The Rt.Hon. Peter Akpatason held a town hall session with members of the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency in his bid to represent the people for a fourth term in the National Assembly. In a bold pledge at the well-attended “meet the contestants series” organized by the Akoko-Edo Development Association (aka Akoko-Edo Forum), the umbrella body of Akoko-Edo sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora, he said the people should hold him directly responsible to his pact with them.
This series marks the first-ever question and answer session with candidates in the local government. At this session, moderated by Dr. Charles Jagun, Hon. Akpatason detailed the key elements of his pact with Akoko-Edo people, including:
- Ensure presidential assent to the bill and funding of Akoko-Edo School of Mining & Geology
Realization of an Open University study centre in the Constituency - Functional NASENI Centre
Enhance the ICT Hubs in Ososo and Igarra - Work to see the splitting of Akoko-Edo LGA or, at the minimum creation of four State Assembly constituencies
- Solar grid for Ojirami dam towards ensuring municipal water supply across the Constituency
- Attract quality road infrastructure
- Attract specialist medical centre and primary care facilities to the area
- Work with Akoko-Edo Forum to deploy high-tech security surveillance facilities across the Constituency
- Make his constituency offices more functional and accessible to all
- Engage with stakeholders in healthcare, project supervision, and more to bring improved conditions in the Constituency
- Complete the Ibillo leather facility and more skills acquisition centres.
Members of the Constituency demanded that the pact be sent to the group for the record to ensure that if he succeeded in his reelection bid, this pact would be used as a measure of his performance.
The candidate elucidated the importance of sending him back to the National Assembly because of the advantages his seniority could bring to the Constituency, as seen in Suru-Lere Federal Constituency. He highlighted the gains of him becoming the most senior member of the South-South geopolitical zone.
He answered several questions from the attendees on his stewardship and what he’ll do in the next dispensation. At the uncensored session, the Hon. Member appreciated the opportunity offered by the Forum to give contestants direct access to constituents across the Constituency and the Forum for filling the considerable gap that hitherto existed in the Constituency.
The candidate further reiterated his belief in candidates talking directly to the people and answering all questions honestly. He demonstrated this belief without reference to any other candidate during the season. According to Akpatason, the electorates should look at the antecedents and performance of the candidates rather than allegiance to parties.
The session lasted two hours of intense discussion of how Akoko-Edo narrative will continue on the change trajectory that Akoko-Edo Forum now represents.
