The recently concluded Presidential Primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), may have come and gone but there are germane lessons we must learn from them. As keen followers, participants, and diligent gatekeepers of our democratic governance and processes, the Uyo Senatorial District Media Practitioners Forum(USDMPF) after due review of the exercise hereby makes the following observations:
Africa’s foremost author, Professor Chinua Achebe of blessed memory it was, who noted in his epic prose, Arrow of God, that the red neck lizard fell off a big iroko tree and looking around to see no one hailed his survival, decided to encourage himself by nodding his head in self-adulation of his survival from such feat.
As a responsible Forum, we will not allow, our very illustrious son and pragmatic leader, His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel be forgotten in unthankfulness to God Almighty and commendation for the noble showing he put up at the national contest for the PDP Presidential ticket.
As a major stakeholder in the party, a leading Governor who has emerged as the face of the PDP over the past seven years given his exceptional performance in attracting foreign direct investment, Industrialisation, infrastructural Renaissance, youth and sports development, education, health care delivery, rural development, capacity building and above all, entrenching the legacy of peace and security in the State, it would have been an aberration if Governor Emmanuel did not step up to the challenge to stake the audacious run for the Presidency.
This pathway is further justified not just by the idea that the PDP threw open its ticket for every capable and willing contender, it was further reinforced by the fact that, in reality, the expectation was for equity and fair play in keeping with the PDP principle of zoning power at the Presidential level ought to rotate to the Southern geopolitical zone.
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The Forum agrees that the naysayers who have misadvised or ignorantly trolled the Governor for what they consider an abysmal outing are blindsided by the amazing political leaps, this aspiration has garnered in the poolroom for not just Governor Udom Emmanuel but for the Akwa Ibom State brand as a major State in the comity of States in the Nigerian commonwealth. The time they say will tell.
The Forum accordingly commends His Excellency Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for the impressionable outstanding, classic performance and for placing Akwa Ibom State at such a high level of recognition, relevance, and inclusion in the politics of PDP as a party and Nigeria as a Country.
Despite his late entrance to the race, following the inspired prompting of the Brekete Family, Governor Emmanuel stood his ground and confidently consulted with other critical stakeholders across the nation while deepening the conversation to rescue and restore Nigeria from the abject failure it is becoming and misgovernance she has suffered over time, his performance in the midst of veterans who have dominated the political space for decades, if not all their lives, is a clear indication that Mr. Udom Emmanuel, is an emerging force to reckon with in the nation’s political organogram.
The future indeed is bright. The Forum, therefore, in consideration of these intervening factors hereby express our total solidarity and congratulate His Excellency; Mr. Udom Emmanuel for the bold statement about his participation at the PDP Presidential Primary and the futuristic projections it implied for the Akwa Ibom people.
We have no doubt that Nigeria risks an opportunity in not having you nominated to become the Standard bearer of the PDP but we pray to God to help the eventual winner who you have since congratulated.
Congratulations our dear Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel!
Pastor Micheal Okon
Head, Publicity & Strategic Communication.
Uyo Senatorial district Media Practitioners Forum
