From Joe Effiong, Uyo
National legal adviser aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and immediate past commissioner for Trade and Investment in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, has denied campaigning to be Governor Udom Emmanuel’s running mate in 2019.
Enoidem, who served eight years in various ministries as commissioner in Former governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration and more than one year in Emmanuel’s, it was alleged, was plotting to blackmail Governor Emmanuel to appoint him his running mate in 2019 else he would use his influence to rock the gubernatorial boat against the governor.
“Enoidem is believed to be lobbying for the deputy governor seat and is threatening to withdraw his support and that of his followers if the governor fails to replace him with the incumbent, Mr. Moses Ekpo in 2019. He is also said to be nursing a Senate ambition in 2023.
“’The former commissioner is holding meetings with people believed to be loyal to him on how they can force the governor to concede to his demand,” it was reported.
But responding to the allegation, Enoidem who resigned as commissioner to contest the national legal adviser of the PDP before crisis set into the party, said the whole thing written about his deputy governorship ambition is “thrash and vomit.”
Enoidem said, as a loyal person, who supported Emmanuel in 2015, and still supporting him till date, it was inconceivable of him to blackmail the governor because of his personal interest in 2019.
“As a Christian, I believe whatever is mine cannot be taken away or denied no matter the blackmail, gang ups, conspiracies, lies and falsehood. And anything that has not come to me is either not yet time or not meant for me. So, I don’t, as a policy flirt, jump or rock the boat easily.
“I have said time and time again, that I believe in the capacity, ability and sincerity of Governor Emmanuel to take Akwa Ibom to the next level. I demonstrated this belief in clear acts, deeds and speeches from 2014 when it was obvious that former governor Akpabio then preferred his candidacy.
“At this time a lot of people within the party did not believe in him either because they did not know him enough as I did having worked with him as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) or because they were not prepared to take risk.
“I stand by him today and will stand by him throughout his tenure not because of any expectancy of rewards but for my convictions about him and my love for Akwa Ibom State,” Enoidem said.