Oba dumps PDP, as supporters charged to move on for victory

The Peoples Democratic Party pillar and stabilizer in Akwa Ibom State and Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum (Upstream) Senator Bassey Albert, has resigned his membership of the PDP.

Oba’s action political observers said may not be unconnected with the PDP’s poor reward system, especially how the party conducted its ward congresses where senators and other team players of the party were given treatment due them.

With this unpleasant development, speculations were rife, tension high and anxiety envelope the political atmosphere of the state over his fate in next year’s guber elections. Miffed by the way and manner the process for the primary was done, OBA and others had to withdraw from the exercise and headed to the court, alleging poor conduct of the primary for electing delegates.

In a letter dated July 15, 2022, addressed to the ward chairman of his Ibiono Ibom Eastern Ward 1, Ibiono Ibom Local Council, and obtained by newsmen in Uyo on Friday, Albert, who represents Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom said his decision to leave the party was to enable him to actualize his political ambition.

“I have been a loyal and committed member of the Official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria for over 20 years and have through the platform of the party serve our people, state, and nation diligently without any blemish, and I have by the grace of God contributed positively and impactfully to the growth and development of our dear country, state, and our people in general.

“I believe as a lawmaker and a distinctive one at that, I must at all times advocate and pursue virtues and values that promote and sustain the effective adherence to the rule of law.

“As you are aware, my aspiration to serve our dear state in the office of the Executive Governor is not personal or selfish but rather the collective ambition of our people, based on the principles of justice and equity, to achieve a better and prosperous Akwa Ibom State.
In the words of Jean Anouilh and I quote “The only immorality is not to do what one has to do when one has to do it”.

“Therefore, after extensive consultation with my God, family, friends, supporters, and well-meaning believers in a just and equitable Akwa Ibom State across the world, it’s obvious that these collective yearnings and aspirations cannot be actualized under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Consequently, guided by the sentiments, concerns, and worries of our people so expressed on the need to take immediate steps for the actualization of their aspirations. I am therefore compelled to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) forthwith.

“I am convinced that this action will enable me to take the next positive step to meet the hopes and expectations of Akwa Ibom People.” The letter concluded.

Meanwhile, acting swiftly to calm the nerves of the teeming followers and supporters of ENIN Ibiono (OBA) and the hope of Akwa Ibom people come 2023, the Chairman, Akwa Ubak Abasi campaign Council, Sir Emem Akpabio in a statement captioned We ARE MARCHING ON admonished; My dear brothers, sisters and compatriots of Akwa UbokAbasi Movement, I bring you warm felicitations and good tidings.

“Today in Abuja, just one man gave an opinion on a matter which was as plain as the day and even contradicted himself in some instances, but because he is an honorable judge and he sat behind a bench, clad with a wig and he has the authority vested on him by the Judiciary, we called it a court judgment. Otherwise, how do we explain an admittance of action being contemptuous and at the same time granting relief to culprit.

“But there is another Judge who sits beyond our view, who rules over the affairs of men, who wears no wig and gown. There is another Judge who frustrates the tokens of liars gives thrones to men, and takes men from thrones. There is another Judge, who does not sleep nor slumber and does not accept twisted facts or pretend not to have jurisdiction over any matter before Him. That Judge who sits in Heaven shall determine the destiny of Akwa Ibom State, not the judge who sits on earth.

“Therefore let no man involved in our movement be shaken. Darkness may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. Those who still stand in faith with us will be a part of that morning. Nothing good comes easy. Freedom has never been a stroll in the park, it is always a fight. If you thought we would free our state without a fight, then you just failed an elementary civics lesson. We are marching on to victory and success.

“When the children of Israel went around the walls of Jericho the first time on the first day, the people of Jericho may have thought they had failed. Why? Because Jericho was still intact but they kept going and on the seventh day the walls of Jericho fell down flat. We are moving on. We have moved to past this judgment today and let those in Jericho think we are done. We are not done. There is still the appeal and supreme court but beyond these, there’s the ultimate court – the Lord’s where our Almighty reigns supreme and is the ultimate judge. That judgment is now history. We are not looking back. We are moving on and moving forward. We are not stopping. No man, judge or not, can stop what God wants to do with us. Our movement is gathering momentum and our good God is on our side. There is something we know that they do not know; the destiny of our state is in God’s judgment and in the hands of Akwa Ibomites.

“Those who think they have won because of one man’s opinion should remember that pharaoh’s opinion did not stop the freedom of the Israelites. Our man OBA is not in any way fazed. Because you cannot confuse a man with a mission.

“We shall take this mountain, though the philistines are in the land. We shall take our mountains and Akwa Ibom State shall rise up and flourish like a palm tree. For indeed and by faith, OBONG BASSEY ALBERT AKPAN is the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

“Now is our time and OBA’s time. Believe it is possible. That same God”.