By Ndanti Ekuh
There are strong indications that the last weekend might have been the
worst weekend for the Akwa Ibom State top opposition party, All
Progressive Congress in recent time.
In what appeared like a
street carnival, crowd of women took to the streets of Nung Ukim Ikono
Uyo and other villages in Uyo ward 8 celebrating what they called people
oriented and productive leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel led
government, saying that the Governor has not disappointed them on his
campaign promises as APC led Federal Government is doing.
The
jubilating women who stormed the street with their newly unveiled
uniform in a gyrating mode were heard singing victory songs and chanting
support to the Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Mather Udom Emmanuel as
well as PDP.
Speaking with newsmen, the leader of the women,
Mrs. Mfonido Etukho said the women came all out to flaunt their new
uniform, restate their support to the Government of Mr. Udom Emmanuel
and also mobilize more women to queue behind the wife of the Governor in
preparation for the 2019 governorship election in the state.
She
part of the celebration is the influx of women from the APC camp to the
PDP women structure in ward 8, describing it as a clear testimony that
even the opposition elements have seen and happy with the performance of
the Governor.
While applauding the Akwa Ibom State PDP vice
Chairman and Chairman of Uyo Senatorial District PDP, Elder Imo Okon for
attracting hundreds of women from the APC to the PDP women group
through his political and leadership performance, the women leader said
unlike in the past, women of ward 8 have always been carried along in
political activities by Elder Imo Okon with uncountable benefits and
democratic dividends.
She also vowed not to rest until the last woman in
Uyo Ward 8 is made to join the women support group and as well feel the
impact of the superior performance of the State governor.
Addressing the jubilant women, Elder Imo Okon who also hails from Uyo
ward 8 said he was happy to see such a large number of women celebrating
the good governance of PDP led government and rallying support for
Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The State PDP Vice Chair, flanked by all
exco members of Uyo chapter of PDP as well as Ward 8 PDP exco, explained
that the women group is made up of old members and those who came out
from the opposition parties to join and therefore donated hundreds of
new uniform on behalf of his wife, Deaconess Idaraesit Imo Okon for the
sake of women joining from other parties as new members.
Further, Elder Okon said the number of women in the group had been
increasing steadily since 2012, hinting that the group was the secret
behind thousands of votes delivered to PDP by Uyo ward 8 in 2015 which
resulted in embarrassing failure of APC and other opposition parties in
the area.
"I came here in person to witness the intimidating
increase in your number resulting from the influx of other women from
other camps. It shows the Governor, the party and even the women leaders
are working. I am impressed.
Women are the base of any political
party. That is why I don't joke with women structure because once the
women structure is destabilized, the party has no base.
So having
filtered almost all the women in opposition camp to PDP, it is obvious
that those camps have collapsed and we only have PDP as the only
surviving party", Okon stated.
He commended the women for their
unflinching support to PDP since 2012, saying that it was a thing of joy
to see that not even a single member has been lost in the group to
opposition and also urged them not to be distracted by any self seeking
politician or fake promises.
In her part, the wife of the
immediate past Commissioner for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mrs. Inemesit
Enobong Uwah extolled the women for standing firm with the Governor and
his wife, saying that their continuous support is the reason the
present government is succeeding.
She noted that the togetherness of the
women of ward 8 has fostered love and political stability in the area.
Mrs. Uwah while assurring the women of a reciprocal support from Mrs.
Mather Udom Emmanuel, said the First Lady always have them at heart and
will not disappoint them.
She said having seen and confirmed that all
the women who voted for the Governor in 2015 election are still intact,
she will be encouraged to continue working with them in ensuring that
they are duly rewarded and supported by the wife of the Governor and the
government in general, even as she donated uniforms to some women.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for information who also attended the
event with his wife assured the women of government's commitment to its
campaigning promises, even as he charged them to remain steadfast and
see to it that all women in the ward join Governor Udom's support team
ahead of 2019 election.
The event was attended by some government
personalities, Akpan Andem Market Women leaders, top grassroot
politicians and youths from the area.
Meanwhile, when this
reporter approached some spectators said to be members of APC who came
out to watch the women's street rally from afar, they said what they saw
was not only intimidating but also a signal that if something is not
done, there will soon be no single member of APC in ward 8.
They
maintained that they are disappointed that their party, APC, instead of
concentrating on fixing up grassroot structure like the ruling PDP is
doing, are busy criticizing other parties and government.
One of
them (name withheld) who stopped by to watch the women in his car
expressed disappointment when he saw about 10 women he identified as
members of his camp dancing and singing with the jubilant PDP women and
refused further comment.
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