Gov Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State said the call for ward meetings of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state was to fortify the grassroots structure of the party.
Speaking at Ibiakpan-Obotim Ward 2, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of the state, during the state-wide meeting on Saturday, Governor Eno also explained that the purpose of the ward meetings was to afford the party leadership the opportunity to receive the large number of decampees who rejoined the party lately and to reinforce the party’s support base.
He, therefore called on leaders and stakeholders of the party to seek more ways to further deepen the roots of PDP in all electoral wards in the state.
According to him: “It’s been a good outing. We intend to continue to build up the party, to continue to work in our state and to continue to support our President at the centre.
“We have finished elections and people want to come back. I believe they have seen that the government is responsible and has capacity and they are convinced and are coming back of their own volition, without being pushed.
“As a good father and a responsible party, we have to open our door and everyone together, because Akwa Ibom is a PDP state and from time it has always been. So we need to build up our membership, continue to show capacity and strength in developing our state.”
On his part, the PDP state chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan, speaking at his Northern Ukanafun Ward 4 venue of the ward meeting thanked his people and the entire Ukanafun for their support to the party, charging them to consolidate on the party’s dominance to gain more democratic dividend.
He observed that Governor Eno’s appointment of over 368 personal assistants from the respective wards of the state, the one-project-per-local government, rural roads, prompt payment of pension and gratuity to retirees and intervention in food price hike through the Bulk Purchase Initiative, amongst others would engender his ARISE agenda and facilitate people’s acceptance of the PDP led state government even at the grassroots.
In Awa Ward 1, Onna Local Government Area, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel charged the party faithful to remain steadfast to the ideals of PDP as it remains the most credible platform for the emergence of leaders and pursuit of broadbased nationwide development ends.