Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency In Search For Fairness - Why Sunny Ibuot Remains A Perfect Option

By UbongAbasi Ise

It was the long history of inequalities and sectional domination in the distribution of political power that gave birth to the idea of zoning in the country. Since Nigeria's independence, the question of adequate representation of different geo-political interests has confronted the nation just like any other fundamental concerns. Although zoning of positions in Nigeria officially dates back to the eve of the Second Republic in 1979 when the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, expressed it in the internal nominations for prominent federal offices, it became more pronounced after the debate of the 1994/1995 National Constitution Conference (NCC) - an event that revealed serious inequalities in the sharing of political power and natural resources in the country. Given the above historical experience, the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in its wisdom, inherited and systematized zoning principle in its arrangement and assumed power with it as the country returned to the path of democracy after the last military interregnum in 1999.

                And since May 29, 1999 till date, Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency has remained a PDP domain, and zoning arrangement has been religiously observed until recently when fear arose given the information that some persons are hell bent on flouting the laid down zoning rule for the sake of their self-serving interests.

                From the inception of the present democratic dispensation, the seat of Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency in the Green Chambers has been a rotational arrangement both on local government area basis and on clan level. The Federal Constituency, being an amalgam of Essien Udim, Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara local government areas, could not have been able to maintain fairness, political inclusiveness and harmony if not for its strict adherence to zoning system. As it would be recalled, Obot Akara local government area first presented Mr. Tony Esu who represented the Federal Constituency from 1999 to 2003. After Obot Akara's turn, Essien Udim local government area produced Barr. Nsini Umosoh who represented the Federal Constituency from 2003 to the time he died in 2006. Umosoh's tenure was completed in 2007 by his fellow Essien Udim and Afaha Clan man, Mr. Sunyiekere Inokon. So Ikot Ekpene local government area took its turn when Mr. Patty Etete Ineme represented the Federal Constituency from 2007 to 2011. After the first round of zoning from 1999 came full circle in 2011, next started with Obot Akara producing a representative through Barr. Saviour Udoh who stayed on seat from 2011 to 2015. Essien Udim local government area took their second turn by producing the incumbent lawmaker, Mr. Emmanuel Sunday Akpan, who took over in 2015 and he is expected to hand over in 2019 to an Ikot Ekpene man in order to bring the rotation of the Federal Constituency seat to another full cycle.

                Given the foregoing, no local government area in the Federal Constituency has ever repeated the seat since 1999. Both Obot Akara and Essien Udim local government areas have taken their two terms each, and without gargling the truth in the mouth, it is the turn of Ikot Ekpene local government area to produce a representative for the Federal Constituency come 2019 so as to take the three local governments to equal pedestal.

                Besides, no clan in Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency has ever repeated a tenure. Obot Akara Clan started with Tony Esu (1999-2003); Afaha Clan had the duo of Late Barr. Nsini Umosoh and Mr. Sunyiekere Inokon for a period of four years, that is, from 2003 to 2007 ; Ikot Ekpene Urban Clan had its one term with Mr. Patty Etete Ineme from 2007 to 2011. Nto Edino Clan produced a representive in the person of Barr. Saviour Udoh for a term, that is, between 2011 and 2015; Odoro Ikot Clan is currently on board with Mr. Emmanuel Akpan, and is expected to hand over to another clan in 2019.

                Amanyam is one clan in Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency that is yet to have a shot at a seat in the Federal House of Representatives. Since democratic values has to do with fairness, equality, all-inclusiveness and adequate representation, it would be a travesty of democracy in PDP should Amanyam clan be shut out from getting a chance of participating in the representation of the federal constituency.

                When this writer spoke with the Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency Integrity Assembly, Mr. Sunday Etim Umoh a.k.a. Arrogate, the leader of the socio-political group said that in Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, there is no second-timer, and every representative goes for one term as far as the present democratic dispensation is concerned. Umoh, whose socio-political group is acclaimed for the truth, believes it would be grossly unfair should the constituency produce a Federal House of Representatives member in 2019 outside Amanyam Clan in Ikot Ikpene local government area. In his words, "it is the turn of Ikot Ekpene, and when it comes to Ikot Ekpene, it is the turn of Amanyam to produce a Federal Constituency representative. This is the time for Ikot Ekpene to go for the second time, after which the stakeholders might sit down and deliberate on who would start the two term representation."

Ibuot

                Also speaking was Mr. Edidiong Udoka, the Obot Akara Chapter Coordinator of Voice of Justice, a socio-political organization that spanned all the three local government areas in Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency. Mr Udoka said that since the group stands for justice, equity and fairness, it therefore becomes the position of the Voice of Justice to support Pastor Sunny Ibuot for the Federal House of Representatives in 2019 because of the subsisting PDP zoning system. According to him, Pastor Ibuot is the man that is favoured by the zoning because he is from Amanyam Clan in Ikot Ekpene local government area.

                Apart from being favoured by zoning arrangement, Mr. Edidiong Udoka, who is from Obot Akara, said that having studied Ibuot's performance as the Chairman of Ikot Ekpene local government area from 2008 to 2011, and considering the lean resources during his tenure and how he was able to manage the resources well, the group sat down and considered that he would represent them effectively because he is a prudent manager of resources. Eulogizing further, Mr. Udoka said Pastor Ibuot brought developmental stride to Ikot Ekpene such that he built the new local government secretariat, and empowered a lot of people. With that, according to the Voice of Justice stalwart, "we cannot allow him to be buried in the ground. So he should go up there and represent us so that he would bring the dividends of democracy to the federal constituency."

                Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency  Integrity Assembly, Mr. Sunday Etim Umoh, described Pastor Ibuot as a man that is good for Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency; a man that would be able to perform and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency. While referring to his antecedents during his time as the Council Chairman as well as his loyal stewardship presently as the Secretary of Akwa Ibom State Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, Umoh said they would give Mr. Ibuot unalloyed support to represent the constituency in Abuja because he has all it takes to pilot the legislative affairs of Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency.

                To those who are yet to acquaint themselves with Pastor Ibuot, he is a man with endearing personality, passion for service with striking impression of human decency and goodwill. As a grassroot mobilizer, his candidacy would be a big plus to his political party. If all forces work out in his favour, then Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency would strike a real deal in 2019.

               

Yes! I am UbongAbasi Ise. For comment, send SMS to 08189914609 |ubongabasiise@gmail.com

Source: The Sensor Newspaper

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