The Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District PDP candidate, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem has urged Essien Udim people to continue to keep faith with the party, noting that since 1999, PDP has brought all good things to the area.
Enoidem, a legal practitioner while addressing campaign of PDP Ward tour at Ikpe Civic Centre, noted that the PDP has been magnanimous to Essien Udim, hence it is only natural for the people to reciprocate the gesture by voting for the umbrella.
“Remain in PDP. Stand with PDP. Everything good in Essien Udim is courtesy of the PDP. There is nothing Ukana or Essien Udim LGA has that is not the PDP that did it. I thank you for standing with the PDP in 2019. The APC has brought untold hardship to Nigerians. We cannot continue like this.”
Also read: I Will Give My people Effective Representation in Senate- Enoidem pledges
The National Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement said it was insensitive for the APC to embrace the Muslim-Muslim ticket, as such insensitivity to the feelings of Christians is an indication of lack of concern for the country’s religious diversity and cultural plurality.
“You cannot compromise Christianity in Lagos and Abuja and claim to practise Christianity in Akwa Ibom. The opposition thanksgiving on arrival at Uyo in a Church, is a mockery to Christianity and to God because, you cannot be part of the Muslim-Muslim ticket in Lagos and Abuja but come home to run back to Church, the same Christian faith you claim there is no Christian competent enough to be a Vice President. It is hypocrisy and God cannot he mocked,” he warned.
Continuing, he said, “As an indigene of Etim Ekpo LGA, I am a son of Essien Udim and I promise to offer effective representation. No amount of midnight campaign and consultation by the opposition can save them from the crushing defeat that awaits them in this election.”
He enjoined the people to vote for Atiku Abubakar as the next President of Nigeria, Pastor Umo Eno as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State, himself as their next Senator, Rt. Hon. Idongesit Ntekpere as the next representative for Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency and Prince Ukpong Akpabio as the next Essien Udim House of Assembly representative.
Enoidem described the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Ese Umoh as a humble, honest and loyal party man, whose political growth should serve as a source of pride and emulation by the youth.
“Ese is a young man who has grown in humility. Esse Umoh is one of the best politicians we are having in our time. He has respect for party, leadership and loyalty. Ese Umoh has shown and demonstrated loyalty to the party and his friend. He will go places”. Ese Umoh has creditably discharged himself and will go far in life and politics,” he declared.
He noted that the PDP is the only people-centered party revolving around the people. “Only PDP has kept its name, logo, ideology, philosophy from 1999 till date.’’
On his Senatorial aspiration, Barr Enoidem narrated that in 2007, an Essien Udim son was Governor and there was need to balance the power equation with the Ibibio brothers from Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency within Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
According to him, 2007 was the turn of Abak Federal Constituency for Senate, but the stakeholders met and said Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency should be allowed to go to compensate the emergence of Godswill Akpabio as governor. That was how and why Senator Aloysius Etok was elected Senator from 2007-2015.
However, he explained that again in 2010, the then Governor, sent for him through Bishop Samuel Akpan and said he wanted him (Enoidem) to go to the Senate for the 2011 polls but later pleaded with him to stay back and help his administration finish strong in 2015.
The immediate past PDP National Legal Adviser, stated that a meeting was also convened where stakeholders urged Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency to allow the former Governor go to the Senate as a mark of honour.
“On August 8, 2018, Akpabio as Senator fled and abandoned his people,” he recalled.
This was an action of betrayal not just to the party that gave him wings and the platform to lead but a stab on the back of friends and the Annang nation. He thanked Essien Udim people for rejecting the opposition and standing with the PDP.
On his part, the PDP candidate for Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Prince Idongesit Ntekpere, noted that politics must be truthful. He commended Ikpe people for being realistic, frank, open, and honest, submitting that with what he has witnessed in Ikpe, the party can go to sleep that PDP is on a very safe ground in Ikpe.
“Rest assured that we will give you quality representation. Ikpe is PDP and PDP is Ikpe. Only a mad person can continue to vote for suffering and hopelessness which the opposition represents. Nigeria’s hope is with PDP,” he advocated.
Addressing the rally, the Obong Iberedem Ikpe and PDP Candidate for Essien Udim State Constituency, Prince Ukpong Akpabio, said as a son of Ikpe by virtue of the traditional title the late Itai Afe Annnag, Okuku Pius Effiong Eside IV bestowed on him, he would not disappoint Ikpe people.
Going down memory lane, Prince Akpabio recalled that it was an Ikpe Son, the late Friday Udo Etuk who made his late father the Chairman of Essien Udim LGA. He assured that the age-long family bond between him and the people of Ikpe will be sustained, nurtured and consolidated.
He vowed to renovate the Ikpe Civic Center within his first six months in office as a state legislature by fencing and upgrading of the pavilion to create comfort and the desired aesthetics, befitting a civic center in Ikpe Ward.
The immediate past Commissioner for Trade and Investment pledged to ensure that the PDP wins the 2023 polls and placed emphasis on the victory of Barr Enoidem come February 25, so as to end 63 years of marginalization of Abak federal Constituency, assuring the people that Barr Enoidem will offer the Annang nation and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District effective representation as Senator.
The member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Barr Esse Umoh, assured the gathering that he remains a loyal party man whose commitment and patriotism will not weaver on the basis of personal interest.
“Ikpe will speak with our results sheet on election day. Ikpe is PDP and PDP is Ikpe. Some people do not know that my relationship with Prince Akpabio is unbreakable and not even politics can come between us as we share a lot of things in common. We built PDP and we will remain PDP.”
The Chairman of Essien Udim LGA, Anthony Luke, warned that no man plays God and goes unhurt, describing Ikpe people as truthful people.
He said the PDP needs not campaign in Ikpe where both the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency and the PDP Chapter Chairman, hail from.
Luke recalled that Essien Udim people have integrity and that the PDP gave Esisen Udim the chance to produce a Governor, Senate Leader, Ukana Clinic, Cottage Hospital, Mobile Police Base, Federal Polytechnic and other basic infrastructure that add value.
The council boss said Enoidem was the engine room of the Akpabio administration, hence he will do well as Senator while Umo Eno as a man of integrity, will not disappoint Akwa Ibom people as Governor Udom Emmanuel’s successor.
The campaign train moved to Ikot Ekpene Wednesday.
