The Ibeno Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, congregated at the Chapter Secretariat in what many described as a unity parley to further prepare for the forthcoming local government election.
Speaking, the convener of the meeting and Ibeno Chapter Chairman of PDP, Hon. Emma Ibok, charged members of the party who participated in the just concluded Councillorship and Chairmanship primaries to see the party as one big family that is accommodative to a fault.
According to him, the meeting was to restore hope, happiness and reward to members of the party.
In his remark, the immediate past Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and honorary Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, who was represented by the immediate past Ibeno Chapter Chairman of the party, Hon. Ekoakwaha Etteh, thanked the Governor for keeping to his promise on zoning and for working to ensure a credible, free and fair nomination exercise.
Etteh, who lauded the party for their wisdom in convening the meeting immediately after the primaries, applauded the peaceful manner for which the people of the area conducted themselves during and after the primaries and assured that the doors to the party are constantly kept open for aggrieved members to return to the fold.
The Governor’s Adviser urged those who were successful to reach out to others as success can only be judged based on performance in office and ability to adhere strictly to ethical standards of the party.
Responding, the newly appointed Leader of Mkpanak Group of Villages, Mr. Samuel Ekpenyong, expressed appreciation to the chapter of the party, saying “I really appreciate today’s event and I am thrilled that all of us have come back to congregate as one big family. The umbrella is big enough to accommodate all of us. We must stay together and energize the party.”
He said the meeting was to further build a high sense of confident, trust and love amongst members, advising that “all must adhere strictly to the ethical standard of the party. I wish to tell those who were successful at the nomination stage that it is just a stepping stone to the best. Appointment and opportunities that will come will be shared to everyone including the aggrieved that may not have succeeded in the elections. Let us all join the ones who emerged to work for the success of the party at the general election.”
Others who spoke including pioneer Chapter Secretary of the party, Hon. Enyina Hekins; Hon. Ibok Etukudo; pioneer Woman Leader of the party, Obonganwan Etta Ibok, pioneer Vice Chairman of the Local Government Council, Inyang Eyo Ita, Pastor Favour Abasifreke, Hon. Samuel Eyo Hon. Godwin Mbiam, Hon. Samuel Akpakip, among others, expressed delight and satisfaction over the conduct of the primaries.
Highpoint of the event included a colorful cultural display and the reception of over 127 returnees to the party, led by Hon. George Ekah.
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Hon. Ekah said their decision to abandon the All Progressive Congress (APC), party they ran to with high hopes, was due to lack of agenda and coordination in the party.
He said, as former aggrieved members of the PDP, they went to the APC with high hopes and expectations of greener pastures, but later discovered that the party lacks internal democracy, blueprint and nothing to offer them.
“We went, we saw and we have decided to come back. The APC has no agenda. We left the PDP in the first place because we were aggrieved, but now we have come to realized that PDP is incomparable to the APC and has nothing to offer us. There is no place like home,” he said.
