…as Amayam insists on producing an elected Chairman
* Let’s be calm and await the party’s decision – Sen. Emmanuel Ibok Essien
* There is no contest against Amayam’s turn – Mr. Daniel Obot
* Groups petition Gov Umo Eno
By Ukpong Ukpong
Ikot Ekpene is on fire. The once epitome of peace and political sagacity has also caught the zoning bug rampaging across Akwa Ibom political terrain ahead of Local Government Elections.
The contention causing this fierce battle between two brothers separated by clan namely Amayam and Urban appears to be the insistence of Amayam to produce the next elected chairman based on an existing zoning arrangement which clearly shows it is their turn. Still, Urban is muscling based on political exigencies.
The big question is who should produce the next elected chairman in Ikot Ekpene?
Follow-up questions bother on the need for equity, fairness, and balancing vested interests without leaving loopholes to the advantage of opposition political parties.
Recall that the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, had urged stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state to adhere to the principle of zoning of all elective positions in the forthcoming local government elections.
In a meeting held at the Government House Banquet Hall, Uyo shortly after the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission had announced October 26, 2024, for the conduct of elections in the 31 local government areas of the state, Eno directed that zoning should be maintained to ensure continuous peace, unity and supremacy of the party in the state.
In his words, “On the forthcoming local government elections, I want to urge all stakeholders of our party to respect zoning and ensure continuous peace, unity, and supremacy of the party”.
The import of this directive resonated with grassroots communities across Akwa Ibom state specifically the Amayam clan, which is a strong base for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Notwithstanding being largely a rural area, Amayam has 25 out of 47 villages in Ikot Ekpene and is known to deliver block votes for the PDP while the Urban with 22 villages usually share votes with other political parties.
Furthermore, the Urban is populated with non-indigenes, who mostly return to their places of origin to vote, and Amayam people living there, who cast their votes back home. But, for some unfounded reasons, negotiations of political offices in Ikot Ekpene have always tilted in favor of the Urban, but this time, Amayam has come out strongly to demand their right to produce an elected chairman by rotation of power.
Looking at various graphical maps, analyses and tables presented by groups and individuals to buttress the zoning debate, it is clear that between 1999 and 2023, both clans have had a fair shot at producing elected chairmen beginning with late Obong Usen Ekene – Amayam (1999 – 2002), late Hon. Ekerette Akai – Urban (2004-2007), Pastor Sunny Ibuot – Amayam (2008-2011), Obonganwan Gloria Useh – Amayam (2011-2014) with the last being Hon. Unyime Etim (two terms from 2017 -2020; 2020 -2023) who was from Urban.
As such, by right of rotation of power or zoning, the Amayam clan should take its turn in 2024.
However, in Ikot Ekpene zoning is subdivided into micro involving elected political offices such as Party (PDP) Chapter chairmanship and Executive Chairmanship while macro includes Membership of the Federal House of Representatives and Membership of the State House of Assembly since these are shared with other local government areas.
Then, there are political appointments such as Commissionership, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, and several others dependent on the discretion of the governor.
Findings reveal that there have been concessions agreed upon by stakeholders from both clans in 2012 to give Chairmanship to Amayam (Gloria Useh) to compensate for Chief Sunny Ibanga from Urban, who sought a second term as Chapter Chairman so as not to rob Amayam of substantial political position since Urban now had Chapter Chairmanship, Commissionership, SSA and State House of Assembly.
This is where Urban is demanding to settle scores because they claim that Amayam has the Chapter Chairmanship, Commissionership, SSA, and Member of the State House of Assembly. How Amayam insists on producing the next chairman on the strength of its right by rotation, not concessions.
They have picked holes in Urban’s argument that they will be left without a tangible political office, citing about nine political appointments currently held by Urban.
In addition, Amayam states that the Chapter Chairmanship has been zoned to Urban on the expiration of the current one by August this year, making way for the elected Chairmanship to go to Amayam. Similarly, they point out that the position of the House of Assembly falls under macro zoning and not micro zoning which concerns the council area.
Even with this, Amayam notes that Urban has enjoyed the Membership of House of Assembly four times already.
On the issue of political appointments, Amayam people retort that these are at the discretion of the governor, meaning such appointments are uncertain and could end whenever there is a cabinet shakeup.
