By Edifon SOLOMON
Returning Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term in office has been identified as the major project of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State that should be taken by all true loyalists of the party as priority.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, Barrister Ekong Sampson, said this while addressing a meeting of PDP stalwarts in his ward, Ikpa Ikono II.
“No lawful sacrifice is too big for me to make for Udom to return for a second term, so with all of us in Mkpat Enin,” Barrister Sampson declared, even as he reaffirmed the resolve of mainstream politicians in Mkpat Enin to work together to ensure the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel and victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections.
According to him, those who are talking about infighting in Mkpat Enin polity are ignorant of current realities.
Speaking further, Barrister Sampson said no Mkpat Enin person has any business with any opposition party.
He said mainstreamers of Mkpat Enin politics are all in the PDP, hence it was only natural for all Mkpat Enin people will follow the footsteps their leaders by supporting the PDP.
The Special Adviser urged the people of Ikpa Ikono clan to remain steadfast in their support for the PDP and Governor Udom Emmanuel, who is the leader of the party and gubernatorial candidate of the party in the State for the 2019 elections.
He reiterated that Mkpat Enin was the first to endorse Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term in office and that that endorsement, all Mkpat Enin people must stand to protect.
Barrister Sampson told the people that Ikpa Ikono is well represented in the state government and in the governor’s campaign team.
He reassured them of the readiness of the Governor Udom Emmanuel led state government to construct the Ibekwe Akpan Nya-Ndon Utin-Ikot Akata road soon. “With Udom Emmanuel in office for a second term, Ikpa Ikono and Mkpat can be assured of better days ahead”, Sampson added.
The Special Adviser thanked the leaders of the PDP in Ikpa Ikono ward 2 for their efforts to sustain the party, former party executive for love and continuous support for the party, elders, women and the youths for maintaining peace in the area. Ikpa Ikono Clan is currently the most peaceful and most united clan in Mkpat Enin.
In an earlier development, Barrister Ekong Sampson, who is also the Mkpat Enin Chapter Coordinator of the Divine Mandate project, while addressing the 14 ward coordinators of the Divine Mandate project in his Uyo residence, had expressed delight at the huge support base Udom Emmanuel continues to enjoy in Mkpat Enin, as well as urged Ward Coordinators to take the Governor Udom Emmanuel Campaign to the farthest recesses of Mkpat Enin, stressing that Mkpat Enin, because of its size, has huge electoral value.
In her remarks, Dr Imefon Udoh, Commissioner in the Ethical and Attitudinal Re-Orientation Commission, (EARCOM), lauded the people of Ikpa Ikono for their unity and love for the Udom Emmanuel project, which played out in their overwhelming turnout for the ESD endorsement rally at Onna.
Dr Udoh expressed regrets for those who could not be accommodated in the available means of transport, urging them to maintain their enthusiasm towards the Governor project as a more robust transport arrangement will be made in subsequent events, especially for the Ikpa Ikono women.
Also speaking, the Councilor representing Ikpa Ikono Ward II, Hon. Friday Afia, said Ikpa Ikono people will go all out to vote Udom Emmanuel in demonstration of their love and respect for Ekong Sampson as their Onomkpoinam.
The Councilor offered to bear the cost of registration of new member into the PDP in ward.
The Ikpa Ikono ward II PDP Chairman, Mr. Uwem Usoro, thanked Ekong Sampson and other state government officials from Ikpa Ikono, for always finding time to identify with the party at the ward level.
He also thanked the people for attending the meeting at short notice and urged to be appreciative of the privilege of regular interactions with their kinsmen in the state government, a gesture he described as uncommon.
Usoro reassured that the PDP remains the only known party in Ikpa Ikono II.
