The ambition of Engr. Otobong Ndem to get
to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to represent the people of
Mkpat Enin state constituency come 2015 general elections got a massive
support last weekend with stakeholders, party officers, ward Excos,
former chairmen and former state lawmakers from the area throwing their
weight of support behind him.
In an elaborate event held at Mkpat Enin at the weekend, stakeholders assured Otobong Ndem that he is an apple of the eye of the people of Mkpat Enin and with his show of humility, steadfastness and commitment to the people of Mkpat Enin they have no choice but to support him to emerge the next member of the House of Assembly.
They reasoned that Ndem’s loyalty to the people and course of Mkpat Enin is a lesson that other politicians should learn from. They opined that Otobong Ndem’s aspiration is welcome due to its timeliness that has come with the zoning arrangements of the area.
Meanwhile, the inauguration of the campaign committee of Otobong Ndem christened EkeminiAbasi was done at Ikot Akata village in Mkpat Enin LGA with Elder Ukonsek Ukonsek as the Chairman while the immediate past member of the House of Assembly who represented Mkpat Enin Barr Udobong Ekpo is the chairman of Caucus for the EkeminiAbasi 2015 organization. He also doubled as the Chairman on the occasion.
The Director General of the campaign and other members of the campaign organization were being inaugurated by Udobong Ekpo the caucus chairman with a charge on them to see themselves as Ambassadors towards actualizing the House of Assembly ambition of Otobong Ndem.
He reminded them of the task ahead and the need for them not to allow money be a priority as they set out to do the work that is required of them. Udobong Ekpo urged the campaign committee members to work with all amount of honesty as they will all be rewarded. He stressed that Otobong Ndem is a man that has integrity, pedigree and is accessible and added that with a personae like Engr. Otobong Ndem, Mkpat Enin people will smile because they would have had a representative that will make them proud.
He said his reasons for supporting Ndem are not borne out of selfish desires but because of his conviction that Ndem possesses the credentials and the capacity to represent the people of Mkpat Enin effectively.
The Deputy Chairman of the caucus and a former council chairman of Mkpat Enin LGA advised that the desire by the people to make Ndem the next member of the House of Assembly come 2015 is total and that even God will support them.
He told the members of the campaign committee at the central and ward levels that they should eschew sentiments since they have agreed to work for EkeminiAbasi’s project. He mentioned that the aspirant is a good guy who will not let the people down and added also that Otobong Ndem knows the peculiar challenges of Mkpat Enin people and will earnestly fix them in his capacity as a legislator.
The former council boss who served Mkpat Enin for one year and three months said, anybody coming to sabotage the effort of the EkeminiAbasi campaign team will fail and that the movement is a moving train that will protect and defend the people of Mkpat Enin state constituency. He posited that they will not be distracted in any way. He appealed to members of the organization to work very hard to ensure that victory smiles at them at the end of the nomination exercise as well as the general elections.
Ward coordinators of EkeminiAbasi campaign organization were inaugurated by the Director General of the body Elder Ukonsek Ukonsek with a charge on the coordinators to be sacrificial and eschew all forms of hatred and pettiness as according to him it is because they have been seen to be committed members of the body and urged them not to relent in preaching the gospel of Otobong Ndem to their people.
High point of the event was when speeches were made. Chief Cardinal Essien who spoke on behalf of the ten Ward Chairmen present at the meeting appreciated the people for their turn out which he described as massive. He said the project to make Otobong Ndem the next member of the House of Assembly for Mkpat Enin state constituency was first rooted by the ward chairmen after an assessment of the possible contenders and their track records. The seasoned chief stated that himself and his colleagues in the ward chairmen forum will do all they can to ensure that they deliver victory to Mkpat Enin people as according to him Victory to Mkpat Enin people will mean victory for Otobong Ndem. He promised to stand by the project till the end.
The vice Chairman of the party PDP, Chief Asuquo Enang with twelve other Chapter Officers on his position said, Otobong Ndem has the capacity to give Mkpat Enin people effective representation. He opined that the gathering for that day was quite significant as the people have shown that indeed they are ready for Otobong to lead them as the next House of Assembly member.
On his part the Principal and Patron of EkeminiAbasi 2015 Engr. Otobong Ndem appreciated the people for having confidence in him and for supporting his ambition to the House of Assembly. He said when given the necessary backing for victory that he will not disappoint his supporters.
The seasoned Engr. thanked the people for the commitment they have shown in the project and asked God to bless the people even as he assured that with the promise of a level playing field for everybody by the Party he is sure victory will be theirs.
The event was attended by party stalwarts and stakeholders, former House of Assembly members, former council chairmen, former legislators, women, youths, Elders amongst others who all pledged their commitment and loyalty to Otobong Ndem’s ambition.
The massive acceptance of Engr. Ndem is a follow up to his recent endorsement by the pioneer chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area. It could be recalled that the Pioneer Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party Chief Richard Umoren had endorsed the ambition of Otobong Ndem to the House of Assembly come 2015.
Chief Umoren who is popularly known as tractor Maureen spoke when the House of Assembly hopeful paid him a consultation visit in the company of 13 chapter officers of the party with 10 ward chairmen at his residence in Uyo.
During the consultation visit, the ex Mkpat Enin Chairman had poured his blessings on the Assembly hopeful and had openly endorsed him as his consensus candidate for the election. The Chieftain had gone down memory lane where he had insisted that zoning must be allowed to prevail in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area. He had reminded his guests that Mkpat Enin is made up of four clans of Ibiaku, Ukpum Minya, Ikpa Ikono and Ikpa Ibom and that all three of the other clans had gotten a shot at the House of Assembly except Ikpa Ibom and insisted that come 2015, it is the turn of Ikpa Ibom to produce the next House of Assembly member.
The erudite political Chieftain had maintained that looking round; he has seen the competence and the capacity of Otobong Ndem as the man with the midas touch and the gentleman that will give the whole of Mkpat Enin state constituency the representation it deserves come 2015
Chief Umoren further expatiated that from 1999 till 2003 Dr. Nseobot Nkanta of Ibiaku clan had the first shot and was succeeded by Barr Udobong Ekpo of Ukpum Minya clan who represented the people from 2003 till 2007.
After Ukpum Minya clan, the next clan that took her turn was Ikpa Ikono clan with Ekong Sampson at the helm of affairs. He noted that Ekong Sampson had been on the seat from 2007 and will run till 2015.
Having made the mathematics of the zoning in Mkpat Enin, the former council boss summarized that since Ikpa Ibom clan had not produced an Assemblyman before, it is incumbent upon the people of Mkpat Enin who are known to be of good conscience, justice and equity conscience to support Ikpa Ibom clan to produce a House of Assembly member for the 2015 House of Assembly elections. He called on the people not to murder the age long zoning arrangement of the area for pecuniary benefits.
The former council Boss urged Otobong Ndem to go about his consultations positing that he will emerge the next Assemblyman by 2015
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