Akpabio's Wife Leads Women Mobilization Rally to Ibeno, Eket, Esit-Eket

The wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, Saturday visited Ibeno, Esit- Eket and Eket Local government areas, where she led female members of State Executive Council, PDP women leaders and wives of top government officials on a town hall sensitization and mobilization of the grassroot women in the areas for a comprehensive victory of the PDP in the forthcoming elections.

At the various places visited, Mrs Ekaette Akpabio who has been widely commended for her strongly supportive role to her husband, particularly in the area of women empowerment and mobilization, sensitized the rural women who came out in their numbers from all the villages in the three local government areas on the need for them to vote massively for all the candidates of the PDP.

At the Ulok Ulo Unity hall, in Ibeno, venue of the town hall meeting in the area, Mrs. Akpabio who was accompanied on the visit by the wife of PDP governorship candidate, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, appreciated the women for always supporting the PDP-led government at the state and national level.

While listing the achievement of the current administration at both national and state level, the Governor's wife, who has severally been described as Campaigner in Chief and Commander of the Women, following her contribution to the development of the women, assured that a vote for President Goodluck Jonathan, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for governor, Chief Nelson Effiong for the Eket Senatorial District seat, Deaconess Owoidighe Ekpotai for the Eket Federal constituency seat and Mr. Usoro Akpan Usoh for Ibeno/Esit-Eket state Constituency seat will sustain development and transformation in their communities.

She averred that, “The PDP led government which she noted has been in the business of transforming the lives of the citizenry since the return of democracy in 1999.”

While introducing Mrs. Martha Udom to the women, Mrs. Akpabio assured them that Mr. Udom Emmanuel who is the PDP governorship candidate in the state will sustain the tempo of development witnessed in the state under the administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio, and that jobs will be created through his industrialization blue print which he has promised to implement when he assumes office.

Responding the women of the area, speaking through the wife of the local government chairman, Mrs. Grace Henry Ekpe Nko, wife of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperative Matters and Food Sufficiency, Mrs. Josephine Eyinna, Chapter woman leader of the PDP in Ibeno, Mrs. Grace Akpan, Vice Chairman of the council, Mrs. Esther Ndito and wife of the Paramount Ruler of the area Obonganwan Theresa Achianga assured the Governor's wife and the PDP of their massive support for the victory of the party at the polls.

Recounting the achievement of the PDP administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio in Ibeno and Akwa Ibom state, the women said they had to forego their market on a big market day as a mark of honour to the First Lady for giving Akwa Ibon women their pride of place in the current administration, and vowed to deliver Ibeno 100% for the PDP.

Solidarity messages from the Chairman of Ibeno, Mr. Henry Ekpe Nko added color to the women rally as he affirmed the preparedness of Ibeno to repeat its winning ways in favour of the ruling party whose governorship Candidate comes from the federal constituency.

Speaking at Esit Eket, the women who came out in large numbers equally vowed to turn in their votes for the PDP in all the elective positions and praised Mrs. Akpabio for integrating women in the scheme of things. On her part, the wife of the Council chairman, Mrs. Theresa Ibanga Etang, described the PDP government as gender friendly while the wife of the paramount ruler, Obongawan Grace Ubong Assam, said the women folk in Esit- Eket were ready to vote the PDP on march 28 and April 11.

Also addressing the women, the Deputy Governor Mrs. Valerie Ebe enjoined them not to be distracted by the antics of the opposition saying other parties have nothing to offer other than propaganda.

Welcoming the Governor's wife to his domain, the council chairman for Esit- Eket, Deacon Ibanga Etang, thanked the governor's wife for finding time from her tight schedule to interact with the women of Esit- Eket who in turn have vowed to return a hundred percent vote to PDP.

At the last port of call Eket, the town hall meeting between Mrs. Akpabio and Women witnessed one of the largest turn-out ever recorded in the history of women mobilization in the area as several thousands of women were competing for available space in and outside of the venue of the rally which held at the local government council hall.

In their messages of solidarity, wives of the council chairman, Mrs. Rosemary Aniekan Akpan, House of Assembly, Mrs. Jane Ayang, South-south women/leader, Obongawan Lucy Akwa, assured the governor's wife that their resolve to cast their votes for the PDP cannot be reversed for any reason.

Also adding their voice in support of the PDP, former National Assemblyman and Ex-Minister for Lands and Housing, Chief Nduese Essien, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ememabasi Bassey and the Executive Chairman of Eket, Mr. Aniekan Willie Akpan sealed the position of women declaring that there is no vacancy for any other Party other than PDP in Eket and described other candidates outside of the PDP who are contesting for any elective position in the forth coming poll as losers.