By Nakanda Iyadim
The Etung people yesterday reaffirmed their support towards the re-election bid of the state governor Ben Ayade, as his governorship campaign train reached the Local Government Area.
This comes as the Paramount Ruler of Etung, Ntui-Atue Dr Emmanuel Oru Ojong, took a step further by conferring on the governor the chieftaincy title of Ntufam Efang 1 of Etung Kingdom, “Chief of Prosperity”.
Speaking earlier, the Paramount Ruler who extolled the state governor’s industrial revolution in the state, acknowledged that the Etung people have been great beneficiaries of the present administration.
” I am happy that our governor is here in person, we have been hearing of him, but today he is here. We’ve been hearing of his robust projects across the state, the governor has done too much especially for the Etung peope. Etung is a local area, and Etung is going to benefit much because of the Cocoa factory cited in Ikom.”
The state governor who was accompanied by his deputy Prof Ivara Esu, and other PDP chieftains in the state, disclosed to the royal fathers that their certificates of recognition had been signed and ready to be issued.
” I have also come here with good news because your certificates are not only signed but I have brought them so that you can see them. This is for your confirmation so that you will know that all the Etung Chiefs and Clan Heads who were not captured in the payroll, will be captured from this month. In the various local governments I have gone, I said I was signing them and they will all be ready before the elections, they are indeed all ready. We also agreed that we will increase your stipend, that also has been done”.
The state governor who further appealed to the consciences of the Etung Chiefs, reminded them that his administration has done alot for the Etung people, which in turn has earned him their support.
“I am your son, if you take the total number of appointees from Etung , I am sure that I will pass for a governor who is born and brought up in Etung. All my key appointees are from Etung”.
Governor Ayade who further promised that his administration will develop the local government area for the benefit of the people, revealed that his government will set up a cocoa house, where their cocoa beans will be bought by the state government to ensure they are not fleeced by merchants.
“When I wanted to build the cocoa processing plant, I was told that the major cocoa farmers in Nigeria are the Etung people. So I decided to put it a little away from Etung but within your enclave. I have put the biggest cocoa processing factory in Africa here in Ikom Local government area. But that factory is for Etung people. I will set up a cocoa house where the state government can buy off all your cocoa beans to be processed in the factory”.
