… Appoints Jerry Akpan As Representative
The people of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area have been urged to close ranks, work as a team and support the administration of Gov Udom Emmanuel.
The political leader of the area, Chief Richard Umoren gave the charge at the weekend during a stakeholders meeting of former and present political office holders, chapter and ward chairmen of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP), party elders, women and youths.
Umoren said the call became necessary in view of the seeming division in the area occasioned by the politics of “winner takes all,” which has been the order of the day in the area in recent past.
The former local government chairman said for Mkpat Enin to assume its pride of place in the comity of local government areas in the state and country, the people must unite, respect themselves and elders, do good and cooperate with one another.
The party chieftain presented a former commissioner for economic development and one-time political adviser to the governor, Otuekong Jerry Akpan as his representative, saying, his choice was informed by Akpan’s patriotic disposition, selfless pedigree, wide contacts and connections, exposure and political sagacity.
Umoren, who enjoined his people to give Akpan total support and respect as his representative said he was not coerce from any quarter to settle for the former chairman of the Local Government Service Commission.
He further explained that the choice of Akpan as his representative was informed by his desire to make Mkpat Enin a united entity with a leadership that would bring development, sound ideas, selfless representation and dividends of democracy to the area.
The chairman, Mkpat Enin Local Government Transition Committee, Mr Ephraim Akpan appreciated the political leader for the wisdom to appoint a dynamic politician, and accomplished technocrat, a tested lawyer and social crusader in the person of Akpan, to act in his stead.
The council boss described the meeting as timeous, saying it was capable of arresting a very bad situation, which would have led the area and its people to a precipice.
He called on the people to be resolute, focused and committed to changing the misfortunes of the area and say no to “the era of impunity.”
“Democracy is government of the people and for the people, not government for the few,” Akpan said he was ready to team up with like minds to give back power to the people.
The chairman insisted that political decisions in the area would henceforth, be a collective not a function of a cabal for selfish gains.
The PDP chapter chairman, Mr Nkereuwem Akai said he was the happiest person in the meeting as the development would lesson his problems and chart a positive course for the growth of the area.
He commended the political leader, Umoren for picking “a man of the people,” Akpan, as his representative, describing him as “a square peg in a square hole.”
A former chairman of the local government area from Ukpum Minya Clan, Elder Udo Sam Umoatan said the decision by the political class in Mkpat Enin to come together would bring tremendous goodwill to the area and its people.
Umoatan appreciated the political leader for having confidence in Akpan as his representative and promised that the people of Mkpat Enin would continue to accord him the respect and solidarity as their leader.
The representative of the political leader, Akpan thanked the leader and his people for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to do his best to justify same.
He admonished Mkpat Enin people to come together and give him the needed support to succeed.
The people after exhaustive deliberations unanimously reposed their confidence on the leadership of Chief Richard Umoren as the political leader of the area and Otuekong Jerry Akpan as representative of the political leader.
They congratulated Gov Udom Emmanuel on his success at the April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election and the recent affirmation by the Supreme Court, describing it as the wish of the people.
Among dignitaries at the well-attended meeting were: the state representative of PDP in the area, Mr Akan Afia, a lawyer; former member of the House of Assembly, Obong Udobong Ekpo, former parliamentarian, Elder Ekong Mex, former council chairmen, Obong Mfon Nkanteen and Mr Ubong Ekefre; Elder Dominic Ekpo, Chief Friday Ayala, Apostle Udo Umoren, Elder Nicholas Akpan, Dr Imeofon Idongesit Udo, Chief Thomas Job and Dr Imowo Udobia.
