UDOM CONSULTS PDP AHEAD OF PRIMARIES BY Emmanuel Nicholas and Aniekeme Finbarr, Uyo Former Zenith bank Executive Director, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has notified the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State of his intention to answer to the yearnings of the people and contest the forthcoming primary and general elections under the umbrella of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Udom made his intentions known on Friday, 3rd October, 2014 when he stormed the state secretariat of the party located along Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo in the company of party elders, senior citizens, captains of industries, serving and past political office holders, women and youth supporters to make his intentions known. IDONGESIT NKANGA SAYS UDOM IS SOLUTION TO AKWA IBOM’S PROBLEM The Chairman of the central working committee and a former military administrator in the state, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga praised the Peoples Democratic Party and its leadership for its antecedence of fielding strong candidates and for democratically winning at previous elections. Otuekong Nkanga who is also a member of the Akwa Ibom team to the just concluded national conference condemned the recent campaign of hate and ethnicity fuelled by politicians from Uyo senatorial district. He noted that no politician from Uyo Senatorial district can claim to be more Uyo than himself who has been a former governor of the state and has also led Governorship campaigns for Governor Godswill Akpabio success . He called for unity in the party and urged all aspirants to go about their campaigns with maturity. Wing Commander Idongesit Nkanga (Rtd), who is also the Chairman of the South South Peoples Assembly, commended the Chairman of the party for giving the party direction. He thanked the party leadership for standing by the zoning arrangement as enshrined in the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Nkanga noted that Udom Emmanuel qualifies eminently because he comes from Eket Senatorial District and any aspirant in the race who is not from Eket senatorial district has no respect for the party. He noted that in the search for a credible aspirant, the people identified Udom as the best based on qualification, private sector experience and also from the senatorial district in which the governorship has been zoned to. Otuekong Nkanga in presenting Mr Udom Emmanuel stated that Udom was the solution to the problem of who succeeds Akpabio which Akwa Ibom people have been yearning for. UDOM CALLS FOR ‘RESPECT’ In his speech, Mr Udom Emmanuel, a deacon of the Qua Iboe Church and a frontline aspirant in the 2015 Governorship race in Akwa Ibom said ‘Mr Chairman, If you see any other aspirant that will beat this number and quality of elders and supporters, listen to him but if you don’t have any, then don’t listen’. Explaining further, he said, ‘ If you watch international football, there is usually an inscription “RESPECT” on the FIFA anti-racism banner. So, if the other aspirants come to you without this quality of stakeholders in their entourage, just remind them of that FIFA inscription, “RESPECT” and by so doing, we would have concluded the elections. Is there any party stalwart in the 31 LGAs in the state that is not here? I am happy that the man who can tell the story of this party from day one and who signed the first party card is here, he is Distinguished Senator Anietie Okon. Mr Chairman, if any other aspirant comes to you with this kind of man or the quality of party elders here, accept him, if not remind him of that word, ‘RESPECT’. Mr Udom Emmanuel said the umbrella as a logo of the party symbolizes inclusion as well as coverage. He reassured the party that he will run an all-inclusive government and assured that his government will not stay on top of the umbrella but under it. He said his government will respect the party. Udom said he was not perturbed by the campaign of hate and calumny launched against him as he was more concerned by the various issues begging for attention in the state. PDP ELDERS ENDORSE UDOM Prominent elders of the party representing the three senatorial districts endorsed Udom’s candidature and assured the party of his marketability. Speaking on behalf of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district, Chief Michael Afangideh , who recently bagged the national honour of Officer of the order of the Niger (OON) said Akwa Ibom is lucky to have a man of Udom’s quality willing to take the trouble to serve. He said he has critically analysed the various aspirants and has come to the conclusion that Udom is the best. He thanked Mr Udom Emmanuel for choosing to come home to offer his quota for state development. He confessed that when he asked the Governor where and how he discovered Udom. He(the governor) said he saw him in the church”. Chief Afangideh said Udom is God sent and has arrived at the correct time. He assured the party of the support of the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Elder Ben Udobia who spoke on behalf of the people of Eket Senatorial District noted that after wide consultations and meetings, the people of the district unanimously endorsed Mr Udom Emmanuel as the sole candidate for the hilltop mansion. Elder Udobia said Udom is a tested and trusted hand. He said he was merely here to hand over a proud son of the district that has been widely accepted by the entire state to run for the governorship position. In his remarks, a member of the Board of Trustees and a member of the national caucus of the party, Distinguished Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien noted that only him and Governor Godswill Akpabio belong to the Board of Trustees, national caucus, national executive committee. He said that no other person can lay claims to be more relevant in the party. He said that the current endorsement of President Jonathan by the party was anchored by Governor Godswill Akpabio. He said Don Etiebiet is only a member of the Board of Trustees and neither belongs to the NEC nor the caucus of the party. He observed too that Obong Victor Attah is a member of the Board of Trustees and the NEC but is not a member of the caucus. Senator Ibokessien also noted the human product that has been presented to the party today cannot be disputed. He