The South South Zonal Secretariat of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC has reacted to last Thursday's defection to its fold by Senator Nelson Effiong (Akwa Ibom) who was elected on the platform of the People's Democratic Party, PDP saying that the Senator took a wise decision that would sustain his political relevance and that of the people he represents.
National Vice Chairman, south south of APC, Ntufam Hilliard Eta said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Bassey Ita that Senator Effiong decision was auspicious and well thought out.
According to the statement, "Senator Effiong had felt the wind of change in Akwa Ibom state and since he cannot come against it or stand in its way, it was wise he joined it".
The party chairman said with the coming together of the likes of Obong Umana Umana, Chief James John Akpanudoedeghe, Obong Nsima Ekere, Chief Sam Enwang,Madam Rachel Akpabio and Atuekong Don Etiebet among many others, there was a clear indication that change was going to replace retrogressive governance in the state.
Eta said it was therefore expedient and wise that Senator Effiong joined the move to take his people out of that retrogression.
" Senator Effiong took a wise decision that will take himself and his people/constituents out of the shackles of retrogression characteristic of the current leadership in the state.
" And he had acknowledged this at the Senate chamber when he alluded to the stability and development guaranteed by the APC government in the country".
Eta said the Akwa Ibom development experience is a paradox explaining that with vast resources and wealth coming from oil proceeds, the level of development in the state was nothing to write home about.
"Akwa Ibom state is experiencing a paradox in terms of development such that rather than advance with the vast oil resources and wealth at its disposal, the state is in a reverse gear".
Eta said "instead of moving forward, Akwa Ibom has been enmeshed in heavy indebtedness which appears that the state has been sold to retrogression".
He said beside, the issue of Akwa Ibom, Effiong was no longer comfortable with the intractable crisis that has engulfed his former party, the PDP hence his defection.
"He was again right to defect having observed that the intractable crisis in the PDP was capable of taking toll on his political life".
He urged the leadership of the party in Akwa Ibom to give Senator Effiong the enabling environment to be a blessing to the party and congratulated the Dr. Amadu Attai led Exco for the success story.
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