The immediate predecessor of the Senator Minority Leader, Senator Aloysius Etok, has decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and moved to the All Progressive Congress (APC). The decision to join the APC by the Senator who represented Ikot Ekpene Senator District from 2007 to 2015 before being succeeded by the immediate past governor of the state and the current Senator Minority Leaders, Senator Godswilll Akpabio, was made public at the APC prayer summit and solemn assembly organized by the party to welcome back their governorship candidate Obong Umana Okon Umana on Friday the 8th of January, 2016.
The prayer summit which turned into a political rally saw a mammoth crowd of the party’s supporters carrying broom and chanting solidarity songs to the party’s governorship candidate at the April, 2015 general elections in the state, Obong Umana Okon Umana. The supporters chanted the “Change” slogan of the party and caused a serious hold-up along Edet Akpan Avenue where the Nsima Ekere Solidarity Centre where the event took place is located.
Apart from Senator Aloysius Etok, other top-ranking politicians in the state who moved from different political parties to join the APC were Chief Out Ita Toyo, a Former State Chairman of the PDP; Hon. Eseme Eyibo, a former House of Representatives member from Eket Federal Constituency (PDP); Hon. Akpan Micah Umoh, a Former House of Reps member from PDP; Bishop Ekpe James, the immediate past chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A. who decamped from Accord Party.
Others were Hon. Ekerette Ekpenyong, the immediate past chairman of Uyo LGA, (PDP) Hon. Michael Etim, the immediate past chairman of Itu LGA (PDP); Hon. Aniekan Akpan, the immediate past chairman Eket LGA. (PDP); Hon. Etido Ibekwe, a Former House of Assembly member (PDP) and Dr. Friday Etuk (Assur)
Receiving the decampes into the APC fold, the National Vice Chairman of the party in the South South zone, Prince Hilliard Ettah, welcomed them into the party on behalf of the National Chairman, Chief JohnOdigie-Oyegun. He also told the gathering to support Obong Umana to become the Governor of the State. Adding that when APC government comes into the state, the immediate pastor governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, will be made to account for all that he stole and killed during the eight years that his administration lasted. According to Prince Ettah “Akpabio has done two things to the state; he has stolen and he has killed. For every kobo he has stolen, he will be made to account for it and for every dead soul, he will not only account to the Federal Republic of Nigeria but he will give account of the souls before God. Don’t be afraid of Godswill Akpabio, he used to be very hot, but very soon he’s going to be very cold” he stated.
Responding on behalf of the decampes, Senator Aloysius Etok thanked the APC party for accepting them into their fold. He also thanked Obong Umana Umana for championing the struggle for the liberation of the state, which according to him, was under bondage under the immediate past administration in the state.
Also speaking, Chief OtuIta Toyo, who was a former chairman of the PDP in the state said that since 1952 the people of Akwa Ibom State have always been moving from one party to another. He then concluded by stating that “today, Akwa Ibom people have decided to move to the new party for the Akwa Ibom people. That party is the APC. That is why I have decided to move with the majority of the people.”
High point on the occasion was when the APC governorship candidate, Obong Umana Okon Umana spoke. He spoke amidst cheers and chants of “APC – Change” from the supporters who came from all the 31 local government areas in the state. He thanked God for the victories He has so far given him and his party at the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. He also thanked his supporters for believing in him and his aspiration and promised them that “when” he comes into office as the governor of the state, he will carry every part of the state along in his government. “The victories at both the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal respectively on 21st October, and 18th December, 2015, were not just for me as a person, they were victories for the people of Akwa Ibom State. As a people, you have proven to be unconquerable. You have shown that no weapon or amount of money can break your spirit or bend your resolve.May God bless you all in Jesus name” he prayed.
Mr. Umana paid glowing tributes to President Mohammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the party Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for giving good and exemplary leadership to both the party and the nation as a whole. “The era of impunity is gone under the current dispensation of law and order. This is because whoever acts outside the law must be made to account for their actions” he stated.
He went further thus “I am grateful to all my supporters across the different political divides. Your support has given true meaning to our victory. The true meaning of the judgments of the courts is that the ongoing battle for Akwa Ibom State is not about individuals. The battle is between freedom and slavery. As you can see with the event of today, most of Akwa Ibom people have chosen freedom and walked away from slavery. Our people have opted for freedom and rejected enslavement and godfatherism. APC represents that quest for freedom, inclusion, and openness. The historic task of successful resistance to impunity and arbitrary use of our state resources cannot be complete until you have installed on APC government in the state. This therefore means that though we have scored important victories along the way, the war is not yet won. There is a lot of work ahead of us”,he implored.
Mr. Umana also described the PDP as a sinking ship which would be abandoned by every reasonable person. “PDP is a sinking ship which has sunk beyond redemption. Very soon, we are going to receive Effiong Bob, Idongesit Nkanga, Emmanuel Ibok Essien, and Anietie Okon because that is the only reasonable thing to do and they are the only ones left in the sinking ship”. He then called on his supporters to remain steadfast and committed to the course as it is not yet uhuru.
Others who spoke on the occasion were Bishop Ekpe James, the immediate past chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan L.G.A, Senator Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhuri on National Assembly Matters (Senate); Mr. Asuquo Asuquo Okpo, a member of the G22, who spoke on behalf of the group; Hon. Ekerette Ekpenyong, the immediate past chairman of Uyo LGA and many others who all solicited support for Mr. Umana.
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