The Apostolic Church in Akwa Ibom has suspended one of its pastors for hosting the Thanksgiving and Dedication Service of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in ONNA Local Council.
It was learnt that Pastor E. Henshaw of the Ndon Eyo Township Assembly, shocked everyone during the service when he announced that he just recieved a message of suspension for opening the doors of the church for YPP.
Henshaw also said the Field Superintendent, Dr U.S Ukpong, had ordered him to appear before the Disciplinary Council of the church the next day to explain why he should not be sacked for allowing YPP to dedicate its campaign and thank God in his assembly.
The embattled Pastor said the police had the previous night, invaded his church, harassing him and threatening to detain him should he allow YPP to attend the church.
Also two days earlier, while the YPP officials were trying to secure a church for the dedication of its national assembly campaigns at the Apospolic Mount Olive Church in Awa Iman, the governor’s village, the church was sealed off by the police, allegedly on the orders of the state governorment.
Thugs were also deployed to block off the entrance of the church on Sunday morning, in anticipation that YPP will force its way there, after the preacher-in charge, Prophet David, had earlier been warned not to host the party.
Undeterred by the mindless.persecution, the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and frontline runner for the Hilltop mansion in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Albert Akpan (OBA) stressed that only God enthrones and unseats governments.
“God unseats governments and enthrones governments and that same God who made Obong Attah governor; who made Godswill Akpabio governor; and who made Udom Emmanuel governor will also make me governor.
“We are a people others rejected but God saw our sincerity of mind and is using us to achieve His purpose”. OBA then predicted that YPP will shock other parties, through the mass support of the people so that “when we come in, we will not behave like them.” Akpan said.
He lamented a situation where YPP has been blocked from all the public venues in the state, including Ibom Hall, Ikot Ekpene Stadium and even some churches in ONNA.
The Senator also questioned why the member of Mbo defected but his seat was not declared vacant in the state House of Assembly but when Usoro Akpanusoh and Asuquo Nanna were suspected to belong to YPP, their seats were declared vacant.
Mr Ephraim Inyang , speaking on behalf of other candidates, pledged sponsor the refurbishment of the entire church when they are elected.
While dedicating the National Assembly campaigns, Prophet David Udo, reading from Lev 26:36, prayed God to use “the sound of a shaken leaf” to change the heart of many Akwa Ibom voters in favour of YPP
