A foremost political group in Akwa Ibom State, Uyo Liberation Movement (ULM), has insisted that the existing zoning system in Uyo State Constituency must be maintained ahead of the 2027 House of Assembly election.
Speaking during a press conference in Uyo, the secretary general, Elder Emmanuel Sam, disclosed that Uyo Local Government is made up of four political clans and that the State House of Assemble seat has been rotating among the four clans on a single-term basis since 1999, adding that the zoning formula must be maintained for the sake of peace and unity.
“Since the return of the current democratic dispensation in 1999 till now, the State House of Assembly seat has rotated among these four clans in Uyo thus; Oku Clan – twice; Etoi Clan – twice; Ikono Clan – twice, and Offot Ukwa Clan – once. A detailed breakdown is as follows; 1999 – 2003 – Hon. Bar. Aniedi Ndem (Oku Clan); 2003 – 2007 – Hon. Elder Archibong Inyang (Etoi Clan); 2007 – 2011 – Hon. Ekere Affia (Ikono Clan); 2011 – 2025 – Hon. Edwin Joseph (Offot Ukwa Clan); 2015 – 2019 – Hon. Monday Eyo (Oku Clan); 2019 – 2023 – Rt. Hon. Anietie Eka (Etoi Clan), and 2023 – 2027 – Hon. Uwemedimo Asuquo (Ikono Clan).
“The above breakdown clearly points to three things; first, that Uyo has maintained a single term arrangement for 28 years. Secondly, that the rotation of the State House of Assembly seat among the four clans has a clear pattern; that ism Oku Clan -> Etoi Clan -> Ikono Clan -> Offot Ukwa Clan. Thirdly, that Offot Ukwa Clan is yet to occupy the seat for a second time like other clans” he said.
On the performance of the present House of Assembly representative, the group said “There is no debating the fact that in the entire history representation in the State House of Assembly, the current lawmaker has given Uyo State Constituency the worst representation in terms of lawmaking and even empowerment. As a people, we have seen lawmakers who previously served Uyo even with far less resources put up better performances and leaving the office with lasting legacies.”
ULM further claimed that it was the practice with the people of the area to reenforce failure in order not to make it become part of their identity, reaffirming their determination to strongly kicks against the plan to short-change Uyo by rewarding a non-performing representative with a second-term and dragging the local government backward as well as disrupting the political arrangement that has unified the people for so many years.
“The impact of this failed representation will even be worse should it be allowed for another four years. This is because apart from Uyo potentially staying for another four years without any tangible evidence of the representation, the State Constituency will also risk not being able to produce a principal officer because we are reliable informed that the powers that be do not consider our representative qualified to occupy a key principal office in the State Assembly.
“This is why Uyo must not only resist every attempt to return the current House Member but must ensure that he is replaced with a competent representative”, it added.
The group also emphasised the need for the people of the area to choose justice, fairness and unity over greed by supporting Offot Ukwa Clan to produce the next House of Assembly member in 2027, urging to avoid decisions and actions that will cause disunity in the local government.
“We are aware of the fact that the plan is not only to distort the zoning arrangement of the House of Assembly seat, but also that of the Chairmanship seat because of greed and selfish interests. We wish to bring to the awareness of the good and peace-loving people of Uyo that their supposed leader is plotting to distort the zoning of the House of Assembly seat so he can have a basis to also distort the zoning of the Chairmanship seat next year where he is planning to impose his sibling on Uyo people.
“Therefore, the current struggle is not about the interest of Offot Ukwa Clan, but the interest, peace and unity of the entire Uyo. He is rejecting the House of Assembly zoned to his own ward, Offot Ward 6, in an attempt to claim the chairmanship seat that rightfully belongs to Offot Ward 7 for his personal interest. The people of Uyo must stand together now to protect equity, peace, and unity across our clans and wards.
“It is very unfortunate to note that people who strong advocates of the zoning system in Uyo in the past but happen to find themselves in privileged positions of power, are now attempting to disrupt that same system recklessly to serve their personal interest.
“We are conscious of the grave danger that the current attempt to disrupt the existing zoning arrangements in Uyo will pose to the Local Government in future elections, and it is our firm belief that these impending political misfortunes can only be averted by ensuring that justice and fairness triumph over greed and selfishness today“, the group added.
