Today in Akwa Ibom State, the words on everyone’s lips are the 2023 general elections; particularly as it concerns who takes over the mantle of leadership as the Governor come May 29, 2023.
The discourse on the subject matter echoes across the length and breadth of Akwa Ibom as the people earnestly yearn to elect a Governor who will rescue them from the adverse economic deprivations, underdevelopment and nepotism as unfortunately witnessed in the state.
Pundits are quick to point out that never in the history of Akwa Ibom has the state experienced the kind of state-manipulated poverty as currently experienced under the administration of Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, even when more federal allocations and other sundry revenues are earned by the regime more than the previous ones.
The lamentations, coming from all classes of people – the retirees, next of kin of late primary school teachers, workers in the state service, public servants, MDAs and contractors; fuel the angst in society. Also, scores of projects in the state, initiated for about seven years now, are still not near the completion stage. This background signposts the stiff opposition and fury against the succession agenda of Mr Udom Emmanuel. What is more, the choice of Umo Eno – a man enveloped with controversies- further worsened Governor Udom Emmanuel’s desire to install a successor. The people see it as an attempt to perpetuate himself and elongate the cycle of deprivation in the state.
As months draw by towards the 2023 general elections, the very foundation of the state’s ruling party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Umo Eno as the gubernatorial candidate, is collapsing across the 31 local government areas. Party officers, chieftains and teeming supporters of PDP are leaving in droves.
As it is today, the people’s newfound love and vehicle to drive the expected redemption come 2023 general elections is tacitly the Young Progressives Party (YPP). The groundswell of movement into the party in the state has been rather ‘volcanic.’ Political watchers see the trend as being influenced by the people’s passionate desire to rescue Akwa Ibom State from the economic and political quagmire as a matter of urgency.
The YPP, with the slogan “Service to the people”, is counting on great fortunes with the joining of the party by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA) and his subsequent emergence as its gubernatorial flag bearer. OBA, a celebrated performer right from his years in the banking industry; Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance; Chairman, Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Committee and currently, Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial district, is greatly loved by the Akwa Ibom electorates who see him as the arrowhead in the struggle to redeem the state. His impact looms large across the state, giving him the advantage above others and as someone who can easily be supported in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State.
Related: Excited Crowd In Nsit Ubium Defies Rain To Celebrate YPP, OBA, Ors
NSIT IBOM … hauls of over 1,027 decampees
As a new party in Akwa Ibom State, YPP has set out to inaugurate offices. The exercise has become a measure of its wide acceptability across the state. On Tuesday, August 30, 2022, the YPP set sail into Etinan Federal Constituency, which has three local government areas: Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium and Etinan respectively. Incidentally, it is the constituency of Umo Eno, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, who hails from Nsit Ubium.
The inauguration exercise which kick-started in Nsit Ibom witnessed a massive turn-out of stakeholders, political chieftains and the electorates generally, who said they embraced YPP because of their firm hope that it will herald a new, better and prosperous Akwa Ibom State. Instantly over 1,027 persons from various backgrounds and political affiliations joined YPP.
It was a triumphant entry for the YPP. The state chairman of the party, Apostle Nyeneime Andy led others to the area for the inauguration of Nsit Ibom Local Government chapter’s office, accompanied by the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Albert, running mate, AIG Mike Asuquo Amba (rtd.) and others. They had a swell time acknowledging the teeming crowd.
Speaking on behalf of the 1,027 decampees from other political parties, Hon. Udom Jackson, thanked God “for a party like Young Progressives Party (YPP),” adding that the party’s office was a big boost. “I’ve been with the incoming Governor (OBA) for the past decades. Other of his supporters and I have now decided to join him in the new party. We will work tirelessly to ensure that all Nsit Ibom people stand with YPP. This crowd shows that Nsit Ibom is YPP. Our only duty to reform our state is to install the YPP government,” he added.
Earlier, the chapter chairman, Engr. Ndifreke Udom, while welcoming the personalities to the local government area, stated that all Nsit Ibom people were convinced that YPP will bring to an end many years of poor governance in Akwa Ibom State, where people’s interests are not accorded priority. Udom was emphatic that Nsit Ibom people will support the YPP for all the elections in 2023.”Our people have assured all of us that we all will embrace the fresh leaves for a better Akwa Ibom,” he stated.
For the state party chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, what he saw aligned with his vision. “Today is another day that God has made for Nsit Ibom to rejoice because your pains will soon be over,” he said, adding that the entourage was not in Nsit Ibom to campaign but to officially open the chapter office of the party and register all the decampees into the party. “Let me assure you that come 2023, the state House of Assembly members, House of Representatives members, all Senators, and the Governor will all be from the YPP”, the YPP’s boss said amidst thunderous ovation.
Related: Over 580 Officers of PDP Defect to YPP in Akwa Ibom
The crescendo came when the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan, who spoke in his capacity as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District, thanked the people of Nsit Ibom for the warm reception. “We are not here to campaign, because campaigns have not yet started. Make better decisions in 2023. Don’t trade your future because of money. Your future is guaranteed. If you face any challenges, don’t worry, your future is very bright. Face the persecution because we all have to suffer before our liberation,” he charged the mammoth crowd.
A one-time state secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Otuekong Anietie Ekong, who is a native of Nsit Ibom, in his vote of thanks, appreciated “The Almighty God for a party like YPP” as he affirmed that it will provide a better government for the people once OBA, AIG Asuquo Amba and other experienced leaders take over the mantle of leadership in Akwa Ibom State.
