TWO PDP BOT MEMBERS ENDORSE RIVAL APC CANDIDATE IN A-IBOM

Two Board of Trustees (BoT) members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah and Chief Don Etiebiet, have given reasons why they support the governorship candidate of the opposition party in the state, Obong Umana Okon Umana of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the governorship race.

Both frontline BoT members of PDP made their feelings known when Umana staged the grand finale of his gubernatorial campaign in Uyo at the weekend.
Attah, who was recently crowned as the leader of the Ibibios in the state, said he was supporting the APC governorship candidate because the PDP candidate was not nominated by the party but by an individual.
“As I look round everybody that could be described as politician in the state is here today, I was told that APC has taken over Akwa Ibom, I did not know it was total, what am seeing today is a sure sign that we have taken a firm decision to turn your back on something you don’t like and to embrace something you like.
“Today we support Umana Okon Umana because of the compelling determinant factors, some of you may know that I am one of the 82 signatories that signed the charter to establish the PDP in 1989, I am not only a founding father but remains a life member of the BoT, but here I am campaigning on APC platform.
“I am a leader of my people and they don’t want anyone to be imposed on them as a governor, they want Umana Okon Umana that is why I am here”, he said.
On his part, Etiebet said, “When we noticed that there was problem in the state, we reported to the national leadership of the party, but they refused to look into our complaint. But when similar problem was reported in Lagos, Kebbi, Adamawa and others, the national leadership of the party went and settled it, but in Akwa Ibom State, the governor said there was no problem; that we are expired politicians.
“So with your coming out in large number is a testimony to the national and state leadership of the PDP that there is problem in the state, therefore, change must come and Umana Okon Umana is the symbol of that change.
“I come here with Obong Victor Attah so that we join hands to deliver Akwa Ibom State to Akwa Ibom people through Umana Okon Umana of APC as a vehicle of deliverance of Akwa Ibom people”.
The two BoT members of the PDP accused the national hierarchy of the party for the vacuum created for the opposition party to make enroute in the state.
The duo said before November 2014, the state did not have any opposition, as the state was only a PDP state, but noted that presently the APC has suddenly emerged as an opposition party to beat.
They said it was unfortunate that their advised were not taken in the running of PDP in the state as those in the helm of affairs often described them as expired politicians regretting that even the national leadership of the party didn’t nothing to injustice and impunity orchestrated by the leadership of the party at the state level.
Responding, Umana Okon Umana commended the PDP bigwigs for supporting his ambition, saying that, it is only courageous and patriotic citizens can take the stance they have taken.
“As a party, the APC I want to thank them for standing on the side of the people, what we are facing today in Akwa Ibom is an Akwa Ibom problem and they have come back to say we have to take back the state”, he said.