DOM ZIMEGAPI
The race to occupy Hill Top Mansion Akwa Ibom state the seat of political power in the state hits up as the people of Abak 5 have collectively supported a motion to purchase Governorship form for the managing director and chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission –NDDC. The pronouncement came during the civic reception ceremony held at Government Technical College Abak in Akwa Ibom state few weeks back as the people of Abak 5 were in a celebration mood with a display of colour and candor.
With a heart of gratitude communities in the five LGA’s that make up
the Old Abak division, namely; Abak Etim Ekpo. Ika, Oruk Anam and
Ukanafun commonly known as Abak 5, empties into main field of
Government Technical Collage, Abak, to honour Obong Nsima Ekere, the
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) at
civic reception in appreciation of his love for the people of the
area. But event later took a dramatic turn when the people of Abak 5 moved a motion to have him adopted for 2019 Akwa Ibom state Governorship election which was made by the Akwa Ibom State APC Caucus Chairman, Atuekong Don Etiebet, who chaired the occasion, as he said the people of Abak 5 had resolved to purchase the APC governorship nomination form for Ekere because he had done well for them.
“He is not yet Governor but he has already intervened in the problems of Abak 5.”
While the Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, who was APC Governorship candidate in 2015 announced that long before the Abak 5 people, the people of
Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District had resolved to purchase the
APC governorship nomination form for Ekere because of his outstanding
performance at the NDDC.
As he said “We have come here to support and show solidarity with the people of Abak 5 who have taken the right decision to honour Obong Nsima Ekere for his outstanding performance as the Managing Director of NDDC,We have come here to say that this honour is well-deserved. You cannot hide performance…So this is somebody who performs. That is why we have come here.”
There is nothing more rewarding than a call to service to fellow
men and there is no greater feeling of contribution in humanity
than to help the weak, there is excitement in the old Abak division,
the people value good service and are always willing to reward good
deeds.
It was indeed the gathering of those who call the shots in the
politics of the five Local Government Areas. The torrent of goodwill that poured in was indicative of the fact Mr Ekere is loved by the people and thus further establishing him as the man of the people.
It was in line with his achievements that the organizers of the massively attended event used the occasion to invite him to consider running for the
governor of Akwa Ibom State, in the 2019 general election.
However in his response he told the people that the celebration of Mr Ekere, was not about his perfection, it was about his selfless service and committed effort to bringing his kind disposition to bear in the betterment of the lot of the people of the area.
Through the NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere, has intervened in executing life touching projects in the area. The commission has undertaken the
emergency repairs of Hospital Road which long been abandoned by
successive government in the state, the emergency repairs of
Mercantile Bank Road Ekparakwa and Spring Road in Abak and many numerous ongoing projects in the area.
It is not surprising that the entire communities in the old Abak division comprising Ika, Oruk Anam, Eim Ekpo, Abak and Ukanafun LGA’s
all in Akwa Ibom State ,came out in their colours and candor to honour their hero at the Civic reception that attracted well-wishers from across the state and beyond.
The NDDC has done things which the people of the area recognized that has never been done before.
It was in the euphoria of the occasion that Chris Okorie, Chairman of the organizing committee in his welcome address announced that the movement was to champion the redemption of Abak 5 from a vicious cycle of oppression and absence of development by successive governments to embrace new things done by Niger Delta Development omission headed by Obong Nsima Ekere who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer as he said the “Movement” was conceived by the people to honour Obong Nsima Ekere for the visible infrastructural developments he has
brought to the area through NDDC judging from what Ekere had done as MD, NDDC, In the light of this achievements Abak 5 is casting their trust and hope on him because Obong Nsima Ekere is poised to change the landscape of the area, empower the people and bring “Real time” development to Abak.
his appointment. “Our brother, you have done well and the reward for
hard work is more hard work. We are very happy with you.”
A former Minister of Women Affairs, Obong Rita Akpan, said she was
overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowd: “People talk about sea of
heads but this is an ocean of heads. I have never seen this kind of
crowd before. Abak 5, you are a trail blazer.”
She canvassed for a female Deputy Governor or 50 per cent cabinet
positions for women in the incoming APC government.
A former Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Electoral
Matters, Barr. Chris Okorie, who chaired the event planning committee,
explained that the reception was organized to appreciate Ekere for
“standing by us to rebuild the bridge that has brought change to Abak
5 and indeed the entire state. He epitomizes the saying that a good friend is better than a bad brother, son or son-in-law.”
While presenting a symbolic sword of authority and a native cow by the
people of Abak to the NDDC Managing Director and chief executive Officer , a former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Uwem Udoma, described Ekere as the real deal for Abak 5, assuring him of the support of the people of the area.
In a motion moved by the Member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam
Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Obongunwana
Emmanuel Ukoete, seconded by the former Member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency, Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, and unanimously carried, the people resolved to call on Ekere to throw his hat into the ring for the governorship contest.
Delighted with the encomium bestowed on him by the people of Abak 5 Obong Nsima Ekere expressed appreciation to the people for
what he called their show of love and confidence and promised to react
to their call at the appropriate time as said “This call by Abak 5, I have taken note of and I will consider it very seriously at the appropriate time,” he said. “Today, I am still the Managing Director of NDDC. I have work to do for the Niger Delta and Akwa Ibom State. The President graciously gave us this job. We are committed to delivering on it. When the time for election and politics comes, I will come back and remind you of this resolution you passed today and I will ask you whether this resolution still stands.”
Ekere, in turn, seized the opportunity to move a motion for the
endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term, stressing
that the President had demonstrated uncommon love for Akwa Ibom State,
particularly in terms of appointments.He commended Buhari for the enormous support to the NDDC, especially his approval for the harmonization of outstanding remittances from the Federal Ministry of Finance and release of outstanding funds due the commission for the development of the Niger Delta region.
Ekere decried the disruption of NDDC projects by agents of the State
Government, reasoning that it was counter-productive because “the
money NDDC is using to develop Akwa Ibom State is our own share of
money for the development of the Niger Delta.”
The NDDC boss promised that the commission will continue to seek ways
of constructive engagement with all governments in the region “so that
we can bring development to all nooks and crannies of the Niger
Delta.” He urged the people of Akwa Ibom State to vote for the All
Progressives’ Congress (APC) to end “bad governance” in the state.
The roll call of dignitaries who graced the occasion was endless, major
among personality who showed solidarity with the NDDC boss include;
a former State Chairman of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Arc. Otu
Ita-Toyo, a former PDP State Women Leader, Lady Victoria Mel-Udoh, a
former Deputy Majority Whip of the State House of Assembly, Obonganwan Mabel Udongwo, a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Emem Wills, a representative of the APC in Diaspora, Dr. Abasiubong Udofia, and a computer mogul, Mr. Inibehe Otoho.
The waiting time is near as the NDDC boss went home reflecting on what will come in few months time when he will finally respond to the clarion call by the good people of Akwa Ibom especially Abak 5 for him to contest for the Governorship election under the All Progressive congress-APC.