… ACCUSES LEADERS OF BREACHING 2015 AGREEMENT ACCORD
– TOROBONG EKPO
Barr. Ekokoi Solomon, a frontline aspirant in the forthcoming Nsit Ubium State Constituency election has indicted the Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders in the constituency of breaching the agreement accord they had with him in 2015 which entails that he should emerged as successor to the present Member of the Parliament.
Ekokoi, who stated this while declaring interest to vie for the Assembly seat come 2019 presented pictures of the accord taken on 10th February, 2015 at PDP rallies in Ukataran and Ikot Ubo insisting that Senator Effiong Bob specifically made the pronouncement of which other stakeholders present agreed.
“In 2015, I aspired for Nsit Ubium State Constituency, there were many things that came up; The issue of the second term of the incumbent and other dynamics from the LGA, zoning, godfatherism, and personal interest came up during that election and we decided to support who ever emerged from the process
“We supported because we owe the system the duty to allow stability to prevail, thus we joined hands did that election and it was successful.
“In the course of negotiation, the stakeholders and leaders of Nsit Ubium had made some agreement unfortunately some of those agreements were bridged even during Transition Committee selection.
“There was agreement that was put in place in 2015 and that agreement was to the effect that since zoning will come back to Ubium , that I am qualified and should run for the election.
“It was a consensus, I didn’t force that agreement out from them. They were the ones that voluntarily made the agreement. Whether they meant it, I don’t know, the time has come for that promise to be kept but you have seen the kind of politics being played in that location, though that doesn’t bother me.
“The agreement was verbal, published on pages of Radar Newspaper. The political leader said, Now that the party has agreed, in 2019 Ekokoi will go for the next turn. Is it agreed? And everyone responded yes!
“The political leaders in Nsit Ubium were part of this arrangement, it was not something done in the kitchen or bedroom.” He claimed
He pledged to ensure that he build on the legislative foundation laid by the current speaker of the state House of Assembly, Barr. Onofiok Luke if he scales through the hurdle pointing out that his ambition was on merit devoid of godfatherism.
The Assembly hopeful advised voters to desist from casting votes for underdog stressing that with such concrete foundation put in place by Speaker Onofiok Luke it will be detrimental for Nsit Ubium to present novice into the Hallowed Chamber.
“The current speaker has done so well, I am coming to build on his foundation that has already been laid. I know I have what it takes to sell Nsit Ubium in the capacity of MP. I don’t have any godfather, on merit, I will stand election.
“I have accepted what I see but decided to put my candidacy based on merit. We must be careful with the kind of people we project, support and send to this institution because their actions and inactions will affect us whether we like it or not” He revealed.
Ekokoi promised to offer good and effective representation by impacting positively on the lives of the people via education, health, economic among other things.
He described himself as a former banker, practicing lawyer and a lecturer in the university noting that he was qualified by age and other requirement as stipulated by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to contest as MP.
He however decried the rate some persons in authority has found public office as their birthright.
“We all know the kind of politics we play in Nigeria, some persons feel that public office is preserve only for them and they will do everything to thwart all efforts the general public wants to put in place” He maintained.
