The political leader of Eket Senatorial District, Chief Ndueso Essien, has lamented lack of visible infrastructure in Eket and its environs despite its status as a major oil producing community in Akwa Ibom State.
Essien, a former Federal Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development said the area has been an oil bearing community for over 30 years, yet there have been no visible infrastructure, commensurate with its contributions to both the state and national economy.
The political leader, who stated this while receiving a leading gubernatorial aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA) and his team - the Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organization, in his Eket residence with Eket Elders attendance, said the area should be given deserving attention by government.
According to him, Eket is lagging behind other senatorial districts in the state and particularly highlighted some areas of concerns.
"Before 1999, Eket used to have the best government owned hotel in Akwa Ibom State, today Eket has no such hotel again.
"We will include this as one of the priority projects for you to revisit - the Qua River Hotel in Eket and convert it to a high rise building so as to equate it with others in the two Senatorial Districts. We have high rise building in Uyo, we have a high rise building in Ikot Ekpene, the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel.
"Secondly, the state government has built housing estates in Uyo and Ikot Ekpene but the one in Eket has been abandoned. You will have to consider that as one of the key projects that you have to do for us. Thirdly, Eket and environs have been oil producing areas of this state for over 30 years but there are no oil producing infrastructure that you can point at."
Advising Senator OBA to develop oil producing communities if elected as Governor, Chief Essien said "We don't want to have a government that will distance itself from the oil producing communities."
Essien, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lauded OBA for displaying dexterity and competence in public service and particularly thumbed up his antecedents in the Senate.
"You have represented the state well, so far your record is good. I appreciate what you have been doing in the State, you have done very well. I'm aware you have tried to encourage Akwa Ibom sons and daughters who are trying to make inroads into the oil industry. I'm aware of somebody in local content that you helped, he is one of the best," he added.
Chief Essien also appealed to Senator Albert as a national legislator and Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to wade in and help discourage the proposed sale of assets of Mobil Producing Nigeria to another.
The move by Mobil, according to the elder statesman, was an attempt to also sell Eket people and people of other oil producing communities.
The gubernatorial aspirant, Senator OBA, in his response, promised to address the issue of infrastructure deficit by the establishment of an industrial layout, housing estates and other social amenities to better the standard of life in the area.
Appealing to Eket people to elect a governor who knows the citizens and understands their yearnings, OBA said he fits the bill.
"What you desire in the next four years is a man that knows you deeply. You need a governor who knows you by your name and will serve you with the greatest fear of God. I believe strongly that the governor you need is the governor that will secure your future."
He reeled out some of his contributions to the society especially in the area of education.
According to him, about 481 students have so far obtained fully funded scholarship under his educational scheme, adding that he has expended over N168 Million in the scheme.
He thanked the people of Eket for showing solidarity with him and promised not to fail them if elected.
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