…As Ekong Sampson Insists On Unit-Based Campaign
By Edifon ABASI-OBOT
The Divine Mandate organization in Mkpat Enin LGA has rolled out winning strategies for the 2019 elections. The strategies which are based on ideals of political harmony and inclusiveness have been rated as superb to lead Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to victory.
The Divine Mandate Coordinator for Mkpat Enin Chapter and Commissioner for Economic Development, Labour and Manpower planning, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Ekong Sampson gave these indications in a meeting of Divine Mandate coordinators with former Local Government office holders, former executives of the PDP and some stakeholders in Mkpat Enin LGA.
Ekong Sampson commended the former chapter and ward executives of the PDP in Mkpat Enin for standing firm for the party. The structure of Divine Mandate project in Mkpat Enin involves everybody, including the pioneer leaders and members and members of the party. He assured nothing will be done in Mkpat Enin and in Akwa Ibom State that the people who worked hard to build the party and sustain it since 1999 will not be carried along. He disclosed that the Divine Mandate is coming up with five major committees in which some former party executives and women will play some key roles.
Ekong Sampson said the meeting marked a new dawn of moving the Divine Mandate project and the PDP from Uyo to Mkpat Enin.
Restating his belief in the PDP and grassroots politicking, Sampson said: “I have always been PDP and still core PDP. That is why I’m here today”. He maintained that the Divine Mandate philosophy goes beyond the AC car and AC office politics that starts and ends in Uyo, challenging everyone to go their units and deliver. That, he added, is the real campaign ground.
On the 2019 elections, Barrister Sampson said as party primaries are over, the normal thing is for everybody to comes together under one fold, the PDP. He urged the people to see the need to stick together and maintaining the present administration’s policy of political inclusion, maintaining that the Divine Mandate structure in Mkpat Enin is all-inclusive.
In his submission, “we are going for real elections, I don’t want to lose anybody, because to me, everybody is important. In Governor Udom Emmanuel’s agenda everybody counts and everybody is important”, Ekong Sampson said.
He further admonished thus: “no matter how rich or powerful you are, this is politics, you need those brothers and sisters. You cannot do it alone. Anyone that took offence and wanted to leave the party, no matter who, go and bring him or her back, let us join force to return PDP next year”, Sampson said.
The Hon. Commissioner urged that no Mkpat Enin person should hesitate joining the moving train of Divine Mandate. He said Mkpat Enin has enough reasons to support the PDP and Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term: ranging from road constructions, key appointments, investment in AKSU, power station and other several infrastructural and manpower development projects. He said everything in Mkpat Enin has been provided by the PDP and expressed satisfaction in the support of traditional, religious and socio-cultural structures in the area for Udom Emmanuel.
Barr. Sampson reassured the people that there is no one that has stood firm to work for the PDP in Mkpat Enin that will not be duly rewarded, describing Udom Emmanuel as a governor that is very loyal to his supporters and careful in rewarding faithful and patient followership.
Ekong Sampson told the people to be rest assured that Udom Emmanuel will return as Governor in 2019 and that their next President will the Atiku Abubakar.
Also speaking, the Mkpat Enin Local Government Council Chairman, who is also the Secretary of Divine Mandate in the chapter, Hon. Ekanem Brown, welcomed the organization and thanked the former local government and party chieftains for responding to the call. He assured that Mkpat Enin will remain a PDP family and promised to continue to support the party.
Hon. Anietie Sunday, the PDP Chapter Chairman in Mkpat Enin, lauded the past leader for their unflinching support and loyalty to the party. He said that the current PDP Executive is committed to maintaining one big PDP family in Mkpat Enin and ensuring the victory of the Party and it’s candidates in the upcoming election.
