For Rt. Hon (Obongemem) Ekperikpe Luke Ekpo, his aspiration to turn around once again and rebuild the fortunes of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North West) is gathering momentum with massive supports from Akwa Ibomites in Diaspora.
Ekpo, a renowned grassroot politician, a former Council Chairman who was in the House of Representatives between 2007-2011 had variously been invited by different groups to come forward and contest the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial seat citing his experience and competence.
Ekpo, the Director general of Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF) is a chieftain of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) and an Educationist with robust plans to attract agricultural, industrial, educational, health and other infrastructural facilities to the Senatorial District from 2023 if elected. Available records indicated he has done these in the past as Council Chairman and Lawmaker.
However, the latest endorsement is coming from Akwa Ibom indigenes who live in United States of America and Europe who are beckoning on him to join the Senatorial race and bring his wealth of experience in politics and administration to rejig the development of the senatorial district once again.
They described his entrance in the 2023 Senatorial race as a very big plus for the development of the Senatorial District which will bring back the past glory of the area.
Mr Nkeneke Ekere, an indigene of Etim Ekpo who lives in Carolina USA in his verified twitter handle said Ekperikpe Ekpo’s exploits as Council Chairman and Member, House of Representatives shows he plays populist politics and contributed immensely to human and infrastructural development of Ika council area and Abak Federal Constituency.
Related: ISD 2023: Online Poll Favours Ekperikpe Ekpo Ahead Of Other Aspirants
Otobong Ephraim, a resident of Massachusetts from Ukanafun council area in his reaction to Ekere’s twit said “Ekperikpe Ekpo has passion for development and that is the kind of man that will give effective representation to the area in the senate; let’s give him the needed push and all the support to give us a better representation in the Senate. We owe this to our people and the future of our Senatorial district”.
Another twitter user Ndiana Asuquo from Manchester in UK, in her twit noted “I have not seen any other person that can match Rt. Hon. Ekperikpo Ekpo’s records on what he has done with public office held earlier or intend doing if elected into Senate in 2023.
“He has touched many lives through people-oriented projects both as Council Chairman and Member of the House of Representatives even in dire times. We in Europe share this common sentiment on his suitability to take over from the incumbent senator, Obong Christopher Ekpenyong, he is a gentleman without any air of arrogance around him, we will support him for better representation, I speak the minds of our people over here”.
Speaking over the phone with our correspondent over the weekend, Mr. Ikemesit Ekong who is in Ontario Canada said Ekperikpe Ekpo’s humility and accessibility remains his biggest strength, “He is one politician in and out of public office that listens to people and hardly discriminates, no matter one’s position in the society, he is a good man and a father figure to all with sound organizational ability.”
On their own, a group of Akwa ibom youths in Rivers State operating under the aegis of “Youths in Support of Credible and Transparent Governance” (YSCT) said the group will throw their weight behind Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo’s Senatorial aspiration because of his deep love for development and scandal free politics, he avoids politics of bitterness and only projects his plans for the people”.
Related: ISD 2023: We Need Your Experience In Senate, Youth Groups Urge Ekperikpe Ekpo
The Coordinator, Prince Phillip Umoh said in an interview with our Correspondent that Ekperikpe Ekpo stood out from other aspirants because of his rich political experience, accessibility and unparallel humility. “He is a man whose words are his bond and very reliable”.
Speaking further Prince Umoh said, “He is a good Christian who looks up to God for his political future and nobody who starts with God will ever fail in any endeavor, he has our support and at the right time we will address the media and return for mobilisation”.
In the words of Mrs Ndifereke Ufot, a Politician and International Business woman, “I can tell you as a grassroot politician and socialite that Ekperikpe Ekpo is the person majority of our people in ikot Ekpene Senatorial District are looking for. The youths, women and elderly, both resident here and in Diaspora prefer him because he has the virtues, the synergy and needed connections to attract development to the Senatorial District. He did very well in the House of Representatives, he will do better in the Senate”.
She further said that the election of Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo will be a mass movement which will cut across party lines as his antecedents will echo louder when the election draws nearer.
“We need nothing than the best now to reconnect properly and benefit from our country, only a vibrant and experienced Senator in the person of Ekperikpe Ekpo can guarantee this”
“He is a very humble person, with the interest of the Senatorial District at heart. He loves his people and will do anything to see them progress and prosper,” she highlighted.
