2027: Coffie promises Akwa Ibom unity, massive empowerment, prosperity

Tony Okoh, Uyo

A former Accord Party governorship candidate in the 2023 Akwa Ibom State election, Engr. Dr. Emem Coffie has promised to prioritise unity, empowerment and economic prosperity if elected governor of the state in 2027.

Coffie, who stated this while addressing journalists in Uyo, the state capital, said his administration would focus on empowering youths, women and senior citizens while creating an enabling environment for residents to prosper.

Describing Akwa Ibom as a state blessed with abundant human and material resources, the former governorship candidate said he possessed the political will and experience required to confront poverty and unemployment.

He said his administration would train youths in various lucrative skills and provide them with starter packs to establish businesses, while also creating employment opportunities and ensuring that women were effectively integrated into the state’s economic development programmes.

Coffie also promised to promote commercial agriculture through the establishment of farm settlements across the state.

According to him, the initiative would create jobs, increase food production and enable Akwa Ibom to produce enough food for domestic consumption and export to other states.

“Akwa Ibom, with its vast arable land, cannot rely on food from other states for survival,” he said.

On education, Coffie pledged to make primary and secondary education not only free but compulsory for children across the state.

He expressed concern over children of school age engaging in street trading during school hours, saying his administration would ensure that every Akwa Ibom child had access to basic education.

“We cannot afford to have any child of school age hawking any longer along the streets in any part of our dear state during school hours. Our children must have basic, free and compulsory education for a better foundation,” he said.

The politician also promised a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s healthcare system, saying healthcare would be made more responsive, affordable and accessible to all residents.

“Life is precious, and we will not just overhaul our medical system to make it more responsive but will make it attractive and affordable for all citizens. My government will end medical tourism abroad and rather attract patients to visit our state for the best medical care,” he said.

Coffie further placed unity and peaceful coexistence among the various ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom at the centre of his proposed administration.

He said his background gave him an understanding of the state’s ethnic and cultural diversity, noting that although he is an Ibibio from Nsit Ubium, he has maternal ties to Iwukem in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area in Annang land and maintains close relationships with people from other parts of the state.

“I understand the complex nature of our dear state, Akwa Ibom, with its rich cultural heritage. We are one people united by God for the purpose of living together as a people. We must build a state which our future generations will inherit with pride,” he said.

Expressing concern over ethnic tensions and unnecessary disagreements, Coffie promised to promote dialogue, justice, understanding and brotherhood if elected governor.

“I feel worried anytime there are unnecessary altercations and ethnic tension. I assure our people that I will bond them better if elected as governor,” he added.

He stressed that his administration would seek to accommodate genuine interests across the state and provide equal opportunities for citizens to pursue their aspirations and careers.

“We must understand the place of dialogue, understanding, peace, justice and brotherhood in all our undertakings and de-emphasise any issue that brings disunity, suspicion or crisis.

“We must build a state which will accommodate every genuine interest and opportunity for all to reach the zenith of their aspirations and career,” Coffie said.