By Dianabasi Effiong
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom has been told to provide the required leadership to checkmate the infiltration of the party by opposition elements in the State.
The Executive Director, PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPAJ) Dr Tom FredFish, stated this on Friday in a statement in Uyo.
FredFish also alleged in the statement that the frequent presence of the State’s PDP Chairman, Mr Aniekan Akpan, at political events that promoted the APC had undermined PDP’s interest in Akwa Ibom.
According to him, such an attitude is contrary to the political culture and convention of party-based politics anywhere in the world.
FredFish also told the PDP Chairman in Akwa Ibom State to resign to fully commit himself to the programmes and activities of the APC in Akwa Ibom State.
He also noted what he called the perceived non-action of Aniekan Akpan to give effective leadership that could help in checking infiltration of the party by opposition elements after the defection of Gov. Umo Eno to the APC.
Dr Tom FredFish further stated: “Mr. Aniekan Akpan cannot fulfill the desire of Governor Umo Eno to imitate the anti-democratic behavior of Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, of belonging to two political parties by using the PDP chairman to hold forth in the PDP while he is a registered member of the APC.
“The PDP chairman, Mr. Aniekan Akpan, should come to terms with the fact that Governor Umo Eno has moved to another party; hence, he should disengage from the governor on matters relating to politics and should focus more on coordinating and galvanizing the PDP like other patriotic members of the party are doing.
“Mr. Akpan has no moral or political reason to attend the socio-economic impact of the Arise Agenda event organized to promote the APC agenda in the State.
“There are many indications that Mr. Aniekan Akpan’s body is in PDP while his heart is in APC.
He cannot be the PDP chairman at this moment when the party needs sincere and result-oriented leadership.
“It is irritating that Aniekan Akpan has become so bored that he is willing to sit comfortably in an APC gathering that he has no useful role to play.
“How many such events in PDP did the APC chairman attend when the governor was in the PDP?
Dr. Tom FredFish also observed that “the APC, through Governor Eno, is proliferating Party Chairmen by using two party chairmen at the same time against democratic norms and principles”.
“The Akwa Ibom PDP chairman has continued to combine his role as the PDP chairman in the State and that of the APC acting like the “hallelujah boy” of the APC.
“To make matters worse, Mr. Akpan still proudly adorns the emblem of the Arise Agenda on his chest showing his commitment to the APC administration.
He should retreat or resign.
“We are calling on the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum to note our concerns and ensure that Aniekan Akpan is put in check to safeguard what is left of the Akwa Ibom PDP. Such a step will return the party in Akwa Ibom to the cynosure of Nigeria’s political system, as it used to be.”
