By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A former director with the Federal Government of Canada, Princewill Ogban, has joined the race for Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency of Cross River State seat, promising to unseat incumbent lawmaker for under performance.
Ogban, who entered the race on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, a registered social worker and permanent delegate to the United Nations, said that his decision was driven by conditions in the constituency.
Citing underdevelopment, widespread poverty and the underperformance of the incumbent lawmaker as key factors that pushed him to join the race, Ogban
outlined his legislative priorities.
He said his focus would be on poverty reduction, healthcare and infrastructure.
He said, “We hope to prioritize bills that help reduce poverty because it’s a very big problem within the constituency.”
On healthcare, he stressed the need for better access at the grassroots, adding, “Healthcare is also a very big challenge, I hope to work towards promoting bills that support accessibility to primary healthcare.”
He also addressed the economic losses farmers face due to poor storage, saying, “So much agricultural produce is being wasted in the constituency, which makes farmers suffer huge losses and I hope to work with the state government to set up storage facilities within the constituency for our farmers.”
Beyond poverty and healthcare, Ogban said he intends to tackle recurring communal conflicts.
He disclosed that as a lawmaker, he hopes to promote models that have successfully addressed communal crises in advanced climes and deploy them to address major crises within the constituency.
Prince Ogban argued that his international experience sets him apart, emphasising that having worked abroad and been involved in global business, he is the “most fit to represent the constituency.”
He maintained that Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency stands to gain from his background and global exposure.
The constituency, he added, will benefit from his wealth of experience, with deliberate and innovative efforts made to fill key development gaps that have undermined the area’s progress.
