Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Udom Emmanuel has said that the presidential candidate of the party Atiku Abubakar has concluded arrangements to revamp the moribund aluminium smelting company in the state.
Speaking in Ikot Abasi on Thursday during the PDP governorship campaign in the area, Udom assured the people that Atiku Abubakar will ensure that the aluminium smelting plant which had been abandoned by successive governments bounces back.
The Governor who was reacting to the general consensus by the Ikot Abasi leaders that the area will return to PDP in all elections with over 60,000 votes said Atiku and PDP have an economic blueprint that will restore the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Governor Emmanuel who is also the state leader of the party was excited at the massive turnout of supporters describing it as an indication of the party’s acceptability in the area.
Recalling the good old days of the moribund Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, when the area was a choice destination for Nigerians and foreigners, Governor Emmanuel assured that with the emergence of PDP flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as President in the forthcoming election will ensure that ALSCON would be reactivated.
He also told the party faithful that with an Atiku Abubakar-led government at the centre, issues delaying the take-off of the Ammonia and Fertilizer Plant, Federal University of Technology and other projects cited in Ikot Abasi will be addressed.
The state PDP leader affirmed that the government has done a lot within its jurisdiction to give a head start to the project and urged Ikot Abasi and Akwa Ibom people to vote massively for PDP candidates in all elections to secure the chances of restoring the lost glory of Ikot Abasi and activate new ventures for socioeconomic advantage.
“The slight delay in the Ammonia and Fertilizer Plant is not our fault, it is NNPC that has delayed signing the agreement that will enable gas transmission from Eket to the onshore, but every single money for the Fertilizer and Ammonia Plant in Ikot Abasi is 100% percent ready.
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“It is only a federal government that has an interest in the people that can reactivate ALSCON. ALSCON is a federal project and I remember when ALSCON was operational, Ikot Abasi had an influx of people from all over the world, we want to bring back that glory.
“One of the things I have tabled before Atiku is that the APC government has refused to reactivate ALSCON and I asked him if you win today will you stand by me to reactivate ALSCON, he said yes so Ikot Abasi you have every reason to support Atiku Abubakar to victory”, he stated.
The State Chairman of PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan who presented the party flag to the candidates of the party in Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, commended Ikot Abasi for being the vote basket of PDP in past elections, assuring that there is no need to weaver in the upcoming elections and described PDP as the only organized party in Akwa Ibom.
The PDP gubernatorial candidate in the state Pastor Umo Eno appreciated Ikot Abasi people for turning out en masse to receive him and the party.
Umo Eno said he was determined to revamp tourism sector in the state and develop rural communities as an integral part of his “Arise Agenda” and assured Ikot Abasi people of reaping the dividends of democracy.
The Eket Senatorial District Candidate, Dr Ekong Sampson, who spoke on behalf of the aspirants said that PDP holds the key to reinventing Nigeria and salvaging her from the economic tailspin the nation has been in overtime and assured Ikot Abasi people that the governor and other hopefuls will join force to restore the glory of the ancient city of Ikot Abasi, especially as Governor Udom Emmanuel, has already positioned the state favourably in the incoming PDP government at the centre.
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