… Ikot Ekpene Stakeholders Applaud Gov Umo Eno’s Timely, Just Intervention
By Ukpong Ukpong
The heated political debacle between Amayam and Urban clans, over who should produce the next elected Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area has been resolved with Amayam given the nod to produce the next elected chairman.
This resolution came through an intervention by the governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, who doubles as state leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Recall that soon after the announcement of the forthcoming local government elections, followed by PDP stakeholders meeting in Uyo, where the governor admonished that zoning be respected across all local government areas, the political temperature in the premiere local government area rose dangerously towards a boiling point as party faithful and supporters from both clans tussled over who should take the chairmanship ticket.
It became a concern for peace and continuous stability in Ikot Ekpene such that stakeholders convened an emergency meeting, calling for calm as they await the governor’s intervention in the matter.
Eventually, last week Governor Umo Eno presided over such a mediation meeting where issues were tabled and weighed. According to our source, who was present at the meeting, but chose to speak off record, ” when the facts were laid out, it did not take the governor time to identify the truth and arrive at a verdict.
” This decision was accepted by all stakeholders from both Urban and Amayam”, he revealed.
Reacting to the outcome of the recent mediation meeting, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, a highly respected political leader in Ikot Ekpene said “The governor’s direction is proper. He has said what is supposed to be, that is the zoning should go to Amayam and everybody is aware of that.
Also baring his mind on the governor’s intervention, the Honorary Special Assistant to the Governor on Legislative Affairs, Rt. Hon. Nsikak Ekong described it as timely and just.
Ekong pointed out that “the governor is right. Ikot Ekpene’s chairmanship position is for the Amayam clan because we had a meeting and agreed that it should be two terms per clan.
He continued that “Amayam had their first term (soon after the two terms agreement) under Hon. Sunny Ibuot and then completed under Hon. Gloria Useh.
“Then, when it came to Urban there was no election so Hon. Unyime Etim (Urban) was made the transition chairman. Upon expiration of that transition, there was still no election hence Hon. David Umanah, another Urban man was appointed transition chairman.
“After Umanah finished, the election was conducted, and yet another Urban person, Hon. Unyime Etim, emerged as elected chairman. He stayed for three years, contested, and won again for another three years.
“After that, another Urban person, Sir John Clayton was appointed a transition chairman, making a total of nine consecutive years in power for the Urban clan”.
“So, I failed to see the reason why they said power should remain in the Urban.” He said.
Furtherpunching holes on similar reasons for attempting to hold onto power, the former federal lawmaker opined that “their reason is that Amayam are not many, with 4½ wards and Urban is 6½ wards. For Godsake, what is zoning all about? Is it not about making the people who are not many also taste leadership and governance?
” So, I don’t see any reason why power shouldn’t shift to Amayam”. He quipped.
On the argument about commissionership residing in Amayam, he retorted, “How can somebody say that Commissioner is from Amayam? Do you want to zone commissionership for the governor? The governor should feel free to choose anyone he wants to be commissioner. It’s not a new thing in Ikot Ekpene that we have two commissioners from a place.
“When I was in the House of Assembly, Mr. Don Etim was Commissioner and Engr. Etido Inyang was also commissioned, both from Urban. Similarly, when Mr. Udom Emmanuel came on board, Pastor Sunny Ibuot was Commissioner as well as Prof. Nse Essien, both from Amayam.
“Those were very flimsy reasons made to rob Amayam people of their right to produce a chairman. So, for me, the governor is very correct. The position of chairmanship is for Amayam people for two terms.”
The General Manager/Secretary, of Akwa Ibom State Bulk Purchase Agency, Hon. Unyime Etim, was reluctant to comment on the issue.
According to him, “protocol demands that once the governor talks, no one talks again. My comment is once the governor talks nobody talks.”
However, on his part, a political stalwart from Amayam, Group Captain M. Using (rtd.) stated that God has used the governor to answer Amayam’s prayer.
“This has been our desire. I thank the governor for this because he wants an all-inclusive government.
“I thank him (the governor) very much for listening to the voice of the Amayam people. It’s been our desire because the zoning principle has been there between two clans, Urban and Amayam.
” We had agreed that when one one clan takes chairmanship of the party (PDP) the other should take chairmanship of the council and vice versa, but for more than ten years or so the chairmanship of local government has resided in Urban. So, it’s right that Amayam takes her turn at chairmanship. We have credible and competent people to serve in that capacity”.
Also expressing the mind of Amayam women on the governor’s intervention, a notable woman leader from the area, Obonganwan Lucy Udo said “We thank God that the truth has finally been told and our governor is a man of honor. He has shown capacity and proven that he is a man of God because men of God don’t lie.
She recalled that the governor once said ‘If zoning does not favor you, don’t bother to contest, do not deprive those that zoning favour to contest.
” So, Governor Umo Eno wants peace in the whole state because some of these issues on zoning would bring problems in some areas but the governor’s intervention is averting that. So, we thank him and pledged our total support to him”. She enthused.
