DON’T ADOPT GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE FROM ANY FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY -Group Tells Itai Afe Annang
***insist on zoning of governorship seat to Itu/Ibiono Federal
Constituency
***warns against taking of fetish oaths (Mbiam) from politicians
Sequel to the forthcoming 2023 gubernatorial governorship election in Akwa Ibom State, a foremost socio-political group known as Eastern Ibibio Peoples Association, a conglomerate of four Local Government Area’s from the Eastern part of Akwa Ibom, which compromises of Itu, Ibiono Ibom, Ikono and Ini Local Government Area respectively has stated that the 2023 governorship seat should be zoned to Itu Federal
Constituency for fairness, justice and equity.
The group made this declaration on Thursday during a courtesy visit to
the people of Itai Afe Annang, the strongest opinion holders in
Annang Land at the Palace of HRM Okuku Pius Effiong Eside 111 the Itai Afe Annang and clan head of Ikpe Annang in Essien Udim Local
Government Area.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Obong Barr. Eteyen Archibong, the
Leader of Eastern Ibibio Peoples Association, sympathized with Essien Udim people over the recent crisis in the area which has led to loss of lives and properties most especially from the uniform men while assuring them of the state government’s commitment led by Governor Udom Emmanuel to ensure that total peace has been restored in Essien Udim Local Government Area.
Obong Eteyen Archibong stated that the essence of their visit to the Itai Afe Annang was to intimate them on their position and stance of the referred Eastern Ibibio People on the selection process of a governorship candidate in the upcoming 2023 gubernatorial election that the said position should be zoned to Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency which have not tested power since the creation of Akwa Ibom State from the Cross
River State in 1987.
Barr. Archibong decried the excessive rage of political negligence, marginalization and brutality meted on the people of Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency describing it as an attempt to deem and mar the voices of the people in that area thereby hindering development and other sources of good political, social and economic fortunes in that axis of Akwa Ibom State.
“Since the creation of Akwa Ibom State in 1987, five (5) persons have
piloted the affairs of this state as Governors including Late Air
Commodore Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga OFR, and Late Obong Akpan Isemin both from Etinan Federal Constituency, Obong Victor Attah represented Uyo Federal Constituency. The only Federal Constituency within Uyo Senatorial District yet to produce a Governor is Itu Federal Constituency and 2023 is indeed their turn.
“The people of Eastern Ibibio have been deprived of certain relevant and key political structures, distribution chain of critical offices either elected or appointed as this alteration has negatively affected the people of former Enyong Itu division (Eastern Ibibio People) of the state comprising of Itu, Ibiono Ibom, Ikono and Ini Local Government Areas including the systematic cum consistent prejudice with which they have
been excluded from the governance of Akwa Ibom State at the apex of
Leadership”. He explained.
He solicited that Itai Afe Annang and the general Annang nation
should not accept any governorship candidate who’s not from Itu/Ibiono
Federal Constituency while calling on spirited sons and daughters of
Akwa Ibom State both in Nigeria and diaspora to join hands with the
good people of Eastern Ibibio in their desire to produce the next
Governor of Akwa Ibom State from Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency
when the seat shall be zoned to Uyo Senatorial District come 2023.
Obong Eteyen Archibong used the occasion to urged and advised the
Itai Afe Annang, indeed the generality of Akwa Ibom people to desistfrom any form of fetish oath taking from any politician or group of people as the dangers and consequences attached is deadly most times not only to the taker but to his/her generation.
In their separate remarks, Dr. Etido Ibekwe, a former House of
Assembly Member, Sir Joseph Umana, a former law maker in the area and HRM Obong Pius Eside 111 in affirmation expressed delight for the honour bestowed upon them by their brothers in the Ibibio extraction describing as a positive step towards achieving greatness.
They stated that using the famous African Maxim “An Injury to one is an injury to all” which the plights and yearnings of the Eastern Ibibio
people according to them most particularly from Itu/Ibiono Federal
Constituency about their political marginalization and deprivation has
been duly registered in their hearts while assuring them of their avowed, unbiased and unflinching support to aid the movement successfully noting that they will always stand by the Eastern Ibibio people and therefore reciprocate the same gesture they did to them while on the same journey in 2005 pursuing the same course.
The Eastern Ibibio delegation includes prominent sons & daughters of
the Area.
Leave a Reply