By Edifon ABASI-OBOT
The defection of a strong grassroots mobilizer and a front line stalwart of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Sunny Elijah, with a swam of party loyalists in Nsit Atai LGA to the Peoples Democratic Party, has indicated continuous caving in of alternative political structures in Akwa Ibom State, while reinforcing the dominance of PDP in the State.
Special Adviser to the State Governor on Political/Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Ekong Sampson, stated this during the formal declaration by Prince Sunny Elijah and several other grassroots politicians in Nsit Atai LGA to rejoin the PDP family.
Barrister Ekong Sampson commended Sunny Elijah for acknowledging that PDP is the party for Akwa Ibom State and the Nsit Atai people and for choosing to join the vanguard for Governor Udom Emmanuel’s re-election in 2019.
According to Ekong Sampson, it is obvious that Uyo would not wait for too long to reclaim the big seat. He said the surest way for Uyo to regain the governorship mandate in 2023 is for Udom Emmanuel to stay for 8 years as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, adding that that consciousness in Nsit Atai, being part of Uyo Senatorial District, has informed the revolutionary exodus.
Drawing from the Reigners Bible Church experience, the Special Adviser urged Akwa Ibom people that are yet to join the PDP to be wary of collapsing structures, as only the PDP has a formidable structure that can drive Akwa Ibom State. He said, “in Reigners Bible Church on the 10th of December 2016, as the house started collapsing, everybody left. Those of you that are still outside the umbrella, why are you still contemplating? When a house is collapsing, you must leave! That is what any wise person would do”
In his further analysis, Barrister Sampson said, “it is like the Biafra story; when Nsukka fell, people were given false confidence that Biafra is still very strong. Enugu fell, followed by Calabar, Port Harcourt, Umuahia and so on, but people were still upholding the propaganda that Biafra is still very strong until January 10th 1970. That was the end of that enterprise.” He warned that there is no need to wait for such a time.
Commissioner for Work, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang, said everyone that matter in the politics of Nsit Atai has declared for the PDP; Sunny Elijah who went for expedition somewhere has returned”. He therefore questioned; “if you are still outside, what explanations will you give for remaining outside when everyone came under the umbrella?”
Akparawa Ephraim Inyang, who was also present to welcome the commended Sunny Elijah for making the right decision. He described Elijah’s return to the PDP as returning to a house he built to complete it. This he said is the right thing to do.
The Honourable Commissioner reiterated the need for Nsit Atai to support Governor Udom Emmanuel’s reelection in 2019. He said, as Uyo and Ikot Ekpene senatorial districts both had their two terms, each with a single candidate, it shall be so for Eket, to avoid confusion or alteration. He further explained that it is not possible for Governor Udom Emmanuel to seek a 3rd term after 8 years, but that there is no guarantee for the deceit of having a new person to sit for only one term, expressing optimism that Uyo people in their wisdom and the PDP will not allow such confusion in Akwa Ibom State.
The Akwa Ibom State Chapter Chairman of the PDP, also Chairman of the Forum of PDP chairmen in Nigeria, Obong Paul Ekpo, concluded that Nsit Atai people that are outside tge umbrella should take a clue from the Elijah’s experience. In his words, “if it was not well with Prince Sunny Elijah, what do you expect? “.
Prince Elijah, in his declaration said he was happy to return to the PDP and thanked the Party for welcoming him back. He said he went to the APC for an expedition, but has returned to the party to participate fully and to work as the grassrooter that he is, to ensure the victory of the PDP in all elections in Nsit Atai LGA, and the return of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019.
