Akwa Ibom youths have been advised to be guided by the need to sustain the uncommon transformation matrix in the state in their choice of the next governor of the state.

Governor Godswill Akpabio gave the advice Monday at the end-of-year get-together organised by Akwa Ibom State Youth Caucus in Uyo, the state capital.

“This is the time to think of sustainability,” he said. “It is not enough to have the uncommon transformation; you must also sustain the uncommon transformation. The governor of the state should be somebody who will spread development across the state, somebody who is forgiving, a youth-friendly governor and, if possible, he should actually be a youth.”

The governor commended youths in the state for their peaceful and mature disposition, which he noted has placed Akwa Ibom as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

According to him, “What can I say to all the youths than to say thank you to all of you? You have been wonderful; you’ve been exemplary; you have shown maturity; you have shown leadership; you have shown maturity not just in the Niger Delta Region but in the whole country. I boast about you anywhere I go to because I know this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that a state has a very cohesive set of youths and for this I give kudos to the youth leaders.”

Akpabio used the opportunity to thank all security agencies and heads of security parastatals in the state for protecting and keeping the state secured from criminals. He announced plans to soon demolish Abak Prison to pave the way for the bridge in Abak Local Government Area, disclosing that amnesty would be granted to some inmates of the prison as a new year package.

The governor thanked Akwa Ibom people for making the state a success throughout 2013, and prayed that by 2014 the will of God would done for the state through peace and unity.

Speaking, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, said the youths constitute the period of insight into the future of Akwa Ibom.

Harping on sustainable development as the aftermath of uncommon transformation, Emmanuel said: “Anywhere in the world, you experience uncommon transformation, the next statement in the youth parlance is sustainable development. I want to assure the youths that if we follow the uncommon transformer, we would experience sustainable development. There are two types of leaders – those who create change and those who manage change.”

Earlier, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom Youth Caucus, Emmanuel Ekpenyong, had explained that the get-together was intended to avail youths in the state of the opportunity to take stock and seek direction for the future.

“Today like in the many years past, we have come to consummate the long relationship between the youths of the state and the purpose-driven government of the day. We have come to take stock to see how we fair and to give ourselves a direction for the future. We have come to appreciate the past people who led in the land of promise,” Ekpenyong stated.

He commended Governor Akpabio for enlisting many youths into the government and for empowering youths in the state. Appealing for more economic empowerment for youths, Ekpenyong said: “The greatest legacy of this administration is the level of youth involvement in the governance. This alone has transformed the political hemisphere of our state.”

Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Monday Ukoh, said the Akpabio administration has brought in a new phase of politics of forgiveness and of the youths. He called on the youths to believe in Governor Akpabio who is working for the youths of the state, hinting that the youths are all part of the present administration.

Mr. Paul Ekpo, State Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the strength of the party is in the youths. He stressed that the entire state trusts and believes in the Akpabio administration.

•Photo shows Governor Akpabio.

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