Akwa Ibom has only graveyard peace – ADC guber candidate, Udoedehe
The 2027 governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John James Udoedehe, has likened the peace in the state to that of a graveyard.
Governor Umo Eno has, in different fora, prided himself on his ability to maintain peace in the state and bring different stakeholders together in harmony.
Addressing a press conference over the weekend, the ADC governorship candidate stated that such peace was forced, unnatural and pursued for the selfish benefit of stakeholders, noting that the aim of such peace is sociologically referred to as the “benefits of the extended family system.”
Udoedehe regretted that those stakeholders would not want to ask questions or upset the system, lamenting that when someone asks pertinent questions about governance in the state, such a person would be tagged “troublesome.”
His words: “We have this graveyard peace in Akwa Ibom. The reason is because sociologically it’s called the benefit of extended family system, or to have handouts. You have to queue into the system to survive.
“The main purpose of government is to have institutions and to establish social order, integration and solidarity, but people are not living up to the responsibility. They don’t want to upset the system by asking questions. What is the benefit of education if you cannot ask questions? If they ask questions here, they tag you a troublesome person.”
On the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project, Udoedehe stated that the selfish interests of the leaders were a major factor that had delayed the development of the port.
“Do you know why Ibom Deepsea ports delayed? The reason is that our leaders facilitating the project could factor in their interests that make them rich forever.”
Udoedehe said he had decided to join the governorship race in the state to stop the poverty and unemployment facing citizens due to the selfishness of leaders, adding that the present APC government in Akwa Ibom had received over N2.3 trillion, but had nothing tangible to show for it.
He explained that through employment and poverty alleviation, the government could restore stability and social order.
Udoedehe insisted that he would not reveal his campaign strategy so that opposition parties would not steal it, adding that he would make a difference this time, more than before.