Interestingly, information from sources on the street of Raffia city claims that the clamor for chairmanship is allegedly spurred by the present transition chairman, Sir John Cleton.
The general perception is that although the TC is from Urban and is not favored by zoning, he is willing to squeeze water out of the rock to take a shot at returning as elected chairman.
Pundits view this as going against Governor Umo Eno’s strict warning to transition chairmen not to truncate zoning in their domain if it doesn’t favor them. However, when reached for comment on these allegations, the transition chairman, Sir Cleton declined, noting that he is not in a position to discuss anything on zoning.
“I don’t think I’m the right person to discuss issues of zoning”, he said.
When this reporter pressed for further explanation to balance this report, the TC firmly asserted, “My brother, I’m not obliged to discuss issues of zoning. The party has said it will send out its zoning decision”.
As it is, political gladiators on both sides are poised for battle. However, a patriarch in the politics of Ikot Ekpene, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien calls for calm on both sides.
Interacting with this reporter on the phone, Senator Essien maintained that the governor gave the directive on the zoning of all elective political positions in the local government areas with the caveat that the party will release the zoning arrangements and “there may be needed for streamlining in some local government areas”.
“Where these streamlining are applicable, the governor said that he will personally invite stakeholders from there and resolve it. So, let’s be calm and patiently wait for the party to release the zoning arrangements”. He appealed.
A defacto leader in the Ikot Ekpene political arena from Urban, who spoke on terms of anonymity, revealed to this reporter that the subject matter does not warrant the energy and bile so far dissipated.
“We are brothers and there is no difference between Amayam and Urban (the little distinction is for political convenience). So, we allow our brothers from Amayam to share equally every political opportunity”.
While calling on the youths to remain calm, he admonished that “in politics, nothing is cast in concrete, iron or stone. There is always a need for flexibility, alignment, and realignment.
“Well, we all await the governor, the leader of our party to make an input on the matter. Whatever he says, who are we to disobey? He submitted.
Speaking also on the issue via mobile phone, Mr. Daniel Obot, popularly called ‘Commando’ in Ikot Ekpene political circle, told this reporter emphatically that although the party (PDP) is yet to publish its decision on the matter, there is no doubt that it is the turn of Amayam to produce an elected chairman of the council.
Similarly, Atuekong John Asikpo, a stalwart of the party noted that there is no question about zoning in Ikot Ekpene, but supporters and members of the party should await the decision of the party on the matter.
Subsequently, stakeholders and youths of the Amayam clan in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area applaud Governor Umo Bassey Eno on his directive that the zoning of elective political offices be maintained across the state in the forthcoming local government elections.
This position was reached at an inclusive meeting of stakeholders, village youths, and their leaders within the clan, held in Ikot Udoe. The meeting witnessed an impressive turnout of youths from all walks of life thronging the venue.
In their separate speeches and goodwill messages, they unanimously expressed gratitude to God for granting the governor wisdom to make an unbiased decision on zoning.
They commended the governor’s unapologetic stance for justice and fairness which will eventually lead to peaceful, free, and credible local government elections in a few weeks.
Baring her mind on the discourse, Obonganwan Lucy Monday Udo, a renowned woman leader from Ibong Ikot Akan Village, warned that if zoning was not upheld there would have been problems.
” Now, there will be no problems between Urban and Amayam clans on whom to support for the Office of Executive Chairman of Ikot Ekpene,” she enthused.
In his view, Hon. Owoikana Isaac Ekanem, immediate Deputy Chief Whip of the Seventh Assembly of Ikot Ekpene Legislative Council, stated that ” it’s no longer news that it is the turn of Amayam to produce the executive chairman.
“Unfortunately, some persons try to scuttle that age-long, time-tested power rotation arrangement between the two clans. Whereas Amayam people have been peaceful and supportive, we insist it’s our turn.
“Incidentally, the governor has taken a stand on the issue of zoning. He has shown direction, everyone should adhere unless they want to fight the governor”. He added.
Meanwhile, sociopolitical pressure groups have also joined the fray. One such group called ‘Concerned Yo youths of Ikot Ekpene’ recently published a petition to Governor Umo Emo portraying what they termed a comprehensive list of council chairmen in Ikot Ekpene since 1999 till date to establish their argument for rotation of chairmanship to Amayam.
