AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY MOSES ESSIEN PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (P.D.P.) GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANT, AKWA IBOM STATE ON HIS FORMAL DECLARATION FOR GOVERNORSHIP, TODAY, WEDNESDAY 15TH NOVEMBER, 2006, AT THE AMPHITHEATRE, IBOM PLAZA, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE.

I bring to you the greetings of transformation, deliverance, peace, blessing, good life and prosperity in the Name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST.

I stand here to pay special tribute to God Almighty who in His infinite mercies and wisdom deemed it fit to give us Akwa Ibom State.

I stand here to pay tribute to our fathers and mothers who were at the forefront of the struggle for the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

I stand here to pay tribute to all the past administrations who in their different capacities sought the well-being and progress of Akwa Ibom State.

I stand here to pay tribute to His Excellency the President and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for his anti-corruption initiative and the dogged determination to wage war against corrupt practices in every facet of our National life. And in that spirit is also committed to making this country (Nigeria) the greatest country in Africa.

I stand here to pay tribute to the entire National Leadership of the People’s Democratic Party and most particularly the National Chairman Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmadu Ali whose able and dynamic leadership has continued to sustain the party as the biggest and strongest party in Africa.

I stand here to pay tribute to the state, chapter and ward leadership of the People’s Democratic Party Akwa Ibom State for their untiring commitment to keeping the P.D.P flag flying. In the same vein, I congratulate all the delegates who emerge in the just concluded ward congress.

I stand here to pay tribute to our political leaders, leaders of thoughts, Royal fathers, youths, women, the media and all the people of goodwill in Akwa Ibom State.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it will not be sufficient if I fail to pay special tribute to a man whom God has sent me to take over from. Ladies and gentlemen I am referring to a man who has tried his very best possible to lead Akwa Ibom State up to this very moment. This tribute goes to him because no man can perform beyond the grace that God has given to him. If this statement is true which I know it is, then we can agree that the man, our father, His Excellency Arch. (Obong) Victor Attah has done his very best for Akwa Ibom State.

This tribute is unique because Arch. (Obong) Victor Attah as a father to the people of my generation has today seen in Moses Essien a son who is to succeed him as the next governor come 2007.

The joy of every father is to see his successor, today His Excellency as the father to the people of our generation has seen in Moses Essien a successor come 2007. It is on this ground that I call on the People’s Democratic Party (P.D.P) and the entire Akwa Ibom people to give me their massive support, first in the party primaries and in the general elections come 2007.

As God sent Moses in the days of old to deliver the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, that same God has today found in me the MOSES to lead the people of Akwa Ibom State to their much desired greatness. It is on this score that I stand here to declare to the glory of God, my resolve to contest and by GOD’S grace win the 2007 governorship election on the platform of our great party the People’s Democratic Party (P.D.P), and to assure the people of Akwa Ibom State that the Almighty God has sent me to take over the mantle of leadership as the next Governor of the state come 2007.

PLAN OF ACTION The new administration in Akwa Ibom State under my humble and focused leadership come 2007, has the vision to achieve an economy that is knowledge driven, a society that is egalitarian and a standard of living that is akin to the best in the world. Our mission is targeted at effectively harnessing all available human and material resources to actualize societal dreams of good life, collective happiness and improvise where necessary tools for solving human, material and environmental problems and our policy thrust is anchored on transparency and accountability which is the platform upon which the administration’s vision will be vigorously pursued and the mission accomplished.

EDUCATION Education is the pivot upon which the political, social and economic life of any nation revolves, and since it is the responsibility of Government to improve the quality of life of its citizens, education, therefore, which is central to the attainment of this objective, will witness an unprecedented attention since the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

To this extent, Government will ensure that education is free, qualitative and compulsory all over the State, while necessary steps will be taken to guarantee the award of scholarships and payment of bursaries to students in Tertiary Institutions. In addition, Government will undertake the responsibility of rehabilitating dilapidated structures in schools, construction of new ones, provision of necessary infrastructure including teaching aids and consumables to guarantee effective teaching / learning. Government will also put in place necessary legislation to ensure that children of school age have no business staying out of the school environment during school hours and days.

In view of Government’s strong commitment to agriculture and the mass production / distribution of food products, particularly the staple food items, the benefits of this huge agricultural programmes will transform the entire society. Consequently, children will be able to enjoy at least one free meal during school hours. In addition, all children in both primary and secondary schools will be provided with free exercise books.

AGRICULTURE Government will speedily pursue and arrest the threat of food insecurity in the State. To this end, government will not negotiate in winning the war against hunger through its conscious programmes of guaranteeing food security in the state. For government to command the much-needed respect and support that it very much deserves, the production and distribution of food, particularly the staple food items must be seen and felt in abundance by the masses.

HOUSING In view of the importance of housing to its citizens, Government plans to build a minimum of three hundred units of three bedroom apartments in each of the thirty-one Local Government Areas of the State, per year, for four years. This is in addition to Government’s efforts at encouraging more private and corporate developer participation in the provision of housing facilities for its citizens.

