A socio-political organisation, Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF) has described the recent call for boycott of the stakeholders’ meeting organised by Group Capt. Sam Ewang (Rtd) by the caretaker committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom state which gave rise to the political tension in the party as “morally, politically, constitutionally and logically wrong.”
The caretaker committee leadership of the APC in the state led by Dr. Ita Udosen had pulled out of the stakeholders’ meeting organised by former military governor and national caucus member of the party in which the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Chief Godswill Akpabio was reaffirmed as the party leader in the state.
Udosen had gone ahead to call for last minute boycott of the event and further summoned the former military administrator to appear before the party for interogation.
In a press statement signed by the Director General and Secretary General of ADF, Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, and Dr. Anthony Usoro, respectively, made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday, ADF said it was sad to note that people who were duly informed and invited for the meeting with some of their inputs making the implementation matrix could turn around to castigate the convener. “This type of tortoise politics which relies on wiles and dissembling is the reason our great party, the APC is still in the woods and lacking the ardor it mustered when debuted,” the group said.
The group regretted that the party in the state acted at the behest of one of its stakeholders whom they said, “desperately wants to appropriate the reins of the party in the state for crudely selfish reasons that are antithetical to public good”.
ADF further recalled with nostalgia that Senator Akpabio was named and publicly declared as leader of APC in Akwa Ibom state on August 8, 2018 by the National delegation of APC led by the then National Chairman of the party who was in the state to witness Akpabio’s “movement” to APC.
They further explained, “It is trite knowledge that governors are the leaders of their parties in their respective states where such parties are in control. Conversely, where a party is not in control of the state with the attendant reality of not having a governor, the highest political office holder in that state emerges naturally and seamlessly as the political leader of that party. In Bayelsa state, his excellency, Timipreye Sylva is unnegotiable the leader of APC, his excellency, Rotimi Amaechi is the leader of APC in Rivers state, so is it in all other states of similar underpinning. But in Akwa Ibom state, there seems to be an unbridled and inordinate quest to change the standard to satisfy some odious cravings.
“APC does not have a governor in Akwa Ibom State, having shot itself in the foot in the 2019 election through this same putrefying rancor and acrimony. The highest political office holder is the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, who is an influential member of the Federal Executive Council. The position of APC leader in the State naturally dovetails to Senator Godswill Akpabio as Minister and member, Federal Executive Council as well as former performing governor who foisted a distinctive era in our dear State.”
The group further highlighted, “The muffled hullabaloo by a few desperate and vested interests that it should not be him is strange to sane ears and a shocking realization that hate could replace even good and logical reason. “As a political pressure/support group with undisguised interest in APC, we are conscious of the fact that unless people subsume their interests and personal ambitions under the party, the hope of the party clinching power in 2023 is farfetched”.
ADF said Senator Godswill Akpabio has the competence, capacity and experience to lead the party to victory in the state in 2023 and appealed to APC members to close ranks and extend the requisite support to him.
The group said the stakeholders’ meeting which attracted topnotch leaders of the party and array of personalities conferred acceptability and stamp of credibility on the affirmation exercise.
