Aniekan Bassey sparks: Ibiono Ibom practises anti-Akwa Ibom politics
Speaker, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and one of the frontline aspirants for the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bsssey, has expressed disappointment with the level of rascality that characterises politics in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area nowadays, describing it as “anti-Akwa Ibom, anti-democracy and anti-development”.
Rt. Hon. Bassey made the displeasure on Wednesday shortly after his consultation visit to the Ibiono Ibom Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was disrupted by hoodlums and supporters allegedly touting for the gubernatorial ambition of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA).
The Speaker, who was barred from addressing the Ibiono Ibom PDP Chapter by the hoodlums on the ground that there was ‘Umo Eno’ inscription on his faze cap, expressed dismay at such level of rascality exhibited by Ibiono Ibom people in the name of politics.
Rt Hon Aniekan Bassey insisted that his support and commitment to the Udom Emmanuel’s Completion Agenda are firm and irrevocable
“The kind of politics and attitude displayed in Ibiono Ibom today is anti-Akwa Ibom, anti-democracy and anti-development. It is against everything our forebears stood for. But I want to tell the peace-loving people of Akwa Ibom that I will never shift my grounds nor my support for Governor Udom Emmanuel and his succession plan, particularly in his choice of Pastor Umo Eno, no matter the amount of rascality.
“As a loyal party man, I came to consult the Ibiono Ibom PDP delegates of my ambition for the Uyo Senatorial Seat.
“I went to consult some of the delegates from Ibiono Ibom LGA for my senate aspiration. They asked that I should remove Umo Eno’s campaign faze cap I was wearing. I told them that if their support for me would be based on such condition, then I would rather lose the votes of Ibiono Ibom at the party primary.
“They pleaded that I should remove the cap before going ahead with the consultation, I told them I would rather leave than do that.
“OBA whom they are supporting came to consult me in my house, wore his faze cap and I didn’t ask him to remove his cap.
“Some of my staff are core supporters of the governorship aspiration of Senator Bassey Albert. I have never for once stopped them from supporting their aspirant. I have never for once contemplated stopping their salary or even sacking them.
“Politics is a game of interest and should be done with a high sense of decorum. I have friends who are supporters of other gubernatorial aspirants. I can only negotiate, plead and massage their ego to support my gubernatorial aspirant, Pastor Umo Eno. Political campaigns should be done with decency and not on the basis of rascality. I have resolved to stand on the path of peace, progress, development and unity. I humbly solicit and appeal to lovers of our dear state to also toe this path of peace.” he maintained.
Responding, the member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Obong Godwin Ekpo, apologised to the Speaker and promised to support him.
“Mr. Speaker, I humbly apologize to you and the people of Akwa Ibom State for this show of shame. I want to tell you that the people that disrupted this meeting are not delegates. Be assured that our support and loyalty to Governor Udom’s Emmanuel completion agenda and your senatorial aspiration is nonnegotiable. On that day, Ibiono Ibom delegates will nominate Pastor Umoh Eno for Governor and Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey for Senate,” Obong Ekpo maintained.
The meeting had in attendance, the Ibiono Ibom PDP Chapter Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Etim; Councillors; political leaders; statutory delegates across the 11 Wards, among others.
