Patrick Ekpotu

Patrick Ekpotu (born 26 June 1960) is a Nigerian politician and chemical engineer. He is the former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Quotes "Politics in reality is an act of selfless service to the people. Although I studied Engineering, activism has been part of my background, from secondary school to the University, where I held various positions in student unionism at local and national levels. So, it was not surprising that I also had to play politics in addition to Engineering. Again, Engineering is only one aspect of the profession that people are identified with, but in reality, I also hold a Masters in Building Innovation and Change". https://generations-will-share-in-apc-misrule-ex-aibom-deputy-gov-ekpotu/ "It was uncommon because a great deal of, not just innovations but projects were undertaken. Life-touching projects and also mega projects like the stadium were undertaken. So, people were generally happy with the government and within that period I was there, insecurity was on the decline. I remember it was the first time that kidnapping was made a capital offence, and anybody caught was to face the penalty. We were able to check militancy that had become part and parcel of the region’s political movement since the advent of democracy. In Akwa Ibom State, we were able to checkmate this, and to a very large extent, many people were saying it is the safest state. So, it is part of the legacies. This did not just come easily; it came as a result of the capacity to think outside the box and to take bold actions different from the traditional approach to security". https://generations-will-share-in-apc-misrule-ex-aibom-deputy-gov-ekpotu/ "I have been engaging in my engineering practice. I also do a lot of reading, during this period. I enrolled for my Master’s programme in Building Innovations and Change. I also concentrate on thinking on how best we can proffer solutions to what is affecting the nation today. So, quite a number of books have been put together, one had already been formally launched about 11 years ago. I also have two more in the making. On the whole, as I practise engineering, I also immersed myself in the problems of Nigeria and trying to proffer solutions to them". https://generations-will-share-in-apc-misrule-ex-aibom-deputy-gov-ekpotu/ "The surgical operation is that you cannot even talk about restructuring a country at a stage where it is now, with absolute insecurity, economic situations being at the extremes and all of that. So, these problems have to be put aside first of all". https://generations-will-share-in-apc-misrule-ex-aibom-deputy-gov-ekpotu/ "No, I would rather suggest it should be made to become effective and to be able to fulfill its mandates. It should be strengthened by whatever laws. If there are lacunas or black spots in the aspects of the laws establishing the NNDC, which makes ministers or managing directors to exploit and do otherwise, then those ones should be blocked and then the NDDC and every other agency in Nigeria must ensure that they live strictly according to their mandates". https://generations-will-share-in-apc-misrule-ex-aibom-deputy-gov-ekpotu/ "There are few areas, especially the area that has to do with the welfare of the people, the area that touches on the lives of the people because it is at that level that you will hear people complain that we have seen these projects, we have seen Ibom Airline and a few other things he has done. But generally, the economy of the state is not in the hands of the state government, the economy of the state is affected by the economy of the country. So, the hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the APC government will transmit down to families. Akwa Ibom is one of those, and when we hear people complain about hunger, complain about hard realities of life and all of that, it is not what has been created by the state government". https://generations-will-share-in-apc-misrule-ex-aibom-deputy-gov-ekpotu/ External links Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Nigeria