A’Ibom Inaugurates APC Caucus, Says Buhari Committed to N’Delta Dev
Ernest Chinwo and Okon Bassey in Uyo
The people of the Niger Delta region have been
urged to remain calm and cooperate with the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari
towards the development and provision of
infrastructures in the region.
The Managing Director of Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Nsima
Ekere made the call weekend during the
inauguration of the Akwa Ibom State Caucus of
the All Progressives’ Congress (APC).
Ekere lamented that the Niger Delta region had
little to show in terms of development for the five
years a son of the soil presided over the affairs
of the country. He said it was clear that the
President had the interest of the region at heart
from the steps he has taken so far to solve the
problems of the region.
The NDDC boss pledged that the commission
would work vigorously to bring sustainable
development to the region in line with President
Buhari’s vision to develop the region.
He urged the people of Akwa Ibom State to
support the Buhari administration which, he said,
was working tirelessly to address the economic
problems of the country.
Ekere lauded the quality of the APC Caucus
members, particularly the Caucus Chairman,
Atuekong Don Etiebet, who he described as an
experienced and dogged leader. While
commending the hard work and resilience of the
party leadership and faithful, he called for a
greater synergy between them to enable
increased grassroots’ mobilisation.
The Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Zones
Authority, Mr. Umana Umana, expressed
confidence that the caucus would strengthen and
reposition the APC, describing Etiebet as an
experienced and cerebral leader.
He maintained that the APC was robbed of
victory in the last elections but urged the party
faithful to leave the past and plan for the future
which, according to him, was certain.
Hailing Ekere as a true friend and brother, Umana
declared that “we will all work together to
strengthen the party to take back our state.” He
commended President Buhari for the appointment
of Akwa Ibom indigenes, including himself, into
positions of authority.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on
National Assembly Affairs (Senate), Senator Ita
Enang, solicited support for the Buhari
administration which, he said, has done well for
Akwa Ibom State in terms of appointments and
projects, hinting that more appointments were
underway.
He described as deceit and falsehood the claim
by a group, Akwa Ibom Vanguard, that the
Buhari administration only budgeted N1.9 billion
for projects in the state, pointing out that the
budgetary provision for the Calabar-Itu Road
alone was over N6 billion.
The presidential aide stated that the huge
monthly allocation from the federation account
was not being well-utilised by the State
government as it was not commensurate with
the level of development in the state.
He reasoned that the ruling Peoples’ Democratic
Party (PDP) was unable to make progress in the
state because its erstwhile members that joined
the APC had left with the soul of the PDP,
leaving behind only the carcass.
Etiebet, thanked the party for the great honour
accorded him and other caucus members and
promised to work towards making the APC more
virile. Etiebet, who inaugurated the Strategy,
Finance and Contact Committees of the party,
condemned rigging of past elections in the state
but predicted victory for the APC in 2019
because “the time of rigging has gone.”
The APC National Vice Chairman (South-South
Zone), Ntufam Hilliard Ettah, who inaugurated
the caucus, stated that with the caucus the party
was well-positioned to win the state.
Others who spoke at the occasion were the
State APC Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai; a former
Minister of Women Affairs, Obong Rita Akpan; a
former PDP National Vice Chairman (South-
South Zone), Chief Edet Mkpubre; a former PDP
State Chairman, Otu Ita-Toyo, and a former
Member of the House of Representatives, Chief
Soni Udom.
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