SENATOR EYAKENYI EMERGES AKWA IBOM PDP DEPUTY GOV CANDIDATE

Dr. (Mrs) Akon Etim Eyakenyi

"Her Humility Earned Senator Dr. Eyakenyi  Deputy Governorship Slot.... Says Bisi Ezekiel.

... Promises Giving Women Sense Of Belonging In Governance.

Fortune has smiled on Dr. (Mrs) Akon Etim Eyakenyi, the serving senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District as she has been named as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State. 

According to insiders in the political permutations of the PDP in Akwa Ibom state, who have been following the political trends, Senator Akon Etim Eyakenyi, got the position without much ado, owing to her loyalty, dedication and commitment to the party.

While many male political figures in the party lobbied in the state and even in Abuja to be picked, the party and its candidate, beamed the searchlight on the senator; a woman of substance who is no push over in Akwa Ibom politics.

Many factors could have worked for the Senator to have been found worthy of the position by the party's governorship candidate, Pastor Eno Umo. 

Among the many factors is her unprecedented humility. 

She was screened by the PDP Deputy Governorship Screening Committee on Wednesday, June 22 alongside 27 other running mates of the party at the PDP secretariat, Abuja.

Seeing herself as the face of Akwa Ibom women in government, she told journalists after being screened that she will represent the interest of women in government. 

In her words, she said; "I am going to represent the slot of the women but I am also going as a mother for the 31 local government of Akwa Ibom State covering both men, youth, elderly.

"I am going there to serve, to set a standard and ensure that after me, another woman can pick up the position. I will also ensure that women have their dues and rights at the executive, legislative and party level.

"I am also going to be a model and standard to every woman in Akwa Ibom State."

She appreciated the party, the governor of Akwa Ibom and stakeholders who approved that a woman be given the slot of deputy governor for the first time. 

Senator Eyakenyi has always acknowledged the grace of God for every position she attained in life.

She said; "I want to start by saying that for every position, God is the one that identifies who to put into position, but people also have a way of pushing one to a position. I belong to the Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP in my state. I have been there since inception and I have contributed my own quota to my people under the umbrella. I am accessible to the people. I have served my people in different capacity."

Speaking on how she has been getting appointments and positions in a male dominated environment, she said;  "I want to say that I identified what the needs of my people were, I identified what they definitely wanted me to do."

She disclosed that her own philosophy is service and commitment to humanity.

The Senator, who is always at home with her people in her senatorial district, further revealed that, "Without pride, if you have access to my people in Akwa Ibom South senatorial district, they will tell you that this time, they have a Senator. If you have been listening to radio and following information online and the social media, you will see that Senator Akon Eyakenyi is working." 

"The three things that a good Senator or a good representative is expected to do are, good quality representation in and out of the floor of the Senate on behalf of your people, the oversight function and then, the briefing of the people. Out of these three things, I think by God's grace, in terms of representation, on the floor of the Senate, my first month in office, I moved a motion on the importance of computer education in Nigeria which was accepted by the whole Senate and we are going to push it, to see what we can do. I supported the motion on the drug meant for treatment of eyes cancer  problem of which many are dying from, the issue of rape and also, came up as a motion and I supported it.

"Also on the issue of infrastructural development as it affects my community especially road construction. I supported the motion on improvement of waterways, provision of ships for carrying passengers from Calabar to Oron to Cameroun, which I supported. On the floor of the Senate, I have been heard on behalf of the people first and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Senator elected to represent them.

"I think I am the first to officially open a beautiful constituency office complex in my senatorial district, which is functioning. If you go there any working day, you will meet my staff there representing each federal constituencies. I have a manager there so that, if I am in Abuja and people cannot get across to me, they can pass their message to me  through the manager. The ones I can treat,I treat. The ones I can ask my staff to do on my behalf, I send them. It is a functional office." 

The deputy governorship candidate called on the people of Akwa Ibom to fully support the party, herself and the governorship candidate to win the coming election.

She said: "It is by voting us into power that we can continue the good work and developmental strides of our efficient Governor, Emmanuel Udom."