Those who
have been showing skepticisms about the ruling party’s Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP on the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as the inimitable
presidential elections must tarry a while, because one man who should know the
rationale behind this decision, has come out to defend the stance, and he came
out recently to defend this in an exclusive interview with Sola Olugbemiro, who
has every right to know where and how the idea should be accepted. The
postulations of Bishop Samuel Akpan are better understood in plain language as
he made them in this unquantifiable reasonings by the next governor of Akwa
Ibom State; who has been in the vanguard of promoting unity, peace and
continuity in the country.
When the
iconic Bishop Samuel Akpan speaks on issues like this, his views should be
respected and not taken without any pinch of salt. When he spoke on this issue
about President Jonathan’s unanimous across the board acceptance as 2015
presidential candidate, he knew what he was saying and it is only those who are
not in the know of the structural organization of the largest ruling party that
will think otherwise.
So, why would
Bishop Samuel Akpan be this vehement about his support for President Jonathan for
another slot support in 2015? It is because he knows the inner workings of PDP
from all intents and purposes. Granted that he is in the race for the Akwa Ibom
governorship race, Bishop Samuel Akpan has never hidden his respect for the way
PDP does its things to make things work peaceably to ensure good governance in
the country and this is what he is trying to bear on Akwa Ibom State, where he
hopefully intends to govern with all sense of purpose in 2015. This piece is
not about blowing Bishop Samuel Akpan’s trumpet, because the facts are there
and verifiable in his homestead, but it’s about setting the records straight,
as the indices are there, according to the constitution of the great party PDP,
and anyone who tries to run contrary to it may just be doing it at his/her own
peril. Without any bias, the interview is presented to you without any bias,
even as he added some pep on his much-avowed ambition to govern Akwa Ibom State
with all the verve in him, truthfully too. Follow us in this exclusive chat with
Bishop Samuel Akpan.
The
entire party has allegedly endorsed President Jonathan as its sole presidential
candidate in 2015, what is your take?
Of course that is part of
internal democracy, because the issue of nomination is the sole right of the
party and it’s a convenient approach of discouraging rancor in the party,
because once a party is adopted, it does not allow unnecessary struggles to affect
the fortunes of the party. It will therefore amount to stupidity and
foolishness on the part of any candidate to come up to contest. Once a party
takes a stand, it stands and that is it.
But don’t you think this will
result to divided interest across the party lines?
A: No, and capital no, because the programmes of the party as
being implemented by the sitting President Jonathan are quite satisfactory and
he has unified all the divisions in the party; thus the decision of the party
actually brought the party back as one, putting all the leadership together in
ensuring that Nigeria is put back on its track and its good level.
Q: Back to your governorship ambition in Akwa Ibom State, some
opposition, are you still clamoring to be part of the race, are you in any way
moved?
A: The issue is not about opposition clamouring for the post, it’s
about coming out to contest with someone who is tested, proven and popular
among the masses in our God-given Akwa Ibom State. So, it is neither here nor
there, anyone can come out to contest. It is left to the masses to decide.
Q: What is your relationship with the incumbent governor, Godswill
Akpabio?
A: My relationship with His Excellency, Gov. Godswill Akpabio goes
back in time. I was part of the organization that delivered him. It is only
natural for you to help someone who helped you while you are going up too. He,
the governor is my brother, my friend and political fellow, and my Excenllency
is my pal.
Q: So, what are your plans for Akwa Ibom State?
A: I am consulting and we are deeply grass rooted in orientation,
and the primaries will definitely produce the candidate with popular acceptance
and that will show genuinely the internal democracy of the party. As for my
plans for my people, it’s a long time thing, governance and political
emancipation is not automatic, it has to be a process. You have to see it
coming from a distance, getting closer to the people and winning their
attention. All these I have been doing and still doing with positive results and
having encouraged feedback to show. They now trust me and believe in me, that’s
why they want to go all out for me in the coming polls, to hand over themselves
to me as their chief servant.
Q: From the zoning angle, is the governorship of Akwa Ibom zoned
to Eket?
A: Yeah, the guber ticket is not really zoned to any particular
area, but Eket is more favoured, given the fact that every Akwa Ibom indigene
has equal access to the number one seat of the state; because nobody will be
marginalized, as the people are the ones to decide which area their governor
comes from.
Q: Finally, Do you think you have better and ample chances?
A: Yes, but I’m very satisfied that the masses have trusted me,
and have reposed their confidence in me, to the extent that the chances are
there waiting for me to grab, having given me their confidence. It is well with
me and them.
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