…As Group Kicks Against Imposition of Chairman, Councillors in Ibiono Ibom
In forcefully trying to impose candidates for the Chairmanship and Councillorship of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council, the alleged saying that violence, indiscipline and covetousness run in the Albert Akpan’s family has yet been made real by the nonchalant and undeserving attitude of the Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Bassey Albert, a former frontline Governorship aspirant who nicodemusly surrendered for Senate ticket.
The intention of Senator Bassey Albert, which is contrary to the directives of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), might lead to an unquenchable restiveness, political observers have said.
Our reporter gathered that Akwa Youth Vanguard, a forum of progressive minded youths of Ibiono Ibom, has berated Senator Bassey Albert, fondly called OBA or ‘Eclaim,’ over his alleged selection of Councillors and Chairman for Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council against the people’s choice through primary as directed by the Governor and the party, describing the act as “shocking, embarrassing and a slap on the face of Ibiono Ibom and the people of Akwa Ibom.”
An impeccable source say Senator Bassey Albert, alleged to be the only Senator with a big inscription of Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas on his office doorpost, has deployed The Supreme, a gang of dreaded cultists, to ensure his imposed candidates fly the PDP flag in the forthcoming local government council election after the primaries.
According to Akwa Youth Vanguard’s State Coordinator, Dr. Attai Udoinyang, the alleged imposed candidates by Senator Bassey Albert are the least qualified aspirants in the race to fly the PDP flag in the local government council election due to “their low level of intellectual capability, pedigree, political inexperience reputation and falling outside the zone.”
“Senator Bassey Albert is imposing men who do not have contact with members of the PDP in Ibiono Ibom. They are not favoured by zoning. So, why try to impose them on the people whereas a good number of aspirants from the favoured zone have been crisscrossing the nook and cranny of Ibiono Ibom, soliciting for votes. I think the Senator is doing this because of his inherent inferiority complex, otherwise, why go petty? He should rather concern himself with better things at the center not local politics. It is shameful. When a Senator gets involved in who becomes not just Councillor or Chairman but members of a local Chapter of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) shows pettiness. He should be careful else, the wrath of God will swallow him,” the source said.
The group also said “the Senator should know that the era of imposition has long gone. He should know that the people of Ibiono Ibom are politically enlightened. He should know that the people will do everything to ensure justice, equity fair play in the primaries, because there will surely be primaries.”
Akwa Youth Vanguard further appealed to Senator Bassey Albert not to play the role of God by imposing any candidate on them, stating that it would resist and reject such a move with every legal apparatus at their disposal.
The group concluded by saying “Such an action by Senator Bassey Albert portends danger for democracy in Ibiono Ibom and in the Akwa Ibom, we are ready to be locked in a severe battle with him.”
