TheHILL.
Stakeholders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibiono Ibom, a local government area in Akwa Ibom State, have dethroned Mr. Ntienyong Inyangmme; the Supporter-in-Chief of Senator Bassey, as their Political Leader.
Our source in Uyo; TheMail, reported that the action was contained in a letter signed by 54 political stakeholders and addressed to the Governor and Acting State Chairman of PDP. According to TheMail, the political bigwigs in the area said Inyangmme was only selected as political leader but yet to be ratified and formally installed.
The stakeholders stated that one of the reasons they have withdrawn their support for Inyangmme is his “ignoble role” in the 2020 Local Government Party primaries for the LG elections in the state. They stated that Inyangmme went against the established zoning arrangement in the area which favoured Ibiono Ibom Southern to produce the Council Chairman. Inyangmme had, alongside OBA, Ignatius Edet and others in their camp supported re-election of EkomAbasi Akpan who is from Ibiono Ibom Northern.
The stakeholders stated further during the period Inyangmme acted as Political Leader, he caused more harm than good and has factionalized the party while aligning with few selfish individuals to run the party as a private enterprise which caused “turmoil, apprehension and crisis in the party”.
“It is our respectful view that Elder Ntienyong Inyangmme has failed the integrity test by allowing himself to be used to cause disharmony, discord and friction amongst party leaders and elders. Moreover, there is no place for a political leader in the constitution of our party, and as law abiding party stakeholders, we do not want to be associated with any form of illegality”, the 54 stakeholders stated in the letter.
The stakeholders urged the leader of the party, Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Acting State Chairman of the party, Hon. Lawrence Udosen to “discountenance any correspondence or representations made by the said Elder Ntienyong Inyangmme on behalf of the party stakeholders in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, as he lacks the legitimacy and powers to do so”.
Some of the stakeholders who signed the letter are current member of the state assembly, Hon. Godwin Ekpo, former Council Chair, Eyo Utit, Hon. Etop Idung who served as Commissioner for Information in a past government, Dr. Iniobong Essien, immediate past commissioner for Science and Technology, Rt. Hon (Barr) Ime Okon, Immediate Past Deputy House Leader of AKHA, John Joseph, pioneer PDP chapter Chairman in Ibiono Ibom, amongst others.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in Ibiono Ibom have declared their unalloyed support to the governor. In a recently held stakeholders meeting in Ibiono Ibom at the instance of the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the stakeholders restated their commitment to supporting the governor’s completion agenda and succession plan. They reechoed that the governor is the leader of the party in the state, and that they will be with him all the way.
“We do not need to pretend, politics is in the air and since politics is in the air, people have to right to align differently. But the better thing for us as people in a political system is to wait for the leadership. The leader of the party in Akwa Ibom State is the governor of the state, Governor Udom Emmanuel. My first plea is, do not be too fast in aligning. People will sweet tongue you, they will call you on phone. Ask yourself a question, if I did not hold a powerful position in the party or in the council as councilor or as a statutory delegate, would this person who is bothering my phone line be calling me? When you ask yourself that question, take home the answer you give yourself. Ask yourself, before I got into this position, this person that is calling my phone line, did he use to answer my phone calls?”, Ini Ememobong said while addressing the party stakeholders in his residence in Use Ndon.
“Have you seen this Godwin Ekpo that is standing here? Quote me ooo, I am supporting the governor. My people that are behind me, I am not saying I am controlling Ibiono, but I am saying that my supporters, the party that are supporting me will support the governor and whoever he will bring. If you have acknowledged the fact that the governor is the leader of the party, whatever he says is what we will do”, incumbent House of Assembly Member, Rt. Hon. Godwin Ekpo stated.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let everybody know that my loyalty is to His Excellency, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. As we are talking, the person that will emerge governor of this state in 2023 God already knows. So, we are only fighting and quarrelling in vain. It is important, that as long as we are committed and loyal members of PDP and the leader of the party is the governor, we must be loyal to the governor. I implore you to maintain that loyalty”, said immediate past Deputy Leader of the AKHA, Barr. Ime Okon.
