Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, has described as speculative reports that he was planning to resign as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council, saying at no time has he contemplated such.
The report widely published on some national and online media platforms indicated that the governor was planning to ditch his position as the chairman of the PCC over the non-release of funds.
The report added that the governor had confided in some of his inner circles, saying that he was frustrated by the PDP presidential candidate’s inability to release funds for the campaign in the state.
“At the moment our governor had said he would not be spending a dime of the state funds in the presidential campaign because we don’t have more than enough resources for our national and state House of Assemblies campaigns.
He has said, “he would rather resign than appear incompetent” the source quoted gov Emmanuel.
But reacting to the publications in a statement, on Wednesday, by the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Borono Bassey, the governor said his position as PCC chair is a patriotic duty he owes to Nigerians who are anxiously awaiting for the incoming PDP administration to rescue them from the maladministration left by the APC.
The statement titled, ” Governor Udom Emmanuel fully committed to the Rescue Nigeria, Atiku/Okowa Presidency” said Governor Emmanuel remains a frontline compatriot committed to a better Nigeria.
“On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, a wild retrogressive rumour to the effect that Governor Udom Emmanuel was considering resigning as Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, made the rounds.
“The rumour, which is purely a product of speculative efforts of those who are averse to the enticing idea and beautiful prospects that Nigerians will enjoy under the Atiku/Okowa Presidency from 2023, is coming at a time when millions of Nigerians have admitted to seeing the higher chances of the PDP taking over the reins of power at the Center with His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar as President in 2023.
“Governor Udom Emmanuel has said that at no time has he ever contemplated resigning his position as Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, that this is a Patriotic duty, he owes to Nigerians who are anxiously waiting for the incoming PDP administration to repair the all-round ruins left by the current administration.
“As a firm believer in the capacity and aptitude of Atiku Abubakar to tackle and address the myriads of challenges bedevilling our nation at this time, Governor Udom Emmanuel remains a frontline dogged, undeterred, focused and optimistic Compatriot in the collective match by Nigerians to rescue Nigeria and redirect her on a path of accelerated and collective progress and development.
Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel who also alluded to the report during the flagged-off of the governorship campaign described the report as an expression of apprehension by opponents over their impending loss to the PDP presidential candidate, Alh Atiku Abubakar.
“I woke up this morning to fake news that I have resigned from being Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council and I am saying that it is not true. We are in the Presidential Campaign Council to win and we are going to win.
“They have seen that we are coasting home to victory, that’s why they are bringing that up now. So don’t listen to all those rumours. Don’t listen to that fake news. I am here, a very loyal and committed party man and I stand here as Chairman of the Presidential Campaign of Atiku, Okowa. I am not going anywhere. We are going to win together,” he stated.
Addressing a mammoth during the flagged-off, the governor said that the coming election will determine the destiny of the Akwa Ibom people, assuring that with the candidate of the PDP, Pastor Umo Eno, as governor, the state will never go back to the dark ages of violence and crime.
The PDP gubernatorial candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, while thanking God for raising and shaping him added that he would run an inclusive government if elected.
He said, “we will run an all-inclusive style of administration that will accommodate all our supporters and even members of other political persuasions and inclinations…Having witnessed the unprecedented pace of development under our dear Governor Udom Emmanuel, I believe, our best way to express our collective gratitude and appreciation for what he has turned our state into will be to continue from where he will stop, and take it even further.”
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of a PDP flag to Pastor Umo Eno and his running mate, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, by the State Chairman of the Party, Aniekan Akpan.
