Ndifreke Okon
…Urges support for Aspirants who stood to the end
As the legal battle in the suit instituted by Mr Akan Okon, a former commissioner in Akwa ibom state against the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election rages in the federal high court Uyo, the leadership of the Media Practitioners for Good Governance (MPPG) in Akwa Ibom state has made a passionate appeal to Governor Udom Emmanuel to immediately reconsider his support for the party’s embattled candidate for a more credible and competent person.
The group who addressed journalists on Tuesday in Uyo the state capital through its coordinator Comrade Frank Ekpo lamented that the choice of Mr Umo Eno has fragmented the once united party and also caused alarming defection of her members to other opposition party. According to him, “While the party members are still lamenting on the processes that threw up the candidature of Pastor Umo Eno, the scandal surrounding his alleged certificate forgery and alteration in his PVC is disgusting and very unfortunate. The angst among party faithful is clear for all to see and the mass defection to other parties by members of PDP is a bad omen for the party”
MMPG highlighted that the way the party candidate has handled the ongoing legal battle has further discouraged many of the party supporters stressing that any genuine issue regarding one’s personal attainment academically need not involve the volume of funds expended on legal services to prove the credibility of a post primary school certificate.
“We are shocked to say that the people are already shrugging their shoulders in disbelief that a man expected to be the next leader and face of a state with multiple educated and high-flying fellows is battling to defend WAEC certificate with 7 Senior Advocates and other lawyers making it 14 at a huge cost on the common patrimony of the people. If the Governor and the PDP fail to offload him now, then the party should forget 2023 election as the electorates cannot sacrifice competency for mediocrity”
The MPPG Coordinator who pleaded with the Governor to be proactive on the matter to save the party from disintegration urges him to look inwardly with the assistance of the party from the Aspirants who stood the last PDP primaries against all odds and chose a competent replacement for Umo Eno as the Pary flag bearer.
The group also urges the ruling PDP in the state not to underate any party in the coming election stressing that with the new electoral act, votes must count and the will of the masses will supersede every other consideration in the emergence of new leaders for the country in 2023.
The group also appealed to the governor and the party to strictly limit their search for the new candidate of the party to those who purchased the form, campaigned and stood with the party to the end and till date stressing that it is a clear indication of their commitment to the party PDP and the fact that they have the zeal and had adequately prepared for service ahead, the job that awaits a state governor is not for the ill prepared but better suited for those who have mentally, psychologically and physically prepared for the tedious task ahead”.
For those who pulled out of the primaries like Mr Onofiok luke, Mr Aniekan Etim, Mr Udom Inoyo or have joined other political parties like Obong Bassey Albert and others, they are entitled to their political choices but suffice to say that it amounts to grave injustice to choose or even consider them ahead of those who stuck to the race to the end”.
