Akpabio counts PDP’s blessings in ten years

Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has looked back on ten years of the creation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and submitted that it has brought unprecedented peace and political stability to the nation.

Akpabio, who hosted the first PDP National Stakeholders Forum between October23 and 25, told the gathering that the party has much to celebrate, as it has given hope to many in the “Nigerian project”.

“So far”, he said, “ the party (PDP) has demonstrated its determination to ensure that justice, equity, fair-play and discipline reigns supreme…The PDP administration has brought peace and stability to Nigeria…”

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Governor Akpabio, who received commendations from President Yar’Adua, former President Obasanjo, the PDP National Chairman,  Prince Ogbulafor, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, among a plethora of others for his massive people oriented projects, recalled that the PDP government liberated Nigeria from the shackles of  foreign debts.

“It (PDP) has brought Nigeria debt relief and changed Nigeria from a pariah state to a global partner. Nigeria is now not only a pride to all nations, but a bride courted by the international community and key players in the comity of nations. PDP governance has delivered Nigeria from the shackles…”, the governor said, amidst interrupting applause.

According to him, the party showed its strong resolve for  justice and fair-play, when it stood by all the governors affected by the decisions of Courts of Appeal, annulling their elections.

“Nigerians applaud the new leadership of then party for standing by all governors who unfortunately lost their mandate through the judicial processes at election petition courts. In a country replete with petition-writing and wrangling, the Peoples Democratic Party resolutely stood by the members  and returned them to their positions in all the re-elections conducted so far”, he observed.

Akpabio said one area that the PDP government clearly demonstrated its determination to entrench the rule of law in the polity was in the handing over of Bakassi to Cameroun – which he said took a lot of courage and statesmanship.

He reasoned that though the President believes in the rule of law, he needed a strong party backing to keep faith with the Bakassi agreement.

“A re-strengthened party working with a President who believes in the rule of law is a strong party”, he argued.

In addition, Akpabio said, “ten years after, Nigerians can look back with pride and note that the PDP government  has broken the communication barrier and brought affordable, seamless communication  to Nigerians through the global system for mobile communication (GSM)”.

He then expressed the belief that Yar’Adua’s vision of making Nigeria one of the 20 most developed economies in the Year 2020 “is achievable”, though  with vigorous, diligent pursuit of the seven point agenda.