By Emmanuel Uffot
In furtherance of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s promise to use his capacity as the party leader in the state to initiate a reconciliation committee to address whatever grievances that may have arisen from PDP primaries in the state, the party has set up a reconciliation committee to reconciled all suchmembers.
The 11- man Committee was constituted on Tuesday June 25, 2022 in Uyo by the party chairman Elder Aniekan Akpan. The committee has Senator Effiong Bob as chairman, Barrister Assam Assam (SAN), Senator Aloyius Etok, Sir Michael Effiong,Rt. Hon Dr Ekaete Ebong Okon, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, Barrister Uwem Ekanem, Hon Imo Ibokette, Rt. Hon Udo Kerian Akpan,Mr Okon Okon and Professor Imaobong Akpan as members.
Speaking during the inauguration, the party chairman while acknowledging the existence of pockets of grievances and disagreements among some members especially those that could not make it at the just concluded party’s state congresses, pledged that it is the resolved of the party to ensure that the interest of all is accommodated under the big PDP umbrella.
“After the primaries, our party candidates emerged while others, did not win the party’s tickets. These may have caused them and their supporters to feel bad and perhaps discouraged. We value our members and we love to continue as one big family. This is why we thought it necessary to set up this committee, and we are sure that the committee will achieve the goals and objectives which the party is out to achieve”.
The chairman reiterated the fact that, the party has that responsibility at the instance and fatherly advised by the governor, to reach out to all those that hold divergence opinion from the outcome of the primaries, and to restore their faith in the party as the only one that holds a better future for them, basically in the area of sustaining peace, development and prosperity of Akwa Ibom State.
As a party, we have a responsibility to reach out to everyone who holds a differing opinion from the outcome of the event, encourage them and help them restore their bearings as respected party men and women in the big umbrella family. We also need to reinvigorate their faith, hope and confidence in the PDP as the only party that holds a better future for them and the sustainable peace, development and prosperity of Akwa Ibom State”, Akpan stated.
In response on behalf of the committee, the chairman Sen. Effiong Bob expressed gratitude to the party for giving him the opportunity to serve in such very important capacity, he maintained that it is always their willingness to work for the betterment of the party to deepen their taproot in the state. He noted that it is normal in life for people to disagree to agree. And promise that the committee will do its best to achieve the objectives it was set up.
“I thank the party for the opportunity to serve. We are always willing to work so that we deepen the taproot of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State. As it is said, people disagree to agree. We will attempt to reconcile all aggrieved members. We are going to reach out to all our members who hold different view from the direction and decision of delegates and the party in in the just concluded primaries”. Senator Bob, who currently holds the position of party leader in Uyo senatorial district promised that the committee will take time to listen to the positions and complaints of the aggrieved and take steps to address issues they raise. He solicited for cooperation from all members of the party.
The terms of reference of the committee are, to identify all aggrieved members and segments of the party, identify causes and sources of grievances, identify ways and means to reconcile real and perceived grievances of members in the party.
The committee, has been given a timeline of four weeks to submit an interim report from the date of the inauguration.
It could be recalled that some members of the party had frowned at the conduct of the ad-hoc delegates election that produced those that voted at the primaries, citing unhealthy processes and procedures. While some of them that were aspirants, pulled out of the eventual primaries and threatened defection. Some have already gone to court to seek redress as a way of venting out their grievances. Among those that have chosen the legal means, include Friday Iwok who was not an aspirant perse, two term House Member representing Abak Federal Constituency who is in court to contest the mode the ad-hoc delegates elections that produced state delegates were conducted. Others that also went to court against the party were Ephraim Iyangeyi, former Commissioner for Works and immediate past Chief of Staff to the Governor as well as Akan Okon, immediate past Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport who was also a gubernatorial aspirant in the recently held governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom.
Other prominent members of the party, the committee is expected to beam focus on to reconcile include Hon Barrister Onofiok Luke, Member representing Etinan Federal Constituency who pulled out from the governorship primaries over the consequence of the Electoral Act 2022 provision which bar statutory delegates from voting at the primaries. Luke had argued that since the base of his delegates he had put hope onwere statutory delegates that are elected politicians like Members of National Assembly, State House of Assembly members, Chairmen of Local Government Areas and Councillors, the Electoral Act provision in that regard has disfranchised them and therefore rendered him without any delegate. He reasoned that it will be a fruitless venture for him to partake in the Primary.
Like Honourable Luke, another prominent aggrieved member who was one of the frontline contenders in the Akwa Ibom Gubernatorial race for the ticket is Senator Bassey Albert, currently representing Uyo Senatorial District. He also pulled out of the governorship primaries citing a subsistence court case as his reasons. Although there are speculations that the Ibiono born two term senator is on the verge of decamping to another party to actualize his governorship ambition, but there is no visible move on that yet.
However, for some PDP members and followers, the choice of those in the reconciliation committee is fair given their pedigree.For instance, the Chairman Sen. Bob is renowned grassroot political mobilizer and kingmaker with huge political followers not only in Uyo senatorial district which he is the political leader but the whole state. Coming from Nsit Ubium where the PDP flagbearer and Hon. Luke believed to be one of the aggrieved parties, many see his choice as chairman of the party as worthwhile. Others whose choice many PDP faithfuls believe will play a positive role in the reconciliation venture is Barrister Assam Assam. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria who was a one–time Ambassador of Nigeria to Russia has over the years dating back to the era of former Governor Victor Attah has position himself in the state as a respected PDP stalwart and chieftain whose voice should listened to. Similarly, Sir Michael Effiong, a former deputy governor in the state, is well respected within and outside the party. It is believed that he can talk to the understanding of the aggrieved especially in his area being the Abak 5 of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Same is Hon. Udo Kerian, a two term State House member and House Leader.
Other members of the reconciliation committee with pedigree expected to individually add value to its objectives are, former Senators Aloyius Etok and Emmanuel Ibokessien that are movers and shakers of politics in their areas and Rt. Hon Dr Ekaete Ebong Okon, a very respected woman politician in the PDP and the state who was a one– time deputy speaker State House of Assembly, so also Barrister Uwem Ekanem.
However, as the committee sets to work, political pundits are divided over the success of their task ahead. While some believed that as usual with politicians whereby there is no permanent friend or enemy but permanent interest, many of them depending on the apple plays on their table would sheath their sword and come back to the folk. But for those stillpessimistic about the success of the reconciliation efforts, they assert that if the committee don’t act fast given the fact that a lot of water is already passing under the bridge, some of the aggrieved may have well bid the party farewell.
