By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The Peoples Democratic Party in Always Ibom has condemned recent statements credited to the acting chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr Ita Udosen over what it described as down playing achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Udosen had in a press conference last Monday condemned recent verbal assault on some chieftains of the APC by the Governor advising him to focus more on addressing the failures of his administration.
But the PDP through a statement endorsed by its Publicity Secretary Mr Borono Bassey yesterday in Uyo expressed disappointment that Udosen has already begun smear politicking even with elections three years away.
“Millions of Akwa Ibom people were of the expectation that since it was not yet a period for the governorship politicking (the only time the APC in Akwa Ibom visits the state), that the party would have left the gap to sufficiently mourn the demise of their state chairman; a demise which the PDP deeply felt and had to suspend partisan interest to commiserate with the family of the departed and the APC.
“It is also indeed very saddening to see that the few cartel members who run the APC in Akwa Ibom State have placed the demand of lie telling as part of the probationary requirements that Dr Udosen must meet in order to earn his place as ad hoc state chairman of the Party.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has voluntarily taken up the task to carefully educate the handful of people still remaining in the APC about the numerous achievements that the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration has made in Akwa Ibom State.” The statement said.
The party said that the growing reputation of Ibom Air in the aviation industry, industrial revolution across the state, upgrading of health facilities, and of recent the building of a 200,000 BPD refinery by the BUA group in the state remained testimonies of a strategic vision to take the state to a stellar level.
It said threats of withdrawing all courtesies to the Governor by the APC was a deliberate ploy to make it look as if they had accorded the Governor the respect his office deserved.
“By way of responding to their empty threat to withdraw all courtesies they had hitherto attached to Governor Udom Emmanuel’s office, we want to quickly remind the APC that they have never demonstrated any iota of courtesy for the office of the Executive Governor. Is the APC who held the Press conference different from the same APC that held a parallel State thanksgiving, something that has never happened?
“Or is this APC different from the APC that had blocked the Wellington Bassey way entrance to Government House under the pretext of commissioning a campaign organisation? What a classic case of amnesia!
“We want to remind the APC that Akwa Ibom people had gotten used to their timetable for habitual noise-making which comes once every four years during every governorship election season.
“For the purpose of proper information, we announce to them that the political steams they may have noticed from the land of political banishment which they exist are a product of the forthcoming Local Government election. Their non-existent political structures would earn them a beating at this kind of election should they make effort to throw their torn hat into the ring.” It said.
The party said that it would no longer tolerate any form of insult on the person of the Governor warning that any of such actions would be “visited with grave legal steps.”
“Finally, Dr Udosen should honour the soul of their former legitimate state Chairman by observing appreciable time of silence and refrain from all forms of paid political hatchet jobs throughout his period of probation as makeshift chairman.
“It shocks even the spirits to have him and the APC stand on his fresh corpse to seek undue attention which regrettably has resulted in a classic case of “talking in the nonsense.” The statement concluded.
