…Itoro Ikono 2017 Campaign Organization Reacts
The immediate past Transition Chairman, Ikono Local Government council, Mr Itoro Columba has re-stated his confidence in the leadership of the State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to conduct a free, and credible party primaries for the upcoming local Government Chairmanship and councillorship elections.
In a statement signed by the Director-General of Itoro Ikono 2017 Campaign Organization Dr. Anthony Usoro and made available to newsmen, the media entrepreneur states that he was not aware of any plan by the State PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo to stop him from contesting and winning the forthcoming PDP Chairmanship primaries.
A paragraph of the statement reads, “our attention has been drawn to a publication in a popular local newspaper, the Mail with the headline, “Paul Ekpo Moves to stop Itoro Columba”, with the rider, “Joins forces with MaCaire to impose candidate on Ikono People”… We wish to state unequivocally that our Principal is not aware of any plan by the State PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo or any other individual to stop him from contesting and winning the forthcoming PDP chairmanship primaries. Rather than being perturbed by such unfounded insinuations our candidate is focused on contesting and winning the upcoming local Government Primaries”
The statement further states, “Our Principal is full of respect for the person and office of Obong Paul Ekpo and has repeatedly described him as a seasoned democrat and an avid defender of the truth. Moreso, he feels that since Obong Ekpo is from Etinan local Government area, he would not be overtly or covertly interested in who emerges as the party flag bearer in Ikono Local Government area” to the extent of influencing the process against our Principal.
The statement further states that the ground-breaking achievements of the chairmanship hopeful in the 14 months he held sway as the Transition Chairman, Ikono Local Government Council are enough to convince the conscientious delegates of Ikono Local Government to massively vote for him in the party primaries and for the appreciative masses to subsequently elect him in the 2nd December, Local Government elections. It reads, “Our Principal believes that Power comes from God and He gives it to whom he pleases. Mr Columba has absolute confidence in the Ntippe Ibibio masses whom he describes as the mandate owners.
He said that his good works while serving as transition chairman would speak for him as he had used the position to demonstrate his capacity and competence for the top job. He revealed that in a recent public poll organized by an Abuja-based media outfit, and 17-years old organizers of the Local Government Merit Awards Mentors Communications Limited, he came out tops as the best Local Government Chairman in the Country in Poverty Alleviation, the award according to him would be formally presented on September 28 in an elaborate ceremony in the nation’s capital Abuja.
The chairmanship hopeful appreciated his numerous supporters and admirers and urged them to remain focused and committed to the cause as victory shall be theirs at the party’s local Government primaries and the December 2, Local Government elections.
