By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Youth group under the aegis of Eket Senatorial District Youth Assembly (ESDYA) in Akwa Ibom State
The National President of ESDYA, Mr Joseph Okon Mbong in his welcome address, said that the youth of the district which cuts across 12 local government areas of the state, are happy with the quantity of representations of Senator Akpan at the National Assembly.
Mbong said that the youth have carefully understudied Senator Akpan’s representations at the National Assembly and his leadership style as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) district for the past six years and concluded that he is a detribalised leader with great passion for the development of Akwa Ibom.
According to him, Senator Akpan’s empowerment programmes aim at creating wealth for the youth, enhancing the lives of the less privileged to give them hope for a greater future are unparalleled with others put together.
These, which he added, include scholarship programme for indigent students, especially in tertiary institutions, cover beneficiaries beyond his catchment nine local government areas of Uyo senatorial district to other two districts of Eket and Ikot Ekpene.
These and many more put together, the ESDYANational President posited, have given them a strong confidence in the ability of Senator Akpan to lead and impact positively to the yearnings of the citizenry if given opportunity to be the next governor of the state.
He said that the grand reception organised by the Youth Assembly, was symbolic to honour Senator Akpan, show him love and to use the occasion to declare their unalloyed support to his governorship aspiration come 2023.
“Our Distinguished Senator Akpan, we want to tell you that as youth from Eket Senatorial District, we are happy with your quality representations at the Senate. We have never in any way been disappointed.
“We have compared notes of your empowerment programmes. Eventhough you are a Senator representing Uyo but your empowerment programmes are not limited to Uyo Senatorial District but cut across the entire state.
“This day was set aside to celebrate and welcome you to Eket. We want to assure you that we are committed to supporting your aspiration of becoming the next governor of our state come May 29, 2023. Eket people are very hungry and ‘live in Egypt’ therefore, we believe that if we support you to become the governor, our lots will be better and we will be taken away from Egypt to the Canaan Land, which is the new Akwa Ibom where prosperity will embarrass us”, ESDYA National President said.
He however pledged the readiness of the Eket Youth to buy the 2023 governorship Nomination Form for Senator Akpan to further reiterate their support.
Speaking also, the immediate past Chief of Staff to Governor Emmanuel, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-Eyen has said that the sacrifices made by Senator Akpan over time are deserving of a reward by the State to him as the next Governor come 2023.
Ephraim Inyang-eyen noted that for stepping down for the incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel to get the PDP ticket eight years ago and for standing by him again in 2019 when other serving Senators from Akwa Ibom had left him, Senator Akpan should be given the right of first refusal come 2023.
“I stand on this podium on the basis of truth. That what is good for the goose is good for the gander. In 2014, OBA was the central candidate who stepped down for our son and we gave a promise that when it is the turn of Uyo he will have the right of first refusal. It has come to Uyo, OBA should be given the right of first refusal.
“In 2019, our governor was deserted by the senators that we sent to Abuja. It was Senator OBA that stood with us. If a man would defend the State at moments of war, when “Warsaw saw war” and “war saw Warsaw”, it was only senator OBA that stood with us to fight the war and we had victory. Let me ask a question, if someone stands with you to fight a war and you get victory, shouldn’t he be rewarded? Does OBA not deserve reward for standing with the governor to fight all the battles for our governor to win first term and win second term?
“I came here today to tell Eket Senatorial District, support who knows you by name so that the person can remember you. Do not accept strangers again because when they enter the house, they won’t remember you. Senator OBA shall remember people, Senator OBA remembers people. All of us shall stand with Senator Bassey Albert Akpan. He is a giver, he is a lover of people.
Inyang-eyen, who is also the former Works Commissioner in the state added “If anybody says he wants to be governor, that person must show past record of what he has done for the people. OBA has past record, Senator OBA has history, Senator OBA has something to show. Nobody should deceive people again. Whoever wants to run for election should come and run on his own”.
“I want to tell Eket Senatorial District that we need a governor who has relationship with the people of Eket Senatorial District, so that he will eat and remain for us. I heard the women saying things are too hard, when OBA becomes Governor things won’t be hard again.
“That Same God that told me to support my brother (Governor Udom Emmanuel), also told me to support you (OBA) that you are the next Governor of Akwa Ibom. These words remain irreversible because God ordered me to say so and it shall be established”, Ephraim Inyang-eyen said.
The event had in attendance top chieftains of PDP in the state including Sir Emem Akpabio, a relative of former Governor Godswill Akpabio, and Bishop Andrew Unwanta, The chairman of Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organisation, a campaign platform of Senator Akpan. He was the National Chairman of the now defunct Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA), a group which in 2015 worked the emergence of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The well attended event had youths of Eket Senatorial District endorse Senator Bassey Albert (OBA) as their preferred aspirant come 2023. Senator Akpan is the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream).