NSIT UBIUM … harvests of over 1,431decampees
As the triumphant march berthed Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, the acceptance of the party was massive. The jubilant crowd of people were not deterred by the rains in receiving and celebrating YPP, led by the state chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, alongside the gubernatorial candidate, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, his running mate, AIG Asuquo Amba (rtd) and other party stalwarts, as they stormed Ikot Edibon, the local government headquarters, to open the YPP office and the Youths Acquisition Skills Centre.
The tumultuous crowd lined the streets to welcome the team with electrifying songs, dancing and waving of the symbol of the party – green leaves. Again, it was a big haul as YPP harvested over 1,431 from PDP, ADC and others, into its fold. It was obvious that Umo Eno has no political foothold in his Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.
The songs of triumph got louder when Mr Anthony Akpan, a candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in the 2023 elections, led 1,431 others, to decamp to YPP. According to the ADC’s candidate, he stepped down from the contest to formally join forces with YPP to bring OBA on board as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Boldly, he stated, “I, Anthony Akpan, from Obotim Ward 1 Nsit1, Ubium today declare my support for OBA and YPP. I have collapsed my structure for the YPP. The Ika, Obot Akara, Etim Ekpo and Ini chapter chairmen of ADC defect alongside me to carry the leaves as the only sign of hope for Akwa Ibom people”.
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For the Nsit Ubium chapter chairman of YPP, Mr Moses Sam, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, the state chairman of YPP is the “Joshua of our time” and thanked him for steering the affairs of the party to what it has grown to become today. “The next and perhaps the best Governor in our state will be OBA. As we are having our office today, we will work for our son, OBA, to emerge as Governor. Nsit Ubium is YPP; YPP is Nsit Ubium. As you can see, my blood is YPP. We have buried every other party that has died to embrace the YPP”, Mr Sam affirmed.
Apostle Andy, while inaugurating the YPP’s office and Skills Acquisition Centre, said: “Let me specially thank you all for coming out under the rain to witness this great ceremony. Your incoming Governor is here, and he will address all your problems when he takes over. I can assure you that when we take over power in 2023, we will reward you for your love for the party.
“Today, we didn’t come to campaign, but to open the party office, the youth acquisition centre, as well as to receive the thousands of the decampees from other parties joining the YPP’s great family. This skills acquisition centre is to train and develop the people of Nsit Ubium. We want to train our youths to properly engage them. Before we come into government, we will train the youths here to be self-reliant and self-employed.”
In his goodwill message, Barr Daniel Udofia, a former PDP stalwart, said that Nsit Ubium has fully adopted YPP: “We do not doubt that our son, OBA, who is taking over on May 29, 2023, has proven to be the best. He will deliver on the mandate we will give him in 2023. Our people have given the assurance that they will support him for quality leadership from next year.” Udofia thanked OBA for his love for Nsit Ubium people and urged all – the elders, youths, and women to embrace OBA come 2023.
ETINAN … 1,047 decampees joined the YPP family.
The arrival of the train of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Etinan, the headquarters of the Federal Constituency was quite symbolic. The historical town of Etinan is the birthplace of the first democratically elected civilian Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the sagacious Late Obong Akpan Isemin. It is also the home of several other political juggernauts and eggheads.
Before the arrival of the YPP’s team, virtually all homes were emptied into the streets, converging at the expansive Etinan Square. The crowd, chanting “Our liberation is near” feasted in celebration. Etinan delivered 1,047 decampees to the YPP’s family. At the unveiling of the chapter office, the people expressed hope that the forthcoming YPP government in the state will change their fortunes for good.
In his welcome address, the chapter chairman, Rev. Nkese Ekpot, described YPP as “the fastest growing party in Akwa Ibom” and prayed to God to bless all who defied the rain to grace the official commissioning of the party office in Etinan.
“We have been liberated. It is high time we say no to those who took us as fools. Despite their antics, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan will lead our state. OBA is our only hope, given his track record of achievements as Commissioner and Senator,” the chapter chairman said, amidst applause.
Similarly, a renowned political juggernaut and former PDP stalwart, who is the Chairman of the Strategic Committee of the Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organization, Bishop Andrew Unwanta, thanked the Etinan people for their love and assured them that OBA will not disappoint them.
A former PDP secretary in Etinan and supervisory councillor, Mr Joe Emmah, who spoke on behalf of all the 1,047 decampees, said they decided to dump the umbrella since its damage was beyond repairs. “We trust the YPP so much that is why our people on hearing that YPP was coming, came here in numbers despite the rain. We prefer fresh leaves to a tattered and irreparably spoilt umbrella. The people of Etinan will support the YPP. They will stand with the incoming Governor, OBA and all other candidates for the 2023 elections,” Emmah added.
The state chairman of YPP, Apostle Nyenime Andy, while performing the official commissioning of the local government party’s office and the Southern Iman Ward 1 office of the party, prayed to God to bless all the people of Etinan who defied the rain since morning to wait for them: “God, no one has run to you and failed. They have run to you, and today may you be with them, answer their prayers to have YPP in government so that their hard work, consistency and love for YPP be rewarded.”
Candidly, the operation rescue Akwa Ibom State has taken over Etinan Federal Constituency.
Orok Smith – a public commentator writes from ONNA