THE ECONOMY Government will pursue vigorously those economic policies that will create the enabling environment to attract new investments, promote the efficient management of resources and seek other opportunities that will enhance both individual and corporate economic development in the State. To encourage participatory approach in governance, Government will organize periodic economic summits, where sound representative opinion will be sought in fashioning a strategic model for sustainable economic development of the State as well as the enunciation of steps to ensure the implementation of such plans.

INDUSTRIALIZATION To achieve the objectives of its economic policies, Government shall embark on the establishment of a minimum of three hundred industries located in modern industrial estates across the State. Efforts shall be geared towards the establishment of those industries where raw materials are available locally.

These industries are expected to be fully managed from inception and fully owned in due course by indigenous investors and business experts. The investors will be provided with the relevant technical manpower, where necessary, from any part of the world. All industries are to be fully completed and equipped with the required raw materials to facilitate production. In addition, Government will ensure the reactivation and full operation of all the ailing industries in the State as a means of strengthening the economy.

It is expected that, at full maturity, not less than one million jobs will be created across the State, through these multiple industrial establishments.

EMPLOYMENT Government will continue to encourage all programmes aimed at promoting self-employment through the provision of necessary training and transfer of skills to its employable population. To achieve this objective, the Administration shall establish an agency to be known as AKWA IBOM STATE PRODUCTIVITY AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, directly under the Governor’s Office.

This agency will target all male and female non-skilled adults in and out of the State with special emphasis on Secondary School leavers who are unable to go into higher institutions. This centre will be designed to offer both management training and skill acquisition in individual’s chosen areas for a period of not less than two years. At the end of training, the new professionals will be offered necessary equipment and certificates of qualification / completion in their respective areas of training.

During apprenticeship the beneficiaries will be provided with free feeding and hostel accommodation. This is to ensure commitment, discipline and close monitoring of the trainees as well as the effectiveness of the programme.

It is envisaged that the centre will serve as a pool for the supply of skilled manpower to the oil companies and other industries in and outside the State. Not less than eight hundred thousand citizens are expected to be trained within four years.

HEALTH Health is wealth and to have a healthy population is to continue in the production of wealth, as only healthy people can be productive. Accordingly, Government will guarantee qualitative health care delivery services in our public hospitals, including the supply and distribution of necessary drugs.

Government will also ensure the provision of free health care delivery services to take care of the expectant mothers, children, the disabled and the aged population in the State, while others will enjoy similar services at a highly reduced cost.

INFRASTRUCTURE The state of infrastructure is one major determinant of the overall quality of life of the people. Conscious of this fact, Government will not relent in its efforts at putting in place those amenities that will make life more meaningful to the people.

In this direction, Government will ensure the construction of good road network, provision of potable water and electricity all over the State.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT Government will not leave any stone unturned in seeing to it that Uyo, the State Capital is transformed into an Ultra Modern City. Under the multi-city development programme, Government will do everything possible to ensure that the former administrative Headquarters of the ten Federal Constituencies are not only converted to cities, but are made to compete favourably with Uyo, the State Capital, in terms of infrastructure.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT In order to bring Government closer to the people, efforts will not be spared at seeking the speedy transformation of the rural areas in the State. In addition, Government will pursue vigorously the provision of basic amenities such as pipe borne water, electricity and good road network in all our rural communities.

Since it is the plan of Government to develop and break new grounds, what we may see today as rural areas will in no distant future become centre of high industrial activities through the proposed establishment of industries that will foster the coming into existence of subsidiary ones from the people, thereby improving the overall economic fortunes of the people and State.

SUSTAINING THE ECONOMY / INDUSTRIES THROUGH RESEARCH INSTITUTES In order to achieve our strategic economic and technological advancement, Government will establish Research Institutes that are of International Standard. These Institutes will serve as centres for attainment of productive manpower training, which is considered adaptable to our environmental needs.

The establishment of Research Institutes will further help the people in business, since researches will be based on proposed products / services which the business people need and in some cases, the researches may be privately funded by the business community.

Some of the Research Institutes to be established include;

(a)    Institute for Agricultural Research

(b)    Institute for Petroleum and Gas Research.

(c)    Institute for Pharmaceutical Research.

(d)    Institute for Technological Research

(e)    Institute for Automobile Research (Car Assembling)

(f)    Institute for Aquatic and Marine Research

(g)    Institute for Hydropower Research.

(h)    Institute for Electronic Research.

(i)    Institute for Medical Research.

All the Institutes are to be provided with facilities to encourage and accommodate foreign partnership. These foreign partners will be expected to assist our domestic experts, and the pattern of events or activities at the Institute are to be mostly the production / fabrication or provision of goods / services that meet the short and long term needs of the people.

