Itoro BASSEY
It was a major setback for the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday,
when some stalwarts of the party and their supporters totaling 860 in
Nsit Ubium local government area of Akwa Ibom State moved to the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), amidst jubilations.
Looking at the faces of the defectors at the residence of the political leader of Nsit Ubium, Senator Effiong Bob, venue of the defection party, it would appear as though their idea of El Dorado in the APC was a mirage.
The leader of the defectors and APC Chairman in Nsit Ubium, Aniefiok Ekah, narrated the perturbing experiences faced by the former APC members before they left for the PDP when matters became unbearable.
Ekah said that the defectors had endured severe hunger in APC after the party lost in the 2015 elections and could, therefore, no longer continue to tolerate such.
Ekah, who submitted every document belonging to APC in his possession for destruction, however, appealed to the PDP not to treat the returnees as outcasts.
He explained that some of them left PDP in 2015 due to "cheating by some party leaders", who refused to protect their interests.
Joining the state chairman of the party, Paul Ekpo, the political leader of Nsit Ubium, Effiong Bob, and other leaders to receive the defectors, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Barr Onofiok Luke, assured them that Governor Udom Emmanuel has shown love to Nsit Ubium local government area, a reason the people are standing to give their full support to the government.
Luke said, "...Amidst compelling interests for the finances of government, His Excellency graciously has awarded a 22.5 kilometers of road with bridges.
"As I'm talking to you, a contract has been awarded for the renovation and rehabilitation of cottage hospital, Ikot Ekpene Udo. And the next hospital in the next line of inter ministerial (projects) is going to be cottage hospital, Akai Ubium.
"I undertook a personal visit there, I drew the attention of the (Works) commissioner and then he saw it and it has been enrolled in government plan for this year.
"And that was why at the level of the legislature, we had to up the budget for rehabilitation and reconstruction of health institutions so that it can accommodate most of these things that government needs to do".
Noting that the governor recently released money for pensions and gratuities to be paid, Barr. Luke added that he (Governor) is set for the commencement of the commissioning of inter ministerial projects, some of which are sited in Nsit Ubium.
"We had an ad hoc committee in the house of assembly. We were able to collate the concerns of all the pensioners and those owed gratuity, and then we came up with a position and sent that position to His Excellency the governor who had a first hand information and who has used that information to act.
"He is a compassionate governor, he has listening ears and he knows what it means for workers to be given their entitlements".
Luke also said that Nsit Ubium is one local government area that has revolutionalized representation, as representatives always return to the people to report progress; following the understanding that power comes from the people.
"By electing me in 2011, I set a record that no representative in this state has been able to meet. Let any representative show record of two-times constituency briefing where he spent nothing less than N80 million.
"The first one in 2012, 13 brand new vehicles and about 150 people empowered to the tune of N100,000 each and other things.
The second one (in 2014), 170 people at N100,000 each, that was N17 million and another 18 brand new vehicles and more empowerment, that is representation.
"I say this because of what I stood for in my first term, you gave me the mandate to return to represent you a second time.
That was why I had to come back and gather the local government, with the support of His Excellency the governor and the party, through the state chairman, I was able to do that (third) constituency briefing in December (2016). Through your support, we brought back home what we gathered from the centre.
"That was why last week, I could gather people, 150 of us, and bought JAMB forms. I've bought 300 bags of fertilizer to give to 100 farmers in Nsit Ubium next week ".
Luke said that he would not rest on his oars in delivering the dividends of democracy which cover educational and agricultural support, as well as empowerment in numerous sectors.
He called on Nsit Ubium people to support Governor Udom Emmanuel to continue in office after 2019.
While urging party supporters in Nsit Ubium to receive the defectors with open arms, the Speaker pleaded with the people to shun all forms of unruly behaviors, adding that government is determined to deal decisively with persons caught engaging in criminal activities.
As he received the defectors, Paul Ekpo, the state PDP chairman, said: "I want to ask Nigeria to look at the crowd today, we have over 800 people who have denounced APC in Nsit Ubium this afternoon.
"Of recent, we went to Oruk Anam to receive thousands of decampees and when we left, the people tried to twist the facts.
"Today, the fact remains that there is no APC in Nsit Ubium. APC is dead and buried in Nsit Ubium. The only peoples' party is the Peoples Democratic Party.
"I receive you to good leadership under Governor Udom Emmanuel. So, what you have lost in that dead party called the APC, you will regain it in the life party called PDP".
Earlier in his address, Senator Effiong Bob said the occasion would serve as a pointer to other local government areas in the state.
Bob said, "We came here to renew our commitment to the party, to renew commitment to the leadership of the governor of this state and his continuous mandate and to renew our sustainable hope in the Speaker of the house of assembly of the state".
Another highlight of the event was the conferment of an award of recognition to a PDP chieftain of the area, Obong Inyang Eno, in recognition of his sustained support for the PDP and the leadership of Governor Emmanuel.
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