…EXPOSES LABOUR PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, PETER OBI
Priscilla Christopher
A two-time member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia has stated in strong terms that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State would not lose its vibrance, vigour and appeal inspite of defections from it in recent times.
He said this while baring his mind on the affairs of the Party, in an exclusive interview with newsmen in Uyo on Thursday, July 21, 2022.
The former Lawmaker who recently returned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to his mother Party, the PDP stressed that the PDP had long established its roots in the State and would be almost impossible to uproot within a twinkle of the eye.
“The truth of the matter is that they don’t have what is called YPP. YPP does not have original members; it’s a combination of maybe some PDP faithful and some APC faithful who are aggrieved. Then they decided to like, ‘let’s hook up with you’. Some of them are sitting PDP card-carrying members. That’s what they are calling their members now. I’ll only advise my Party to embark on massive sensitization to ensure that people go to collect their PVCs because their PVC is their power. And by the way, you would not see any candidate’s face on the ballot paper. You will only see the Party’s logos. So whether you like it or not, PDP is what the people have known since 1998 till today. So, Akwa Ibom is PDP and will remain PDP.
Speaking on the Reconciliation Committee recently set-up by the Party, Rt. Hon Udofia noted that it was a laudable move to calm frayed nerves in the PDP. He however opined that the Committee should be composed of Party members at the local level.
“Politics is local and so, the Reconciliation Committee would have gone down to the roots to constitute legitimate members which have integrity. I’m from Ikono and I’ll know better our challenges than someone who’s not from there so, sending a person alien to our problems to come and speak about them would not yield the desired results. Secondly, the Committee should be set at the local government level which will know what the real problems are and who the aggrieved people are. The party should try and see how they can constitute a more intellectual and refined committee to drive round into the nooks and corners, local government by local government, ward by ward and reach out to the people. These can only give us victory. A house divided against itself cannot stand. This I can tell you. But whether the party would win? I am optimistic we’ll win”, he stated.
In his response to what informed his decision to return to the PDP, the Ikono indigene expressed that the APC’s leadership crisis had become too much of a bad story with no redemption in sight.
“I had to return to the Party which gave me the right to the office and title of Rt. Honorable. Conflict is inevitable everywhere but when a division goes beyond management, it becomes a problem and APC’s own was not well managed. The leadership of the APC has remained in total quagmire; this one claiming to be the leader today, and another tomorrow; there is so much division in the APC”, he maintained.
The former Lawmaker who assessed the three key candidates contesting for the office of President of Nigeria did not conceal his admiration for the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi. He however stated point blank that he was going to vote for his Party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
“I give it to the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi on submissiveness and humility. I was in the House of Assembly when I was flying on an aircraft with him from Abuja to Lagos. I was in 2A in a Business Class and he was in 21C in Economy Class, as a sitting Governor. I saw him and I stood up. I said, Your Excellency, please give me your boarding pass let me go to your seat but he said, “Victor, I do not belong to where you belong to. Let me go to where my people are. You people are the VIP lounge. Let me go to where I belong to”. And he rejected my seat and went to the Economy Class. That does not mean that he couldn’t afford a Business Class as a Governor but maybe because he believes that people should see life the way it is and not make so much fuss about it”.
“Another impression was when we again met at Port Harcourt Airport from Abuja. He was also on the same flight as a sitting Governor. This time, we were both on the Economy Class because I couldn’t get a Business Class. When we came down from the flight, I offered to help him carry his bag but he laughed and asked ‘Victor, can I pay you?’ I asked of his orderly and he responded: ‘What am I doing with the orderly? The orderly is on official assignment and I’m not here on official assignment’. This incident happened in real life and he can attest to this”.
“I looked at his Phone and asked why he was not using a sophisticated phone. He said: ‘What do I need a phone for? Make calls, receive calls, send a text and do Twitter. Look at your phone; it is only 419ers that use your kind of phone’ and we both laughed. I’m quoting him. That’s why I said I give it to him in humility, being down to earth and meekness”.
“Secondly, he’s an economist who knows how to get things done with available resources so, I believe he has all it takes to get there. I recall that I was in APC when Peter Obi came to campaign and consult PDP delegates in Akwa Ibom State. He also paid homage to Gov. Udom Emmanuel. I listened to his speech and it was a very intelligent one. He said: ‘You have a vibrant son that has the capacity to take the country to an enviable height but I can tell you that I also have what it takes. So please when you look up to your son, also look up to me. So that in case you change your mind, I can be your plan B’. But there’s a candidate that would go there and wash down the Governor. So presentation is key. Having said so, I’m a member of the PDP. I’ll work for my Party and my candidate. If I had an option, maybe I’d have given him my vote but until then, my vote will go to my Party candidate which is Atiku Abubakar”, he stated.
Dabbing into the row trailing Atiku’s choice of Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate, against Nyesom Wike, the two-term House member notified that it is the prerogative of the presidential candidate to choose who becomes his running mate. “And the fact that Wike had granted many interviews where he stressed that he will never be a second class citizen in his Country leaves one with no choice but to do what needs to be done”, he averred.
Amongst other things, Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia condemned the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC on grounds that it does not accommodate the religious diversities of Nigerians.
The former Ikono lawmaker while reacting to the judgment by Justice Obiora Egwuata in suit No.FHC/ABJ/CS/606/2022 between FRIDAY IWOK & ORS V INEC & ORS, said, the Court verdict was a victory for democracy and the PDP family in Akwa Ibom.
While thanking God for the victory, he appreciated the judiciary for rising up to its solemn responsibility of ensuring that justice prevails, stressing that the judgment was a clear indication that the third arm of government is the last hope of the common man.
Answering a reporter’s question, Udofia observed that the last seven years of the Udom Emmanuel administration have flown by with astonishing speed, stressing that one enduring constant in the passing years has been the Governor’s bold, firm, courageous, determined and unwavering commitment to selfless and patriotic service for the people of Akwa Ibom. The lawmaker, assured that the governor will leave the State better than he met in 2015 and called for citizens’ support for his completion agenda and succession plan.
On the recent defection of the incumbent member representing Ikono/Ini Federal constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong-udo to the YPP, Udofia, said the country’s constitution has permitted any citizen to belong to any legal group and association. He however, maintained that since the ruling party in the state; PDP, has been producing leaders from ‘top to bottom’ since the return of democracy in 1999, those leaving the party where flexing muscles in futility.
“My brother Emman Ukpong-udo has the right to contest on any other platform, but take my words to the bank, that, even in ward 8 that my brother comes from, PDP will win that ward and I want anybody to bet with me,” he roared.
On the forthcoming general election and candidates of the umbrella party in Ikono/Ini Federal constituency and Ikono State Constituency; Dr. Glory Edet and Hon. Itoro Columba, the Ibiaku Ntok Okpo born business mogul – cum – politician stressed that the PDP was poised to sustain its winning streak.
He described the aforementioned candidates of the PDP as the best and most popular with track records, political reach and outstanding achievements who will floor any candidate of the opposition party.
“Dr Edet and my brother Itoro Columba possess unpretentious mien, humble outlook, and bubbly personality that I strongly believe will serve our Federal constituency well and bring back dividends of democracy.
“I hereby call on my people to use the few days remaining to get their PVCs and be ready to elect Pastor Umo Eno as Governor, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem as our Senator, Dr Glory Edet as our Federal lawmaker and Hon Itoro Columba as member, House of Assembly because these ones have passed the character and competence tests and are the new faces of our democracy.” He stated.
