convener, has taken responsibility to be part of the process to support Governor Udom Emmanuel to give Akwa Ibom people a worthy successor.

In a bid to fulfill its mandate, Project Integrity has generated a comprehensive set of criteria or standards classified as a template to benchmark the participation in and acceptability of aspirants for the top job in Akwa Ibom State.

According to the group, the people expect that the state will continue to maintain the peace and security presently enjoyed, a sine-qua-non for investor confidence and that youths will be trained in skills that qualifies them in the definition of the Akwa Ibom State’s economic skyline to gain permanent employment in companies and production lines

The Project believes that the next governor of Akwa Ibom State must not only be acceptable to the generality of the electorate but must possess those qualities that inspire investors’ confidence.

The group aligns itself with the ruling party in the state, believing that the next governorship candidate should not be a product of political, abracadabra, coercion, or imposition.

It is sad to note that there are strong allegations of some statutory delegates being subjected to oath-taking, a process benignly referred to as ‘commitment’, ahead of 2023.

The group aims to forestall the outcome of party congresses being determined by political abracadabra thereby fostering upon the state a leadership whose foundation is rooted in satanic rituals.

As part of its effort to nip such allegations in the bud, the group has outlined templates for the assessment of aspirants for the 2023 primaries.

These broad-based criteria contain the qualities and attribute the next governor must possess which, according to Project integrity, is deemed necessary for exemplary leadership.

Also, Project integrity has identified sound religious character, sound and verifiable educational background, national and international connection, and cognate experience and achievement in the public or private sector as the basic prerequisites expected of the next occupier of the Hill Top Mansion.

Satisfactorily, since its inauguration on April 26, 2021, the group has received wide acceptability through consultations, memoranda, and engagement with various groups and interests

One can say that the acceptability so far enjoyed by Project Integrity, is because the mission of the group is in tandem with the yearnings of the vast majority of the people.

With the support of the Akwa Ibom people, Project Integrity will go a long way to ensure that the best candidate with proven integrity and reputable credentials is thrown up for the serious business of governance in the state.

The introspection is not necessarily about ‘intimidating’ credentials, but to ensure that only a competent individual with requisite capacity and knowledge emerges.

So far, there are indicators that Project Integrity has exhibited sincerity of purpose in its self-assigned responsibility which has secured the confidence of some Akwa Ibom people in the process.

For the fact that the Project has come out to seek among Akwa Ibom people the best ahead of 2023, let the electorate and groups align with this noble course.

After all, we may be missing the mark if all our attention is focused on the completion agenda of governor Udom Emmanuel by 2023 without caring a hoot about what transpires thereafter at the leadership level.