said inasmuch as the house today which is made up of the PDP delegates that will vote at the primaries have agreed to support Udom, then victory is sure. He admonished Udom to equal the standards set by Governor Akpabio in governance and go beyond it. He advised him to run an open government devoid of ethnicism and exclusion. SENATOR ANIETIE OKON COMMENDS AKPABIO FOR MAKING JONATHAN SOLE CANDIDATE Also speaking at the consultation ceremony, the first publicity secretary of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria and member of the Board of Trustees showered praises on Governor Godswill Akpabio for his role in stabilizing the party in Nigeria. He said his efforts as Chairman PDP Governors Forum has led to the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. Senator Okon who is also a founding member of the party advised the party faithful to ignore the noisemakers and blackmailers who play politics on the pages of newspapers, that they are not in the inner caucus of the party and will not be there when the final decision will be taken. He gave an illustration that when a catholic pope dies or his office is vacant, it is the cardinals that are allowed into the inner “sanctum” while others wait outside awaiting the white smoke. He said that the same applies to PDP politics, that the party has a hierarchy and structure that takes decisions. He observed that with the quality of the PDP elders he has seen today, the number is enough to constitute the quorum for a political “sanctum” and that at the end of this consultation the people will get to see the white smoke. Senator Anietie Okon said that if Governor Akpabio could deliver President Jonathan at the national level then they people should be assured that he will deliver at home. He said Udom Emmanuel has the expertise to deliver good governance. He revealed that Udom had been involved in the development of Akwa Ibom State over time. He said that Udom was one of the persons who facilitated and made it possible for the first plane to land in Akwa Ibom State. Senator Anietie Okon concluded by saying that his support for Udom Emmanuel is “Unchallengeable, irreversible and sacrosanct”. THE WOMEN BACK UDOM FOR THE HILLTOP MANSION Speaking on behalf of the women at the occasion, the wife of a former deputy governor in the state, Obonganwan Atim Etim Okpoyo expressed the women’s support and solidarity for Udom Emmanuel’s aspiration. She said that Akwa Ibom women have benefitted from the Akpabio administration and that the women expect more from his government. YOUTHS IDENTIFY WITH UDOM The youths were not left out of the brief ceremony. Barr Mfon Udeme, a former chairman of Ibiono local government area who spoke on behalf of the youths affirmed that the sheer number of youths who turned out at short notice to grace the occasion was a clear indication that the youths look forward with enthusiasm to the government of Mr Udom Emmanuel. He saideyouths have looked around carefully and the only man they have identified who can take Akwa Ibom to the Promised Land is Udom Emmanuel. Barr Udeme subjected the endorsement of the youths to a voice vote and all the youths chorused “yes” to the motion that the youths will support Udom Emmanuel for the Governorship position. VALERIE EBE SAYS THERE IS NO VACANCY FOR ANY OTHER ASPIRANT In her speech, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Noble Lady Barr Valerie Ebe expressed her delight to be at the ceremony. She said it is significant to note that Udom Emmanuel is the only candidate that has the blessings of the office of the deputy governor. She noted that the women play a pivotal role in politics and governance and should be incorporated fully into the project. Mma Ebe who was the first female legal adviser of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State said she had closely observed the way in which Mr Udom Emmanuel carried out his official assignments. She noted that he has a calm composure and maturity to handle superior tasks and that he will follow suit in a higher office. Lady Ebe noted that with the present crop of supporters and backer that Mr Udom Emmanuel enjoys, there is no vacancy for any other aspirant for the office of governor come 2015. THERE WILL BE A LEVEL PLAYING GROUND The state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Paul Ekpo gladly welcomed Mr Udom Emmanuel and his entourage. He emphasised that the doors of the party are perpetually opened for all aspirants. He frowned at the attitude of some persons who are still challenging the legality of the party and who at the same time still come to the same party to expect favours. He charged the party faithful to be committed to the party at all times not only when they seek elections. Obong Paul Ekpo acknowledged the contributions of Mr Udom Emmanuel to the party A LITANY OF DIGNITARIES AND ELDERS GRACED THE CONSULTATION It was the single most attended political meeting in recent time. It attracted government functionaries, past political office holders, elders of the party, the leadership of the party at all levels, elder statesmen, women and youths. It was near impossible to have a clear cut run down of protocol due to the number of high profiled guests in attendance. In no particular order, we could spot a few faces that were present at the event; His Excellency, Idongesit Nkanga, Deputy Governor , Noble Lady Valerie Ebe, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sam Ikon, Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Udo Kierian Akpan, Senator Anietie Okon, Chief Michael Afangideh, Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien, Her Excellency, Mrs Atim Etim Okpoyo, Chief Otu Robert, Crown Prince Ekpe Atakpo, Obong T O Akpan, Sir Sunday Udo Akpan, Chief Okokon Etuk, Bishop C O Akpan, Obong E E Umana, Barr Christy Akpan, Obonganwan Grace Inyang. Also present were Chief Senas Ukpanah, Dr Val Attah, Chief Cyril Ekiko, Chief Francis Una, Elder Ben Udobia, Engr Billy Etuk, Lovina Umoefah, Dr Maria Ikrok, Engr Ignatius Edet, Chief Israel Utit, Chief Lambert Udoh, Chief Moses Ekpo, General Afangideh, Chief A S Akpan (Apex), Barr Goddy Umoh, Barr Jerry Akpan. All serving commissioners, chairmen of boards and parastatals were present. Local government chairmen and councillors graced the meeting.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 19:16:50 +0000