••• It’s Disrespect To Late PDP Chairman – Pst. Nyeneime Andy
TheHILL | POLITICS | March 24, 2021.
As the political dust raised by the purported impeachment of the Vice Chairman, Oruk Anam Local Government, Hon. Abasiama Etukakpan, is yet to settle, the immediate-past CAN National Youth President; Apostle Nyeneime Andy, has called on the leadership of PDP in the State to honour their late Chairman, Mr. Udo Ekpenyong, by readdressing the issue.
Yesterday, Hon. Etukakpan, an unyielding supporter of Senator Bassey Albert (OBA), was said to have been impeached by 14 out of 16 Councilors in Oruk Anam.
In the 7 paragraph Notice of Impeachment dated 23rd March, 2021, “false declaration of age” and “perjury” were cited as the Vice Chairman’s offences.
However, the impeached Vice Chair told TheHILL on Wednesday, that he has only one date of birth.
TheHILL scooped from a pal close to Etukakpan that his private conversation with his political associate where he wooed support for Senator Bassey Albert as the next Akwa Ibom governor, was recorded and same played for Governor Udom Emmanuel. The governor was said to have ordered an immediate removal of the OBA’s ‘campaigner’.
At the time of this report, the State government was yet to issue a rebuttal on this angle of the news making rounds that the OBA’s man was removed from office on account of the leaked audio conversation.
Senator Albert currently represents Akwa Ibom North-East in the upper chamber of the National Assembly. Many have confirmed the former Finance Commissioner in Akwa Ibom had since started consultations for the State’s number one position, an allegation the Ibiono Ibom man has not refuted.
Meanwhile, social media platforms have been buzzing with reactions following the purported impeachment of the Akwa Ibom’s youngest Independent Television Producer, the latest coming from Apostle Nyeneime Andy; the presiding Pastor of Holyghost Ambassadors Ministry International. Etukakpan has been an active member of the Church in almost half a decade.
In an article titled, “ATTENTION: THIS IS A DISGRACE TO DEMOCRACY IN AKWA IBOM” and published Wednesday, on his facebook timeline, the Uyo born Pastor stated that Etukakpan’s removal was an affront and disrespect to the late State’s PDP Chairman, Mr Udo Ekpenyong, whose burial is slated this weekend.
Recall that, screening and verification of credentials of PDP aspirants for the Local Government elections were conducted last year under the late Ekpenyong as Chairman.
The Pastor queried: “Are you saying he (the late PDP Chairman) didn’t do his work competently? Was there no screening before qualification for the office of Vice Chaiman? Couldn’t we have waited at least after his burial, we spit on his grave? Why the rush? Why make a young man a victim of circumstances!”
He continued: “This is a shame on democracy in Akwa Ibom. This is a shame on the House of Assembly. Shame on PDP AkS (Akwa Ibom State). This is an awful gift from (the current members of) PDP to the late party chairman.”
The clergyman who gave an impression of having deep knowledge of the purported impeachment asked rhetorically, “who wrote the petition that Abasiama is under age? Where was the impeachment done? In the council or in someone’s house? Was Abasiama given a fair hearing? Was due process followed?”
He further said: “This is an attack on all the youths in the State. If you are a young man or woman in government and you’re part of this, shame to you. It’s Akwa Ibom youths pulling down youth. Shame to all politicians from Annang, if you keep quiet and watch your own go down. An injury to one is an injury to all.
“This is just a test. Soon, they will pull down another of your sons. Maybe this time not a youth. We will like the real truth to be told to Akwa Ibomites why a young promising man was impeached. If you don’t say the truth. Someone will let the cat out of the bag.
“To the councillors, your only achievement in 100 days is to impeach your Vice Chairman while your mates in Uyo are building administrative blocks. Can’t young politicians be like Naaman’s servants in the Bible that advised their Boss to stir action. He listened to them dipped himself in Jordan River and got healed of leprosy.
“I call on the House of Assembly to look into the matter urgently and rescue democracy. I call on PDP to honor the late state chairman by readdressing this issue. I call on all youths to arise and stand up for the truth. There is nothing wrong being a youth. You are discouraging young men from being decent. We celebrated big brother winner in Akwa Ibom but we pull down our our star from Akwa Ibom. We should stop pulling down ourselves in the state. An injury to one is and injury to all.”
In the meantime, ears of all active Akwa Ibom politicians are to the ground even as their eyes watching the reaction of the Governor in Oruk Anam, the Local Government Area his wife; Martha, hailed from before they exchanged their marital vows.
