As the 2015 gubernatorial race commences in Akwa Ibom State, the Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency Forum has thrown its weight behind the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Nsima Ekere.
The decision to strongly recommend Mr. Ekere, was taken on Friday, January 17, 2014 at the Ikot Abasi Local Government Council Hall during the seventh general meeting of the forum, which is the umbrella organization for the people of Ikot Abasi, Eastern Obolo and Mkpat Enin, the three local government areas constituting the constituency.
It is the latest in what is increasingly a serial endorsement of Mr. Ekere by different groups and pressure on him to run, coming after the founding fathers of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency and the Third Republic Members of the House of Representatives from Akwa Ibom State had earlier adopted him as their preferred candidate and urged him to run.
In a motion moved by Mr. Dennis Izonguwu from Eastern Obolo and seconded by Prince Anietie Isiaenang from Mkpat Enin, over 500 political leaders, stakeholders and eminent personalities that attended the meeting unanimously and strongly recommended Mr. Ekere and Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency as “the only remaining ingredients to complete the equation and guarantee Akwa Ibom State sustained uncommon transformation.”
In a communiqué, the forum explained that its choice of Mr. Ekere was necessitated by the fact that “to maintain and improve upon Governor Godswill Akpabio’s transformation agenda, his successor must be a man with cognate experience and humble disposition.”
It commended Governor Akpabio for his avowed position to support Eket Senatorial District to produce the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015.
The forum also saluted “the courage, tenacity and uncommon strides of our dear Governor in his transformation agenda, for taking Akwa Ibom State from nowhere to somewhere that she now becomes a desired destination for Nigerians, in particular, and the world, in general.”
Governor Akpabio was also hailed for the numerous appointments made in Eket Senatorial District, especially the position of the Managing Director of NDDC, held by Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia from Eket Federal Constituency, the ministerial position and State Representative of NDDC, held by Oron Federal Constituency which is also expected to occupy the Senate seat in 2015.
The forum appealed to Governor Akpabio to favourably consider Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency for the governorship position in 2015, stressing that in line with the existing arrangement in the Eket Senatorial District the Senate seat will naturally rotate to Oron Federal Constituency in 2015 since Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency had occupied it for eight years between 1999 and 2003 and Eket Federal Constituency would complete her eight-year tenure next year.
It thanked Eket Senatorial District Assembly under the leadership of Chief Nduese Essien and Ambassador Etim Uye and the entire steering committee members of the Assembly for the pressure they generated on the conscience of Akwa Ibom people to allow the governorship position to come to the district in 2015.
The forum passed a vote of confidence on the Member representing Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Akpan Micah Umoh, the Member representing Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Mr. Aboh Uduyok, his Mkpat Enin counterpart, Barr. Ekong Sampson, as well as the Chairmen of the three Local Governments, Arc. Ufot Udoinyang, Ikot Abasi, Dr. Francis Charles Uduyok, Eastern Obolo and Mr. Ephraim Akpan, Mkpat Enin.
Speaking after the adoption of the motion, the House of Representatives’ Member, Dr. Umoh, thanked Governor Akpabio for supporting the zoning of the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District and declared his total support for the endorsement of Mr. Ekere as the choice of the people of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the forum and former Chairman of Ikot Abasi Local Government, Obong Amaete Ntuk, expressed delight at the massive turnout for the meeting and thanked their federal legislator, Dr. Umoh, for honouring his constituents by personally attending the event.
The pioneer PDP Chapter Chairman in Mkpat Enin and former Member of the House of Representatives, Chief Ekong Mex Umoh, described Mr. Ekere as the most qualified and most competent person in the senatorial district to vie for the office of Governor.
On his part, the Political Leader of Eastern Obolo and former Chairman of the local government, Chief Harry Etetor, advised the people of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency to be resolute in their quest for the governorship seat and support for Mr. Ekere.
Others who spoke in support of the motion at the meeting included Obong Obot Etukafia, a former State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Prince Enobong Ufot, a former Chairman of Ikot Abasi Local Government, Obonganwan Edith Etete, a prominent women leader and Mr. Ezekiel Nathaniel, the Chairman of the forum of clan youth presidents in Ikot Abasi.
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