IDEA Endorses Ekefre For Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District Seat

By Uduak Akai

UYO

A renowned non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ibom Development and Empowerment Assembly (IDEA), has endorsed Pastor Markfre Ekefre as their sole candidate for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District seat in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

 The chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the assembly, Professor Alfred Young Ita, who spoke with Midweek Pioneerrecently on behalf of the group, said their choice of Ekefre as their sole candidate for the race is borne out of the fact that the aspirant has been known to them for many years as a trusted, dependable, transparent and man with unquestionable character and capacity to attract development to his senatorial district if given opportunity to serve.

 Professor Ita maintained that aside from the aforementioned virtues of the aspirant, he is as well industrious and full of ideas that will not only attract fortunes to Mkpat Enin Local Government Area but the totality of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, adding that looking at his antecedent, he has positively touched the lives of many who were hitherto downtrodden.

 The BoT chairman explained further that taking cognizance of the zoning arrangement in the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, the aspirant stands a better chance as the zoning arrangement is in favour of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area where he (Ekefre) hails from, stressing that he has the capacity to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors and even surpass them.

 He noted that the group is not in anyway in doubt of Ekefre’s pedigree as he has proven his mettle in his given assignment as board member I in the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), where he is currently serving, recalling also that as the national president of IDEA, he has over time demonstrated what leadership stands for by remaining transparent, hardworking, committed and dedicated to duty even as he discharges his duties without supervision and carrying members along irrespective of status in his scheme of things.

 The chairman encouraged members not to relent on their unflinching support for Ekefre, whom he described as their own, as he was very optimistic that he will continue in making them proud in all ramifications if given a higher responsibility.

 On his part, the president, Akpabio Udia Youth Movement, Mr Francis Attah, said the youth are not surprised that Ekefre is aspiring for the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District seat as he has all it takes to aspire, observing that it is a well thought-out development, especially now that the seat has been zoned to his local government, Mkpat Enin.

 Attah stressed that the existing zoning arrangement in the district should be maintained for peace, equity, fair play and justice, adding that an attempt from any quarters to disrupt the peaceful rotational arrangement which has overtime united the people will not go down well with the senatorial people and the district. 

 The youth president disclosed that the senatorial district hopeful has touched the lives of many youths positively, thus taking them off the streets, saying that with his emergence as a senator for the senatorial district come 2023, the youth will have every reason to rejoice, as he is a youth-friendly person.

The youth who thanked Gov. Emmanuel for appointing their own, Ekefre, into the SSEB as board member I, stated that it was an attestation that the governor rewards hard work, dedication and commitment to duty. While pledging their total support to the senatorial district aspiration of Ekefre, they wished him well in all his political endeavours.