…Receives assurance of continued engagements on the way forward
A strong contender for the Akamkpa/Biase FederaI Constituency seat in the 2023 general elections, Onun Inyang Unoh Nkanu, has at the weekend paid homage to Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo, the current member representing the constituency at the National Assembly.
The purpose of the visit, according to Dr Uke Enun, Director General of Onun Inyang Unoh Campaign Organization, was to show the lawmaker the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Nomination and Expression of Interest form purchased by the House of Representatives aspirant and to also consult with him on Inyang Unoh’s ambition.
Presenting the aspirant to Rt. Hon. Asuquo in Calabar, Dr Enun described Onun Inyang as a straight forward person whose honesty and integrity was not in doubt, having known him for several years.
The DG further stated that Onun Inyang is a faithful and loyal party man, who in spite of the unfair treatment meted out on him in the past, has remained with the PDP without ever contemplating defection.
“This is a man who won election for primary and they took it away from him, and he still remains in the party. That time I was the chairman of electoral… He came to me almost weeping and I told him ‘you don’t know what God has in stock for you. The enemies that have taken this small one from you, the bigger one is in front.’ He did not leave the party. He remain and work for PDP and they won. This is a real party person”, he said.
The DG also disclosed that the PDP aspirant has touched many lives through various economic empowerments, and therefore appealed to the youths to choose wisely among the aspirants that have so far expressed interest for the constituency seat.
Also speaking, Barr. Austin Onun, the Campaign Coordinator for Akamkpa, said the aspirant is a material that is saleable and that he is a well known figure.
He said, “A time has come in the history of a people that a man who had diligently, consistently, persistently carried on the responsibility of a leader would have to stand out to be recognized. His people have deemed it necessary at this point in this generation to present this man, Onun Inyang Unoh.”
In his response, Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo, who also doubles as leader of the PDP in the constituency, said although stakeholders of the party had contemplated picking a candidate via consensus, the aspirants and their supporters however insisted for an open contest where they can test their popularity.
He said as a true democratic party, the will and wishes of the people had to prevail, thus paving way for a level playing ground for everyone.
“We all as Akamkpa/Biase believe in the ability in ourselves. I have tried within my God given wisdom and all humility to see how the Akamkpa/Biase people can come out with at least one person to reserve the resources we have to face the opposition when the main election comes next year. But in the wisdom of the aspirants and their supporters they decided to go into the field.
“When you notice that when he came in, I was looking. I needed to see whether there’s support base also from Akamkpa because the impression people have is that one or two persons have more advantage than others. I always use myself as an example. I never ran any election where I had been seen as somebody who is on the advantage. I’m always the underdog, as they say. But you know people say and the word of God also say that the last shall become the first.
“We must make sure that we don’t make any of our brothers who have taken this bold step to come out and feel that they are not worth the trouble”, he said.
The incumbent House of Reps member further said he was happy that the support base of Onun Inyang Unoh cut across Biase and Akamkpa, which is indicative of balance, while assuring him of continued engagements on the way forward for the constituency.
“I’m happy to see the people from his ward, people from other wards, people from my local government; because politics for me, my local government is Akamkpa/Biase and that’s how it will be going, that’s how it has been. I’m happy I have also seen support base from Akamkpa.
“At least the story of unfairness and what have you is beginning to… Everybody should have some level of confidence that they are going into a primary that you know you don’t win it’s not because you didn’t do enough, but because the people have decided to say this is where they are going. I can assure you we will continue to talk. So let us do all the needful.”
Speaking shortly in an interview, the PDP aspirant for the Akamkpa/Biase FederaI Constituency seat, Onun Inyang Unoh, said the decision to run for the green chamber was borne out of strong desire to serve his people.
He said, “My desire is to ensure that I bring development to my people. As a member of House of Reps, it is not an executive position, but the power to lobby is what makes you a member of House of Reps. So I will lobby the executives, I will lobby my colleagues to ensure that projects that are meant for my constituency are executed.”
On his expectation from the primary, Onun Inyang said, “Power comes from God that we know, and God is going to help us. He gives it to whoever he chooses. I have an assurance. I have prayed to God before I come out; and God has assured me that I should go.
“I’m very close to the youths; I had done things for them, and they have assured me that I should go. They called me to come and run. They want me to represent them. I’m sure I will win in the field.”
Onun Inyang Unoh Nkanu hails from Agwagune in Biase Local Government Area. He is a graduate of the University of Calabar. He also holds a Master’s in Computer Science from Ebonyi State University.
Onun Inyang has through the World Bank Agricultural Project, facilitated grants of N2million and N3million each, to no fewer than 180 people in Biase and Akamkpa local government areas respectively.
This is in addition to federal employments he help secured for some youths in Akamkpa/Biase FederaI Constituency.
