The Chairman of the Accord Party in Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Joe Itiaba has withdrawn the statement he made last year that the State Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Obong Paul Ekpo wants to kill him, saying Ekpo is not a killer as was accused by him.
Comrade Joe Itiaba tendered the apologies during the meeting of all the Chairmen and Secretaries of political parties in Akwa Ibom State recently.
In a dramatic U-turn, Itiaba said: “Obong Paul Ekpo is more Christian than me. On behalf of myself and Accord Party, I apologize for insulting Obong Paul Ekpo during the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP election at the INEC office.
When a child goes wrong the father uses the right hand to beat him, using the left hand to draw him back to himself. I have never seen a man like Obong Paul Ekpo; he is a father, leader par excellence. Just like a child goes wrong, I plead for forgiveness”.
In his response, the State Chairman of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Obong Paul Ekpo said he has no grudge against the Accord Party Chairman, Comrade Joe Itiaba and accepted his apologies.
It was reported in the media that Paul Ekpo confronted Comrade Joe Itiaba who had kicked against his (Ekpo) decision of imposing someone as Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC Chairman via the election which they considered as flawed, sometime in September 2016. A brawl ensued at INEC secretariat in Uyo with both Ekpo and Itiaba throwing physical punches at each other.
Itiaba pointed accusing fingers at Paul Ekpo, saying he (Ekpo) wants to kill him by all means, a report which was banner story on TheMail Newspaper of September 23, 2016.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom Peoples’ Democratic Party Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo many believe is a leader that can be trusted at all moments, having served in various capacities effectively and efficiently.
Paul Ekpo is seen as a politician who has good leadership skills, grassroots presence, mental and physical resilience with the fear of God.
It is also worthy of note that early this year either February, 2017. The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Akwa Ibom State led by Engr. Martins Inyang as its Chairman and all members of other political party chairmen honoured Obong Paul Ekpo with an Award of Excellence.
Pouring encomiums on the PDP State Chairman, Engr. Martins described him as a bridge of unity and a politician who has changed the political landscape of Akwa Ibom State.
He said “Today is not of speaking, but it’s a day of honoring one man who has brought different into the politics of Akwa Ibom State”, he thank Obong Paul Ekpo for not discriminating against other parties chairmen but taking them as his colleagues.
Martins assured the PDP party chairman of the cooperation of IPAC and other political parties in the state to ensure peace and development.
“Let me use my office to thank you for not looking at us but also seeing us as one of your own. You were an IPAC chairman whom I succeeded in office and you had taught us that if we unite, we will take Akwa Ibom State to another level.
Out of the forty political parties in the state, you have over 90 percent of them ready to work with you “, Martins ended.
Culled THEMAIL newspaper
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