Photo by Abayomi Adeshida Members of the Hausa community in Abuja demonstrate support as Governor Attah submits his letter of intent to the PDP Chairman, Ayo Fayose.

At a recent rally in Uyo, the state capital, over 50,000 supporters from across the state declared their support for the presidential candidacy of Governor Victor Attah.

Those present represented political elites and market vendors, youth and women’s groups, religious organizations and school children and traditional rulers from rural villages. The rally was organized by the latest in a long line of supporters, the Akwa Ibom Head of Councils Forum in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom branch of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor Attah assured the rally and all Nigerians that, as president, he will run a "grass roots government." The Governor declared that he is the most qualified candidate to continue President Obasanjo’s political and economic reforms.

Praising the president’s programs, Governor Attah stressed that "whoever hopes to take over from him must be prepared to continue with his good works."

The South-South makes a serious bid
Governor Attah emphasized that "it was no longer a disputed fact" that the presidency, come 2007, will have to find a home in the South-South political region, given that zone’s huge economic and political contributions to the development of Nigeria.

Deputy Governor Sir Michael Udofia told the crowd that the people of Akwa Ibom had decided to support Governor Attah in his presidential bid because "he has shown strong evidence of effectiveness and capability to lead the nation, having put in place giant development strides at the state level."
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the Right Honorable Chief Nelson Efiong, said the "clamor in the South-South zone to produce the next president should be seen as a reward for what the zone has contributed to Nigeria, and to Governor Victor Attah for what he has done to project the image and status of the South-South."

State PDP chairman Otu Ita Toyu stated that, "since Governor Attah has been faithful in managing the affairs of the state, it is no wonder that his people have found him fit to be entrusted with a position of higher responsibility."

Leading Akwa Ibomites through the ‘Red Sea’
The chairman of the Heads of Council Forum, Mr. Monday Ebong Uko, declared that the forum decided to support Governor Attah’s presidential ambition because of his consummate leadership qualities, saying that Governor Attah has left an unequaled mark in development to prove that he is a man of vision. "Governor Attah has led us through the ‘Red Sea’ of insignificance to the sunlight path of relevance. The rural city that was our state capital now wears a cosmopolitan look. He has moved Akwa Ibom State to center stage and anyone who thinks he can ignore us does so at great peril."

Other speakers at the rally all spoke glowingly of Governor Attah’s strong record and ability to occupy the highest office in the country, describing the Governor as "God sent" and "The hope of Nigeria."

The Governor thanked the people for coming out en masse to support him and promised that he will not disappoint them. "For the solidarity that you have shown, the support you have demonstrated, and the total commitment that you have made to this cause, I want to assure you with the sincerity in me, that by God’s grace and your continued support, I will not disappoint you."