Allowing APC to Use Stadium for Presidential Campaign Not a Sign of Weakness
The decision by the Akwa Ibom State Government to
allow the ‘Nest of Champions’ stadium to be used by the All Progressives
Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off in the state should not be
interpreted as a sign of weakness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration
in the state.
The Director-General of the Divine Mandate Campaign
Organisation for PDP governorship candidate in the state, Otuekong Idongesit
Nkanga, Thursday said the decision was evidence of a sound and mature
leadership exhibited by the state Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
Such humane disposition of the governor, he said,
was a clear indication that the leadership of the state has respect for constitutional
offices especially the office of the president.
The one time military governor of the state
observed that the way and manner the opposition interpreted the initial
decision of the state government on the use of the stadium not minding the huge
cost it would involve the state to repair the facility after the event, was an
indication of desperation anchored on selfish agenda.
He said: “We wish to state unequivocally that the
PDP and indeed the good people of Akwa Ibom State are united in a common
determination not to mortgage the soul of state for pittance.
“It is also worthy to note that the decision is a
clear indication of the huge sense of maturity and exemplary statesmanship by
the governor. This action is more profane if you consider that some of the key
protagonists of APC today while in power, had several times displayed a clear
lack of tact and class.
“One incident that most Akwa Ibomites would not
forget in a hurry is the deliberate denial of Obong Victor Attah the use of the
facilities of the Ibom Hotels and Resort for events of his 70th birthday.
Gratefully, history offered the state an opportunity to right the wrong when
the current state government did not only approve the use of the facility for
the former governor’s 80th birthday but also bank-rolled the events.
“At the national level, we are all living witnesses
to the blatant refusal by the management of the Eagle Square in Abuja to former
PDP presidential aspirant the use of the facility despite having made the
requisite rental payments.
“On the contrast, it is on record that the Akwa
Ibom State Government has at several instances granted APC the use of Uyo
Township Stadium even when it wasn’t the most convenient thing to do.
“In September 2018, the state government approved
for the APC the use of the Uyo Township Stadium less than 24 hours before and
after events of the state 31st anniversary which took place at the
same venue.”
Nkanga, who managed the campaign organisation of the
former state Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in 2007, 2011 and that of the
incumbent governor in 2015, said the people of the state would ever remain
grateful for having Emmanuel as their governor because of his humane
disposition.
“Recently, the Ooni of Ife decorated Governor Emmanuel as
the Overall Best Performing Governor in 2018 at a prestigious event in Lagos.
All these are testimonials of the governance credentials of the PDP government
in the state,” he stated.
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