Wild jubilation, heavy gridlock and near stampede greeted the release of Obong Bassey Albert Akpan, governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) from Ikot Ekpene Correctional Centre in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, December 29.
This was as the teeming supporters thronged the correctional facility, marched from the busy 29-kilometre Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, in ecstatic solidarity of their political master.
Popularly known as OBA, the Senator was granted bail by an Appeal Court in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, December 28, on health grounds after Federal High Court, Uyo had jailed him 42 years for collecting six exotic cars worth N204 million from a businessman, Jide Omokore while he was serving as the state Commissioner of Finance.
Also read: Senator OBA Triumphs after 28 days in prison
In what looked like a carnival, hundreds of supporters armed with leaves thronged the busy highway accompanied by a convoy of cars while OBA occasionally came out from the car to wave to his supporters.
Economic activities were temporarily grounded as the excited supporters lined the route, singing and chanting YPP slogan even as motorists blared horns to clear the congested road.
The normal 45 minutes of journey in a car from Uyo to Ikot Ekpene turned to more than five hours, because of the unprecedented length of the convoy.
Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the police and crowd control personnel, had a tough time directing the unprecedented crowd.
At the Ikot Ekpene Plaza, the heart of Ikot Ekpene, it was a total lockdown for about 20 minutes, as leaves-wielding admirers besieged there to greet the governorship candidate of the YPP.
Another crowd of excited leaves-wielding crowd formed a major gridlock at the popular Itak Junction, saluting OBA with shouts of “Daddy oyoyo.” They followed the YPP governorship candidate straight to the city of Uyo.
At Ibom Plaza, the heart of Uyo township, it was another total lockdown when all commercial transporters and myriads of admirers besieged the popular spot, joining the convoy of the lawmaker to OBA’s multipurpose recreational facility, Ifa, Oron road.
At Ifa Atai in Uyo, OBA and his team went into a moment of application and appreciation to God for his mercies, protection and safe return of the senator.
Addressing the crowd, Mrs Imaobong Bassey Albert, thanked the people for their love and encouraged them to be steadfast, stating that even God has given man the freedom to exercise his will.
She told them that Akwa Ibom belongs to them all and that they have a right to choose who they want to govern them; assuring that her husband will ensure the welfare and well-being of all Akwa Ibomites.
Equally, the chairman of campaign council, Sir Emem Akpabio, and the Director-General, of the campaign, Pastor Sunny Ibuot, thanked the teeming crowd for their shoqw of solidarity.
They also told the people to ensure the manifestation of God’s will by voting for OBA on the elections day.
