Council rejects Emmanuel’s choice of successor as gov restates commitment to Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has said he will not do anything selfish against the interest of Akwa Ibom people. He also advised politicians and non-politicians in the state not to follow persons, whose intentions are inimical to the sustained peace in the state.

He noted that no political venture was worth compromising the safety of any person or their families.

He gave the advice while speaking at the New Year get-together of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held at the party secretariat, Atan Offot, Uyo, yesterday.

He appreciated the support received from the PDP, saying: “Today, if you talk about the PDP in Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State will be rated as one of the strongest.

“I thank you for your faithfulness, standing strong for our party and for contributing to the national strength of our party. Thank you for believing in this umbrella (PDP symbol). We will make sure this umbrella remains intact and covers everybody.”

The governor assured leaders of the PDP in the state that his administration would continue to work hard to ensure all ongoing projects were delivered.

He said: “My manifesto to contest election was under the logo of the PDP. We have a little more than a year to go, but I want to assure the party that all ongoing projects will be completed.

“We will work day and night to make sure we deliver on the manifesto we presented to this party.

“I will never do anything with selfish intention. Everything I do is in the interest of Akwa Ibom people.”

He advised persons occupying positions of responsibility to handle their offices faithfully and avoid activities that may jeopardise their safety.

“I advise you as my brothers and my sisters, nothing on planet earth is worth your life.
Don’t accept things that will affect your life or that of your family members for a peanut.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Aniekan Akpan, commended the governor for sustaining the New Year get-together through the six years of his government.

EMMANUEL spoke just as a group, under the aegis of Akwa Ibom State Council of Ministers, asked him to withdraw his recent endorsement of his Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno, as his successor in 2023.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo, yesterday, the President of Akwa Ibom Council of Ministers, Apostle Joseph Nyong, and Secretary, Apostle Elijah Usoh, said Emmanuel never displayed equity and fairness in the endorsement.

The president of the group insisted that Emmanuel’s endorsement amounted to imposition and outsmarting of the majority of Akwa Ibom people.

He said: “Such endorsement does not only smack of imposition and direct affront on the political will of majority of Akwa Ibom people but it is also a clear violation of the longstanding and immutable zoning arrangements in the state.”

He urged the governor to search for his successor from Itu-Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency in the interest of peace, equity and fair play.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that it is only Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency that has yet to produce the governor of all federal constituencies within Uyo Senatorial District. It is therefore equitable and fair that it should be micro zoned to the federal constituency of Itu/Ibiono.”