Votes for Akan Udofia is civic responsibility of all Akwa Ibom people – Obong Ntukekpo
By Dennis Udo-Udoma, Uyo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has called on the people of the state to come out en masse to vote the party’s governorship candidate, Obong Akanimo Udofia to power on March 11 as their civic responsibility to enthrone good governance.
State Chairman of APC, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo made the call at a campaign rally in his home local government, Mkpat Enin.
Obong Ntukekpo alongside other speakers impressed upon the electorate to support APC to produce Obong Akan Udofia as governor for the state.
He extolled the charisma and pracmatism of the governorship candidate, saying that the people should reject the antics and deceitful lure of the People’s Democratic Party in the state with cups of rice but indirectly cornering funds meant for development to themselves.
The chairman allegedly disclosed how PDP has set aside about N131 million for vote buying and urged the people to reject such attempt and deliver Udofia who would turn things around for common good.
According to him, “Obong Akan Udofia is the biggest philantropist in the state who has built and delivered a N2 billion hostel for students of Akwa Ibom State University free and has extended the gesture to people with similar needs.
“We call on Akwa Ibom people to support him, to bring his development model, which he used in expanding a private company of fifteen personnel to thousands of employees in a jiffy” adding that, the winning of the party’s presidential polls was a good omen and direction for uplift of the people from the present poverty in Akwa Ibom.
Ntukekpo also assured the youths and women of his support for their appointment in the new administration as state chairman of the party.
The governorship candidate, Obong Akan Udofia bemoaned the 24 years of PDP in the state as not doing enough to suppress poverty, saying the era of servitude was over.
The governorship candidate, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Victor Antai said, he would change the narrative and entrench prosperity.
He charged Mkpat Enin people to support him and promised to reintroduce bursary for students in colleges/Universities/polytechnics, financial grants to the women and 13 months salaries to workers in the state amongst others.
“My administration will ursher in unprecedented infrastructure development and we shall build Ibaka Deep seaport, build roads and ensure development of our rural communities”.
Others who also spoke were the chapter chairman, Hon. Utitofon Jeremiah who welcomed the campaign council to the local government.
He appealed to the governorship candidate to include Mkpat Enin roads in his scheme of things citting Ibiaku, Ikpa Ikono Clans and Ikpa Ibom, Ukpum Minya Clans as communities without access roads.
The House of Assembly candidate, Obong Ini Ekpo said, as a lawyer he has sacrificed himself for service to the people of Mkpat Enin and called on them to stand by him to win the forthcoming polls on Saturday, 11th of March.
Ekpo, promised to represent the area successfully and bring dividends to the people.
High point of the rally was the defection of over 30 members of PDP into APC.
Leader of the defectors, Mr. Ekpo James Ubom expressed delight and praised the quality of the governorship candidate, who he said is loved by the grassroots.
He pledged to work to deliver the party at the forthcoming polls in the state.
