By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
In a rare move of solidarity and alliance, more than 35,000 members of major opposition parties in Akwa Ibom last weekend surrendered their Ward, Local Government and State structures to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
At a formal event in Uyo, leaders, stakeholders and members of the various opposition parties who defected to the PDP said their decision to collapse their structure into the PDP was fuelled by the stability in the PDP in Akwa Ibom since the return of Democracy in 1999 as well as the performance of Governor Umo Eno in the last nine months.
In a message at the event, the State Chairman of the PDP Obong Aniekan Akpan lauded the defectors for deciding to yield to superior reasoning and joining the PDP, noting that the Party would continue to keep its doors open for new members and those who had also gone to taste the “political waters” elsewhere.
“I am very elated to welcome you back to the PDP on behalf of the Leader of our Party in Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno. With your decision to join the PDP today, you have all demonstrated patriotism and rare courage and I stand here to tell you that this demonstration of courage, solidarity and patriotism will be positively recorded in the books of the Political history of our dear State.
“We receive you back with open arms and we have instructed the entire structure of our dear Party at the Ward and Local Government levels to completely reintegrate you into the fold of the PDP. The PDP is one happy family and I assure you that you will feel the warmth and coverage of the umbrella at all times.”Akpan said.
Governor Umo Eno, who is also the Leader of the PDP in the State, said it was heartwarming to see several tens of thousands of elders, stakeholders and Executive Committee members and teeming supporters of the opposition parties come out to publicly declare that their decision to abandon their party was chiefly as a result of the early superlative performance of his administration.
Eno commended them for the show of overwhelming acceptance of the enormous strength of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, stressing that in his time as leader of the PDP in Akwa Ibom, the umbrella of the Party would continue to grow wider for many Akwa Ibomites to find political coverage under it.
“As Governor, I stand here today to re-echo my unwavering resolve to continue to lead an administration of broadbased people centric transformation so that the lives of Akwa Ibom people who overwhelmingly elected me to serve can become better while our partymen and women can also become proud of our stewardship.
“I am sure that with the return of these enormous structures from all the other opposition parties in the state, our ranks as a Party will be better for it.
“Let me use this opportunity to direct that at the State-wide Ward meetings of the Party scheduled to hold on March 30, all of us must return to our wards and meet minds on how to continue to deepen the taproot of the PDP across the State.” The Governor said.
In their various remarks, representatives of the defectors, including former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon Emma Ukoette, Former state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr Nkereuwem Enyongekere, Former member of the House of the Assembly, Hon. Mabel Udongwo, Former Transition Chairmen Ukanafun, Mr Udomfu amongst others said they are back to the PDP to contribute to the sustenance of the PDP winning streak in future elections.
Presenting a Register of the defectors to Governor Umo Eno, Political Adviser to the Governor, Dr Godwin Ntukudeh, said he was elated by the en masse return of the structure of the opposition parties into the PDP and urged them to swiftly learn and remain committed to the ideals of the PDP.
