OVER THREE THOUSAND PDP MEMBERS SWITCH TO YPP IN IBESIKPO ASUTAN LGA, SAYS NO HOPE IN PDP

The Nnung Udoe Highway in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area came to a stand still on 26th September, 2022 when the leaders of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) arrived the area to inaugurate the chapter office of the party. 

The state chairman of the YPP, Apostle Nyeneime Andy, while speaking said such massive turn out was evident that Ibesikpo people have  all joined YPP.

"What I've just seen today is that Ibesikpo is YPP. YPP is taking over Akwa Ibom State. We are not here to campaign, but to inaugurate the party office here. We will let you know our programmes and plans when campaigns begin".

Apostle Andy condemned a situation where the state government refused to invite a sitting two-term senator to the state creation anniversary.

"Celebrating our anniversary without inviting Senator Bassey Albert, who they referred to as the only Senator from Akwa Ibom is, totally condemnable", he said.

The state chairman,  while inaugurating the party office in Ibesikpo, announced that "more than 3,000 people have moved from other parties to join YPP, the fastest growing party in the country". 

A former local government chairman, Hon. Etetim Ubong,  who spoke on behalf of all decampees, said his movement to YPP was occasioned by the freshness in the party.

"I moved with all stakeholders in Ibesikpo to join the YPP. I was deputy leader to Uwem Ita Etuk. Moving from the PDP means there is no PDP anymore in Ibesikpo".

Speaking on behalf of the women, Hon. Mary Ikpoto said "It is OBA that we want. OBA isn't aspiring to be Governor for his own benefit, but for all of us. God has confused even the enemy, that is why yesterday, when they were asked 'who will be your Governor', they  responded ‘OBA’".

While the Village Head of Nnung Udoe, Eteidung Bassey Joseph, expressed appreciation to God for someone like OBA whose aspiration is to rescue Akwa Ibom State, the chapter chairman, Comrade Joseph Peter, said the only party in Ibesikpo and the Uyo Senatorial District is the YPP, and that  "the candidates are only awaiting swearing-in".

Elder Okon Okon, coordinator of Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign organization in Ibesikpo, in his goodwill message, said the people of Ibesikpo have agreed to embrace a fresh life, hence they came out in numbers to witness the official inauguration of the party office.

MORE TROUBLE FOR PDP AS UDOTA, FORMER LEGISLATOR, PDP WARD EXECUTIVES, OVER 5000 OTHERS DEFECT TO YPP

What could be described as the most intimidating mammoth crowd besieged Eket Local Government Area on September 1, 2022 as the Young Progressives Party (YPP) made a triumphal entry into the city to commission the party office of Eket Local Government Area.

Market women, businessmen, motorcycle operators, support groups, student bodies, party supporters, and many others wielding fresh leaves paraded the city to welcome the YPP entourage.

The people, angered by the near strangulation in social and economic lives, said they decide to support YPP because they have been abandoned by the current government.

One of the most prominent political leaders in the area, Rt. Hon. Jack Udoata, a former two-termed member of the House of Assembly and former PDP stalwart, who spoke on behalf of all decampees, said Eket has been abandoned for the past seven years.

 "On behalf of all decampees, we sincerely thank you for accommodating us. Since the umbrella has broken and the broom can no longer sweep, we have decided to embrace the fresh leaves to breathe. Thank you, and may God bless you", Udoata said.

He then  thanked the YPP family for the new hope for all in Akwa Ibom people.

Similarly, the chapter chairman of YPP, Pastor Gospel Edoho, in his welcome speech thanked the state exco for purposeful leadership and the quality of candidates they have put forward for next year's elections.

"Today is not for campaign. We will campaign when the time comes. Today, we only invited our fathers to come and commission our office for proper politics.

“We have over 5,000 decampees here, they have been subjugated, abandoned. They have not experienced good leadership for the past seven years. We are now ready to have good governance which will be possible through the YPP", he added.

Other decades who spoke included Itoro John, a former ward chairman of the PDP,  who said: "we left PDP because of high handedness and witch-hunt. All of over 5,000 decampees of us will work tirelessly to bring a more friendly and focused government in place”.

“It is a thing of joy to see a former DPO who chased all the criminals from Eket coming today as the incoming Deputy Governor. I am equally glad that someone who once helped me when I had financial issues is coming as our incoming Governor today", John added.

Mrs. Aniekan Joe Nsien, a former ward women leader, alsospoke for the women detectors, pouring encomiums on OBA for giving her food while the present government starved her.

