Special Adviser in the Bureau of Political, Legislative and Water Resources, Barrister Ekong Sampson, has said the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state will hold the ground and win the game, regarding the 2019 Governorship elections, to secure a second term for Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Receiving the Executive Committee members of the Assembly of Akwa Ibom Political Groups (AKPG) in his office, Barrister Sampson said “if the opposition is thinking we (PDP) will go to sleep, they are making a mistake because we will hold the ground and win the game. We are going to work hard and tough at it.”
Comparing the tenure of Governor Udom Emmanuel to a football game, the Special Adviser told his guests that “Udom Emmanuel’s government is a football match that will play for eight years. We are in the first half.”
He said it was necessary for Governor Udom Emmanuel to have a second term “because our Governor has the capacity which is what will define the 2019 elections, not any ethnic or sectional mantra. That is why Governor Udom towers in our political space above others.”
He thanked members of the group for their contributions in the making of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019 and urged them to “work hard to retain power, continue to hold the ground and win the game. Those who were not given space to play in the last two years will ever be touched before the game ends. Some will get in the first half, some in the second half. Some in 10 minutes, some in 30 minutes. But the beauty about the Udom Emmanuel game is that everybody will get something in the eight years.”
“We must all support the Governor to deliver on his aggressive and futuristic plan to leave Akwa Ibom State better,” Barrister Sampson said.
The leader of the delegation, Bishop Andrew Uwanta, who is Chairman of the group, said the group was made up of over 560 viable, strong affiliates of the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA) which participated in mobilization and delivering the first term mandate of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2015.
Bishop Uwanta, who is the International President of ACA, said the formation of the group was necessary to hold down the most viable of the groups, for the task of working to make sure Udom Emmanuel gets a second term in 2019.
He said the groups will support the Governor since the Governor has performed well, adding that their visit to the Special Adviser was to “declare support and partner with you, to make sure that our leader, Governor Udom Emmanuel is returned for a second term.”
The leader of the delegation said the groups are led and consist of responsible people who command the respect of their communities and can deliver their areas during elections.
“We are made up of responsible people who command respect in their areas and can deliver. We are not good at noise making and fanfare. We are only good at hard work.”
Highpoint of the visit was the formal decoration of Barrister Sampson as the Patron of the group.
