G22 Aspirants, Opposition to Form Pan-Akwa Ibom Govt Indications emerged at the weekend that the 22 aggrieved governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State and the opposition party might collapse their structures to form a pan-Akwa Ibom State government come February 28. THISDAY gathered that Uyo, the state capital, stood still on Saturday as the 22 aggrieved governorship aspirants returned home after 40 days and 40 nights in Abuja to protest the conduct of the governorship primary of the party held in the state. It was a near stampede at the Akwa Ibom International airport when the 20 aggrieved governorship aspirants otherwise called G22, arrived the state at about 5.14p.m. in a chartered flight T7-Yes. Security operatives and their supporters were almost confrontational as the G22 on alighting from the flight, shunned airport buses but trekked to board their vehicles some distance amidst loud cheers and jubilations from the mammoth crowd. Youths and women lined up the streets from Oron Road to Edet Akpan Avenue to cheers and sing praises as the convoy of about 300 vehicles drove to the town where the G22 addressed their supporters. The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obong Umana Okon Umana, supporters and chieftains in the state were at the airport to receive the G22. At a press briefing that night, the Chairman of the G22, Obong Nsima Ekere, said the mission of the group to Abuja was in search of justice and preservation of the sanctity of democratic processes. “It is time to move on to the next stage in the restoration of the dignity of Akwa Ibom State that has been so savagely raped and plundered. “In these days in Abuja, we have stayed and prayed together; we have reasoned and acted together, despite repeatedly failed attempts to entice us into disunity. “In the spirit of this divine unity, we understand that the urgency of the current political challenge cannot be solved by entrenched personal political interests. “Our position on the struggle, premised on the need to liberate the state from the grip of tyranny and impunity, is that the contemptuous selection of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as the candidate of the PDP is repugnant to due process and outrightly rejected by us now and as always. “It is in the overall benefit of Akwa Ibom State that we unite all democratic forces to ensure that this rejection, not only by G22 but all the right thinking Akwa Ibomites, is implemented on February 28, 2015. “We must devote immediate collective attention to clear the polluted political atmosphere of our state, and no individual effort should be spared in this respect. “We urge the grossly deprived people of the state, irrespective of party affiliations, to remain calm and focused, and continue to resist the emerging atrocities of the oligarchy,” Ekere stated. He said the G22 equally reasoned that in the spirit of the state renaissance, and after deep reflection, the need to give the people a new political direction was imperative. According to the chairman of the group, the emerging direction would produce a responsible and responsive Pan-Akwa Ibom Government sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the generality of the people. At a rally, the G22 thanked their supporters for show of solidarity and condemning undemocratic practice, saying what the group wants was for the people to really choose who their governor is. “We do not recognise Udom Emmanuel as PDP governorship candidate in the state. There is no such impunity. Because the people do not accept him, we also do not him. “This is the first time people that have been struggling for one office come together to say no to impunity. We want to reaffirm that on united Akwa Ibom we stand. This impunity must be brought to an end. “A situation where people will force you to go and support a person you do not know is very undemocratic. Whoever that is going to be sworn on May 29 is a governor that Akwa Ibom people want. The rejection of Udom Emmanuel is non-negotiable,” they stressed. This Day
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:22:09 +0000
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