By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has said that he resisted overtures for him to take the senate ticket because of his respect for the existing zoning arrangement in his Eket senatorial district.
He has also said that he undertook the pivotal role in the Atiku Presidential Campaign because of his loyalty to the PDP, his desire to ensure that Akwa Ibom interest is well articulated at the centre and to be the voice his people at the Federal level.
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Emmanuel who made this known yesterday at the party’s gubenatorial campaign at Mkpat Enin Local Council reminded the people that he insisted on aligning with the existing zoning arrangement and urged everyone to support the party’s senatorial candidate and ignore those out to cause confusion in the district.
The governor assured Akwa Ibom people that the long neglect of the state in the scheme of things and development projects of the FG would be upturned with the installation of Atiku Abubakar as Nigeria’s President.
He also acknowledged the importance of the Ibekwe-Ikot Akpan Nya-Ikot Nya-Ikot Akata road and pledged to ensure it is fully constructed before the end of his tenure as Governor.
He therefore solicited support for Atiku Abubakar as President, Umo Eno as governor and the Mkpat Enin born Ekong Sampson for the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial seat as well as all the candidates of the PDP in Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.
Speaking further Governor Emmanuel described the candidacy of Sampson as an affirmation of the PDP’s adherence to justice and value for quality, while lauding the Akwa Ibom South Elders for their firmness in maintaining the rotation principle in the district.
The PDP gubernatorial flag bearer, Pastor Umo Eno assured that he would build on Emmanuel’s investments in the area by creating components that would complete the vast value chain of the coconut industry.
He pledged to empower the youths and women with vast agricultural development programmes, ICT enhancement skills and other programmes in the area and assured them that he would remain their good inlaw even as a Governor.
State chairman of the PDP Mr Aniekan Akpan while presenting the party candidates to the people, recalled that Mkpat Enin has always made the party proud in voting massively for its candidates.
Akpan thanked the party faithfuls and charged them to do even more in 2023, given the fact that so much has been done for the area in the last 8 years.
Highlight of occasion was the symbolic handing over of the baton by the incumbent senator, Akon Eyakenyi to Dr Ekong Sampsom.
