…says it’s a disservice to humanity to re-elect underperforming leaders
By Rose Ekan
UYO — A frontline candidate for the Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/Nsit Atai/Uruan Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general elections, Mr. Ikakke Bassey, has said it is a disservice to humanity for the electorate to re-elect leaders who have failed to deliver on their mandate.
Bassey, who is contesting on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, stated this on Friday while interacting with newsmen in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The development expert, who is seeking to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives, maintained that public office must be seen as a call to service and not an opportunity for self-enrichment, adding that those who have abused the privilege should be voted out.
“Leadership positions are for service. Failures to deliver should not be encouraged through re-election. Those who have misused elective positions should be voted out to serve as warnings that the people are tired of excuses and misrepresentation,” he said.
Bassey, who has been consulting widely across the four local government areas that make up the federal constituency, said his mission in the National Assembly is to change the narrative of poor representation that has left constituents disillusioned over the years.
“I’m going to the national assembly to change the narrative, set a new standard of representation that would make my successors sit up and serve the people diligently,” he pledged.
He decried the lack of tangible federal presence in the Uyo Federal Constituency despite its strategic importance as host of the state capital, noting that the constituency has not felt the full impact of effective representation in terms of federal projects, youth empowerment and legislative interventions that directly impact the people.
According to him, his aspiration is driven by the desire to restore public confidence in representative democracy, promote accountability and bring the dividends of democracy closer to the grassroots.
The LP candidate said as a development expert, he understands the peculiar challenges confronting the constituency, ranging from youth unemployment, poor infrastructure in rural communities, to lack of access to federal empowerment programmes, adding that he has developed a workable blueprint to address them.
He promised that if elected, his representation would be anchored on transparency, accessibility and people-centred legislation, with regular town hall meetings to engage constituents and ensure their voices are heard in the National Assembly.
He also promised to give priority to education, skills acquisition, small business support and lobbying for infrastructure, insisting that Uyo Federal Constituency deserves a vibrant and vocal representative who will not be a bench warmer in Abuja.
Bassey expressed appreciation to his constituents for their support since he declared his ambition.
“I want to thank my constituents for massive support and unprecedented show of solidarity. The reception has been overwhelming across Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai and Uruan. It shows that the people are yearning for genuine change,” he said.
He urged the people to remain steadfast, get their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, ready and reject vote-buying and politics of sentiment, noting that 2027 presents an opportunity for the people of Uyo Federal Constituency to make a bold statement that they deserve better.
He maintained that the Labour Party remains the credible platform for Nigerians who desire purposeful leadership, expressing optimism that voters will choose competence and character over party labels in the coming elections.
Bassey further disclosed that he will soon make public his manifesto, which he said has been segmented into stages and phases with each phase tied to specified milestones of his entire tenure.
