A frontline politician from Oron nation and former governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2007, former governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 governorship election in Akwa Ibom state, Engr Larry Esin has called on the people of Oro nation to guard against the over reliance on zoning in their bid to actualize their governorship ambition. Esin who is also a former National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Alliance, stated this in a new year message to his friends posted on his Facebook page.
Engr. Esin, who caused an upset in 2006 PDP primaries, coming third in the primary election after joining the race mid way into his senatorial campaign, stated that Oro nation must not simply think it was their right to produce the governor of the state come 2015, merely on the premise that it was their turn, as it has always been their turn even before now for the reason that they are Akwa Ibom state people. He noted that the only way forward was for them to come up with a candidate that would have a broad appeal across the three senatorial zones and give such a candidate their full and total support.
He appealed to his kinsmen to note that any candidate from the three zones that wished to contest the election would be justified as they have the constitutional rights so to do. “Though much has been taken from Oro and much have Oro sacrificed, that which we are we are, one equal hearts of heroic tempers. The question of our role in the governance of our State in 2015, a responsibility we welcome with open arms, will occupy and engage our thoughts and actions for the next three years. And rightfully so! But let us not be consumed, blinded and misled by the fledgling believe that it is "our turn" now. It has always been our turn.
“For as long as we have been a part of Akwa Ibom State, it has always been our turn and responsibility to vie for any political office and offer solutions to meet the development challenges of our State. The Ibibio's, Anangs, Ekid's, and all other ethnic groups will express their fundamental right to serve their State in 2015, and we cannot fault them for doing so. Oro will win the governorship not by evoking "Zoning", but by presenting the best marketable Oro candidate in the race and giving 100% of our support to that candidate period!” he stated.
Lending his voice to the ongoing debate of fuel subsidy, Engr Esin faulted the removal of fuel subsidy by the government, noting that subsidies are development tools employed even by advanced economies to boost the competitiveness of their economy.
“The reality is that subsidies are economic development tools; employed by even the most advanced countries (USA, China, UK, Japan, Germany, OPEC member countries etc) to boost the competitiveness of their industries on the international market. Most of you may have heard of the agriculture subsidy war between China and the US, which helps grain farmers in these countries to compete internationally.
“The OPEC member States grant far reaching subsidies on petroleum products, a major industrial input, to boost cost effective production and ultimately the competitiveness of their industries internationally. However, where there is a failed implementation of subsidy programs or initiatives, the resultant impact on the national economy can be devastating; like in Nigeria today.
“The solution is therefore not a withdrawal of subsidies, but a proper implementation of the program. Removing subsidy because of inefficiency is equivalent to throwing out the bath water with the baby in it. If our refineries are fixed so that we can refine our crude oil locally, and the recurrent expenditure of government trimmed, we will have recovered most of the $8 Billion annual cost of subsidies each year.
“Let us exercise wisdom and perseverance in tackling these problems; the solutions can be found within and not through fresh World bank borrowing. These will be a grave mistake and must be avoided by all cost. Thank you so much for the opportunity to chat with you again, and please pardon my long silence on this forum. I may be silent, but I am not insensitive to our collective challenges as a people”, he counseled on the subsidy issue.
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