WHY EKET FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY MUST PRODUCE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE- PART ONE. BY TOROBONG EKPO. 08093418330 (text only) Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State recently assured delegates and the entire Akwa Ibom sons and daughters during the last concluded Special Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held in Abuja of his readiness to organize town hall meetings after the 26th Anniversary of the State in each of the ten federal constituencies. The essence of the town hall meeting, it was gathered, is to inquire from the people where his successor in 2015 should come from. As a dynamic leader who has redesigned the state from an analogue status to a digital one, it would be out of place for Chief Akpabio not to successfully install a successor considering his uncommon developmental strides in the state. Keen observers of the state politics believe that the Governor, being a politician of the finest cut, will never want to repeat the same mistakes his predecessors made by not being able to install a successor. However, before embarking on this fact finding tour (town hall meeting) of the ten federal Constituencies, it is imperative to enlighten the people on the need to zone the governorship seat to Eket Federal Constituency. It is no more news that, the majority of the people have unanimously agreed that, the next occupant of the Hilltop Mansion should be a native of Eket Senatorial District. However, the area has a total of 12 Local Government Areas, Nine State Constituencies and three Federal Constituencies of Oron, Eket and Ikot Abasi. From time immemorial, zoning or rotation arrangement in the senatorial district has always been sacrosanct, in respect of various political offices like the senate, ministerial appointment, among others. For example, Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, through Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, had a fair share of their representation in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly between 1999-2007. Eket Federal Constituency took their turn through Lady Senator Eme Ekaette (2007-2011). Today, Senator Helen Esuene, is keeping to the same arrangement and thereafter, the senatorial seat will be shifted to Oron Federal Constituency. The National Chairman of Oron Think Tank, a socio-ethnic group Mr. Edet Usung confirmed the zoning arrangement of the district when he informed journalists recently that, traditionally, Oron Federal Constituency will produce the next Senator from the district. This implication of this is that, the Federal Constituency cannot produce both a senator and a governor, as it will not only amount to greed, but will be barbaric, primitive and contrary to the fairness principle that has bound the Senatorial District over the years. Since the creation of the State, Oron and Ikot Abasi Federal constituencies (two out of the three Federal Constituencies) in Eket Senatorial District have been closer to the corridor of power through the appointment of Deputy Governors, hence, have had the privilege of tasting the cherished title of ‘His Excellency’, ‘Her Honour’ as the case may be. It will be recalled that, Oron Federal Constituency had produced Ambassador Etim Okpoyo as a deputy governor during the political dispensation of Late Obong Akpan Isemin in 1993, Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency has so far produced three Deputy Governors namely; Engr. Patrick Ekpotu, Obong Nsima Ekere, who according to Governor Akpabio, had resigned from government so as to concentrate on his private business, and the latest is the incumbent - Lady Valerie Ebe. Eket Federal Constituency has not produced a Deputy Governor since the creation of the State, even with its status as a core oil producing territory which houses Mobil Producing Company and other oil related companies. Despite all these, the four local government areas in the senatorial district have never played opposition nor allowed themselves to be swayed by ethnic sentiments during party primaries and the general election as it is done by some constituencies who base all their motives and actions on ethnic considerations. In all the elections, Eket Senatorial District has always been at the forefront of supporting the government of the day. This attribute of loyalty, obedience, submissiveness are signs that should not be taken for granted. The bible in Matthew 5;5 says: “blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” Eket Federal Constituency has shown enough meekness in their actions to earn them a place the Hilltop Mansion come 2015. From the analysis, it is obvious that, Oron and Ikot Abasi Federal Constituencies have gotten a fair share of power, in fact, a University Don from Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency was said to have warned an intending gubernatorial aspirant from the district never to buy any nomination form as such will amount to selfishness. From the perspective of Oron Think Tank, the senate seat is the birthright of Oron Federal Constituency in 2015, this however means that a single federal constituency cannot produce both a senator and a governor; Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency on the other hand has within the administration of Chief Dr. Godswill Akpabio produced three Deputy governors. In light of the foregoing, it is believed that justice, equity, and fair play demands that the Eket Federal Constituency, which has never tasted the deputy governorship position, produce the next governor of the state.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 05:58:02 +0000
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