_BY: PRINCE NTUK_
The media had gone wild with numerous captions and headlines ever since the solemn assembly by electorates of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency on 3rd January, 2018 where the choice of Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo aka Macaire was first pronounced and presented to God as their next representative to the Green Chambers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Never in the history of the politics of this Federal Constituency have there been these displays of media headlines as experienced towards this buildup to the 2019 elections.
*Indeed an Eagle joined the race.*
More than a thousand headlines have positively recounted and described the personality of Macaire but none have successfully completely described him in one caption because of his numerous positives attributes.
_While some labelled him as an altruist, others captions him as a religious leader, an astute politician, a successful administrator, a detribalized Nigerian, a lover of the PDP and the State Governor, etc._
This Ikono/Ini descent who is the most preferred aspirant by a larger section of the delegates and electorates of Ikono/Ini extraction yesterday received what could be described as ‘fatherly blessings’. This was showered on him by the majority of the statutory delegates of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in a praise and worship session which was held at Ikot Akpa Edem, Ndiya, Ikono L.G.A .
*The delegates offered prayers for the aspirations of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo.*
The occasion had in attendance Christian leaders, Political Stakeholders and Royal Fathers of the land.
While speaking to one of the Royal fathers he said *‘we have unanimously agreed to stand by him because the future of our children will be more secured under his representation’*.
Speaking as the Director General of the Mkpoikana-Abasi 2019 campaign organisation Barr Inyang Idim who hails from Ini L.G.A, he expressed that their resolve to support Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo is a resolution to safeguard victory for PDP in the forthcoming general elections. You will recall that Barrister Inyangidim was in 2015, the Director General of Engr Iboro Ekanem’s campaign organisation but has decided to take the lead for Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo because of his sterling qualities and general acceptability.
*_“We cannot gamble the victory of PDP in this Federal Constituency. We have to give our Governor and Senator a bulk vote and only Emmanuel Ukpong-udo can assure us of that. We have consulted with the electorates support and we know that Macaire is their choice. Even as we are delegates of the PDP, we are delegates of the electorates too. We will do their biddings. Macaire is their bidding._”* He said.
It is believed by several political analyst that the philanthropic lifestyle of Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo speaks for him today.
