The leadership of deacon
Udom Gabriel Emmanuel did receive a massive boost a week ago when ten
thousands of Eket senatorial district people assembled to appreciate and
declare their support for his administration in a time when his government has
been embattled by the opposition party, APC.
The reception which was
announced to be the first in what will be an annual event in honour of Governor
Udom Emmanuel, their son, and first to be governor of Akwa Ibom since creation
28 years ago, from the much impoverished region, which also is the highest
revenue generating area for the federal government.
Notable figures from the
senatorial district and representatives of the other two Senatorial districts
spoke to make their position known to the entire world, watching live on
various broadcast channels. They all reiterated their support for the Udom
Emmanuel-led government and distanced themselves from claims by APC
spokespersons who, backed by the federal government, to carry out campaigns
against the PDP-led government of Akwa Ibom state, promising to seize power in
Akwa Ibom by all means.
Chief Nduese Essien, a
onetime federal minister and political leader of the Eket senatorial district
people, announced in his usual soft but authoritative tone of finality:
“... we elected Udom and he has our unending support.”
Rt Hon Onofiok Luke, the
speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, in his address to the teeming
multitude said; “…since I started my political life, I have never lied to Akwa
Ibom people. I will always tell you what is the truth, and I will tell you the
truth today….I have played different roles in supporting government. In 1999 we
supported Uyo senatorial district to be governor. In 2007, we supported Ikot
Ekpene senatorial district. In 2015 justice, equity, divinity, mandate demands
that we support Eket senatorial district to be governor.
Obong Paul Ekpo, the PDP
chairman for Akwa Ibom lent his voice to the appreciations for governor Udom; “As
a party, we are very proud of you as our governor. Today I am here to thank the
Eket senatorial district and to thank you for not disappointing your people.
That is why your people are very proud of you today”.
In response, the
Governor, elated and visibly overwhelmed by the magnitude of appreciation
showed him by the people thanked them; “I have never seen in this country where
only one Senatorial district organized such a large reception for their own.
This is unprecedented. If the whole state were to come together for this, it
means our stadium would not contain us”.
It was also a fitting time for the governor to send a strong message
to the rest of Nigeria. “Some of the politicians you see at Abuja are not
representatives of Akwa Ibom people” referring to politicians who have gone
round peddling deceptions about the actual political position of the Akwa Ibom
people. “These here are the Akwa Ibom people”, he stated.
By Uduak Umo
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