Uyo AKHA 2015: Okon Joshua says he is still in the race

* Challenges opponents on hardwork
* Warns against Blackmail

The chairman of the Uyo Chapter of the  Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Okon Joshua last weekend said he is strongly in the race for the PDP primaries of the Uyo State Constituency and that he is not just in the race to make up the number but to win the Party ticket and proceed to the represent the people of Uyo State constituency in the sixth Assembly.

Joshua said this in an interaction with our reporter amidst the widespread and what he described as erroneous speculations that he was considering withdrawing from the race for lack of funds. Okon Joshua did not only laughed at the insinuations that he was considering withdrawal but added that those were antics made by fearful politicians and stressed that he was not intimidated by such speculations as he is not going to join issues with sycophants. 

He said the PDP nomination is few weeks away and that he is not considering withdrawing from the race. He called on those he described as politicians without antecedents to stop deceiving the public and whipping sentiments as elections will not be won on the lines of internet and blackmail but on ones antecedents. He narrated that the people of PDP in Uyo state constituency knows what they want and that they will go for it.

Explaining further, Okon Joshua who is known for his uprightness in issues said he is not carried away by what people are going about saying but that he is interested in seeing to the benefit of the people of Uyo state constituency. He maintained also that the race for who picks the House of Assembly ticket on the Platform of the PDP for Uyo state constituency is becoming interesting by the day as according to him, not fewer than eleven aspirants have so far indicated interest.

The Uyo Oku born politician maintained that it is funny that some of those eyeing the seat have resorted to carry on with propaganda that will do them no good at the end of the day. He maintained that those who are blackmailing him are those without antecedents and those who never contributed anything meaningful to the PDP. He added also that it is unfortunate that at this age people who are seeking to become legislators and lawmakers will carry on with lies fabricated from the inner circles of their comfort. Joshua stressed that he will not be cowed by such tricks from those he described as political jobbers but will concentrate on his duty first as the Uyo PDP chairman and his ambition to the House of Assembly. 

He called on all the people who are qualified and favoured by the zoning principle of the state constituency to throw their hats into the ring and contest alongside him. He however warned those already in the race to desist from smearing or dropping his name as according to him, Nse Joshua alias Atiku remains the man to beat in the election. He denied ever having a pact with anybody as rumoured in some quarters. He said, “my brother I had never promised anybody anything as far as the 2015 House of Assembly election is concern for Uyo state constituency.

 The reason those people are blackmailing me on a daily basis is because I am the man to beat, I am the only person on ground and they think they have to wipe up tissues of propaganda to attract sympathy for themselves, but my journalist, I will not be deterred, I am still going to go ahead with my intention to serve Uyo people. I will defeat them when I decide to run the election” 

Mr. Joshua spoke to THE INK Newspaper along four lane Edet Akpan Avenue near the Uyo PDP secretariat.