By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Efforts to strengthen the grassroot base of the Peoples Democratic Party was in the front burner as elders, stakeholders and members of the party gathered weekend in the 368 wards in the area in the first post election congress since the inception of the new administration.
This is even as members have continued to count the early gains recorded by the Governor Umo Eno’s administration as captured in the ARISE Agenda within the nine months of his administration as Governor.
The meeting deliberated on issues of party affair at the grassroots, seeking more ways to further deepen the roots of PDP in all electoral wards in the state, with Leaders and Government appointees taking time to brief the people on the policies, intervention, programmes and early gains of the Eno’s administration.
At the Ward Meeting held at Ibiakpan – Obotim Ward 2, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, the Governor who attended the meeting, explained that the purpose of the ward meetings was to afford the party leadership the opportunity to receive the mass of decampees who have been thronging back to the party lately and to reinforce the party’s support base.
According to him,”it’s been a good outing. We intend to continue to build up the party, to continue to work for our state and to continue to support our President at the centre.
“We have finished elections and people want to come back. I believe they have seen that the government is responsible, has capacity and the are convince and are coming back of their own volition, without being pushed.
“As a good father and a responsible party, we have to open our door and everyone together, because Akwa Ibom is a PDP state and from time it has always been. So we need to build up our membership, continue to show capacity and strength in developing our state.”
He stated that the ARISE Agenda is on course and would soon see the full implementation of his blueprint will be seen which he pointed are directed at uplifting the people and meeting the needs and aspirations of Akwa Ibomites.
Speaker Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Udeme Otong, while enumerating gains of the current administration thanked his people for staying true to the party and urged them to do more at repositioning the area to draw massive benefits from the ARISE Agenda.
At the Northern Ukanafun Ward 4 venue of the Ward Meeting, the State Chairman of PDP, Obong Aniekan Akpan charged party members to consolidate on the party’s dominance to gain more democratic dividend.
He commended Eno for demonstrating results-oriented commitment in actualising the well-laid out ARISE agenda for the benefit of the people including the one-project-per-local government, rural roads, prompt payment of pension and gratuity to retirees and intervention in food price hike through the Bulk Purchase initiative, amongst others.
In a well attended Ward meeting at Awa Ward 1, ONNA Local Council, Immediate past Governor of the state,Mr Udom Emmanuel charged faithfuls of the party to remain steadfast to the ideals of the PDP as PDP remained the most credible platform for the emergence of leaders and pursuit of broadbased nationwide development end.
At the venue of the meeting for the PDP Ward 7 in Uyo, Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah commended party faithfuls for their steadfastness in choosing the PDP while also thanking them for their support for the Eno’s administration.
In Uruan, Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District and former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Aniekan Bassey also urged the people to reposition inorder to take advantage of the many benefits that the PDP administration in the state.
Similarly, in Ibiono Ibom Western Ward 5, the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong tasked party faithfuls to support the vision of Governor meant to benefit the people.
In Ubium North Ward 3, the political Leader of Uyo Senatorial District Senator Effiong Bob who assured party faithful in the ward of better days sued for greater commitment for the growth of the party.
Separate remarks by leaders and members of the party across the state showed that the state-wide ward meeting which has as its important highlight, the defection of members of other political parties to PDP, was largely successful even as members applauded the party’s entrenched tradition of having frequent meeting for close engagements at the grassroots level.
