By ISong Udoh
A former Special Adviser in Eket Local Government, Chief Joseph Edoho has advised the youths of Akwa Ibom State to desist from working with dubious and jobless white men who take advantage of them while working to paint the state in bad light and making quick money from the state. He gave the advice while chatting with news men in his office in Uyo.
“It’s high time our youths look for something meaningful to engage themselves and forget about some of these white men who cannot secure profitable jobs in their country only to come here in the name of research and charity work, and make millions of Dollars on their back. “
The politician revealed that he read in some media that certain white men who were noted for using the guise of charity work to tar the state with black brush have concluded plans to come to the state with dubious intent.
“I was flipping through some headlines yesterday when I saw a headline screamed, ‘Gary Foxcroft Hires US Researchers for His New Project in AKS’. What baffles me the more is that the likes of Leo Igwe with two local cyclists was mentioned by the local paper as persons to be used as guides in Foxcroft new unknown exploit in Akwa Ibom State. And one man was mentioned as Brendan Torrell to be the head of the team. What are they really coming to do again? Have they finished eating the money collected on the back of the vulnerable children?“
Chief Edoho also disclosed that the security agencies have been alerted to make sure that they were quizzed to know their intention and activities.
“The relevant authority have been informed of this new but sinister development because, every year this man is fun putting Akwa Ibom state in bad light in the international media for his personal and selfish ends. If you look at the local people he uses in all of dealings, you realize that while he goes back to UK, his home country to enjoy his money, the people he uses still remain in total wretched condition and indeed abject poverty. Why I am saying so is that, if you think you are into partnership, there should be a corresponding mutual benefit not a lopsided one. This is the kind of issue that security agency should be keenly interested in looking into so as to check this questionable practice.
On whether he nurses any intention for the chairmanship position or any elective office in the coming election, the politician said he nurtured no such intention at the moment. He added that if his constituency asks him to represent them in such office, he will not hesitate to honor the call.
“I don’t think I harbor any interest to vie for any elective position for now, but you know how politics is; it is not always predictive. That means, I am not going to reject any good service to humanity or to be a servant to the people of my constituency.” The Eket born politician asserted.
On the thorny issue of zoning as it relates to the governorship position, Chief Edoho made it clear that he was not an advocate of zoning. But said if the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had zoning enshrined in its constitution, there was nothing wrong to follow the laid down rules to the letter.
“I am really not a good advocate for zoning. I understand that politics itself is a dicey game especially, when it comes to issue of zoning like this. But the truth is that everybody knows that there is zoning; and it is in every sphere and level of our political constituents, wards, local government, federal constituency and what have you. Up till now I have not seen any interest shown by our brothers and sisters from the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District that they want to join in the gubernatorial race. This is clearly because they know it will not add up since the governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio is from that district. So what are we arguing? If there’s nothing like zoning someone from Ikot Ekpene should show up and let’s vote him.” Edoho argued.