"Today, my husband, my two children, myself and all my followers make this public declaration:We will make good use of our voter's cards to vote OBA and the YPP", Mrs. Nsien assured.

Apostle Nyeneime Andy, state chairman of the party, while performing the  official commissioning of the party office admonished all to get their voter's cards in order to make good choice in 2023.

"Today we didn't come to campaign, we came as party to commission the party office and register all Eket people who are embracing the new direction. Non - indigenes came in their numbers and are willing to be part of us for a better Akwa Ibom. Get you PVC and be part of it", Andy charged the crowd.

 

Chinedu Okafor, leader of non - indigenes resident in Eket Senatorial District, who led over 2,000 non-indigenes to grace the event told the crowd that the only candidates all non-indigenes will support will be OBA and other YPP candidates.

 "You are a man of respect, we honour you so much. We see your antecedents and we have decided to pitch our tents with you. This is a coalition of all non - indigenes. You will have our full support", Okafor told OBA.

Candidates of the party ranging from the guber candidate, OBA, his running mate, AIG Amba and wife, Chief (Mrs.) Janet Amba, Eket Senatorial candidate, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-Eyen, House of Representatives candidate for Eket Federal Constituency,  Joseph Mbong all greeted the mammoth crowd, urging them to continue their support for the party.

ADC CANDIDATE LEADS 1,431 OTHERS TO QUITE ADC AND PDP FOR YPP IN NSIT UBIUM

Nsit Ubium, the home local government of Mr Umo Eno, the PDP governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, emptied into the streets on August  30, 2022, despite the heavy rain,  to celebrate the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and its standard bearer, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan.

Against all negative predictions that YPP will not have a foothold there, a tumultuous crowd lined the streets to welcome the team with exciting songs, while dancing and waving the now famous symbol of the young party, the leaves.

The party, led by its state chairman, Apostle Nyeneime Andy,  was in Nsit Ubium in continuation of its state-wide tour to inaugurate its offices across the state.

Andy, alongside the guber candidate, Senator Albert Akpan, his running mate, AIG Asuquo Amba (rtd) and other party stalwarts who stormed the village of Ikot Edibon in Nsit Ubium also formerly opened the YPP Youths Acquisition Skills Center.

The occasion took a different turn when Mr. Anthony Akpan, a candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Nsit Ubium state constituency of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, led 1,431 others to decamp to YPP. 

Akpan said he had stepped down from the contest to formerly join forces with YPP to bring OBA as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

"I, Anthony Akpan, from Obotim Ward 1 Nsit Ubium today declare my support for OBA and YPP. I have collapsed my structure for the YPP. The Ika, Obot Akara, Etim Ekpo and Ini chapter chairmen of ADC defect alongside me to carry the leaves as the only sign of hope for the Akwa Ibom people".

The chapter chairman of YPP, Mr Moses Sam, in his welcome address who described the state chairman of the YPP as the "Joshua of our time" thanked him for steering the affairs of the party to what it has grown to become today.

"The next and perhaps the best Governor in our state will be OBA. As we are having our office today, we will work for our son, OBA,  to emerge as Governor. Nsit Ubium is YPP, YPP is Nsit Ubium. As you can see, my blood is YPP. We have buried every other party that has died to embrace the YPP", the chairman assured.

While performing the inauguration of the office and Skills Centre, the state chairman said: “Let me specially thank you all for coming out under the rain to witness this great ceremony. Your incoming Governor is here, and he will address all your problems when he takes over. I can assure you that when we take over power in 2023, we will reward you for your love for the party”.

“Today, we didn't come to campaign, but to open the party office, the youth acquisition center, as well as receive the thousands of the decampees from other parties joining the  YPP's great family",  Apostle Andy assured.

"This skills acquisition center is to train and develop the people of Nsit Ubium. We want to train our youths in order to properly engage them. Before before we come into government, we will train the youths here to be self-reliant and self-employed ", Apostle Andy added.

Barr. Daniel Udofia, a former PDP stalwart, in his goodwill message, said that Nsit Ubium has fully adopted YPP. 

"We have no doubt that our son, OBA, who is taking over on 2023 has proven to be the best. He will deliver on the mandate we will give him in 2023. Our people have given the assurance that they will support him for quality leadership from next year".

He then thanked OBA for his love for Nsit Ubium people and urged all, especially the youths and women to embrace him come 2023.

ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR COMMON PATRIMONY, OBA CHARGES AKWA IBOMITES

The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party ( YPP), Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (OBA), has challenged Akwa Ibom people to learn to hold government accountable by asking valid questions about their common patrimony. 

He made the charge on August 27, 2022 at the official inauguration of the state office of a socio-political group, Akwa Ibom Unity Forum, in Uyo.

He said the impoverished masses should be curious enough to find out what the recent allocations that came into the state were used for.

“I am aware N47 billion came into this state. The last one was N171 billion. Governor Wike who is receiving the same amount has constructed more than ten flyovers and has developed the state. What about our own?”, he queried. 

While responding to a comment, the Senator described his gubernatorial mission as the will of God to rescue the state. 

He said the new group was a body after his heart, and encouraged the members to work hard to take their destinies in their hands. "Because of your hardwork, God will make me a Governor", he prayed.

The cordinator of the support group and former Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government, Hon. Uko Idiong, described Senator Bassey Albert Akpan as the only man that will change Akwa Ibom for the better.

He said nothing on earth, except God, will stop OBA from emerging as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. 

According to him, “everyone you meet on the street, in the offices; wherever you ask: ‘who will be the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State’,  the answer is: Bassey Albert!”

Hon. Idiong said people have been trooping into his office to declare support for OBA, and assured the governorship candidate that the people are eagerly waiting to support him at the poll. 

"We will not sleep until we make you the Governor of Akwa Ibom State", he assured the Senator.

BOT chairman of the body, Mr. Charles Ndanyongmong, equally assured OBA that the forum will work tirelessly to ensure he emerges the next Governor of the state. 

"We have so many PDP and APC people who have been coming here to register their support for you", he told OBA.

1,877 PDP MEMBERS JOINS YPP IN IKOT EKPENE LGA AS YPP INAUGURATES PARTY OFFICE

Some activities in the Raffia City of Ikot Ekpene came to a standstill on Friday 26th August, 2022 as the Nyeneime Andy-led state exco of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) stormed the town to inaugurate the local government area secretariat of the YPP. 

Apostle Andy, state chairman of YPP,  used the occasion to  thank all party executives for standing firm with YPP, and rejecting bribes from the agents of government and PDP. 

He condemned the unnecessary wasting of money on frivolities, including attempts to stop the growth of YPP and wondered why the government refused to release so much money to Akwa Ibom people in the past seven years. 

"Come May, 2023, we shall have victory in all the offices we are vying", the state chairman added.

Highlights of the event included handing over of 3,000 party cards to the chapter chairman by the state chairman "for registration of all decampees into the party". 

 While welcoming all dignitaries to Ikot Ekpene, the chapter chairman of the party, Hon. Joshua Akpan promised the state exco and all the candidates that the secretariat will ensure smooth running of the affairs of the party. 

He said the crowd that came out to welcome the YPP entourage was an indication that Ikot Ekpene has embraced YPP fully.

In his remarks, Director - General of Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organization, a son of Ikot Ekpene, Pastor Sunny Ibuot, told the massive crowd that the event was "just to open the party office in Ikot Ekpene, and not for campaign". 

He appreciated all who came out and urged them to be resolute in their support for YPP.

Dr. Ekong Ebienang, former INEC national  official and immediate past chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), speaking on behalf of other decampees, thanked the YPP family for happily receiving all the decampees into its fold. 

He promised to deploy his experience to ensure that the party succeeds in its endeavours and in the next elections.

FRUSTRATION IN A'IBOM AS AGENTS OF IMPOSITION FAILS ON ANTI PEOPLE'S PROTEST

Frustrated by the increasing failure of their inordinate ambition to impose unpopular characters on the people of Akwa Ibom State, a band of unscrupulous politicians, apparently to divert attention from their fiasco, are said to be plotting a series of schemes to distabilise the peace, tranquility, rights and personal security of some individuals in the state.

According to information at our disposal, these crude and selfish persons intend to organise a number of anti-people protests, instigate unjust and illegal arrests of those suspected not to be in their support and blame the imminent negative public reaction on Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (OBA), his political associates as well as his new party, the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

We understand that the plan, reportedly coordinated by some agents of government, followed the realisation that despite high-level manipulations, merchatile dealings and mafia-typed plots, OBA has become not just the governorship candidate of YPP but the most popular politician in the state.

