Ahead next general elections, the immediate past national secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, has declared for the governorship race in Akwa-Ibom state.
Sunday Tribune check revealed that the former Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) is the first chieftain of the APC to signify interest in the governorship ticket of the party in the oil-rich state.
Addressing the gathering of the party chieftains at the event held at Ibom Hall in Uyo, the state capital, Senator Akpanudoedehe said, if given the APC ticket and ultimately earn the mandate of the people of the south-south state, his first priority would be poverty alleviation and urban renewal.
The former governorship candidate on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria noted that with the empowerment of the people, particularly the youth, crime rate would have been substantially reduced.
He said: “My focus will be how to deliver my people from poverty. God has given me a special gift and it is how to deliver you from poverty. We have been in this battle for a long and we have suffered. We have been battered with lies but we survived.”
The governorship aspirant promised to introduce a poverty alleviation programme in each local government in the state.
“It is time to empower the people not to depend on stipends. We will make Akwa-Ibom the hub for technology. We will give you urban renewal, particularly in Eket local government.”
Senator Akpanudoedehe also said he would introduce “primary industry in each of the three senatorial areas.”
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In his remarks, national vice Chairman,south-south, Victor Giadom, who represented Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, commended Senator Akpanudoedehe for his diligence while in the saddle as national secretary.
He further revealed that it was the decision of stakeholders of the party in the South-south geopolitical zone that the former FCT Minister should contest for the exalted seat of governor of Akwa-Ibom State.
Making allusion to leadership tussle in the state chapter of the APC, Giadom admonished the party chieftains to work together as one political family to dislodge the People’s Democratic Party.
He said: “As Caretaker Committee national secretary, I don’t need to emphasize that he was very visible. His visibility almost returned him to the national secretariat but I told him he needed to go back home and reshape the party at home.
“I can say clearly here that the crowd here today is clear proof that the APC here is viable and strong. Nobody can say we aren’t strong in Akwa-Ibom. Let us keep working together, we are close to election and this isn’t time for us to fight ourselves but work together for the actualisation of APC success in Akwa-Ibom. From the leaders I have seen here, the APC will bring victory to us
“Let us come together, allow forgiving and take and face our common enemy. Let us work together so that we can bring victory. I will like to come back here with the APC sitting in the Government House. I urge you to go back to your respective unit to bring victory to APC. We can deliver APC to Akwa-Ibom.”
Chairman of the APC in the state, Augustine Ekanem also called on the party faithful to work for the unity of the party ahead next general elections.
“APC is one in Akwa-Ibom, it isn’t divided. Everyone is encouraged to go and campaign so that we can defeat PDP. The PDP is our enemy, we don’t have one within.
“There is no victory inside APC, the only victory we have is how to defeat PDP. God will take us to our destination.
“We must show the world that the party is intact. As we go home, let us prepare to win. I won’t dwell on the court case. By the special grace of God, I am your chairman.”
Former Secretary to State Government in Akwa-Ibom, Obong Umanah Umanah, who thanked Senator Akpanudoedehe for making the state proud as national secretary, also advised aspirants seeking the party ticket to remain focused engage in vigorous campaign and not be distracted by internal dissension in the state chapter of the APC.
” I believe that Akpanudoedehe made us proud because he served meritoriously. That’s the first time we have had our son at the highest level. We are proud of you.
Our leader, Chief Etiebet has spoken well. I can only say on the status quo we stand.
“We will continue to recognize Augustine Ekanem as chairman of our party because that’s the decision of the Court.
I want to appeal to us to remain focused and avoid distraction so that we can take Government House in 2023. Some of these people came when the food was ready, they don’t know what we had suffered. But we are determined to reposition our party. These people won’t be worried if we don’t have candidate in 2023. We won’t allow them to hijack the structure, we will stand on the truth. We will abide by the position of law and respect the rule of law.
“I congratulate my brother, he is the caterpillar of Akwa-Ibom politics. They are afraid because they know you have the capacity.”
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