On the 4th day of March 2024, former members of Young Progressive Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom defected back into People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and were welcome by the Chief Executive himself, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno.
According to the information reaching our desk, the returnees who used their media tools to campaign against the Governor in the last Governorship Election in the State, which the PDP candidate emerge as winner, were left in a state of Confusion after their Governorship Candidate, Sen. Bassey Albert defected to the National ruling Party, All Progressive Congress (APC).
In order not to be left stranded, in what now seem as a swift strategy, the YPP decampees tendered apologies one after the other to the now State Chief Executive and few days after, were seen being welcomed back by the Governor himself and awarded N20 million Naira for the smart move.
In one of the apologies paste below; one online publisher of Ibom Plaza News could be seen broadcasting his apology to the Governor through different media channels, a move that was followed by others;
But chaos broke out few hours after the news spread that the Governor has rewarded their smart move with N20M in what the PDP faithfuls term; When Politics Reward Enemies and neglect supporters, one of the PDP loyalist decry why the Governor and party, after neglecting its media team that fought tooth and nail to defend his candidature, are now being neglected, while rewarding enemies of the party.
In his submission and I quote;
“WHEN POLITICS REWARD ENEMIES AND NEGLECT SUPPORTERS
I am a political scientist, trained public administrator and a politician by extension due to my professional engagements. One evil I have come to see in politics is that of winners in an election easily embracing opponents than true supporters.
Who am I seeing in this photo here? Samuel Bassey, aka, Ibom plaza news shaking hands with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno?
Dis life no balance at all. Why does politics play a fast one on us like this? We suffered, through thick and thin to support the Umo Eno project. These guys did everything to bring us down. They threw pellets and all manner of dirt at us. We won. They lost. Now see him smiling at the gold we went through fire to refine.
Daaa, we were also enticed to leave PDP and support other candidates. But we stood through to our conscience, rolled up our sleeves, jumped into the trenches, swam in the murky waters and emerged with the trophy. We know too much about Pastor Umo Eno’s victory; we have it our all, sacrificed so much, got bloody nose and scars. Some of us almost got our academic journey truncated half way.
We were everywhere on social media, radio and television houses and even newspapers selling our candidate. We did not defect. We stood still like the Cedars of Lebanon.
Bassey and his YPP gang laid siege for us, set all manner of traps, chased us out of town. We ran away; we hid our families, reduced our public presence just to stay a life.
Boooooooooommmmmmm, the same Ibom Plaza is saying he is changed now. If the story had been that his candidate won, would we be here saying welcome home to him?
To even think that ID Umana was among the 47 persons that were shipped to the Governor’s Lodge is causing me high fever. What did he not to hit back at me? He was my good friend until politics separated us. ID pursued me out of the street, he pursued me out of radio stations. ID dealt with me seriously on account of Senator Aniekan Bassey then Speaker and Governor Umo Eno.
These guys told the whole world blatant lies that Umo Eno had no certificate, was an albino, was owing his workers, was deducting tithes from their salaries, failed to construct a road contract he was awarded and how he was a Cousin to Udom Emmanuel. They said he did not graduate from University of Uyo. Now this.
Governor Umo Eno is a good man. But His Excellency should remember his foot soldiers first before extending the handshake to those who fought tooth and nail to paint him black, destroy him, take the seat away from him. He should know that a leopard does not change its spot.
Like Novela Victor Akpan said
They will go into various beer parlors boasting now that their value is more than the true loyalist. I can’t fake feelings. Ninety percent of most PDP loyalists and supporters are not happy with Ibom Plaza return and his team. We must learn to understand we have been enticed to join another party, but we rejected it based on the love we have for our leaders and party.
Enough of celebrating people that threw blows at us while we were defending the Governor everywhere and labeling us 2k media boys.
Adiok tutu”
Stay tune as we bring you more details as the drama unfolds.
