We wish to use this medium to sound a note of warning to the APC in Akwa Ibom State and its defeated Candidate and those who are advising him to stop this insidious plan which runs against the spirit and letter of the Change mantra that Nigerians brought into, and which had propelled our dear President Muhammadu Buhari to victory during the March 28 Presidential polls. We also want to alert our fellow Nigerians and the international community on this evil plot.
We think it is the height of political desperation for a group to think up such a despicable plot, and make plans for its execution. Politics should not reduce to such low level of engagement. In the April 11, 2015 elections, the people of Akwa Ibom State relying on an entrenched voting culture, and fully aware that the State is a bastion of the PDP, and having seen the dividends of democracy manifest both in physical and psychological layers in the past eight years, made a solemn pact with the party, and voted overwhelmingly for the PDP standard-bearer in that election – Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
In his almost six months in office, Governor Udom Emmanuel has acquitted himself creditably, and has earned the trust that the good people of Akwa Ibom State had reposed in him. He has kept his eye on the ball and has taken concrete steps to redeem his campaign promises, the main thrust of which is the rapid industrialization of the state. Numerous ground-breaking ceremonies for new industries that will provide jobs for our teeming youths have been performed, contracts for the construction of several hundreds of kilometer of roads have been awarded, the people are enjoying steady electricity, youths are being trained and equipped with the right stills-set to compete and qualify for the jobs that will soon be available through industrialization. A new mental, attitudinal and psychological initiative as encapsulated in the ‘dakkada’ movement has caught on, and a vibrant Akwa Ibom spirit and identity based on the ‘can-do’ mindset has taken roots. The ship of the State is in steady hands of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Let us at this moment, make a key point that Nigerians and the International community may not have known: The wealth of the State which is based on oil and gas is located in Eket Senatorial District. In 28 years since the State was created, Eket Senatorial District, which is one of the three Senatorial Districts in the State has not produced a Governor.
For Justice, equity and fair-play, the people of Akwa Ibom State at well-attended Town Hall meetings across the ten Federal Constituencies, unanimously agreed that Eket Senatorial District should produce the next Governor of the State. Mr. Udom Emmanuel, an accomplished Financial Service Expert and the then Secretary to the State Government, a great son of Eket Senatorial District, was roundly nominated at the PDP primaries last December, and went on to win the election April 11, 2015.
Umana Okon Umana, the APC gubernatorial Candidate the world must know, is not from Eket Senatorial District, he is from Uyo Senatorial District. Other parties which fielded candidates in the last gubernatorial election – Labour and Accord nominated candidates that came from Eket Senatorial District, in compliance with this equitable act.
The people of Eket Senatorial District are not amused by the antics of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State and its flag bearer – Mr. Umana Okon Umana. The region views what the APC is doing as a violation of the principles of justice, fairness and would want fellow Nigerians and the international community, especially the United States of America whose strategic economic interest in Nigeria is located along the Senatorial District to take note of this open and flagrant abuse of the principle of justice, equity and fair-play.
The APC Candidate it must be state here, had bought the form as a PDP aspirant alongside others to participate in the nominating process, but having realized that for equity, fairness and justice, the party had seen the need to encourage candidates who came from Eket Senatorial District to participate in the primaries, quickly decamped from PDP and joined the APC. The APC Candidate, by joining the APC late in the game, failed to meet the constitutionally stipulated 21 Days’ notice required by INEC, and which the Supreme Court had affirmed and made sacrosanct. He was, therefore, not constitutionally eligible to contest the last April 11, 2015 Gubernatorial election.
It is also a known fact that the APC Candidate selected a Deputy Governorship Candidate-Engineer Benedict Effiong Ukpong who has violated Section 182 (1) (g) of the Electoral Laws which clearly stipulates that “No person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a state if being a person employed in public service of the Federation or any State, he has not resigned, withdrawn or retired from employment at least thirty days to the date of the election…” Engineer Ukpong from verifiable documents, including withdrawal slips; payment vouchers did not formally resign or disengage himself from the services of his last employers- (FCDA) and thus, is ineligible to be paraded as a Deputy Governorship Candidate.
Let truth be told, if elections were to be conducted based on option A-4, Umana Okon Umana the APC candidate will not have up to five percent of Akwa Ibom people line up behind him. He is the most unpopular person in the state. Talk to his kindred in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, and you will be amazed at the level of ill-will he commands.
For the APC Governorship Candidate to be boasting all over the place that he will use the powers of the Presidency which controls the security agencies to wrestle Akwa Ibom State from PDP is deeply troubling and we wish to use this opportunity to ask the President, our dear Commander-in-Chief, a man who is the very definition of probity, fairness and integrity to call APC in Akwa Ibom State to order. What he is doing is capable of causing great disaffection in our State, region and the Nation in geneal.
The Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS) Comptroller-General, Nigerian Civil Defense Corp, should please put on notice concerning this immoral plot. We, however, have absolute faith and trust in the Nigerian Security agencies and we have no doubt that the evil and devilish plot of Umana Okon Umana will not succeed.
Signed:
Chief Tom A. Umanah
For: Niger-Delta Political Committee for Justice, Fair play and Equity
(NDPCJFE)
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