…promises accountability, jobs, infrastructure for Uyo Federal Constituency
Labour Party candidate for Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/Nsit Atai/Uruan Federal Constituency, Mr. Ikakke Bassey, has accused political office holders of reducing constituency empowerment to “peanuts” like clippers, rice and wrappers, saying such tokenism cannot address unemployment and poverty in the area.
Ikakke made the criticism on Wednesday during a consultative meeting with Labour Party chapter executives and ward officials in Nsit Atai LGA, as part of early mobilization ahead of the 2027 general elections. The hall was filled with party faithful, women and youth leaders who came to hear his plans for the federal constituency.
“You don’t buy clippers for 50 youths in a community of 70 youths and call it empowerment. Who will be the barber and who will pay for barbing?” he asked, drawing loud applause from the audience.
He said the culture of distributing small items instead of sustainable projects stems from a lack of character and accountability among elected representatives.
“It takes one with strength of character to remember his promises to his people. Our representatives have selfish frivolities they spend people’s monies on, to such an extent that before they remember the people, what remained would be just some peanuts to buy clippers, grinding machines, rappers, 10kgs of rice, etc, in the name of empowerments.”
Ikakke told stakeholders in Nsit Atai that he is running to correct what he described as years of poor representation. He accused the incumbent, Rt. Honourable Mark Esset, of failing to deliver tangible impact since 2023.
“While you will be jubilating my announcement by INEC, I won’t be jubilating because the weight of the work on me will begin immediately after my announcement,” he said.
The Labour Party candidate contrasted this approach with that of Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, who he said had recently published lists of constituents benefiting from federal employment, overseas training and cash grants.
“Some weeks ago, while Rt Honourable Unyime Idem of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency was showing on his social media handles the list of people he is empowering through federal employments, overseas training, cash grants, etc, your own representative, Rt. Honourable Mark Esset from Nsit Atai here, was advertising himself with his daughter on foreign Club jersey, watching football abroad. Is that why he was elected?” Ikakke queried.
He promised that if elected, his office would prioritize federal job placements, skills acquisition programs with start-up capital, scholarships for indigent students, and infrastructure support for communities across Nsit Atai, Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan and Uruan LGAs.
According to him, true representation should be measured by the number of lives changed, not by photo opportunities.
“Representation is a contract,” he said. “When you give me that mandate, I will be accountable to you every quarter. I will publish what we attract and who benefits.”
“We cannot continue to elect people and then spend four years chasing them,” he added, urging party members to begin voter mobilization and sensitization immediately.
The consultative meeting was convened by the Nsit Atai Labour Party chapter. In attendance were Chapter executives, ward chairmen, women leaders, youth leaders and other stakeholders who presented their expectations for 2027.
One of the major highlights was the issue of zoning within the four-LGA federal constituency. Since 1999, Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai and Uruan have rotated the House of Representatives seat with fairness and equity often cited as guiding principles.
Mr. Akpan John, Labour Party Chairman for Ward 7 in Nsit Atai, acknowledged Ikakke’s outreach, stressing the need to uphold zoning.
“Although we’re all from Nsit Atai, we must uphold justice for the sake of posterity,” Mr. John said.
“2027 is the turn of Ibesikpo Asutan local government area to produce member of the house of representatives and we stand by that truth and justice. We thank God that you’re not here only on the basis of zoning consideration, but also on the strength of your capacity, content and character. So, we will vote for you.”
The meeting ended with ward officials passing a vote of support for Ikakke and pledging to take his message to polling units across Nsit Atai.
Labour Party made significant inroads in Akwa Ibom during the 2023 elections, and party leaders in Nsit Atai said they are determined to consolidate that gain ahead of 2027.
With early grassroots engagements like Wednesday’s, Ikakke’s camp says it is building consensus on issues while also aligning with calls for equity in the race for the Uyo Federal Constituency seat.
