By Asuquo Cletus
An aspirant of the African Democratic Congress for the Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency, Dr. Obah Edom Tawo, has faulted the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, accusing both parties of failing Nigerians through what he described as years of “systemic incompetence.”
Tawo, who spoke during an interview with journalists on Wednesday, said his ambition to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives was driven by the need to address critical infrastructure gaps, youth unemployment and poor access to healthcare in the area.
According to him, the deplorable state of road infrastructure in Etung and Obubra remains one of the most pressing challenges facing residents, particularly farmers and rural dwellers.
“The road network is a major concern. It affects everything from agricultural productivity to access to healthcare. Mothers and families struggle daily to move sick relatives to hospitals because the roads are almost impassable,” he said.
The ADC aspirant pledged to prioritise road rehabilitation if elected, stressing that improved connectivity would boost economic activities and ease the burden on rural communities.
On job creation, Tawo said his administration would focus on agro-industrialisation by harnessing the constituency’s natural resources, particularly cocoa and cassava.
“We have abundant agricultural produce, but we are not processing them. There are opportunities in converting these raw materials into finished and semi-finished products like chocolate, starch, ethanol and even cosmetics. That is where the jobs are,” he said.
He added that establishing small-scale processing hubs across communities would create employment for youths and reduce rural-urban migration.
Speaking on transparency and accountability, the aspirant promised to deploy technology to track constituency projects and ensure public access to information on government spending.
“Within my first 100 days, I will introduce a digital register for all constituency projects. It will be open and accessible to the people. Communities will also have a role in verifying projects before final approval,” he said.
Tawo further emphasised the need for inclusive governance, noting that he would collaborate across party lines to attract federal projects to the constituency.
“My mandate is to serve the people, not political interests. I will work with anyone, regardless of party affiliation, if it benefits Etung and Obubra,” he added.
On the perceived dominance of the APC and PDP, the ADC candidate expressed confidence that voters were ready for change.
“They may have structure and resources, but they also have a record of failure. Nigerians are aware and are looking for credible alternatives,” he said.
He also addressed concerns over internal challenges within the ADC, assuring supporters that the party would emerge stronger.
“Every political platform goes through phases, but ADC will stabilise and grow stronger. Nigerians should be patient,” he said.
The aspirant, who highlighted road development, healthcare access and agro-industrial growth as his top priorities, urged constituents to hold him accountable if elected.
“The power belongs to the people. If I fail to deliver, they have the right to reject me. That is the essence of democracy,” he stated.
