2023 Presidency: Governor Udom promises to focus on industrialisation

One of the Presidential Aspirants under the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has promised to industrialise Nigeria, by using the available agricultural resources in Gombe State to establish industries to create wealth for the people.

Governor Emmanuel who said this when he was addressing PDP Delegates and party stakeholders in Gombe, added that he will use agricultural resources available in the state, like groundnuts and turn them into refined oil.

“I know what you need. What Gombe needs now is what I am already providing in Akwa Ibom. To bring a solution here will not be a problem. Imagine in Gombe that all the farm produce that you make and everything; you must finish selling within a short period of time. How many factories do you have here? So, how do you people get work,” said Governor Emmanuel.

He said the main reason for desiring to focus on the establishment of industries across Nigeria was to boost the economy, which would in turn tackle the various challenges confronting the nation.

“It’s because the economy is bad. And the one who can fix the economy is the one who understands the economy. Because right now, even when investment is not going anywhere in Africa, it’s coming to Akwa Ibom,” said Governor Emmanuel.

He said he would formulate policies that would favour everybody, such that they would revive the economy, which would, in turn take care of issues surrounding security, prosperity and wealth creation.

“I feel so bad that since how many years ago nothing, no encouragement, even bring one industry come put here, make our women go work there, make our youths go work there. And I am coming to campaign on the basis. As I am talking to you right now, I am building a tomato puree factory that will produce tomato puree, cucumber, pepper, of everything is in Akwa Ibom. Let’s talk about coconuts. We look at wetin we get,” said Governor Emmanuel.

The PDP Presidential Aspirant said with the success recorded in the Ibom Air, which he established, if voted in to lead Nigeria, he intended to turn Gombe State into a destination of commerce, as well as a destination of prosperity, and wholesale industries, using the Gombe International Airport.

“Who also says industries cannot spring up here? It is because nobody has made any attempt to bring it. It will stand. And in those days, when you are talking security, Gombe used to be a very peaceful place, very, very peaceful. And I want to assure you, we will restore peace to Gombe,” Governor Emmanuel said.

The Akwa Ibom Governor said he would not campaign on issues like roads, education and health care, because to him, they were part of his social contract with the people and that such amenities were being enjoyed in his state and he intended to replicate that across Nigeria.

Citing an example with the Petroleum Depot in Gombe, Governor Emmanuel said he would make the pipeline function again by pumping petroleum products into Gombe.

“I just passed through now and say look at that tank farm. I say why should there be fuel scarcity in Gombe with that kind of tank farm that was build at that time? Nobody has bothered to check that pipe that is supposed to bring the petroleum product, the pipe don dry. And once you have that kind of depot, there will be a lot of economic activities,” the PDP Presidential Hopeful said.

He solicited the votes of the delegates on the day of the PDP Presidential Primaries soon to be conducted.
The PDP Chairman in Gombe State, General Abnor Kwaskebe pledged on behalf of the party in the state to give Governor Emmanuel all the support he needed to win the Presidential Primaries.

Nnenna.O