By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
History was made in Nsit Ubium, the home local government area of Pastor Umo Eno, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, as residents emptied into the streets despite the heavy rain, to celebrate the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and its standard bearer, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan on Tuesday.
It came against the predictions that YPP will not have a foothold there, as the crowd lined the streets to welcome the team with exciting songs, while dancing and waving the now famous symbol of the young party, the leaves.
The party, led by its state chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, was in the area in continuation of its state-wide tour to inaugurate its offices across the state.
Andy, alongside the guber candidate, Senator Akpan popularly known as OBA, his running mate, AIG Asuquo Amba (rtd) and other party stalwarts who stormed the village of Ikot Edibon, the headquarters of Nsit Ubium also officially opened the YPP Youth Acquisition Skills Centre.
The occasion took a different turn when Mr. Anthony Akpan, a Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Nsit Ubium state constituency of the State House of Assembly, led 1,431 others to decamp to YPP.
Akpan said he had stepped down from the contest to formerly join forces with YPP to bring OBA as the next Governor of the state in 2023.
“I, Anthony Akpan, from Obotim Ward 1 Nsit Ubium today declare my support for OBA and YPP. I have collapsed my structure for the YPP. The Ika, Obot Akara, Etim Ekpo and Ini chapter chairmen of ADC defect alongside me to carry the leaves as the only sign of hope for the Akwa Ibom people”.
The Nsit Ubium chapter chairman of YPP, Mr Moses Sam, in his welcome address described the state chairman of YPP as the “Joshua of our time for steering the affairs of the party to what it has grown to become today.
“The next and perhaps the best Governor in our state will be OBA. As we are having our office today, we will work for our son, OBA, to emerge as Governor. Nsit Ubium is YPP, YPP is Nsit Ubium. As you can see, my blood is YPP. We have buried every other party that has died to embrace the YPP”, the chairman assured.
While performing the inauguration of the office and Skills Centre, the state chairman, Apostle Nyenime Andy commended the people for coming out under the rain to witness the inauguration which he described a great ceremony.
Andy assured them that the governorship candidate of YPP, Senator Bassey Akpan when he emerged as the next Governor would address all their problems.
“I can assure you that when we take over power in 2023, we will reward you for your love for the party.
“Today, we didn’t come to campaign, but to open the party office, the youth skills acquisition centre, as well as receive the thousands of the decampees from other parties joining the YPP’s great family”, Apostle Andy assured.
“This skills acquisition centre is to train and develop the people of Nsit Ubium. We want to train our youth in order to properly engage them. Before before we come into government, we will train the youth here to be self-reliant and self-employed”, Apostle Andy added.
Former stalwart of PDP in the area, Barr. Daniel Udofia in his goodwill message, said that Nsit Ubium has fully adopted YPP.
“We have no doubt that our son, OBA, who is taking over on 2023 has proven to be the best. He will deliver on the mandate we will give him in 2023. Our people have given the assurance that they will support him for quality leadership from next year”.
He then thanked OBA for his love for Nsit Ubium people and urged all, especially the youths and women to embrace him come 2023.
