Groups Predict Udoedehe’s Success Hold Prayer Summit

Not fewer than thirty (39) groups and their village, ward, and chapter co-ordinators led churches in the state last week Friday to an interdenominational prayer session for the success of Senator John James Akpanudoedeghe in the forthcoming guber race in the state.

The groups, led by the leader of Senator Udoedeghe Vanguard, Akuku Edidiong Philips include, Akwa Ibom Youths Alliance for Senator Udoedeghe, Movement for Sen. John Udoedeghe, Ibom Redemption Alliance, IRA, Campaign for Democratic Change, CDC, Akwa Ibom Movement, and All People Solidarity Network, APSONET. Others who joined the summit were, Friends of Senator John James Udoedeghe, Akwa Ibom Action Group, Akwa Ibom Women in Action, among others.

In attendance at the event which caused another traffic Jam along the campaign office of the guber contender at Udotung Ubo, Venue of the spiritual Cum Political exercise were the chairman of Positive Change 2011, a campaign outfit of Senator J. J. Udoedeghe, Emmanuel Udoh, Chairman, Publicity Committee of the Campaign outfit, Obong T.O. Akpan among other members of the campaign team.

Exhorting with the theme: “Getting Set for a Change over, Be not Afraid”, the leading clergy, Rev. Isuaemem Nkanta told the crowd that God was preparing a way for a change over to offer peace, security, prosperity, development and internal democracy in the state.

The clergy who read several scriptural passages including Ezekiel 8, while narrating the story of the Israelites in the days of their exile in Egypt told delegates selected among an estimated five hundred churches in the state to pray for God's intervention in the guber and Presidential Election 2011 in the state and the country to bring leaders who will have the interest of the people at heart and work for poverty reduction and other social vices. The man of God described the situation in Akwa Ibom State as “a sad irony of what the people should have as there is so much complains, so much brutality and bloodshed, so much verbal wars and accusation as if we don't have enough resources to supply our needs”.
Reverend Isuaemem Nkanta who was flanked by other men of God said with so much prayer offered to God in Akwa Ibom that his will shall be done. “I'm so sure that God will not fail to grant Senator Udoedehe success in the forth coming election. For I know the thought that I have for you, not of evil, to give you future … If we continue with this insecurity, this complains of capital flight, and accusation, then the future is not guaranteed.

It is not by might said the Lord, thus mountain must be removed as Israel has fought this sort of battle, be not frightened, be not discouraged, as far as the project is concerned, God shall see us through. He will drop us at the promise land”; he said.

Rev. Nkanta told the groups and their coordinators that many men of God in the state at several meetings have received inspiration that Senator John James Udoedeghe's governorship ambition was God's project which according to him cannot be abandoned. He noted that those who were going round with speculation that the governorship hopeful was flying kite for some other person or intended to be compensated later were using “cheap means to campaign against a channel of change for the betterment of people in the state, adding that those who are foreseeing the senator's failure, “are judging by sight because they are intimidated”.
The man of God warned those he described as “Paid fault finders to desist from attempting to tarnish the image of the governorship hopeful as they, according to him, “will incur divine wrath”.

Earlier in his opening remark, leader of the Senator Udoedeghe Vanguard, Akuku Edidiong Philips said they decided to start in prayer because of the belief that, “Except the Lord keeps the city, they that tarry in watch does so in vain”. He said: “These groups are formed to mobilize support for the liberation of Akwa Ibom people from these atrocities and enthrone Senator John James Udoedehe as the next governor in 2011. We want the Lord to go with us in this assignment to complement our mortal strength and strategies”. Akuku Philip thanked the ministers for leading the fasting which lasted 6am to 6pm and members of Positive Change 2011, Central Working Committee for attending the summit.

Akuku Philip said with the support of the majority of Akwa Ibom people to the guber ambition of Senator Udoedehe, there is, “indication that God is out to grant our prayers even before we asked”. He used the occasion to call for mass public support to bring the prayer to reality.

Responding on behalf of the campaign team of the guber hopeful, Elder Emmanuel Udoh thanked God for protection given to members of the team and all supporters of the aspiration of Senator J. J. Udoedehe. He told the group that, they were representing, “a tip of the general public who have risen in support of your governor in 2011 because they want to be liberated from this unprecedented breach of social contract that has resulted in these ills”. He continued: “you have done well to pray for God's help, but I can assure you God already is a member of this camp though we don't see him. From what we see daily in this campaign for change, I can boldly tell you that God wants a change over in Akwa Ibom State.

When you see respectable men condescending so low to accepting trash in the name of governance, blackmailing very few national and international icons that we have in the state, you can belief with me that there must be a messiah that God wants to introduce into the state governance. We urge you to continue to support Senator Udoedehe, don't be intimidated to lie or accept lies, and tell others to do same. God will see us through”.
The session featured prayer storms led by Evangelist Victor Iteh and special choral rendition and praises.