LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN ENDORSE UDOM FOR 2015 -Promise to purchase his nomination form By Emmanuel Nicholas and Aniekeme Finbarr, Uyo. The Governorship aspiration of former Zenith bank Executive Director, Mr Udom Emmanuel has continued to gather momentum as the list of endorsements from relevant political stakeholders swells on a daily basis. The latest endorsement comes from the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Akwa Ibom State Chapter. A total of twenty eight local government council chairmen and thirty one vice chairmen of council unanimously adopted Mr Udom Emmanuel as their sole candidate for the 2015 Governorship elections in Akwa Ibom State. The endorsement which took place on Monday, the 6th of October, 2014 at the Shelter Afrique, Uyo residence of the State ALGON Chairman, the Rt Hon Nse Ntuen attracted elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), past and present political office holders, captains of industries, women and youth leaders and journalists. Some of the prominent dignitaries at the brief endorsement ceremony were a former governor of the state, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Rtd), Deputy Governor, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sam Ikon, Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Udo Kierian Akpan, Senator Anietie Okon, Chief Michael Afangideh, Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien, Wife of a former deputy governor in the state, Mrs Atim Etim Okpoyo, Chief Otu Robert, Crown Prince Ekpe Atakpo, Obong T O Akpan, Sir Sunday Udo Akpan, Chief Okokon Etuk, Bishop C O Akpan, Obong E E Umana, Barr Christy Akpan, Obonganwan Grace Inyang. Also present were Chief Senas Ukpanah, Dr Val Attah, Chief Cyril Ekiko, Chief Francis Una, Elder Ben Udobia, Engr Billy Etuk, Lovina Umoefah, Dr Maria Ikrok, Engr Ignatius Edet, Chief Israel Utit, Chief Lambert Udoh, Chief Moses Ekpo, General Afangideh, Chief A S Akpan (Apex), Barr Goddy Umoh, Barr Jerry Akpan. Presenting Mr Udom Emmanuel to the council chairmen, a former Governor of the state, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga said that after traversing the entire state and studying the various aspirants jostling for the governorship, he found Udom as the best material. Otuekong Nkanga noted that after the era of massive infrastructure, the next focus will be on the development of human resources, wealth creation and industrialization. Therefore that Akwa Ibom State needs a man who has the capacity to deliver and that man is Udom Emmanuel. In his remarks, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Anietie Okon thanked the council chairmen and vice chairmen for making the brave and right choice. He noted that the chairmen and vice chairmen are the politicians closest to the grassroots and have the capacity to deliver. The Chairman of ALGON, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Rt Hon Nse Ntuen who spoke on behalf of the local government chairmen and vice chairmen said they were interested in the growth and development of Akwa Ibom State. He said that after the tenure of Chief Godswill Akpabio expires next year, that they are interested in who succeeds Chief Godswill Akpabio in office. He said after studying all the aspirants on parade, they unanimously agreed that Mr Udom Emmanuel is the best for the Governorship. Rt Hon Ntuen declared that they have unanimously agreed that Mr Udom Emmanuel is their sole candidate. Hon Nse Ntuen said to further encourage him (Udom) in his aspiration, the Chairmen, vice chairmen and leaders of the legislature at the local government level will contribute their widow’s mite and buy him the party’s nomination form. The endorsement was seconded by the Vice Chairman of ALGON in the state and Executive Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area, Isantim Kenneth Okon. Several goodwill messages were received at the meeting. The first came from the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Dr Godswill Akpabio. Chief Akpabio who spoke via telephone thanked ALGON for their bold step in endorsing Mr Udom Emmanuel. He admonished the council chairmen to maintain peace and order in their domain during the elections. He also urged them to be steadfast and stand by their decision as men and women of integrity. Goodwill messages were also received the state deputy governor, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe, Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien, Crown Prince Ekpe Atakpo, Chief Otu Robert, Chief T O Akpan, Chief Okokon Etuk and others. The endorsement by the council chairmen and vice chairmen is the latest in the long list of recent endorsements of the candidature of Mr Udom Emmanuel. Recently, more than three hundred and thirty seventy seven groups affiliated with the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA) and urged Mr Udom Emmanuel to declare and join in the Akwa Ibom governorship race. The affiliate group presidents and secretaries met with the leadership of the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA) on Wednesday, 24th September, 2014 to identify with the ideals and philosophy of the organization and declare their solidarity. Also recently, 472 different groups pledged to work with the Transformation Initiative, one of the Groups coordinating the support for the Udom Emmanuel cause. The Chairman of the BOT of the group, Akparawa Inyang said the agreement of the 472 groups to work with the Transformation Initiative to support government’s succession plan was a clear Testimony and acknowledgement that Governor Akpabio has performed beyond expectation and the desire of the continuance of the uncommon transformation of the State after Akpabio . He said the groups are in the 321 wards in the state and has branches in Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abuja, and the United Kingdom. Akparawa Inyang said the Transformation Initiative is registered under the charter of the Queen of England and will soon be launched in Mali, Togo , Mauritania and USA. He urged the people of the state to support Chief Godswill Akpabio to produce a successor who will continue with Giant development strides of the state. In a Communiqué signed by the Leaders of the 472 Affiliate groups in the Transformation Initiative, the people pledged to support President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel in 2015. Frontline socio-political groups like the Itai Afe Annang, Ati Annang, Afigh Iwaad Eket have out rightly endorsed Mr Udom Emmanuel to run for the governorship come 2015 while other groups have expressed their strong solidarity for the cause.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:42:59 +0000
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