Fresh negotiations have commenced following the lack of truce, as pressure keeps mounting on founder of the Holy Ghost Ambassadors Church, Pastor Nyenime Andy, to hand over his already secured Young People’s Party (YPP) governorship ticket to the incumbent Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District in the National Assembly and an embattled governorship aspirant of the 2023 PDP primaries, Senator Bassey Akpan (OBA).
Although stirring the minds of most inquisitive persons, the alleged 98million naira bait said to be dangled at Pastor Nyenime Andy, has been likened to the 30 pieces of silver that Judas Iscariot pocketed to sell Jesus to the Roman soldiers.
Recall that out of fear of defeat, Bassey Albert had declined participation in the March 28, 2022 PDP governorship primaries, where Pastor Umo Eno, the more acceptable aspirant of the PDP had recorded landslide victory, polling 993 votes at the well-attended exercise monitored by INEC’s representatives and generally adjudged as one of the best of such exercises in the country.
Reliable information since last week had hinted on how, on Sunday, July 10, 2022, OBA had summoned all his campaign committee members and some PDP former lawmakers to an emergency meeting where they all were presented with flight tickets to join him to Abuja for the Friday, July 15, 2022 case that has been pending in court in the last two months.
It was further gathered that, one reason for the capital-intensive mobilization of the big crowd of cheerleaders all the way from Akwa Ibom State to Abuja, was for intimidation of others to give undue publicity and momentum to a prima facie court matter.
The second reason, as divulged by an insider in the OBA camp, was that, since OBA is ready to purchase the conscience of Pastor Nyeneime Andy of the YPP at whatever amount, part of the immediate fallout of the court judgment would be his declaration of intent to contest the governorship on the platform of the YPP.
Political commentators of high standing have described OBA’s moves as mischievous, anti-people, uncivilized, ridiculous, desperate and ill-advised.
They observed that, in view of the reality on ground, it was unbespoken that at a time OBA rather should join hands with great stakeholders like the highly revered Obong Victor Attah, and others for the growth and unity of the Party as well as the collective interest and goodwill of Akwa Ibom people, he was busy fighting for his selfish interest, and deceiving the gullible in the process.
Observers also have been of the strong and shared opinions that OBA’s capitulation that ultimately informed his official withdrawal should also have helped him to manifest a spirit of sportsmanship by congratulating the eventual and well-deserved winner, while hopefully waiting for his turn in subsequent outings.
Unbiased analysts have, however, thanked and commended the governor of the State, Governor Udom Emmanuel, for having provided every possible security initiative and incentives for a smooth transition process. Continue Reading
