The people of Oro Nation comprising five local government areas in Akwa Ibom State are set to support any person who emerges as All Progressives Congress, APC candidate in the state during the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking Monday, September 10 in an interview on a private radio station- Planet 101.1 FM, Uyo, Engr. Benedict Ukpong, the Federal Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State in the National Population Commission said Oro Nation would support anybody who emerges as APC governorship candidate in the state in 2019.
This is even as Ukpong described Senator Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past Senate Minority Leader and Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West in the Red Chamber, who joined APC one month ago, as ‘’a patriot and a nationalist.”
An indigene of Mbokpu Eyokan from Urue Offong/Oruko local government area, he seemed to be throwing his weight behind Nsima Ekere, Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and also an APC governorship aspirant.
Already, Barr. Asuquo Asuquo Okpo, who appears to be the only Oro person aspiring for governorship position in the state under All Progressives Congress, APC, though he is yet to collect form and pay for Expresson of Interest to the party, may sing solo.
Ukpong, who spoke under ‘’Team Nigeria’’ programme sponsored by Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate) said Ekere was dear to his heart, describing ‘’He is an astute administrator and a deep professional who sees development as passion. He is an emerging tiger.
‘’He has touched many lives and has constructed many streets that were in deplorable state in Oro Nation. We love him. We are begging him to come out and serve us as a governor.’’
On the defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to APC, he formally welcomed him and his supporters to the party, saying ‘’He was an apostle of change in that he said it was improper for Akwa Ibom State to remain in an opposition political party hence his subsequent defection to the ruling APC.
‘’He is a game changer and a stabilising force in the politics. I want to call on his supporters to join him in APC in an effort to enthrone APC in Hiltop Mansion, Uyo,’’ Ukpong pointed out.
Commenting on the statement credited to Governor Udom Emmanuel that Akpabio was playing God in the election of people including his, the NPC commissioner dismissed such as antics of a former governor, saying in 2019 Emmanuel will seize to be governor in the state.
Ukpong who was the state APC deputy governorship candidate in the 2015 general elections announced that the party has concluded arrangements to organise a mega rally on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 in Eket for the adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office.
