Akwa Ibom Guber Race: Ekere, Oro Leaders Move To Forge Alliance The immediate past Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere, and Oro Leaders have agreed to work together to produce an acceptable arrangement that will accommodate the interests of Ikot Abasi and Oron Federal Constituencies in the 2015 gubernatorial contest. Mr. Ekere had offered a hand of fellowship to Oro Nation in March, this year, in Ikot Abasi during the Town Hall meeting for Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency when he stated that the governorship seat should be specifically zoned to Ikot Abasi and Oron Federal Constituencies since they were the only two federal constituencies in Eket Senatorial District yet to produce a Governor. He followed it up by visiting Oron with a delegation of leaders of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency to meet Oro leaders two months later. Speaking on Monday during a visit to Oro Think Tank, Oro Union and Council of Traditional Rulers, Mr. Ekere restated the need for further dialogue to achieve a common ground on the issue, pointing out that both federal constituencies shared the same political and infrastructural challenges. Mr. Ekere described the Oro agitation as a genuine one and eulogized Oro Nation for having well-defined and organized socio-political structures. He said his major priority as Governor would be the industrialization of Akwa Ibom State which would be hinged on the development and completion of the Ibaka Seaport and the accompanying Ibom Industrial City to grow the private sector. Mr. Ekere noted that both projects would be located within Oro Nation with the attendant direct benefits to the host community. In his response, the Chairman of Oro Think Tank, Chief Okon Osung, argued that the rotation of the governorship on the basis of senatorial district was not workable as it had the capacity to deny some minority ethnic groups the opportunity to govern the state. He emphasized that the position of Oro Think Tank was that the state should be divided into two zones for the purpose of governorship rotation with the rotation done between the majority (Ibibio ethnic group) zone with 14 local government areas and minority (conglomeration of different minority ethnic groups) zone with 17 local government areas irrespective of senatorial district. Chief Osung agreed on the need for further interaction between the two federal constituencies on the issue of cooperation, acknowledging Mr. Ekere’s sincerity of purpose. He lauded Mr. Ekere for attracting seasoned politicians from across the state into his campaign organization and for accommodating 35 per cent affirmative action for women in the organization, pointing out that “you are organized for power.” Chief Osung also commended the former Deputy Governor for being the only governorship aspirant outside Oro Nation sincere enough to acknowledge the genuineness of Oro’s agitation. A former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Effiong Edunam, who described the visit as a gathering of friends, said Mr. Ekere deserved to be properly acknowledged as one of the initiators of the fight for the actualization of the zoning of the governorship seat to Eket Senatorial District and thanked the former Deputy Governor and his entourage for the visit. Among those on Mr. Ekere’s delegation were Bishop Asuquo Okon Ekanem, Sir Obot Etukafia, Dr. Emmanuel Ukpong, Prince Eneobong Akpan, Engr. Joseph Effiong, Engr. Johnson Essien Ibok, Engr. Etim Edet Okon, Chief Antigha Isong, Mr. Hogan Eta Bassey, Chief Effiong Uweh, Engr. Akan Okon, Pastor Udo Isaiah, Obonganwan Blessing Bassey, Mr. Loveday Ekuyok, Prince Enobong Ufot, Princess Imaobong Okon, Prince Monday Etiebet, Barr. Bassey Ekerete, Engr. Etetim Okon (Metikon), Barr. Chris Essien, Mr. Udeme Esset, Barr. Imoh Imoh, Barr. Mbet Okpongete, Obong Iniobong John, Barr. Mary Paul, Dr. Paddy Davis and Pastor Ime Ibanga. Personalities on the Oro side included Ovong Edet Isemin, Offong Edet Ekeng, Ovong Nyong Nkereuwem, Ambassador Etim Uye, Prof. Okon Eminue, Dr. Asuquo Anwana, Chief Okokon Antigha, Mrs. Edu Uye, Prof. Akon Esu, Mr. Okokon Ufi and Elder Edet Bassey.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 13:24:49 +0000
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