2015: Bishop Akpan consults PDP

2015: Bishop Akpan consults PDP

* Declares intention
* Says party is owing me
* I laboured for Akpabio, Paul Ekpo
BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

Ahead of next month  primaries of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, a governorship aspirant, Bishop Samuel Akpan has officially consulted the party and informed them of his aspiration to contest for the governorship position come November, 29.

The consultation took place at the PDP State secretariat at four lanes, Uyo, the State capital, last week Friday.

Addressing the State working committee and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bishop Akpan said his visit was to consult the party and officially informed them of his ambition to govern the State come 2015.

The governorship hopeful who is a former state deputy chairman of PDP, maintained that he has worked and dedicated his life and moment for the party to succeed in Akwa Ibom State, adding that it is now the time for the party to reward him by supporting and giving him the governorship ticket come next month during the PDP primaries. “I have paid my dues, I have been a labourer of the party, I have also worked and served the party for it to succeed in the State. So the party owes me”.

Bishop Samuel Akpan further noted that if elected into office as the next governor come 2015, he will restore the dignity of the party and will also ensure that the party remains a force in his administration even as he pleaded for support from the party.

Akpan, noted that he is not asking the party to write his name, but to deliver him at the polls, adding that he is the popular choice of the people of Akwa Ibom State for the position of governorship.
He stressed on the need for the party to support him, having served it in several positions since its beginning in the State, while promising to empower the people and ensuring that his government totally eradicates unemployment in the State.

He disclosed that he won the senatorial election in 2011 to represent the people of Eket Senatorial District, but was persuaded by Governor Godswill Akpabio as well as the party to step down for Senator Helen Esuene in order to secure the women slot which he did.

According to him, “I stepped down for Helen Esuene because the party promised to give me the governorship slot, so that is why I am pleading with the party to keep to the promise”.

The Bishop of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star who recalled that he was the presiding officer of PDP who delivered Godswill Akpabio in 2006 and in 2011 when he was the State collation officer for the party, said he was denied everything in government by the governor. “I did not betray Akpabio, I was honest and sincere to him (Akpabio), but I have been denied of everything in this administration. I was so active in placing 31 council chairmen in 2008 during the Local Government election including 329 councillors as well as the appointment of commissioners which Paul Ekpo was a beneficiary”. Akpan maintained.

He noted that he is the most qualified for the job and thanked the leadership of PDP in the State for their wisdom to zone the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District.

Welcoming the governorship hopeful to the party secretariat, the State chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo said the party will do everything possible to ensure a level playing ground for all the aspirants during the party’s primaries. Describing Bishop Samuel Akpan as a great grassroots mobilizer for the party during his time in the party executive, Obong Paul Ekpo commended him on his peaceful campaign in the State and promised the party’s support for his aspiration.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Bishop Akpan took his consultation team to the Ibom Museum Park, Udo Udoma Avenue which happened to be the venue for South-South solidarity rally in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term declaration, organised by Jonathan Mandate Group (JOMAG), where he formally declared his intention to contest for the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State. Highpoint of the event was the adoption of Bishop Samuel Akpan for the position of governor of Akwa Ibom State by the Jonathan Mandate Group (JOMAG).