A’ Ibom Governorship Race: Eket youths, women support Sen. Akpan’s candidacy; OBA stood firmly with Udom in 2015 and 19, energized winning ‘Warsaw war’_ Fmr. CoS

A coalition of youth and women groups in Eket Senatorial District have come together and thrown their weight behind the top-notch aspirant in the Akwa Ibom governorship election race Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.

The collaboration was consummated on Saturday, March 5th, during the reception rally for Senator Bassey Akpan aka OBA by the group in league with other supporters across the 12 council areas that make up the Southern Senatorial zone of the State.

Speaking on behalf of the youth groups, Comrade Joe Mbong, national president, Eket Senatorial District youth assembly hinted that the reception rally was organised to honour Senator Akpan as a mark of appreciation for his effective and quality representation of Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

Mbong added that Senator Akpan is a bridge between the older and the younger generation of political leaders in Akwa Ibom State.

He said the various youth groups across Eket senatorial district were ready to make contributions for the purchase of nomination form for the governorship aspirant in view of his sterling leadership qualities and exceptional legislative skills.

“Today, we come to celebrate excellence. We are excited with what Senator OBA has done for the people of Akwa Ibom in particular the reforms he has spearheaded in the oil and gas industry.

“The communities in Eket senatorial district who are hosts to oil companies will soon reap the benefit of the gesture of OBA. On this premise, we honour him today and plead with him to bring his wealth of experience to the state for accelerated development in 2023”.

In her contribution, the representative of the women groups, Obongawan Lucy Aqua, lauded Senator Akpan for being a detribalized personality in his relationship with the people.

“One thing we should appreciate God is for giving Akwa Ibom a personality like Senator OBA . He does not discriminate irrespective of where you come from, nor your status. Senator OBA stood by our candidate, who is the incumbent governor, Udom Emmanuel in 2015 and 2019 wholeheartedly and we use this medium to tell him thank you.

“We owe Senator OBA our votes in 2023. For those who are delegates, don’t be deceived by people who tell you that you will not be allowed to vote at the primaries. You will cast your votes in a very peaceful atmosphere and Senator OBA will be your Governor because he is a man of peace. Because, we know that there will be unprecedented development across all sectors of the economy, given his experience in public and private service”.

On his part, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Jerry Akpan, commended the aspirant for honoring the invitation by the youths and women of Eket senatorial district and praised him for his courage, political forthrightness, and truthfulness.

He recalled the sacrifice made by the Senator for the electoral victory of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2015 and 2019 an indigene of Eket Senatorial District and charged the people of the zone to reciprocate the senator’s gesture by supporting his gubernatorial aspiration in 2023.

And lending his voice, a leading and prominent senatorial aspirant in the zone, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen the immediate past chief of staff to Governor Udom Emmanuel who reasoned that the revelation of the identity of the next governor of the state won’t come via an electronic device like iPad.

“Don’t allow anybody to deceive you, I heard them saying they had revelation via iPad, revelation is not via iPad. God does not give one man revelation. The Bible says that in the mouth of 3 or 4 witnesses, truth is established. God has told me that OBA is the next governor”, Ephraim Inyang said.

Lens online gathered that there have been speculations already over the past years on Inyang-eyen’s preferred candidate for the PDP governorship ticket.

Saturday’s event was the first time the former Commissioner for Works openly declared his support for Senator Bassey Albert Akpan’s aspiration.

He acknowledged that for the Senator to step down for the incumbent governor to grab the PDP ticket 8 years ago and for standing by Udom again in 2019 when other serving Senators from Akwa Ibom had left him, OBA should be given the right of first refusal in 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 the victory, shouldn’t he be rewarded? Does OBA not deserve a reward for standing with the governor to fight all the battles for our governor to win the first term and win the 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. He is a giver, he is a lover of people.

“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 records, 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 a 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”,

Responding, Senator Bassey Akpan expressed appreciation for the gesture and solidarity shown him by the people of Eket Senatorial district.

He assured them that there will be party primaries in the state and that he will win as the candidate of the party.

“I am not taking this show of solidarity, love, and support for granted and I want to assure you that there will be party primaries and by the grace of God and by your votes, I will win as the candidate of the party and will win as your governor in 2023”, he declared,” don’t be afraid of any man, you can only fear God, as for me I have conquered fear. And, I want to promise you that I will not abandon you, I will stand by you, and I represent you the youths, I represent you the women, and by the grace of that same God who made Obong Attah become governor, that same God who made Chief Godswill Akpabio become governor and by the grace of that same God who Udom Emmanuel to become governor, it is that same God that will make Senator Bassey Albert governor, in 2023.

Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, the governorship aspirant who represents Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, is the Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) .

He hails from Itu/Ibiono Ibom federal constituency widely favoured to produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2023.