Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State has indicated he wants to be President of Nigeria in 2023, to revive the economy and create wealth and job opportunities for Nigerians.
He said due to the existing vacuum between the older and the younger generation, he felt challenged to offer himself for service to rescue and restore the country to its past glory.
Udom gave the indication on Saturday in Jos while on a consultation visit to the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State on his 2023 presidential aspiration
He explained that his decision to start his consultation from Jos was deliberate, stating that it will enable his campaign to flow seamlessly from there to other parts of the North.
The Akwa Ibom Governor decried the collapse of infrastructure across the country, adding that it is taking its toll in a negative manner on the economy and well-being of Nigerians.
He expressed regrets over the collapse and relocation of many industries from Nigeria, a development which he said has compounded the economic woes of the country.
According to him, he will perform better at the national level having put up an outstanding performance as governor of Akwa Ibom State.
The Presidential aspirant listed coconut and it’s bye products, which Akwa Ibom is working on to export and earn foreign exchange as one of the major achievements of his administration.
“Akwa Ibom is producing and exporting syringes.
“Akwa Ibom runs the most efficient airline in Nigeria, which Nigeria as a country has not been able to do. And no nation can develop without a national carrier.
“As industries are packing up in other parts of the country, I can list at least 22 industries springing up in Akwa Ibom.
“The best flour is produced in Akwa Ibom,” he added.
According to him the country is more divided today along religious and tribal lines that ever before in the history of the country saying that he has built enough bridges across the Niger to reverse the situation and ensure a cohesive and prosperous nation.
“The new generation of Nigerians we yearn after will be made possible by me.
“We flare gas, yet we have power problems. I have the ideas and will initiate policies that will solve our power problems.
“I understand the language of investors. I will attract them to rescue and restore Nigeria,” he promised.
He reiterated the need to “link hindsight with hindsight and then foresight” to solve the power problem and other problems militating against the country.
Going down memory lane, he recounted how Jos was the place to be but lamented that insecurity has changed all of that.
Udom said he has the answer with the right policies and right people in place to restore a lasting peace to Jos and other parts of Plateau State when he becomes the President .
“God is looking for someone to partner with, I believe someone like me is ready for that partnership,” he said.
Responding, former Governor
Jonah Jang advised the national leadership of the PDP to zone the presidency to the South.
He said PDP’s headache would have been substantially reduced if that had been done since.
Jang congratulated Udom for taking the bold step to come forward.
He hinted that he too had offered himself for service as president in the past, observing that the situation now is worse.
Despite that, he advised that
the country must continue to uphold democracy.
“I am a strong believer in democracy but, unfortunately,
the wrong people kept coming
into office.
“I saw so many things going wrong and believe the problems are not insurmountable.
“I cannot see how Buhari can sleep with his eyes closed with the killings around, hijacking trains and nothing being done?
“The soldiers of our own days would not have tolerated this.
“We need to take over the nation first. How do you repair the economy with the nonsense going on?
“It is God that anoint president. It is not by power or by might,” he said and then pleaded that the PDP Constitution be respected.
“Zone the presidency to the South. President Buhari is finishing two terms of eight years, ” he added.
Earlier, a former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam had introduced Udom to Jang and other leaders and delegates of the PDP in the state.
He described Jang as father of PDP in Plateau State and the only person who had been governor in three different states: Gongola, Plateau and Benue.