2023: Onofiok Luke Declares Guber Ambition
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The Member Representing Etinan / Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Onofiok Luke says he will contest as governor of Akwa-Ibom State in 2023 to sustain the legacies of past governors and the current administration with primary focus on human capacity development .
Luke made his intention known at the 2021 Elections of the Congress of Former State Legislators, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Luke who hails from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District said that he will not seek a second term in the House of Representatives in 2023 as it is the turn of Nsit Ibom to produce the National Assembly man.
The Immediate past speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly pointed out that he is not also interested in the Uyo Senatorial District Seat as the seat is zoned to Uyo Federal Constituency.
” As 2023 elections year approaches , I will personally consult the Congress of the former state Legislators of my intention for the Governorship of Akwa Ibom State, not as a pretender, not for anybody as I am not looking for a second term in the House of Representatives. If I were to be , I will look at that. I don’t want to struggle for what does not belong to us, I am not looking for Senate because it goes to Uyo Federal Constituency while the House of Representatives goes to Nsit Ibom so we don’t struggle for what does not belong to us. I like doing to people what people will like doing for me” Luke told the Former legislators.
Luke, Chairman Committee on Judiciary in the House posited that the past governors as well as the incumbent have committed their times, energies and resources to develop infrastructure in Akwa Ibom which he maintained has attracted investors and tourists to the state.
According to him, Former Governor Obong Victor Attah initiated the Airport project, Senator Godswill Akpabio built it while Governor Udom Emmanuel has brought the aircrafts to make the Airport functional as there would have been no functional MRO if there is no airline that makes the airport a hub. So going forward, there is need for us to focus on human capacity development of the people to fill in the gap infrastructure that has come”.
He said the Congress election was also an avenue for him to meet face to face with some of his colleagues after their tenure in the House and thanked them for their prayers, support and encouragement in the National Assembly.
Barrister Luke noted that the former State Legislators served the people diligently and bore the brunt as Representative of the people,stressing that life after office is challenging for former Lawmakers ” not because they lived a flamboyant lifestyle but because of the price they paid as representatives and elected members of the people”.
He maintained that God has blessed the former state Legislators beyond party lines saying that the State Chairmen of the PDP and APC are members of the Congress referring to Elder Aniekan Akpan of the PDP and Dr Ita Udosen of the APC.
Reinforcing his lessons in Bipartisanship, The National Assembly member called on all to join hands and pray for President Muhammadu Buhari to be able to tackle the insecurity that is bedevilling the nation.
He also advised people to continue to support Governor Udom Emmanuel to be able to complete on his agenda, saying that every decision and policy of the government will affect the lives of citizens.
” There is no way people can look at Akwa Ibom as an isolation from the country based on the present challenges facing the nation and it is important for people to join hands now to tackle insecurity in the state”. He Said .
The Member of Parliament who also cast his votes at the exercise urged politicians to eschew violence during elections and should borrow a leaf from the peaceful and transparent atmosphere demonstrated by the former state Legislators at the elections .
While congratulating the New Executive led by Obong Saturday Akpan and delegates for the orderly manner during the poll Luke promised continuous support for the body to achieve its lofty policies and programmes for the overall benefits of humanity.
