*”We rejoin the PDP in the Ward because of Dr. Udom” -Defectors
…as Asang Ward IV Leader extols Gov. Umo Eno
The Political Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Asang Ward IV, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, Dr. Ekpedeme Udom has commended the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno for his achievements so far in just ten months in office, and described him as the People’s Governor.
Dr. Udom made the commendations in Oboetim Ikot Ekong, the Asang Ward IV headquarters, during the PDP Ward meeting which was held simultaneously across the 368 wards in the State. She said the Governor has done well for the masses by ensuring that the impacts of his government are felt in the grassroots.
She commended the Governor on the recently signed Bulk Purchase Law which she said would put food on every table in Akwa Ibom State at the end of the day. According to her, “The Governor is a good man. The Governor is a listening governor. He has shut the mouths of his critics in just ten months in office because of his achievements.
In just ten months, he has awarded contracts for a number of roads in the State, and have mobilized contractors to sites. In just ten months our Governor has built health centres across the State; he has renovated some schools and hospitals. Within ten months he has paid pensions and gratuities to a number of retirees, and he has become the most friendly Governor to civil servants in Nigeria, especially with the 13th month Christmas bonus salary fondly called Umo-Enomber he paid to civil servants in the State in December 2023.
“Our Governor is giving loans and helping hand to farmers, traders and students, and has ensured that the elderly citizens in the State are catered for. He has done more, and has promised to do more.
“No local government area is left out in his government. He had since flagged off ‘one project per local government area’, and contractors have since commenced works on those projects. Very soon, Akwa Ibom State will not be the same again. Jobs and food will be available for us. Therefore, I am calling on you all the good People of Akwa Ibom, all the eligible voters in Akwa ibom State to keep supporting the Governor to do more for us.”
Dr. Udom also used the opportunity to thank the Governor for his magnanimity in appointing indigenes of Asang Ward IV as his aides, and pledged the peoples readiness to continue to work for his success.
In her words: “in 2023, election, Asang Ward IV voted about 90% for the governor, which was landslide. We promise you, in 2027, we will vote 99.99% for our Golden Governor, which will be a tsunami.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Ward Executive member of PDP in Asang IV, Elder Itoro Edet Joseph thanked the people for turning out en masse for the meeting, and described it as a show of solidarity to the Governor. He said all those who attended the meeting at the Ward Centre were the only loyal party men and women in the Ward, and advised them to continue to be peaceful , law abiding and committed to the party and the government.
It could be recalled that penultimate week, the Governor, while receiving returnees into the PDP, had directed that all the
Wards in the State must convene PDP meeting in their respective Ward centres so as to receive decampees into the party in the various Wards.
Buoyed by that directive, a meeting was held at Asang Ward IV centre between 10 am and 6pm last Saturday, although the Ward Chairman, Mr. Mfon Ekwere, and some of his Ward executive members, allegedly loyal to the incumbent House of Assembly member, Hon. Eric Akpan (from Asang Ward 1) in total deviance to the Governor’s directive refused to show up in the meeting, purportedly in obedience to the House Member’s directive (which is a direct affront to the governor and the Party leadership).
Meanwhile, about 100 politicians defected from other political parties to the PDP in the Ward. Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Marshal Ema said he returned to the PDP because “the PDP in Asang Ward IV is now led by Dr. Udom”, whom he described as a selfless woman and mother, whom he knows is totally committed to Party supremacy and Governor Umo Eno as the Leader. He thanked the Governor for opening the door of the Party for those who were aggrieved in the past; maintaining that poor leadership of the Party in the Ward contributed to why he sought refuge elsewhere.
“Now that I am back with my team, I will work for the success of the Party in Asang Ward IV under the leadership of Dr. Ekpedeme Udom. It is because of her that I decided to rejoin the PDP, the Party I helped form in 1998”, he said.
Other leaders of the defectors took turn to speak at the meeting. All of them expressed their gratitude to the Governor, and reiterated that they rejoined the PDP because of Dr. Ekpedeme Udom, whom they believe is the best person to lead the Party in Asang Ward IV, at this time.
Each critical stakeholders of the Party in the Ward also spoke glowingly in support of Governor Umo Eno, and also unanimously passed a vote-of-confidence on Dr. Ekpedeme Udom as the Political Leader of the Ward. Highpoint of the meeting was a unanimous endorsement of Dr. Ekpedeme Udom as the Political Leader of Asang Ward IV.
Among the critical stakeholders of the Ward who attended the meeting were: Dr. Ekpedeme Udom (Political Leader), Lady Edna Edwin Daniel (SSA to the Governor on Female Youth Mobilisation); all former elected Councilors of the Ward (8 in number), from 1996 to the last) , viz: Hon. Marshal Ema (1996, Zero Party); Hon. Ubong Ekong (former councillor, 1997 cum former Vice Chairman, Nsit Ibom LGA, 2012 – 2015, and former Acting Executive Chairman of Nsit Ibom Local Government); Hon. Nsikan Umoh (former Leader, 1999 – 2002); Hon. David Thomas (2004 – 2007); Hon. Emmanuel Jim (former House Leader, 2008 – 2011); Hon. David Udosen (2012 – 2015); Hon. Victor Ibanga (2017 – 2020) and Hon. Joy Emmanuel (2020 – 2023). Hon. Elder Sony Smith (former Local Government Council Secretary and former Vice Chairman, Nsit Ibom LGA); Hon. Eno Udonsek (immediate past Local Government Council Secretary); Engr. Ema Ekong (former supervisor and Special Adviser to two consecutive Honourable Speakers of the State); and Thomas Thomas, the PA to the Executive Governor on Local Media.
Others were: Obong Inyang Inyang (a seasoned banker a former Internal Revenue Consultant for Akwa Ibom State, and a Member Akwa Ibkm State Post Covid-19 Economic Reconstruction Committee); Hon. Deaconess Justina Uko Jackson, JP (the current and pioneer Personal Assistant (PA) to the Governor, in Asang Ward IV); Comrade Idongesit John (immediate past NNPP House of Assembly candidate, who was made the overall Coordinator for all decampees to PDP in Nsit Ibom LGA, during the recent Returnees acceptance exercise by the State PDP Family); Comrade Emem Ime Daniel (immediate past Ward Secretary, PDP, Asang Ward 4), Elder Itoro Edet Joseph, PDP Ward exco member, among several other stakeholders, both Men & Women and youths, several people living with disabilities, among others.
Credit: Asang IV Media Team