By Edifon ABASI-OBOT
The fate of those waiting for a fall out between Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been likened to that of the characters in Samuel Beckett’s award winning play, “Waiting for Godot”, who had to for eternity, without seeing their expectation.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Political/Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, Rt. Hon. Barrister Ekong Sampson made the analogy while addressing a PDP rally in Mkpat Enin LGA.
According to Sampson, those waiting with bated breath to see a fight in Akwa Ibom State between His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel and the former Governor, now Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Obot Akpabio, may have to wait for eternity. He described the mutual relationship between the duo as divine and in the interest of the State.
Speaking about the propaganda of a vendetta between him (Ekong Sampson), the Mkpat Enin State House Representative, Hon (Engr.) Otobong Ndem and the former Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, Barrister Sampson maintained that Mkpat Enin is one family and cannot be fragmented by mischief seekers.
The Special Adviser said Mma Ebe is respected as a mother in Mkpat Enin politics and will always be held in high esteem by him, Ekong Sampson, and other stakeholder. He stressed that nothing impair his relationship with the former Deputy Governor.
Barrister Ekong Sampson said those waiting to see such fights in the State are waiting for Godot, as their expectations will never come. He reiterated that Governor Udom Emmanuel remains committed to the unity of Akwa Ibom State as a people and a strong PDP family.
Ekong Sampson commended the Governor’s commitment to ensuring justice across the State by instituting a zoning system based on power sharing, adding that justice heralds peace. He said the Governor also remains committed to ensuring access to opportunity and the conduct of violence-free, credible local government elections in the State.
The Special Adviser therefore urged the people to make real their political participation by registering and obtaining their voter’s card, and encourage their family member too.
Barrister Sampson, who is the caucus chairman of the Mkpat Enin LG Elections Campaign team, said the emergence of Ekanem Brown and Anietie Okodi as chairman and vice was justice for Mkpat Enin Urban and is bound to succeed because God sanctions justice. He said the entire Mkpat Enin remains united under PDP and is poised to deliver 14 councillors, chairman of council and vice on the platform of the PDP, as well as re-elect Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019.
Member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency in the AKHA and Vice Chairman of the campaign team, Hon. (Engr.) Otobong Ndem affirmed that Mkpat Enin is one united front and would not fall short of the tradition of unrivaled support for the PDP.
Hon. Otobong Ndem reiterated State Government position on violence-free elections. The lawmaker said, nobody is expected to feature at the polling units with any instrument other than the voter’s card, stressing that no one without a voter’s card is expected to be found 100m around the polling units.
The Transition Chairman of Mkpat Enin LGA, Lady Ekaette Usip declared that Mkpat Enin is fully behind Ekanem Brown and Anietie Okodi. She urged all the people that truly love her and would support her to demonstrate come out en masse and support the candidates of the party in the LG elections and maintain their support for Governor Udom Emmanuel’s re-election.
The Chairmanship candidate of the party, Mr. Ekanem Brown thanked the Governor and leadership of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State for the platform given to him to serve his people. He thanked Mkpat Enin people for the confidence reposed in him and other aspirants of the party for their support.
Ekanem Brown promised to reward Mkpat Enin people with selfless service and empowerment of youths and women, as well as maintain honour for the royal fathers.
