Creek Town holds solidarity rally for High Chief Prof. Nyong as Four village heads, others defect to APC

| Ukorebi Esien | 24 November 2018 

Members of the All Progressive Congress in Creek Town ward 1, a strong political ward in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State Friday 23rd November, held a solidarity rally in honor of an illustrious son of the ward, High Chief Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong who had laid to rest the rumous of his defection to the PDP.

Prior to the rally,  Prof. Nyong had issued a statement firmly discrediting an earlier rumour that he is planning to defect to the People's Democratic Party, PDP. While asking the general public to disregard such rumours, the former gubernatorial aspirant made it clear that he has never contemplated defecting to PDP nor any other party and he has no intention to do so even in the future. 

Speaking at the event, an Odukpani  chapter leader of the APC who eulogised Prof. Nyong for his sterling leadership qualities, emphasized that the gathering was necessitated to douse the tension as well as debunk the rumour that High Chief prof. Nyong had left or has any plan to leave the APC fold. 

Participants at the Solidarity rally 

Support group dancing in celebration of Prof. Nyong's leadership 

The party stalwart went on to remind the teeming crowd of Prof. Nyong's antecedents in building both the community and the party, stating that the Professor of Petroleum Geology and pioneer commissioner of NDDC for Cross River State still remains the party's leader in the local government. He went on to  express optimism that with the caliber of Prof. Nyong in the party, APC Odukpani will sweep all the votes in the forthcoming 2019 elections for all offices.

Also speaking, Mr. Etinyin Asibong, ward chairman of Ito Idoro Ukwa ward and the Chairman of all ward Chairmen in Odukpani, noted that the rumour that High Chief Prof. Eyo Nyong was contemplating defecting to the PDP was "a figment of the imagination of some drowning, greedy and impatient persons who think dragging the professor's name into mud would give them relevance in their new sojourn to a wandering land. 

Etinyin Asibong noted that clement weather and the huge turn out of members as gone a long way to show that APC is rooted in Creek Town, stating that the complete 13 ward chairmen of Odukpani were in attendance to show solidarity with to their leader, High Chief Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong who has made it known that he is  still a bona-fide member of the APC.

Speaking Earlier Comrade Attah Etim Attah, said the gathering which had the approval of Prof Nyong was needed to kill the fake news that had spread across town that "the defection of some people will lead to the demise of the Party in Creek Town ward 1. "We are here today to debunk such rumours and let you know that our leader prof. Eyo Etim Nyong is still our leader and a committed member for that matter. Today as members of the Party we have all come out enmarse to show that the party is still intact under the amiable leadership of Professor Eyo Etim Nyong who is strongly at the helm of affairs of the Party". He concluded. 

High point of the event was the receiving of new members who defected from the People's Democratic Party into the APC fold. Those received into the party include four village heads in charge of large communities in the ward and many young persons of prominent infuelnce among the youths of Creek Town ward.

Recieving the defectors, a chapter party stawalt thanked them for leaving their various parties and for deeming it fit to defect to the APC fold of Creek Town 1, stating that he regards them as great visioneers who have seen the future, as he called them square pegs in square holes. 

The chiefs who took turn to speak, said expressed their happiness to be part of the APC, as they independently narrated their odeals with the PDP while declaring their eminent support for the APC as they promised to do all within their power to ensure APC's victory in the forthcoming general elections. 

Defecting PDP members declaring to work for the success of APC in Creek Town 

Cultural display 

Defectors being received in to the APC fold 

In a chat with High Chief Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong, TDN learnt that the Professot, is not taking the attempted soiling of his name kindly as he has on several occasions repeatedly said he is a rooted member of the APC with a teeming crowd of followers and finds it disheartening when his followers are being misled by political enemies for cheap political gains.

The event which was massively attended had a display of different traditional dances from a variety of troupes with several support groups in attendance.

Efik group confers leadership role on Prof. Eyo Nyong, depends on him for political direction

High Chief, Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong 

16 November 2018 | Ukorebi Esien


A socio cultural cum political youth group known as Ikem- esit Mkparawa Essien Efik Duop eba made up of youths from the 12 tribes of the Efik Kingdom has conferred on Professor Eyo Etim Nyong, a former NDDC commissioner and Gubernatorial aspirant, the Leadership position of the group which can be equated to grand commander of Efik youths. TDN can report.

The Etubom Mkparawa of the group, surveyor Ekpo Ekeng, who led his members to pay a courtesy visit on Professor Nyong revealed that Ikem- esit Mkparawa Essien Efik Duop eba decided to make him their leader due to hexceptional leadership qualities and character he has displayed. 

According to Surveyor Ekeng, "Prof. is a man of discipline and character who has portrayed love and care for the Efik Kingdom, he has severally demonstrated his desire to see the Efiks grow and become useful in the society, he has also shown a high level of respect for the throne, that is why we came to him and begged him to be our leader, although when we first approached him, he declined but when we persisted, on a second thought, he accepted to lead us to greater heights".

Members of Ikem- esit Mkparawa Essien Efik Duop eba presenting gift items to their new leader as custom demands 

While accepting the leadership role bestowed upon him by the group, Prof Nyong said he was happy to have been found worthy to be their leader. He used the opportunity to advise and encourage the group to live together as one, protecting each others interest as they work towards the growth of the Efik Kingdom. He also advised the Efik youths to be hardworking in whatever they find themselves doing, be it education, career, business or as craftsmen etc, while focusing on the big picture of the future.

Prof. Nyong who has been consistent in showing a strong and passionate desire to lead the Cross River State promised to always be there for them as they seek avenues to promote the activities of the organisation to greater heights, stating that he will be by them anytime any day provided they follow guiding principles and abide by the laws of the nation.

In a telephone conversation, the president (Etubom Mkparawa) of the group, Surveyor Ekpo Ekeng, told TDN that as the leader of  Ikem- esit Mkparawa Essien Efik Duop eba, Prof Nyong now has enormous responsibility of giving both cultural and political directives to the group. "He is now the grand commander of all youths from the 12  tribes of the Efik Kingdom". He emphasized.

"He will be advising us on cultural and costumary issues and giving us directives on political matters. For instance, Prof. Nyong will be leading us to the forthcoming 'Utom Obong' in December and for the 2019 general elections, we will also rely on his directives. We will all support any candidate or party he directs us to. Believing that due to his years of experience,  he will lead us to support a candidate that has the best interest of the Efik people as we cast our votes". He said. 

Ikem Esit Mkparawa is a socio cultural group with membership cutting across youths from the 12 tribes of the Efik Kingdom whose main objective is to promote the Efik Kingdom and it's throne. Their activities are targeted towards promoting peace and security within the various Efik communities. Their interest is to maintain the dignity of the Throne and it's people as a peace loving people project their hospitality nature.

And to resist any attempt to politically undermine the Efiks in any way and manner.

Ukorebi Esien blogs for Thedailynewsng where he tells the Nigerian story one article at a time.