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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Why Benjamin Okoko May Emerge Akwa Ibom PDP Candidate

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Benjamin Okoko

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its governorship primaries, one of the aspirants in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party, Mr. Benjamin Okoko, is said to be towering above others with a majority of delegates already signing up for him.

Some members of the PDP who spoke with THIDAY admitted that the challenges of governance in the state are still competing with the current transformation agenda of the incumbent governor, Godswill Akpabio, and that the best man to succeed him is one who would hit the ground running.

According to these members, while Akapbio is a clear demarcation from the past in terms of performance and vision, the man coming on board has a huge challenge of surpassing him in every way possible, citing experience, ability to connect with the people and most especially, a grasp of policy and governance issues.

It is against this backdrop that a majority of the delegates are said to be thinking that their best bet remains Okoko, whom they not only describe as a core party man but one who boasts the kind of experience required to take the state to the next level.

Supporting the Okoko idea, a social commentator on the state’s polity, Ebongabasi Ekpe-Juda noted that, “In Akwa Ibom State, the foundation of the party has been badly shaken by the mass exodus of the party faithful… The party has been undoubtedly hit by a tsunami. And I blame the so called ward congress for the palpable blunder the party is waking up to.

“This is the time to look inward and see which of the candidates will be able to cement this fragments and bring back those that have gone or are about to go,” he said, adding that though there were many contenders for the party’s gubernatorial ticket, the PDP best bet is Okoko.

“He is a builder, one that can repair the now torn umbrella. Now, the party needs him more than ever before. This is a fact we can’t afford to toil with or fool around with, for the chicken is home to roost.

“The PDP as a party must now learn to yield to the voice of reason by being democratic and adopting a fair-minded and acceptable candidate for the gubernatorial race. Such a candidate must of necessity exhibit a rare quality of being a good builder, one who will cement the fragments together.

“He, it is, that has the capacity under the prevailing circumstance in the state to crush the formidable and mounting opposition and deliver the state to PDP. Benjamin Okoko is the man to win election for you in Akwa Ibom State, pick him and use him,” he reiterated.

Also speaking, Dan Etokidem, contended that with Umana Umana’s emergence as the greatest threat to PDP, it implies that “Akwa Ibom people are hoping to see the PDP produce a candidate whose character, pedigree, integrity, and competence tower above partisan considerations. In other words, the personality of the person is more important than PDP as the platform.

“This is where Benjamin Okoko comes again to salvage the party and the state as objective indicators showed that he alone can repel the APC incursion. Doing otherwise will mean the PDP is in mortal electoral danger.

“The situation which is bad and is threatening to become worse except fresh thinking and fresh dynamism is applied, needs a man like Benjamin Okoko – a man who by words and deeds has shown character, leadership, sincerity of purpose, selflessness, uncommon sacrifice and integrity. He is a team player, bridge builder, mobiliser and mediator.”

Another observer, Akpan O. Akpan, contended that “there is no need advising the PDP to misstep because they must also learn to bear the carrying cost. With Umana as the APC candidate, it is too dangerous for the PDP to field some inexperience lot on account of political greed or selfishness.

“The battle is clearly a two-horse race and as Clinton once said, it is the candidate, stupid! If the PDP likes, let them manipulate the process and field a natural loser, it will all be to the glory of the opposition and we hope they know the implication of that for the presidential election,” he noted.

Gladys Ubong holds the same view, “Yes, I have seen a few of the aspirants but I think Okoko cuts the image of a refined, urbane and cosmopolitan person, who the state needs at this material time. But again, I can only pray that no idiotic manipulation is perpetrated to the detriment of the whole party.

On his party, Samson Eliot felt that the Akwa Ibom PDP is the one that should be craving change now, adding that “The only person who strikes me as a change at a time like this is honestly Okoko. I know a lot of intrigues and horse-trading will be going on right now, but the truth about the election is that the character and personality of the candidate are an issue and that is why the PDP must not get it wrong.”

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