UYO/Nigeria: Gubernatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in states in the south-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria will officially receive flags from the party during the flagoff of the APC presidential campaigns in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.
Making the disclosure at a press briefing in Uyo, Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, added that the event to be held at the 30,000 capacity Godswill Akpabio International Stadium will also feature presentation of APC flags to Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates.
He assured the president of a successful visit and reaffirmed that the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium has been inspected and passed fit to host the event, after approval for usage was granted by the Akwa Ibom State government.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Central Planning Committee of the event, Obong Umana Okon Umana, reiterated Akwa Ibom APC’s readiness to host the president and bigwigs of the party across the federation.
“It is going to be a national APC event. We are expecting to host Mr. President, the Vice President, national chairman of our party, national leaders, members of the National Working Committee, APC governors, ministers and party faithful across the federation”, Umana, a former governorship flagbearer of the APC, noted.
He added: “Indeed, this rally will provide the foundation for the take-off of our presidential campaigns, and we will be expecting the 30,000-capacity Godswill Akpabio International Stadium to be filled. From the feedback we are getting, we know that the stadium will be filled to capacity. The people are excited and enthusiastic, and they are waiting to receive the President.
“We are not surprised because the people have felt the impact of the work of Mr. President. We have reviewed Mr. President’s scorecard as it affects Akwa Ibom, and that is why our members are excited. Even non-APC members are enthusiastic about receiving the President and to thank him ahead of the election.”
Umana called on Akwa Ibom people to turn out in droves on Friday to thank the president for his goodwill for Akwa Ibom state.
“…attendance at this rally would be a way of telling Mr. President that we appreciate what he has done for us in terms of the key strategic appointments, which he has given to sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State, and clearly this is unprecedented.
“When you look at appointments that are based on the discretion of Mr. President; for example the appointment of the senior special assistant to Mr. President on National Assembly Matters, and I also sit by the special grace of God as the managing director of the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Authority, the minister of Budget and National Planning. I can go on and on. In all, we have up to about 60 federal appointments.”
He further enumerated the federal government’s impact in the state to include, N-Power scheme, bailout funds, construction of Calabar-Itu Road, school feeding programme, and others.
The state chairman of the APC, Hon. Ini Okopido, called on Akwa Ibom people to give President Muhammadu Buhari a memorable time in the state.
