The people of Akwa Ibom State, on Friday, trooped out to give overwhelming support to Governor Udom Emmanuel on the occasion of his declaration for re-election in 2019.
The crowd defied the rain to grace the occasion which was held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Governor Emmanuel was at the occasion, in the company of his wife Martha, Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Nyesom Wike of Rivers states.
Also present were former governors of Akwa Ibom and other states; the Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, state and national lawmakers as well as other major stakeholders in Corporate Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Governor Udom Emmanuel said he was presenting himself before his people, “for consideration to continue the good works you have so far helped me to achieve as your Servant-Leader on the platform of the only political party that Akwa Ibom people have trusted in the last 19 years of our democratic governance, the PDP.”
Governor Emmanuel whose attempt to reel a summary of his accomplishments was received with affirmative echoes across the Nest of Champions, stated that despite the cloudy economic horizon and a significant drop in the federal allocations to the state, his people showed great support and understanding.
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He said through theirCourt frees 114 women demanding IPOB leader Kanu’s whereabouts prayers, his government was able to “navigate the troubled waters and come up with our heads held high, paying salaries, pensions and gratuities when elsewhere workers were groaning in pains of months long non-payment of salaries.”
He recounted the success story of his administration in the areas of massive investments in quality healthcare delivery, food security and affordability and education.
He added that infrastructural development and provision of amenities such as economically viable roads had opened up the hinterlands for people to engage in commercial activities.
Acknowledging the aphorism that ‘a job well done means more job to be done,’ Governor Emmanuel commended the people for their cooperation which he said, led to the establishment of several industries in the state, promising that he will continue to rise above personal interest to work towards the overall interest of the state.
On the reported war threats by some opposition members in the state, the Governor was upbeat in rebuking such threats, saying that Akwa Ibom people should not be intimidated.
“To all those who are saying that the politics of 2019 will be like Hitler’s invasion of Poland, we say Holy Ghooooost Fire. When those killers come, tell them that there is no vacancy in Akwa Ibom,” Mr. Emmanuel said.
He said his administration had executed over 20 kilometers of the Uyo – Ikot Ekpene Road which he met at only 3 kilometres ready.
He added that the Four Point Sheraton Hotel executed by the previous administration never had the trappings of a five star hotel at the time he assumed office.
“It is only today that we are negotiating with Starwood group for the acquisition of the name ‘Four Points by Sheraton Hotel’ which someone surreptitiously put up on a building. We just did the electrical installation and other finishings. Can you call a mere building a hotel?”
In their goodwill messages, the duo of Governor Wike and Ikpeazu admitted that those that defected recently from the PDP could not fault Governor Emmanuel on performance, but were only seeking their personal gains.
They described the Governor as a sincere God-fearing leader, and advised the people against being intimidated by the threats of insecurity by opposing politicians.
Setting the tone at the event, former Governor Idongesit Nkanga who is the Director General of the Governor’s Divine Mandate Campaign Organization said the governor was merely coming to thank his people who had already gathered in several fora across the state to endorse him for a second term.
The issue of threat and blackmail formed the fulcrum of the message by the chairman of the central planning committee of the event and Speaker of the State House of Assembly who re-echoed his earlier allegation that he rejected an offer of N2bn and an offer of a deputy governorship position, as a bait to have him defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The leadership of the various senatorial districts, also lend their voices in solidarity to the governor.
Speaking on behalf of Ikot Ekpene, former Deputy Governor Chris Ekpenyong, said “Governor Udom Emmanuel, everything is working for you because you are a child of God. We your in-laws are solidly behind you. We have our 600,000 votes intact.”
