Few days after the mass exodus of chapter and ward executives of the All
Progressive Congress (APC) in Mkpat Enin LGA, to return to the ruling
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, officers of the party in
Ini and other LGAs in Akwa Ibom State have also stepped forward to
register their discontent and declared resolve to move over to the PDP,
referring to the later as the home party for Akwa Ibom people.
They have
also acknowledged the achievements of His Excellency Governor Udom
Emmanuel in industrialization and provision of key infrastructure in
Ini, Mkpat Enin and other LGAs.
The declaration was made during a
visit of a group of APC officers to the Special Adviser to the Governor
of Akwa Ibom State on Political, Legislative Affairs and Water
Resources, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Ekong Sampson, in Uyo. The delegation was
led by Mr. Uwemedimo Udo, the APC Chapter Chairman in Ini LGA.
The
APC strongman informed the Special Adviser to the Governor that they
didn’t just come on their own.
He said thousands of APC youths are ready
for a “Great Trek” on the streets of Akwa Ibom in solidarity with
Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The Special Adviser who received the
decamping members, described their decision as wise and timely, in the
interest of the State and their constituencies. He assured that, in line
with the political inclusion agenda of the present administration in
the State, they will all be fully integrated into the mainstream of the
party quickly, devoid of segregation of any sort.
Barrister Sampson
reaffirmed that Akwa Ibom is a PDP State and the action of any Akwa
Ibomite returning to the party as home coming. He thanked the APC
decampees for not waiting till the dying minutes to see the obvious and
described their action as courageous and well meant.
He commended them
for acknowledging the development strides of Governor Udom Emmanuel and
coming over to the PDP in good time to join the campaign for his
re-election come 2019.
Chapter Chairman of the APC in Ini Local Government Area, Mr. Uwemedimo Udo, who led the delegation said “it is very clear that the government of the day in Akwa Ibom State today and is doing so well; a government that has found its way to also reach Ini LGA that has always been forgotten, and locate some good projects there too within just two years in office, we have resolved to better find the black goat while it is still day. He said Ini LGA has never had it so good, in terms of road construction, bridge, rice industry, cocoa plantation and more.
He further disclosed their observation that the
government of Mr. Udom Emmanuel has the interest of the ordinary
people, “we believe it will favour us more that trying to play
opposition for people you can’t even reach, so we declare our support
for Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP”.
Hon. Uwemedimo Udo narrated
their grief, that “the people that fed fat from the PDP while we were
struggling with the small structures of opposition party, on seeing a
seemingly glimpse of hope in a party like APC, crossed over to hijack
that one too, relegating us to a state of despair”.
“We had
consulted together and I have come with these chapter and ward executive
members to receive a sign and take words back to them,” Uwemedimo Udo
said.
He thanked the Governor’s Special Adviser for the warm reception,
expressing confidence in the benevolence of the new political
dispensation in the State to carry everyone along.
It could be
recalled that just before the celebration of Democracy Day, a similar
event took place in Mkpat Enin, where some chapter and ward officers,
and members of the APC and Accord Party in the LGA, declared support for
Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP.
The APC Chairman for Ikpa Ikono
Ward 3, in Mkpat Enin, said they have seen that the dividends of
politics are touching Mkpat Enin people now like never before and that,
he said, can be attributed to the people they now have at the helm of
affairs, compared to what was attainable when they chose to leave the
PDP for APC.
He said they cannot afford to fight the hand that is now
doing them the good they had always desired or famish in the face of
abundance, all in the name of playing unprofitable opposition.
Several others from the APC and Accord across the political wards of
Mkpat Enin also spoke, declaring their loyalty the “Onomkpoinam”, Rt.
Hon. (Barr.) Ekong Sampson and support for Governor Udom Emmanuel’s
re-election.
Barrister Ekong Sampson was also full of thanks to his
kinsmen. He said Akwa Ibom has always been a PDP State and any Akwa
Ibomite from any other party joining the PDP is actually returning home.
He described their resolve as a show of gratitude to the government
that has been so favourable to Mkpat Enin in terms of industrialization,
infrastructure and appointments, encouraging them to stand firm in the
party with assurance of full integration.
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