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| Mr. Umana Okon Umana |
By Henry
Nkom
It was
the gathering of who is who as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uyo
Senatorial District met yesterday, Sunday, 28 April, 2013 and agreed that they
have to close ranks and fight as one family to clinch the governorship position
being hotly contested by Eket Senatorial District in 2015.
The roll
call at the meeting included Senator Ita Enang, Akwa Ibom SSG, Mr. Umana Okon
Umana, Obong Rita Akpan, Dr. Maurice Ebong, Senator Anietie Okon, Obongawan Imo
Isemin, PDP State Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, PDP Uyo Senatorial District
Chairman, Barr. Dominic Okon, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Enobong Uwah,
Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan, Member of Representatives,
Mr. Dan Akpan, serving lawmakers and local government chairmen, former
commissioners and lawmakers among others.
Speaking
at the event, PDP Uyo Senatorial District Chairman, Barr. Dominic Okon revealed
that the party at that level has taken steps to bring back its members who were
aggrieved during the 2011 elections.
According
to him, over 98 % of those who left the party for the opposition have returned
and this accounted for the success of the 2012 local government election in
which the party won in all the nine local government chairmen and councillorship
positions.
In his
views, with the strength of the PDP in Uyo Senatorial District they can produce
a competent successor to Governor Godswill Akpabio from Uyo Senatorial
District.
The
Chairman of Uyo Senatorial District Elders Forum, Otuekong Sunny Jackson Udo
who spoke on behalf of Etinan Federal Constituency said zoning being clamoured
for by Eket Senatorial District cannot happen.
“It is
not going to be possible. It was not possible before, it will not be possible
tomorrow. Anyone who wants to aspire to the seat of governor of Akwa Ibom
state, no matter where he comes from should be allowed to do so,” he stated.
He
assured the people that with their support Uyo Senatorial District will
certainly produce the next governor.
Senator
Anietie Okon advised the people not to engage in war of words with the people
of Eket Senatorial District, noting that everything is in favour of Uyo
Senatorial District to produce the next governor.
He
insisted that in the PDP constitution there is nothing like zoning and nobody
can introduce it in Akwa Ibom State, explaining that if they mobilize properly
people in all the local government areas, Uyo Senatorial District will win the
2015 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.
Former
Minister of Women Affairs, Obong Rita Akpan, Member representing Etinan Federal
Constituency, Obong Dan Akpan, and Dr. Maurice Ebong all said Uyo Senatorial
District will not negotiate the 2015 governorship position with anybody.
Former
Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga mentioned that
what Akwa Ibom people should be more interested in is a governor who will
sustain the development so far achieved by Governor Akpabio.
“The
heat that has been put on zoning is unnecessary. PDP was not established for
zoning. PDP was set up to deliver good governance, let us zone the governorship
to the most qualified candidates that will add to the many projects Uyo
Senatorial District has already benefitted from Governor Akpabio,” he said.
The SSG,
Umana Okon Umana said Uyo Senatorial District was not asking for governorship
to be zoned to it as a matter of right, but that the contest should be open for
all interested persons to contest so that the best can emerge at the end.
In his
remarks, Obong Paul Ekpo maintained that the party at the state level attended
the event to show solidarity to a section of the state, noting that “if Eket
Senatorial District invites us tomorrow, we will also attend.”
According
to him, what is more important is to work together to strengthen the party so
that it shall continue to maintain its leadership in the state.
Senator
representing Akwa Ibom North-east (Uyo) Senatorial District, Senator Ita Enang
advised the people to shun zoning the governorship position because it will not
lead to producing the best candidate that will govern Akwa Ibom after Governor
Godswill Akpabio.
He said
what they should work for is a candidate who will sustain the development
currently witnessed in the state.
Source: The Sensor newspaper
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