More APC Members Are Set To Defect To PDP Soon – Samuel Effanga

A former commissioner for Science and Technology and chieftain of the

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Samuel

Effanga, recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a

move that has left APC in Uyo Local Government Area devastated.

Effanga, a grassroots politician who spoke with select journalists in

Uyo, accused APC in Akwa  Ibom of  losing focus and the appointees of

the Federal Government from the state of shutting the door against

members of the party after their elevation.

Why did you leave PDP to APC some years ago?

Apparently, I was dissatisfied with the developments that

characterized the conduct of the affairs of PDP; the impunity and

attitude that clearly demonstrated that no other person matters in the

party, except few persons. All of us know that PDP deviated from the

cherished path and ideals of the founding fathers for a long time. It

was a gradual descent from the known to the unknown. At a point, there

was widespread dissatisfaction and loss of confidence in the party by

members. And it was natural for me to take a walk away from the party

because I was no longer comfortable with the way things were going.

What informed your decision to return to PDP?

That is a good question. I left because I was not satisfied by the way

the party conducted its affairs, which resulted in the loss of members

and defeat at the 2015 presidential and governorship elections in some

states. After that painful experience, everyone saw the need to

rebuild the party and instill confidence in members by doing the right

thing. I have seen the genuine commitment of PDP leaders to put the

party back on the path of progress by returning power to the people; I

have seen sincerity in the leadership of the National Caretaker

Committee, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi to reposition PDP ahead of

2019 and that has given people like me the hope that the self

cleansing exercise is effective and will be permanent.

Besides, I am back to PDP because APC promised to initiate change on

all fronts, but the reverse is the case today. There is no sincerity

by the APC-led government to initiate the change the party promised

Nigerians. And I want to tell you that one of the provisions in the

party’s manifestoes that got me excited was the promise of devolution

of power to the states and true federalism, but it is sad that the

APC-led Federal Government is not talking about them any longer,

because it is now in power at the centre.

In addition to the insincerity of APC government is the general

hardship in the country, which is occasioned by the wrong policies of

the federal government.  We have seen massive loss of jobs in all the

sectors, relocation of industries, hyper-headed inflation, fall of the

Naira against international currency and continuous hike in the prices

of goods and services since the APC government came on board.

In Akwa Ibom, APC has lost coordination and is now enmeshed in

blackmail with a mad rush by members attract the attention of few

persons who have been appointed into key positions by the Federal

Government.  And the unfortunate aspect of it is that all the

appointees of the Federal Government, except one have shot the door

against members of APC in Akwa Ibom. This is because they have no

intention to contest election in 2019 or attachment to the party. Who

are the members of the party they have assisted? They have all shot

the door against members of the party and are strategizing for

reappointment. What they do is to assist members of APC who are not

from Akwa Ibom, particularly those they believe could influence their

reappointment. One of them flies into Akwa Ibom from Abuja almost on a

weekly basis to speak on a Radio programme the next and will leave to

the airport from the premises of the Radio station, because he does

not want APC members to come to him for one thing or the other. While

on the Radio programme, he will attack the government of Akwa Ibom

State and condemn every step taken by the state governor and will get

the tape to go and show to the people in Abuja. That way, the people

will believe he is working for the party in the state, when he is

simply scheming for his reappointment.They believe in propaganda,

lies, deceit and do not see anything good in another person or the

government of the day. So, if by act of commission, they come to

power, they will not govern for the public good.

What does PDP stand to gain from your return to its fold?

I am like John the Baptist in the Bible, who came to prepare the way

for the coming our Lord Jesus Christ. My return to PDP has opened the

gate for thousands of former members of the party, who are now in APC

to come back to the house they helped to build. I have received

several calls from chieftains of APC who want to return to the PDP in

Akwa Ibom and to that extent, I would say that PDP will soon celebrate

harvest of defectors from APC. Without sounding boastful, I want to

tell you here that I have received congratulatory calls from across

board for the decision I have taken. PDP is a way of life of our

people the party is the best for us. Many PDP members went to other

political parties, because of anger. But the anger has subsided and

they want to retrace their steps. I repeat, there is going to be an

uncontrollable defection from APC to PDP, a mass movement of sort. My

return was an emphatic political statement that has left APC

devastated in Uyo Local Government. I want to disclose to you that

when the news of my return to PDP filtered into the air, I received

several calls from APC chieftains, including President Muhammadu

Buhari’s aide on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita

Enang, but it was too late. I had made up my mind.

How does it feel returning to the Peoples Democratic Party from the

All Progressives Party?

I feel revived; I am very strong now as a grassroots politician in all

ramifications. Of course, you know that I was one of the chieftains of

PDP in Uyo Local Government Area and served in a government elected on

the platform of the party as a commissioner. So, I am coming back to

the house I helped to build.  Feeling is basically an expression of

the state of mind at a particular time. In that context, I am excited

by the warmth, love and solidarity I received from the leaders  to

ordinary members of PDP in Uyo Local Government Area. I left APC with

over 500 of my members and you know what that means.

Akwa Ibom people, particularly residents of Uyo and its environs have

witnessed tremendous improvement in power supply after the

inauguration of the sub-station at Edet Akpan Avenue recently. Is that

your experience too?

It is true and absolute in my experience on the power situation in

Uyo. When it started, I had to reserve my comments. I wanted to

confirm if it was real. But after reasonable number of days, I can

confirm to you that I have experienced at least, twenty-two hours of

power supply in my house on a daily basis. It is an answer to the

prayers of Akwa Ibom people over the years. When I look at the vexed

issue of poor power supply in Nigeria, I am always sad. We,

politicians would promise to provide steady power supply during

campaigns. Sometimes, we also promise to provide portable water after

more than 50 years as an independent nation. Government at all levels

should have provided these basic amenities in all the communities

several years ago. By now, we should be facing the real issue of

science, technology development, research and improved welfare for the

people. So, if for the first time, we have a government that is

putting the basic things in place, we should give it a well-deserved

pat at the back. The development should be sustained.  I believe that

the development is possible because the power situation has continued

for more than three weeks now. My prayer is that the power facilities

should be maintained; it is also my prayer that the sub-station the

state government is currently building in Ekim, Mkpat Enin Local

Government Area and other power facilities should be completed in time

and the necessary expansion done so that within a reasonable time,

more local government areas will be covered. I am saying that because

the advantage of steady power supply to small and medium enterprises,

community life and welfare of the people is tremendous. When one

compares the cost of running a generator either at home or business

concern, one will certainly come to appreciate what Gov. Udom Emmanuel

is doing in the power sector. Some of my friends who own hotels and

hospitality outfits have been forced out of business because of the

huge cost of running generating plants to sustain their business

operations for twenty-four hours.  But some of them who were still in

business have been relieved of the burden of generating electricity to

a large extent. Apart from the cost of running power-generating

plants, the noise pollution and carbon emission constitute severe

environmental hazard.