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL WHOLESALE-ORIENTED MARKET In order to boost trade and commerce, Government will as a matter of priority establish an International wholesale oriented market, which will serve Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State, parts of Benue State and the entire Gulf of Guinea. This market when operational will drastically reduce the amount of capital flight from this region, and at the same time promote the rapid development of human and material resources within the region.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A SEAPORT IN AKWA IBOM STATE In view of the potential maritime benefits existing in the State, Government will not hesitate to seek negotiations with the Federal Government, primarily to facilitate the establishment of a seaport in the State. The effect of this venture to the State and National economy would be tremendous.

Also top in the agenda of Government will be the conduct of full fishing activities in the State for both the International and local market and for the improvement in the protein intake of the citizenry.

BUILDING OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND TRADE EXHIBITION CENTRE

To become the preferred destination for organizers of major political, social, economic and cultural events in Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State necessarily requires structures to attract and host such activities.
Consequently, Government will build a befitting International Conference and Trade Exhibition Centre in Uyo, the State Capital. The centre, which shall be a world class edifice, will provide facilities to host International Conferences, Summits, Trade Exhibitions, Seminars and Shows.

The centre will also have multiple first class conference and banquet halls, equipped with hi-tech communication gadgets and foreign language translation systems.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, PRODUCTION AND REFINING THROUGH STATE-PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP

As a leading petroleum producing State in Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State is abundantly endowed with oil and gas and other related resources. In the light of this, Government will initiate deliberate policies and actions that will give the State a place of reckoning in the petroleum industry. To achieve this, the State will partner with the Federal Government, foreign institutions and private investors to establish a state-of-the-art petroleum and petro-chemical refinery equipped with tank farm and storage depot in the State.

In addition, Government will give necessary support and provide infrastructure and conducive public order for integrated oil activities including exploration, exploitation, production and marketing. Through this partnership, a petroleum training institute of international standard shall be established to train and retrain our graduates and youths in strategic areas of petroleum engineering, technology processing, installation and marketing as well as general management to boost our human capital capacity in the oil and gas sector.

MAINTENANCE OF EFFICIENT WASTE DISPOSAL AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The problem of waste and its attendant environmental and health hazards, will continue to be a cause for concern to Governments all over the world. Consequently, Government will evolved sustained and conscious waste management policies and programmes that will respond adequately and strategically to the problem as is the case in renown cities of the world.

In addition, Government shall review and amend existing waste management policies and legislations to make the laws adequate and appropriate to deal holistically, pre-emptively and decisively with waste and pollution both in urban and rural areas. Similarly, Government shall review, reorganize and strengthen existing waste management agencies to change their focus, rebuild their monitoring and response capability and enhance their service delivery capacity as well.

Government will also facilitate and engender inter-governmental and inter-ministerial cooperation and action to keep Akwa Ibom cities, towns and villages clean, hygienic, beautiful, hospitable and attractive.

CONTINUATION TO COMPLETION OF ALL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES INITIATED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ARC. (OBONG) VICTOR ATTAH

To ensure that the people derive maximum benefits from the good intentions and Government investments on the laudable projects initiated by His Excellency Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah, Government will pursue to completion all the projects and programmes already initiated by the administration of His Excellency Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah.

SPORTS Government will build an Ultra-Modern Stadium in Uyo, specifically a FIFA Standard Stadium Complex, to facilitate sporting activities and competitions. Necessary support and encouragement will be given to our Sports men and women with the aim of propelling them to excellence.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our Government will give very high priority and consideration to issues affecting the Women, Youths, Organized labour, Judiciary and the Civil society.

Our Government shall accord respect to the principles of separation of powers between the executive, the legislator and the judiciary. We shall continue to hold the integrity of our people through our natural fathers and elders of our society.

The benefits to Akwa Ibom people from the Federal Government of Nigeria shall be pursued constructively with open consultation and dialogue. We shall be able to liase adequately with the Federal Government to ensure proper federal presence in Akwa Ibom State commensurate with our economic contributions to the nations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, permit me at this juncture to bring to your notice that the policy and development blueprint which you have just heard is the out come of an in depth research and analysis on Akwa Ibom State predominantly influenced and directed by a team led by one of our renown and international professor, in the person of our highly revered Professor Ime Ikiddeh. This policy and development blueprint can simply be described as the road map to the realization of the 21st century Akwa Ibom State dream. It is my honour and privilege to most humbly present this document, which is a social contract that I have signed with Akwa Ibom people and do request to be examined and held accountable for its implementation by the entire Akwa Ibom people. At this point, it is my honour and privilege to present to you the policy and development blueprint of MOSES ESSIEN for the Governorship of Akwa IBOM state come 2007.

I acknowledge with total humility the concern and genuine commitment of the political class, leaders of thoughts, youths, women, the media, religious, socio-cultural and professional organizations across the state to mention but a few who have taken it upon themselves to pilot the actualization of this divine mission.

On this note, I call on all Nigerians and Akwa Ibom people in particular at home and abroad to please join hands and stand by me to consolidate the gains of our great State in defence of democracy and humanity.

Thank you and God bless.

Long Live Akwa Ibom State.

MOSES ESSIEN
People’s Democratic Party (P.D.P)
Governorship Aspirant
Akwa Ibom State.

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