Ekpotu, surrounded by members of the Integration and Harmonisation Committee and leaders of the PDP in Ikot Ekpene LGA after their interaction.

The Akwa Ibom state People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Integration and Harmonisation Committee, has disclosed that it has made tremendous progress in its task of healing the wounds within the party and reassuring party faithful of their invaluable stakes in the state.

Engineer Patrick Ekpotu, former deputy governor of the state and chairman of the special peace-building Committee, made this disclosure in a statement released yesterday in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom state, after the first week of the Committee’s interactions with segments of PDP in the set of local government areas of the state, in line with its objective of fostering unity in the ruling party in the state.

The statement reads: “The PDP Integration and Harmonisation Committee, in line with the objective of setting it up by the party leadership, which is to put the PDP house in other by making attempt aimed at healing the wounds of our aggrieved members, and in the spirit of peace, harmony and inclusiveness of Governor Udom Emmanuel, has not only taken off with zest and commitment, but has also within this period it interacted with the first set of local governments, made tremendous progress in bringing everybody together as a one indivisible family, on a table to cement perceived  cracks, by being frank and open and also showing understanding to one another with a unified aim of ensuring  peace and progress of Akwa Ibom state.

” From out interactions, the Committee delivered, in a best possible way, to leaders and supporters of the party, the important message that unlike other ‘reconciliation committees’, this Integration and Harmonisation Committee, is fashioned to go beyond mere ‘reconciliation’ and in a special way, give every interest a sense of belonging, by putting into action a process of integrating the aggrieved, wether former aspirants at different levels who feel shortchanged, or communities that have reasons to question the party/government’s reward mechanism, into the scheme of things in both the party and the state government.”

He explained that “the objective is to achieve equity, fairness and justice in the party, which will ultimately lead to peace and harmony in the PDP family, and essentially more electoral success by the party in the state”.

Ekpotu, surrounded by members of the Integration and Harmonisation Committee and leaders of the PDP in Ikono LGA after their interaction.

So far, the former deputy governor said the Committee had met with the aggrieved  former aspirants, leaders and PDP stakeholders in some local government areas, including, Ikono, Ikot Ekpene, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Atai among others as he enthused: “while we have met with our people from some of these local governments areas and appreciate the gravity of some of the complaints, I am glad to report that the committee is making a tremendous progress. Our task is made easier by the blunt frankness of the people and their willingness to embrace  peace to ensues that the PDP in Akwa Ibom is stronger and more formidable to face the coming election.  We commend them for this resolute commitment to stand firm with the party against the antics,ploys  and devious conspiracy of the naysayers.”

Ekpotu said that the committee will “continually interface with the Governor who is also the part candidate and the Party for actions on key agreements, understandings and recommendations reached that require urgency in the overall interest of the State and success and integrity of government.

He promised that  “the committee would adopt a transparent open-door approach, by making it easy and convenient for the people, irrespective of educational, social or economic standing, to make their representations to the committee without any encumbrances”.

The Committee implores concerned individuals in the Party  to take advantage of this democratic, peace-building and integration opportunity in the interest of peace, progress and overall success of the party in Akwa Ibom state.