…disown, describe ‘Forum of Youth Leaders’ as ‘every-year-youth’
– allege Constituency youths have not benefited from first term of APC lawmaker
By Our Reporter
UYO, Akwa Ibom State – The Atai-Uyo Progressive Youths Movement, APYM, has publicly distanced itself from a group parading as the “Forum of Youth Leaders, Uyo Federal Constituency,” accusing the group of issuing a misleading vote of confidence on behalf of youths in the area.
In a press statement signed by its President; Engr Sampson Okono, and Secretary-General; Rose-Anselem Akpan Esq., and made available to newsmen on Sunday, APYM said it comprises bona fide youths from the four Local Government Areas that make up Uyo Federal Constituency: Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai, and Uruan.
The movement expressed anger over what it described as the hijack of the youth voice by “grown up men in their 50s and 60s who still claim to be youths,” who recently announced a vote of confidence in the member representing Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/Nsit Atai/Uruan Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Rt. Honourable Mark Esset of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
According to APYM, the purported endorsement was published by Rt. Hon. Esset himself on his social media handle, where he quoted the “youths” as having “described me as the pride of Atai Uyo.”
“A cursory look at Rt. Honourable Mark Esset’s report revealed no beneficial or reasonable reason for such ‘Vote of Confidence’ to the unemployed, un-empowered and grossly neglected youths of Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/Nsit Atai/Uruan Federal Constituency,” the statement read.
APYM noted that the only justification cited by the lawmaker was “…my stance against xenophobic attacks at the recently concluded 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Malawi”, a development the group condemned in strong terms.
“What an idiotic display of hypocrisy, psycophancy, and tokenism-propelled blindness taken too far!” the statement signed by APYM leadership declared.
While saying it may “choose to forgive some already known ‘every-year-youth’ perpetual endorsement hawkers,” APYM warned the self-styled forum to “desist forthwith from pretending to represent Uyo Federal Constituency Youths.”
The movement argued that there is nothing on ground to warrant any endorsement of the federal lawmaker at this time.
“No sane youth of Uyo Federal Constituency would support Rt Honourable Mark Esset of the APC who has nothing to show for his first term as Federal lawmaker,” APYM stated.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the group said young people across the constituency have become wiser and will no longer allow themselves to be used as political tools to perpetuate ineffective leaders in the corridors of power.
“Come 2027″, part of the statement noted, “the youths of Uyo federal constituency will no longer be used by any selfish politician. We have learnt our lessons and therefore will no longer sell our future for any crumbs”.
APYM further raised questions it said the ‘Forum of Youth Leaders’ failed to ask during their meeting with the lawmaker.
“We may love to ask, why did the self-styled ‘Forum of Youth Leaders’ not ask Mark Esset what he has done with billions of Naira constituency funds he has received in the last three years?” the group queried.
The movement also drew a comparison with other federal lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State serving in the same National Assembly.
“Why didn’t they ask Mark Esset whether he is not in the same National Assembly with Rt. Honourables Unyime Idem and Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo?” APYM asked, stressing that the two lawmakers have impacted their constituents effectively quite unlike Mark Esset.
Uyo Federal Constituency has in recent months witnessed increased political activity as various groups position ahead of 2027. Youth groups in particular have become vocal over issues of empowerment, job creation, and constituency project delivery.
As of press time, efforts to reach Rt. Hon. Mark Esset for a reaction to APYM’s allegations were unsuccessful. A message sent to his media aide had not been responded to.
APYM said it will in the coming weeks embark on a constituency-wide sensitization to ensure that “the real voice of Uyo Federal Constituency youths is not drowned by political merchants.”
The group urged political stakeholders and abandoned voters to take note of what it called the “impersonation of youth leadership” in the constituency, and to engage only with verifiable youth structures going forward.
