By Emeka Samuel
Akwa Ibom APC governorship candidate and Managing Director of the
Niger Delta Development Commission, Obong Nsima Ekere has accused
Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP of plans to use militants from
other Niger Delta states to cause violence in the 2019 general
elections in the area.
He has also alleged that Emmanuel claimed that the state Police
authorities were against him after he failed in his bid to influence
the posting of Police Commissioner to the state.
Ekere who made the allegations during the flag off of his campaigns in
Uyo dispelled claims by the PDP in the state that the APC
has perfected plans to use federal institutions to rig the elections
in the area reiterated that his administration would create the much
needed economic boom for Akwa Ibom in addition to strategic investment
in health, social protection and infrastructure.
Ekere maintained that APC led FG have the most sophisticated social
protection programme in the history of the country adding that his
administration would domesticate same in the state when elected.
He said that Akwa Ibom people have no business being poor and
expressed readiness to return the state to the path of prosperity
while building on the achievements of the former governors of the
state.
He stated that the occasion signaled the beginning of a march towards
peace and development of the state and called on the PDP to allow the
people of the state to enjoy the prevailing peace in the state.
He further challenged the PDP to make the campaigns issue oriented
adding that he would ensure that his campaigns are devoid of ethnicity
and hate speeches because the collective interest and unity of the
state needed to be protected.
The APC governorship candidate urged the clergy not to take sides in
the politics of the state but to continue to pray for the overall
development of the state
The Special guest on the occasion and Governor of Edo state Godwin
Obaseki said that as the heart of the South South region, Akwa Ibom is
been looked up to lead in the transformation of the region because of
its wealth adding that this would be realizable under the APC.
Obaseki expressed regret that the state has experienced a down turn in
development under the PDP after the boom and transformatory
administration of Akpabio in the state.
In a remark, a former governor of the state and ex Senate Minority
leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio denied that his administration owed
describing Ekere as a liberal fellow adding that even after being part
of the plan that ousted him as a deputy governor, he(Akpabio) would
want him to take the reins of leadership of the state as a governor.
Akpabio who expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari would
win the Presidential poll urged voters to vote for the APC inorder to
return the state to the centre of Nigeria’s politics adding that the
South South geo political zone because the party has succeeded in
their politics of transformation
Director General of the APC state gubernatorial council Senator Ita
Enang called on the PDP government in the state to start preparing
their exit while describing Ekere as the candidate that would instill
accountability and transparency in the governance of the state.
Former APC guber candidate in Akwa Ibom and chairman of the Oil and
Gas Free Zone Mr Umana Umana who expressed confidence over the success
of the party in the 2019 polls faulted Governor Udom Emmanuel for
reason he adduced for not completing some of the mega projects started
by Akpabio.
APC chieftain in Rivers state, Chief Magnus Abe described Ekere as a
hardworking person having worked and involved in several projects in
Rivers and as NDDC chairman transformed the commission and endeared it
to the hearts of the people of Niger Delta
Abe said that he would bring his Midas touch to bear on the socio
economic fortunes of Akwa Ibom after having won the guber polls in
March.
A chieftain of the party and a former Minister of the FCT Senator
James Akpanudoedehe assured that as an entrepreneur Ekere as governor,
Akwa Ibom would experience a new level of prosperity.
He condemned the PDP for their negative politicking in the electronic
media adding that being the most popular politician in the APC in the
state his acceptance of Ekere meant that winning the governorship
election would be easy for him.
Speaking on behalf of Akwa Ibom women, wife of a former governor of
the state Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio said the women of the state
decided to support Ekere because he has shown tolerance, dedication,
respect and commitment to the political and economic development of
the state adding that God has ordained him to be the next Governor of
the state.