Within weeks, against political bookmakers’ predictions, YPP has witnessed a mass movement expected to culminate in the ballot revolution, next year. Never in our state’s political history has any party grown with so much speed and mass acceptance. This evolving trend is said to be making OBA/YPP’s opponents grossly uncomfortable, hence their ignoble plots.

While drawing the attention of the security agencies to the inglorious scheme, it should be noted that already, the frustration-induced, anti-people plots have been set in motion with the recent arrests of some independent-minded Akwa Ibomites, who have refused to either be intimidated or financially influenced to support evil.

For days now, some of our own members, including Idorenyin Umana,  have been trailed, haunted and harrassed from their homes, while a newspaper distributor, Chidi Ngadiubia, has been arrested, reportedly on “orders from above”, for no specified crime.

Equally, it has been in the news that some editors, including Ifreke Nsewo of The Mail newspaper, have been on the witch-hunt list of government, apparently for publishing the truth about the mass rejection of a certain unwanted, scandal-ridden  and unpopular governorship candidate.

While we in Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Movement support responsible journalism and lawful living, we strongly oppose acts of intimidation, injustice, victimisation and any attempt to plot anarchy in any form. The government and its agents should be reminded that we are still in a democracy, where tolerance for divergent opinions and rights of association and choices form the tenets of credible societal coexistence.

Any politician or group believing his or its candidate is popular should test such acceptability at the poll and not invite any mayhem on the people. Consequently, any individual or professional, including journalists, deemed to have gone beyond accepted codes or brief of his duty should be challenged at the court of law and not through undue intimidation, harassment, threats and unlawful arrests.

While thanking our supporters, who are growing in leaps and bounds,  for being steadfast on this God-backed project, despite inducements, threats and intimidations, we commend them for the new consciousness blowing across the state and urge them to continue on the path of peace, focus and lawfulness. 

This mission to actualise a new Akwa Ibom, founded on the “3R- mandate,” will certainly end in praise - as we jointly aim to recover Akwa Ibom, reconcile it genuinely back to God and reposition it for greatness!

Signed:

Dr Usoro I. Usoro 

(Spokesman, Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organisation)

Cc:

The Inspector of Police, Abuja.

The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command.

The Director General, Department of State Services (DSS), Abuja.

The Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Uyo

NULGE PRESIDENT ADVOCATES FOR RETRAINING OF INFORMATION OFFICERS IN A'IBOM.

Edna Monye

The President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Anestina Iweh, on Wednesday, 10 August 2022, organized a productivity session for all Information Officers covering the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

Comrade Iweh, who recently concluded a tour of the 31 LGAs, said the session was essential to gather Information Officers together and ensure effective interaction and knowledge sharing that would boost their productivity in their respective duty posts.

Saying that there was no end to learning, Mrs. Iweh noted that continuous training and retraining were crucial for achieving personal elevation and professional skills.

She charged LOGIC members to see the event as an exclusive opportunity to improve their day-to-day engagements as their Local Governments of Service image-makers.

Declaring the event open, the Chairman, Local Government Information Chapel (LOGIC), Mrs. Roselyn Etukudo thanked all Information Officers for their prompt response and willingness to acquire and share in the knowledge-based session. 

Comrade Etukudo encouraged Information Officers to have an open mind towards the job and absorb new skills as they grow in their careers.

Mrs. Etukudo appreciated the Nulge Boss for organizing such an impactful event.

Delivering a Keynote Lecture at the event, a broadcast journalist, and Media Assistant to Hon. Onofiok Luke, Comrade Aniekan Udofia took the time to discuss the various components of the arts of compering.

Anchoring his lecture on the topic: "THE ART OF MODERATING", Udofia emphasized the necessities of moderating, including "appropriate diction," "elocution," "house style," "anecdote" (storytelling), "deep research," and the "importance of dress code".

He stressed that proficiency in the art required boldness and acceptance that a moderator was entirely in control of an event.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk, encouraged Information Officers to improve their reading skills, research, and writing, which he said would enable them to participate in state council events.

The Director of Social Development, Education, Information, Sports and Culture, Mrs. Priscilla Udo, encouraged the officers to be more practical in all their designated duties as Information Officers. 

Meanwhile, other notable LOGIC officials at the event included the Vice Chairman, John Ekpo; Assistant Secretary, Edna Monye; Treasurer, Emaido Affia; Provost, Emilia Iquot; Chairman Emeritus, Vivian Eshiet, and several Information Officers across the 31 LGAs in Akwa Ibom State.