A frontline gubernatorial hopeful in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA), has debunked the perception that his aspiration has created a rift between him and Governor Udom Emmanuel.
While addressing the delegates and stakeholders in ONNA local government today (April 4, 2022), the two-term senator said he is still working cordially with the governor as the chairman, Akwa Ibom State Caucus of the National Assembly.
Presenting his manifesto to the delegates, Senator OBA said his programmes include some projects which the incumbent governor might not complete, owing to shortness of time and resources, noting that “government is a continuum”.
He recalled his contributions, sacrifices and loyalty to both the governor as well as the party; appealing for the delegates for support at the primaries.
“It is your mandate and you can give it to anybody. But I believe I am the best of the aspirants that will best represent your interest”, the senator said.
Citing education as one of his key projects, OBA promised to reintroduce payment of bursary to Akwa Ibom students in tertiary institutions, adding: “I’ve done it before and I know I can do it again and even more as governor”.
He designated 2023 as the year of jubilee, assuring that as a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, he knew how to supply gas to the entire ONNA in two months.
The Chapter Chairman, Barr Ubong Adiakpan, in response, described OBA as a name that rings bell across the state.
He said the senator is greatly loved even outside the state, thanking him for being a true democrat by coming to consult Onna.
Adiakpan noted that while they have only heard of other aspirants on Facebook, OBA was the first to visit them for proper consultation.
“You have been a positive impact to Akwa Ibom State. As a politician, we know those who have worked for the state”, he added.
He commended OBA for keying into the ecclesiastical rendition that only God gives power, hence the name: “Akwa Ubok Abasi”.
The chapter chairman, while agreeing that God gives power, noted that He will use the delegates to produce the next governor and encouraged OBA to interact freely with the delegates.
Sir Emem Akpabio, the chairman of the Campaign Council, said Akwa Ibom as a five-star state, deserves a five-star governor, in the mould of the incumbent and the immediate past governors.
“Obong Attah was a five-star governor; Godswill Akpabio was a five-star governor and the incumbent, Gov Udom Emmanuel is a five-star governor. Senator Bassey Albert will be a five-star governor “, he added.
He appealed to the conscience of Onna people to support OBA because he stood by them firmly when it mattered most (in 2014 and 2019) to make their son a governor.
The Vice-Chairman of the Campaign Council, Mkpisong Ephraim Inyangeyen, said since it is scriptural that people reap what they sow, he had decided to sow the truth by telling them that there was an understanding that after Udom, Senator Akpan will be the next governor.
OBA, according to Inyangeyen, went into the trenches with them to make the incumbent a governor.
Speaking as a witness after the fact, the former Chief of Staff said he was one of the very few who was privileged to be where it was agreed that after Udom Emmanuel, it will be OBA.
He asked Onna people to stand by Senator OBA, assuring that they will never regret but would rather enjoy the new government.
Whether in international email, competence, connection or contacts, Inyangeyen assured everyone that OBA was highly qualified to be the next governor.
Chief Rapheal Ekoh and Chief Godwin Sunday Oton, some of
the stakeholders, after lamenting infrastructural deficit, promised that ONNA will not disappoint OBA.
Stating that they were privy to some of the negotiations that led to the emergence of their son, Udom Emmanuel’s emergence as governor, they pledged to reciprocate OBA’s kind gesture by standing by him.
Dr Joshua Ndioko, a former executive chairman of ONNA said they have conscience and will never allow it to betray them.
He told OBA that there was hunger in ONNA, just like in every part of the state.
Ndioko assured the senator of their full support towards the governorship, even if he didn't come to ONNA for consultation.
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