APCOMA Endorses Akpabio For Second Term

Akwa Ibom Professional Commercial Motor Cyclists Association (APCOMA) with more than 120,000 membership strength has endorsed Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio for a second term in office.
The Association made real its endorsement by arming the Governor with a matchet to clear the political path preparatory to 2011 elections and presented him to a mammoth crowd during the Awareness Campaign against kidnapping, armed robbery/social vices and solidarity rally by APCOMA members at Ibom Hall grounds, Uyo.
APCOMA President, Comrade Udo Johnson Okpong who performed the task said, “The entire APCOMA numbering 120,000 has indeed passed a motion of your endorsement to continue in office beyond 2011 and will join forces with other Akwa Ibomites to ensure your successful continuity in office beyond 2011.
Comrade Okpong noted that the rally was to appreciate Governor Akpabio for his friendly attitude and love to the association, completion of Ibom International Airport, implementation of free and compulsory education, provision of social amenities in different communities in the state, construction of a befitting Governor’s Lodge, construction of state-of-the-art E-Library and appointment of one of them as a personal assistant to the Governor.
The President hinted that the ceremony was a dual one for it would create awareness on kidnapping/armed robbery and other social vices, pledging their readiness to assist security agents and government functionaries in fishing out the culprits and the perpetrators.
This, he explained, would be done by introduction of reflective jackets and registration of genuine motor cyclists operating in the state with identity cards.
Governor Godswill Akpabio said he was shocked by the solidarity organized for him, which according to him, showed the love and support they have for him, pledging to reciprocate the gesture.
Chief Akpabio recalled that during the 2006 PDP primaries in the state, most of the motorcyclists serving as delegates, toiled seriously for five days saying “Let God’s will be done” in the state which was truly done in their lives and will be done again.
He thanked them for standing by him then and urged them to stand by him in the next year’s general elections, warning “Don’t allow bad elements to infiltrate your association so that you won’t die. If you cooperate with the government in maintaining security, I will support you. I will form and appoint some of you into the committee at the local government level to provide information on criminals since you are regarded as information merchants. I won’t name members of the committee for fear of attack by the criminals and I promise to assist you financially to enable you to discharge your duty efficiently”.
The Governor advised them to reciprocate the state government gesture in not banning them as done in Abia, Cross River and Rivers States since doing this, according to him, would worsened the economic situation in the state which has no industry as many families depend on Okada business as a means of livelihood.
Chief Akpabio acknowledged that most criminals now infiltrate from Aba, Port Harcourt and other neighbouring states and enjoined operators in the state to join hands with the government and security agents in fishing out armed robbers and kidnappers among them.
He announced a donation of 10,000 free helmets to motorcyclists operating in the state and pledged to do more to assist them do business in an unhindered manner.
The Chairman of the occasion, Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok who observed that the solidarity rally was symbolic because that same day and venue in 2006, Governor Akpabio stood at that grounds and declared his ambition to vie for governorship position in the state.
Otuekong Ibiok who is also a Senior Personal Assistant to the Governor on Petroleum Matters said the motor cyclists have cause to thank the Governor for introducing free and compulsory education for their children and helping to force down the prices of petroleum products in the state to enable them operate their business with ease, pledging their readiness and cooperation to return Akpabio to Government House, Uyo in 2011.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Walter Rugbere had warned the motorcyclists against involvement in crimes particularly robbery and kidnapping to avoid incurring government’s wrath in banning them.
Mr. Rugbere who showed a riffle said to have been collected from a motorcyclist turned robber narrated an incident in which another motorcyclist robbed a pedestrian at gunpoint and a motorist chased and knocked the robber to death, vowing to deal with anybody caught in the evil act.