ADVERTORIAL PRESS STATEMENT BY ESSIEN UDIM COUNCIL ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS OUR POSITION ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN AKWA IBOM STATE The Essien Udim Council on Political Affairs has had several consultations with elders, women and the youth of Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on the current political developments regarding the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the 2015 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State. The Essien Udim Council on Political Affairs (hereafter referred to as ‘Council’) in its General Meeting on Friday, 10 October, 2014 at Afaha Ikot Ebak, the headquarters of Essien Udim Local Government Area, unanimously adopted the following positions on the current political developments in Akwa Ibom State. (1.) Council is worried over the rising political tension in Akwa Ibom State which could escalate to a point of tainting or even disrupting the political process, peace and governance in the State, if not contained immediately. (2.) Council wishes to disassociate the good people of Essien Udim Local Government Area from the recent utterances of His Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio which tend to pitch the governor against the elders in the State. Chief Godswill Akpabio’s utterances, the Council wishes to point out, represent his opinion as a person and as a governor, and by extension his government, and that those utterances do not have the backing of Essien Udim people who are generally peaceful and respectful of elders. (3.) Council wishes to tender apology to His Excellency Obong Victor Attah, Chief Don Etiebet, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, Bishop Samuel Akpan, Obong Bassey Albert Akpan, Dr. Ime Sampson Umanah, His Excellency Obong Nsima Ekere and several other politicians who have been humiliated at one time or the other by Chief Godswill Akpabio, in spite of their individual and collective political investments on Chief Akpabio that had enable him (Akpabio) to reach where he is now in the politics of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria. (4.) Council hereby calls on His Excellency Chief Godswill Akpabio to refrain himself henceforth from making any further public utterance or action that could deepen the political and ethnic tension in Akwa Ibom State. (5.) Council calls on His Excellency Chief Godswill Akpabio to take up the role of a leader and father to all, and desist from endorsing, funding and campaigning for any of the PDP governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State. (6.) Council calls on His Excellency Chief Godswill Akpabio to immediately initiate a process for genuine reconciliation among the Ibibio, Annang, Oro and other ethnic groups, as well as the different political factions within his ruling party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State. (7.) Council acknowledges and appreciates the infrastructure renaissance that has taken place in Akwa Ibom State, including our own Essien Udim Local Government Area, through the leadership of His Excellency Chief Godswill Akpabio, and wishes to humbly draw His Excellency’s attention to several parts in Essien Udim yet to experience an iota of transformation. (8.) Council notes the high rate of hunger and poverty in Akwa Ibom State, and advises that His Excellency Chief Godswill Akpabio release funds into the state economy through payment of salaries to civil servants and debt to local contractors. Amb. Aniefiok Akpan Council President
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 16:26:58 +0000