* Austin Okojie, Ors May go to jail
Senator Ita Solomon Enang, representing Uyo Senatorial District has warned Akwa Ibom electorates that any vote cast for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming April 11 election, will be an exercise in futility and a suicide mission, while calling on the people to accept change by voting Obong Umana Okon Umana, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate into power.
Enang, who spoke with Planet FM through Skpe on Saturday, stated that following turn of events which has seen PDP losing power at the centre to become an opposition party, it would be unwise being a minority state to vote PDP.
“As a minority state we should not vote for PDP in the next (governorship) election so that we do not become a minor minority. We contribute immensely to the economy of this country but now having returned PDP in the last election if we continue to do so we will move our state from minority to minor minority which would be our greatest undoing”.
He maintained that the only chance for the state to benefit from the new administration is for everyone to embrace change and vote enmasse for the APC, saying that is the only salvation for Akwa Ibom State.
While debunking claims by Governor Godswill Akpabio that it does not if the state remains in PDP, the distinguished lawmaker drew attention to “a saying that once a prophet is changed, the law changes. The ruling APC government may not be like PDP at the centre. Prophet Obasanjo, Prophet Y’aradua, Prophet Jonathan were different and Prophet Buhari will certainly be different”.
He argued that the new administration at the centre may decide to give preference to party, disclosing that it was because Akwa Ibom State was in the then ruling PDP that Obong Victor Attah, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, Senators Udo Udoma, Emmauel Ibok Essien and himself were able to finally put the obnoxious on shore off shore oil dichotomy to rest.
He further reminded the people that even at the national assembly, where laws governing national policy are made, APC was in majority both in the Senate as well as the House of Representatives as such they must dump a sinking PDP or be drowned with it.
Giving his views about management of the last election by INEC and security agencies in the state, the lawmaker warned of dire consequences which may not exclude imprisonment and dismissal for Mr. Austin Okojie, the Akwa Ibom INEC resident electoral commissioner, Police and Army men who reportedly aided the massive rigging recorded during the last polls.
“What I would tell INEC in the state and security agencies is that with the emergence of a new Commander-in-chief, waiting to be sworn in, loyalties have changed and many will be held accountable over their conduct during the elections”.
He utterly condemned several reported cases where sensitive elections materials especially result sheets were warehoused at some PDP commissioners’ residences where assumed results were filled to favour PDP.
Enang therefore called on all Akwa Ibom voters to move with the change in national polity, vote massively for APC and the stay back to defend their votes since the forthcoming election will definitely make or mar the state.