Youths of Ikono/Ini Federal constituency have slammed the senator representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District over a letter he wrote allegedly ceding part of their territory as colonies to herdsmen for cattle grazing.
In a release signed by Ikono /Ini Youth Grand Alliance, the people blasted the former Governor for his alleged attempt to trade off their land in exchange for his selfish political interest.
They referred to a letter which had since gone viral allegedly written by Senator Akpabio titled “Gratitude for your Marvelous Support to Akwa Ibom APC” and sent to the Chief of Staff to the president at Aso Rock villa.
They noted that throughout the tenure of Chief Akpabio as the Governor for Eight years, he failed to cite a single project in Ikono and Ini and also refused to construct any road infrastructure in the area thereby making that Federal Constituency the most neglected and abandoned federal constituency in the country between 2007 and 2015.
The release signed by the group’s coordinator, Paul Sunday and Otobong Udofia, Secretary, sounded a note of warning to Akpabio, and rather advised him to look into his own community in Ukana and donate land for Cattle grazing to herdsmen instead of coming to the area where he held in apparent contempt.
The people also went further to register their disappointment with the senator for ever venturing into such an alleged ignoble deal without recourse to consulting them.
They, however, lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for his efforts in Cocoa and rice farming in the area as well as the Establishment of Cocoa processing mill and the recently commissioned rice mill which they believe has brought about a new lease of economic activity in their federal constituency.
They vowed to do anything within their power to ensure that any attempt to mortgage their land for pecuniary benefits is resisted.