Akwa Ibom State Governorship candidate of ACCORD, Engr. (Dr) Emem Coffie, COREN, FNICE, FIMC, FICEN, FIMS, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, provided free petrol to commercial motorcycle, tricycle and mini bus drivers in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Abak and Eket Local Government Areas.
The free fuel supply was launched Tuesday at Basumoh Filling Station along Ikot Ekpene Road and Jopen petrol station on Aka Etinan Road, Uyo and Raphgrasons in Ikot Ekpene LGA and Akpan Eyo filling Station opposite Bishop Clark Primary School in Abak LGA on Wednesday, while Thursday was the turn of motorists in the oil rich city of Eket. However, riders and drivers formed long queues to benefit from the gesture at the filling stations.
Many of the beneficiaries decorated their bikes and buses with the posters of Engr. Coffie. They got five to ten litres of fuel each in the largesse that lasted between noon and 6pm in the three days.
The filling stations were besieged by the people, including businessmen and women, as soon as the news spread that free fuel was being dispensed at the outlets.
As Coffie was sighted at the scene, the jubilant crowd hailed him chanting and singing solidarity songs, and in the process caused a gridlock at every location the Governorship candidate visited.
The ACCORD guber hopeful, Engr. Coffie, while interacting with the beneficiaries sympathized with them on the excruciating pains faced to buy the product. He said it was pathetic that motorists in Akwa Ibom, the leading oil producing State were buying fuel at N320 whilst filling stations in Abuja were buying the product at N180.
“All is not well with our people and it seems our leaders are less concerned,” Coffie stated, promising to change the soured stories in all sectors of the State economy, namely; Agriculture, Education, Industrialization, Human capital development, Housing amongst others.
He used the occasion to brief them of his plans to create at least a millionaire from every family in Akwa Ibom if electorate in the State trust him with their votes on March 11 governorship polls.
Meanwhile, a tricycle operator at Basumoh Filling Station, who gave his name as Godwin Akpata, said, “I am happy with this man (Engr. Coffie) for the free fuel he gave to us. Thank God I have collected my PVC. I promise to vote for him to be the governor. I will also urge Akwa Ibomites to vote for ACCORD, because aft3r hearing from him, I can state unequivocally that he will be a good governor, if elected”.
A beneficiary at Jopen Filing Station, Ubong Friday, hailed Emem Coffie for the free fuel supply, promising to reduce the fare for every passenger he would pick while the fuel lasted.
Adede Unyime Benson, a mini bus driver, at Raphgrasons Filling Station, Ikot Ekpene LGA, assured Coffie of his vote and that of other drivers in their union, describing ACCORD gubernatorial candidate as the “true friend of the masses.”
However, the State Chairman of ACCORD, Rt Hon Martins Ansa, who coordinated the scheme revealed that over 4,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has so far been distributed free. He noted that the gesture was to ameliorate the plight of the motorists describing them as important stakeholders in the state.
Speaking glowingly about his party’s Governorship candidate, Ansa said Engr Emem Coffie has the best blueprint among other candidates vying for the State’s top job. He assured that, with their door to door campaigns across the State, ACCORD will be victorious in the forthcoming polls, adding that Coffie-led administration will end poverty, hunger and bad leadership in the State.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Coffie, deputy governorship candidate, Evang. (Dr.) Love Charles Archibong, State Chairman of the party, Rt Hon Ansa. Others included, Vice Chairman, Bishop Eric Etukakpan, Secretary, Obong Imeobong Udeng, House of Assembly candidates for Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency, Mr Aniekan Johnson, Abak;
Princess IniAbasi Akang among other party chieftains as well as support groups.
