Few days after the mass exodus of chapter and ward executives of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, to return to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, officers of the party in INI and other LGAs in Akwa Ibom State have also stepped forward to register their discontent and declared resolve to move over to the PDP, referring to the later as the home party for Akwa Ibom people. They have also acknowledged the achievements of His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel in ….
The declaration was made during a visit of a group of APC officers to the Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Political, Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, Barrister Ekong Sampson, in Uyo. The delegation was led by Mr. Uwemedimo Udo, the APC Chapter Chairman in Ini LGA.
The APC strongman informed the Special Adviser to the Governor that they didn’t just come on their own. He said thousands of APC youths are ready for a “Great Trek” on the streets of Akwa Ibom in solidarity with Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The Special Adviser who received the decamping members,described their decision as wise and timely, in the interest of the State and their constituencies. He assured that, in line with the political inclusion agenda of the present administration in the State, they will all be fully integrated into the mainstream of the party quickly, devoid of segregation of any sort.
Barrister Sampson reaffirmed that Akwa Ibom is a PDP State and the action of any Akwa Ibomite returning to the party as home coming. He thanked the APC decampees for not waiting till the dying minutes to see the obvious and described their action as courageous and well meant. He commended them for acknowledging the development strides of Governor Udom Emmanuel and coming over to the PDP in good time to join the campaign for his re-election come 2019.
Chapter Chairman of the APC in INI Local Government Area, Mr. Uwemedimo Udo, who led the delegationsaid “it is very clear that the government of the day in Akwa Ibom State today and is doing so well; a government that has found its way to also reach INI LGA that has always been forgotten, and locate some good projects there too within just two years in office, we have resolvedto better find the black goat while it is still day. He said INI LGA has never had it so good, in terms of road construction, bridge, rice industry, cocoa plantation and more.
He further disclosed their observation that the government of Mr. Udom Emmanuel has the interest of the ordinary people, “we believe it will favour us more that trying to play opposition for people you can’t even reach, so we declare our support for Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP”.
Hon. Uwemedimo Udo narrated their grief, that “the people that fed fat from the PDP while we were struggling with the small structures of opposition party, on seeing a seemingly glimpse of hope in a party like APC, crossed over to hijack that one too, relegating us to a state of despair”.
“We had consulted together and I have come with these chapter and ward executive members to receive asignandtake words back to them,” Uwemedimo Udo said. He thanked the Governor’s Special Adviser for the warm reception, expressing confidence in the benevolence of the new political dispensation in the State to carry everyone along.
It could be recalled that just before the celebration of Democracy Day, a similar event took place in Mkpat Enin, where some chapter and ward officers, and members of the APC and Accord Party in the LGA, declared support for Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP.
The Mkpat Enin Chapter Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Sunny Umoh, said they have seen that the dividends of politics are touching Mkpat Enin people now like never before and that, he said, can be attributed to the people they now have at the helm of affairs, compared to what was attainable when they chose to leave the PDP for APC. He said they cannot afford to fight the hand that is now doing them the good they had always desired or famish in the face of abundance, all in the name of playing unprofitable opposition.
Several others from the APC and Accord across the political wards of Mkpat Enin also spoke, declaring their loyalty the “Onomkpoinam”, Barrister Sampson and support for Governor Udom Emmanuel’s re-election.
Barrister Sampson was also full of thanks to his kinsmen. He said Akwa Ibom has always been a PDP State and any Akwa Ibomite from any other partyjoining the PDP is actually returning home. He described their resolve as a show of gratitude to the government that has been so favourable to Mkpat Enin in terms of industrialization, infrastructure and appointments, encouraging them to stand firm in the party withassurance of full integration.
