By our Correspondent
The Ikono Chairmanship aspiration of Obong NyeneAbasi Michael Ene has received a boost following his endorsements and subsequent presentation as a preferred candidate by the various political structures of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the area, our paper can authoritatively report.
The development was announced during a meeting of Ikono Progressives Alliance, Diaspora Chapter, held at Primary School, Mbiafun, Ward 1, Ikono, last Sunday.
Ikono Progressives Alliance, our paper gathered, is a nonpartisan sociopolitical organization consisting of Ikono indigenes residing outside the local government area.
Addressing the attendees at the meeting, a PDP grassroots mobilizer, Chief Okonna Edet, thanked the Diaspora Chapter of the group for always coming home to participate in every political and other developmental events in Ikono.
He said “I must thank you all for this initiative. We in this ward in particular and Ikono in general have noticed that you have been consistent in following every political activity here. We remember how you all came down some years ago to sensitize our rural dwellers on the need to participate in the voters’ registration exercise.
“Your efforts really boosted the morale of our people and that contributed a lot to the massive number of registered voters, not only in our ward, but Ikono middle in particular and the entire Ikono local government in general.
“Let me particularly thank you all for identifying with Obong Mike Ene’s Chairmanship ambition. I am pleased to inform you that Obong Mike Ene has been endorsed, adopted and presented as the sole candidate for the position of Chairmanship in Ikono”.
He continued: “The Ikono Middle Elders Council has endorsed and adopted him as the sole Chairmanship candidate for Ikono in the forthcoming council election. The Elders and Executive members of the PDP in Ward 1have also endorsed and adopted Obong Mike Ene.
So, with all these endorsements, we are all excited and I can assure you all that Ikono people have spoken rightly and victory is sure”.
Earlier in his address, the Coordinator of the group, Akparawa Celestine Etok said that they all decided to support Obong Mike Ene for Chairmanship of Ikono because of his integrity, steadfastness, consistency and selfless contributions towards the development of the area.
Akparawa Etok said: “Obong Mike Ene is one man in Ikono who has shown unmatched selflessness and has been demonstrating his genuine desire to serve Ikono people.
“He is a self-made man, whose tenacious disposition towards his party, even in the face of political challenges clearly portrays him as a faithful party man.
“He has served his party, the PDP meritoriously and has shown a great deal of commitment towards the growth and stability of the party. That is why we are not surprised at the myriads of endorsements and adoptions he enjoys from the people of Ikono.
“Our meeting today was aimed at joining our voices with prominent sons and daughters of Ikono to endorse him and to work assiduously towards his emergence as the Executive Chairman of Ikono local government council”.
Etok, who read out Obong Mike Ene’s brief political profile before calling for his unanimous adoption by the jubilant group said: “Obong Mike Ene had served as Elder in the Transformation Initiative for Udom Emmanuel; he was the Ward Coordinator and Member, Contact Committee of the Divine Mandate Campaign Council during the reelection of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019.
“He is the Chairman, Ikono Middle Elders Forum; Chairman, Ikono PDP Ward Elders Forum, and many other sociopolitical responsibilities which has helped him garner enough political experience that him in his service to the people of Ikono in his capacity as Executive Chairman.
“He has vied at different elections to serve his people in different capacities for about four times in the past. In fact, in one of the electioneering processes, he was kidnapped. But in all of this, he still remains faithful to the party. So, from all indication, God has ordained Obong Mike Ene for his time, which is now”