UYO
A diplomatic historian in the Department of History andInternational Studies, Akwa Ibom State University, Dr Amah Williams has admonished the people of state on the need to elect as governor, a job creator who understands how to create jobs from the grassroots level.
Dr. Amah who made this known in an interview on XL 106.9 FM on the theme: Towards a People Oriented Government in 2023: Policies and Programmes, stated that Akwa Ibom people should go for a candidate who has antecedents, one who has the humility, character trait, and most importantly, the knowledge to grow businesses from ground level into multinational corporations.
He described people-oriented policies and programmes as government policies and agendas that would have a direct positive impact on the people, and advised that in a situation where every aspirant comes making promises, Akwa Ibom people should look out for his antecedents and people-oriented programmes, noting that an aspirant cannot give what he never had.
On what should define a pro-people government in terms of policies and programmes, he noted that any party or aspirant that does not consider the diversification of our economy is embarking on an elitist programme which holds no benefit for the common man.
Commending the efforts of the current and past governments in the area of infrastructure and creation of good roads, Amah stressed that the incoming governor of Akwa Ibom State should be one who would embark on infrastructural development and maintenance, rural development, provision of access roads and good drinking water.
He said: “We should look at a candidate that has created job before, especially, as a private citizen, one who did not make his money through government appointments or being elected into positions, one who has the capacity and knowledge to grow business from the ground level to become a multinational corporation; one who has done it before, and can do it again.
“The incoming governor should be able to prioritize agriculture so farmers can go back to the farm. He should be able to create a good marketing atmosphere, and promote tourism in the state.
“He must take advantage of the electricity bill passed by the Senate which provides that states can now generate, transmit, and distribute power, and leverage on that to ensure that the issue of epileptic power supply is addressed.
“The incoming government must create more industries; agro-based industries that can absorb a lot of people in the remotest part of Akwa Ibom State which will help curb rural-urban migration.
“Without disparaging any candidate, we must look for these traits because you cannot give what you don’t have, and becoming a governor will not give you the experience you never had. But when you have these experiences, you know how to harness the necessary tools and manpower to actualize your dreams for Akwa Ibom people.
“Akwa Ibom people should look at a candidate that has this kind of agenda, commit the next eight years into his hands, and see how Akwa Ibom will be transformed.”
He added that practical measures must be outlined in tackling all these challenges, and noted that any candidate or party that does not look at these is running on the platform of wishful thinking.
Discussion about this post