…as DFF Etinan Chapter pays visit
By Ime Silas
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the leader of Opposition Coalition in Akwa Ibom State, Obong (Dr) Uduakobong Udoh has reassured that the Coalition platform was open to anyone wishing to seek any elective position in the state.
Dr. Uduakobong who was the governorship standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State, gave the assurance last week when the Democratic Freedom Front (DFF), Etinan LGA chapter, paid him a courtesy visit at the State Headquarters of the Opposition Coalition in Uyo.
Speaking, the Coalition leader, while thanking the Etinan chapter of DFF for the visit, maintained that the edifice, which he said was big enough to accommodate everyone, would serve as a rallying point for all opposition political parties in the state.
He said: “Let me thank you immensely for this visit. This visit is so significant in that, it points to so many facts. First is the fact that the DFF has structures across all the 329 wards and the 31 local government areas of the state.
The second significance is the confidence you have in my leadership which you have expressed here. The next significance is that you all are conscious of what is going on in the state which you are not comfortable with, and so forth”.
Advising them to continue mobilizing the grassroots populace for the Coalition, Dr. Uduakobong hinted that the vision was to have a formidable opposition platform with capacity to unseat the APC government in the state and install a people-oriented government.
“The feelings as you have expressed here is just similar to what the majority of Akwa Ibomites are expressing. People are tired of the rots in these present administrations both at the State and national levels. I want to assure you of my commitment to building a formidable opposition force in the State so that we give Akwa Ibom people an alternative to what we currently have, which is nothing short of governance failure.
Therefore, continue the mobilization. We need to have as much grassroots populace as possible in the Coalition. Come 2027, it is the people that would decide who leads.
Let me also use this medium to put it clearer. The Coalition in Akwa Ibom State is not about Uduakobong Udoh’s political ambition. It is for anyone who has what to offer to Akwa Ibomites at every rung of leadership. We need people with superior positive agenda, superior capacity in terms of followership, and so on.
From governorship to Senatorial, to house of representatives, to State Constituency seats. Anyone with good content who will bring about leadership better than what we currently have, is welcome to the opposition coalition. It is open to everyone”, Uduakobong concluded.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation,
Mr. Kufre Jackson Etukudo who is the Etinan Chapter Coordinator of the Democratic Freedom Front , DFF, lauded Obong Uduakobong Udoh for securing the Coalition office, saying it would afford the ordinary Akwa Ibomites a platform to have their voice heard.
According to Mr Kufre: “Our visit here today is to sincerely appreciate you for securing this magnificent edifice for opposition coalition in the state. By this singular act, you have proven that leadership is not about noisemaking, but showing capacity.
Through this edifice, Akwa Ibom people will have their voices heard. Today, greater majority of Akwa Ibomites are suffering but before the opening of this office, it seemed there was no alternative.
Thank you for providing this alternative and thank you for providing the leadership for us to follow. We will continue to mobilize the downtrodden people of Etinan who have not felt any impact of governance. The APC government in Akwa Ibom State is not serving the people’s interests. Come 2027, our voices would be heard loud and clear and we will install a government of our own”.
